Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment - PowerPoint Presentation

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Mission: is to assist Veterans with service-connected disabilities to return to suitable employment. Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

Vocational Rehabilitation & EmploymentVeterans must have at least a 10% VA Recognized Service Connected Disability and have had other than a dishonorable discharge.They must apply for VR&E benefits by either:Completing an application online at www.va.gov, directly to the VR&E website at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/ Completing a paper application – VA Form 28-1900This application can be mailed to the local Regional Office or faxed directly to 215-381-3457 for completion of the application. 1

Vocational Rehabilitation & EmploymentGroup orientationAssessment of individual’s interests, aptitudes and abilitiesAssessment of how the service-connected disabilities impair the ability to find and maintain suitable employmentMeet with counselor individual to determine entitlementIdentification of services needed to help the Veteran to gain the knowledge and skills for suitable employment An appointment is scheduled with Veteran in which the following occurs: 2

Vocational Rehabilitation & EmploymentVR&E participates in variety of training for employmentNon-Paid Work ExperienceFormal Education at college/universityPost-secondary training at a vocational, technical or business school Apprenticeship or On-the-Job Training

Prepare a billing invoice for VA after the school’s Drop/Add Period has concluded.VA should be billed only for the actual net cost for tuition and fees assessed by the institution for the program of education after the application of:any waiver of, or reduction in, tuition and fees; andany scholarship, or other Federal, State, institutional, or employer-based aid or assistance that is provided directly to the institution and specifically designated for the sole purpose of defraying tuition and fees (other than loans and any funds provided under section 401(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a)).When a school receives authorization of funding for a Veteran from VA’s Chapter 31 program and the Veteran has also been awarded financial assistance, the school should take the following steps: 4 Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment

5Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Philadelphia Regional Office’s Jurisdiction: Harrisburg Wilkes-Barre Allentown Wilmington Main number is 800-827-1000 or directly to VR&E is 215-381-3028

6Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment TEAMWORK  Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) Responsibilities Send 1905 authorizations for students at the training facility that are participants in the Ch. 31 program Process subsistence allowance for Veterans Authorize facility billings Certifying Official Responsibilities Send certifications by VA Once at the beginning of a term Send any changes to enrollment utilizing VA Once Work with billing department to send an itemized bill for services/training Contact your VRC assigned to your facility with any questions/concerns

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment7 Post 9/11 (Ch. 33) GI Bill vs. VR&E (Ch. 31)VR&E is handled directly by the VRCNo certifications for VR&E are to be sent to the VA Education Department (Buffalo). Some Veterans eligible for Ch. 33 benefits participate in Ch. 31 instead as this is a greater benefit. Both programs utilize VA Once *Difference is found in billing & how to send VA Once

8Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Questions, Comments, Concerns?