VR&E Program Overview

1. VR&E Program Overview

2. Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this training, you will understand: • Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program objective • Basic Eligibility & Entitlement • 5 Tracks to Employment • Hiring Incentives • Legislative Updates • Coming Home to Work (CHTW) • Chapter 36 • VetSuccess.gov • Application Process

3. Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Objective • VR&E is an employment program • Provide services to eligible servicemembers and veterans with service-connected disabilities to obtain and maintain suitable employment or achieve independence in daily living

4. Basic Eligibility The basic period of eligibility in which VR&E services may be used is 12 years from the latter of the following: • Date of separation from active military service, or • Date the veteran was first notified by VA of a service-connected disability rating. • Note: Eligibility may be extended beyond 12 years for participants with a SEH.

5. Entitlement • A maximum of 48 months. • Must be used during the 12 years of eligibility. • May be extended for participants with a SEH.

6. VR&E’s 5 Tracks to Employment • Reemployment • Rapid Access to Employment • Employment through long term services • Independent Living Services • Self-Employment

7. Reemployment • Designed for individuals separating from active duty, National Guard or Reserves who are returning to their previous employment. • Services may include job accommodations, job modifications, case management, coordination of services with VA Healthcare, advice on reemployment rights, work adjustment services, and consultations with employer.

8. Rapid Access to Employment • Designed for individuals expressing interest in seeking employment soon after separation or have the necessary skills to be competitively employed in an appropriate occupation. • Services may include job readiness preparation, resume development, job search assistance, development of employment resources, job accommodations and post employment follow-up.

9. Employment Through Long Term Services • Designed for individuals requiring specialized training and/or education to qualify for suitable employment. • May include on-the-job training, apprenticeships, internships, work study, public-private job partnering or higher education sufficient to obtain suitable entry-level employment.

10. Independent Living Services • Designed for individuals who may not be currently ready for employment but who need assistance to reduce their dependence on others. • May include assistive technology, independent living skills training, connection to community-based support services and other services as deemed appropriate.

11. Self-Employment • Designed for individuals with limited access to traditional employment, need flexible work schedules, or who need a more accommodating work environment due to their disabling conditions or other life circumstances. • Services include analysis of the viability of the business concept, development of a business plan, training in the operation of a small business, marketing and financial assistance, guidance on obtaining adequate resources to implement the business plan.

12. Other Services • Medical • Dental • Optical • Mental Health • Vet Centers • Specially Adapted Housing • Vocational/Educational Counseling • Special Hiring Authority

13. Hiring Incentives for Veterans VR&E assists Veterans with service-connected disabilities to obtain suitable careers using creative job development tools and existing programs: Special Hiring Authorities • Gives preference to Veterans applying for federal government jobs • Targets federal government agencies Non Paid Work Experience (NPWE) • Opportunity to obtain training and gain practical job experience • Targets federal, state, or local government agencies

14. Hiring Incentives (continued) On-job-training • Opportunity to obtain training and gain practical hands-on experience • Salary is supplemented by VA subsistence allowance, so Veterans receive journeyman wages from the start • Targets private, non-profit sector Special Employer Incentives • Opportunity to obtain training and gain practical hands-on experience • Reimbursement of up to50% of Veteran’s salary • Employment is expected to continue following successful completion of the SEI program • Targets private, non-profit sector

15. VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 • Signed into Law on November 21, 2011 provides increased VA Vocational Rehabilitation benefits for Veterans with disabilities including: • Individual assessment on equivalence between military occupational specialty skills and qualifications for private sector employment • Assistance finding and keeping a job, including the use of special employer incentives and job accommodations • Supportive rehabilitation services including case management, counseling, and medical referrals to include services to help severely disabled Service members who are unable to work • Automatic eligibility for VR&E services is extended until December 31, 2014 for severely injured active duty military

16. VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 (Cont’d) • Key Provisions: • Tax credit up to $9,600 for hiring Veterans with Service Connected disabilities that have been unemployed for more than 6 months • Allows Service members to begin the federal employment process by acquiring Veterans preference status prior to separation for a seamless transition from military to civilian employment

17. Public Law 111-377 • New Payments Available Under Chapter 31 • Service members and Veterans eligible for both Chapter 31 and Chapter 33 benefits can choose a higher BAH rate instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance. • BAH rate based on an E-5 with dependents for the zip code where the school or training facility is located.

18. Coming Home to Work (CHTW) • VR&E’s early intervention and outreach efforts. • Provides comprehensive VR&E services nationwide. • Service members can receive all VR&E services, except subsistence allowance payments.

19. Chapter 36 Services • Educational and Vocational Counseling services. • VA Form 28-8832 • Transitioning servicemembers who are within six months prior to discharge from active duty or within one year following discharge from active duty .

20. VetSuccess.gov Purpose • Comprehensive employment resource for all Veterans • Agencies can post job openings directly on VetSuccess.gov • Job board currently connects over 90,000 Veterans with over 2,000 registered Employers • Veterans have access to over 8,000,000 jobs through VetSuccess and Job Central Database • Employers can search existing Veteran resumes for direct placements, such as: • Security Clearance • Degree - Skill type

21. Application Process • Service members must • have been referred to a Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) or • be participating in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) or • have a VA C&P memorandum rating of 20%. • VA Form 28-0588, in addition to • VA Form 28-1900 • Veterans with a VA C&P rating of 10% may apply. However, VR&E must determine that the veteran has a SEH. • VA Form 28-1900

22. Application Process Cont… Where can servicemembers and Veterans apply for VR&E Services? • On-line • www.va.gov • www.vetsuccess.gov • Mail applications to their local Regional Office. (VA Forms 28-0588 and 28-1900 can also be found on either website listed above by following the appropriate links.) • In person at their local Regional Office.

23. Questions?