If your Individualized Rehabilitation Services Plan calls for training, all costs typically charged to all other trainees in the same program will be billed to and paid by your case manager. That would typically involve the payment of tuition, fees, and required books and supplies. It may also include items that are less common such as tools, if required of all trainees.

Most formal training programs require a level of participation - - hours of attendance - - that will qualify you to receive a "subsistence allowance" check. This check will vary in amount depending on the type of training and your rate of attendance. Your case manager will be able to tell you how much money you’ll receive monthly during your orientation into the program. This check will have no impact on any other payments you may be entitled to receive from the VA other than for the fact that you may not participate in the vocational rehabilitation program and receive benefits from any other education benefit program administered by the VA at the same time.

If you find yourself in a financial bind during the training phase of your rehabilitation plan, your case manager may find your circumstances qualify you to receive a small interest free loan. This loan is known as the Revolving Fund Loan (RFL). This loan is a tool to help program participants through a tough time and is not effectively used to deal with ongoing problems of inadequate income. Repayment of this loan is frequently made from your Compensation Checks and typically recovered over a ten month period.

Once you and the other members of your "Placement Team" decide that you are fully ready to successfully compete for suitable employment your case manager will record the decision that you are "job ready". Following the first month of your active participation in the effort to land a suitable job, you will be awarded one months "employment adjustment allowance". If you are still looking for that first job after a month, which is the typical situation, and you continue to actively participate in your job search, you will be awarded another months payment.

Financial planning for the period of your participation in the program is very important if you are going to succeed. Veterans who drop out of their vocational rehabilitation plans report financial hardship and the family difficulties that come out of that problem as being among the highest causes for their having to leave the program before they can access the opportunities for success the completion of their program promises.

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Reviewed/Updated: September 9, 2001