Welcome to the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program

What is Vocational Rehabilitation?

Vocational Rehabilitation is a program of services for service members and veterans with service-connected disabilities, who are experiencing  limitations in obtaining and/or maintaining employment, or independence in their daily living.

Program Objectives:

•  Prepare veterans for a suitable employment

•  Help veterans obtain and maintain employment

•  Assist veterans in becoming fully productive and  independent

Services and Benefits:

• Evaluation of abilities and skills; vocational and educational counseling; enrollment in an educational training program to qualify for employment, and financial assistance while in training.

Other Services:

• Special accommodations for training and/or employment or independence in daily living.

• Tutorial assistance

• Medical and dental treatment

• Employment services

To Qualify:

Veterans are entitled to vocational rehabilitation services and benefits if all the following conditions are met:

    1.  A combined 20 percent* VA-compensable disability rating as a result of active service on or after September 16, 1940;

    2. Received, or will receive, a discharge or release from active duty under other than dishonorable conditions.

    3. Rehabilitation services are needed because of an employment handicap; and

    4.  The period of eligibility has not expired.

*NOTE:  Entitlement may be due if there is a 10 percent compensable disability rating and VA finds that this disability causes serious employment handicap.

Length of Eligibility:

If VA determines that a veteran is entitled to Vocational Rehabilitation services, the veteran has 12 years from the date of VA notification that there is a qualifying compensable disability to finish an approved program.

Length of Assistance:

A veteran has up to 48 months of potential eligibility in a rehabilitation program.  Following training, the VA provides employment services for up to 18 months.

Types of Training Programs:

•  Employment services and assistance

• Vocational Training

•  Educational (college or university level) training

•  Apprenticeship or on-job training

•  Independent living services

•  Training in rehabilitation facility or in a sheltered workshop (under special circumstances)

Financial Benefits:

Chapter 31 pays a monthly subsistence allowance training expense to include required:

•  Tuition

•  Fees

•  Books

•  Supplies

•  Equipment

       You can contact us via the internet at https://iris.va.gov

~OR~

• You can call us at 1-800-827-1000 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday.

• Our mailing address is:

VA Regional Office
701 Clay Avenue
Waco, TX  76799


• VA Forms for downloading

• Link to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VR&E program