Two comments I’d like to make prior to digging into the nitty-gritty of Voc Rehab.  First, many disabled veterans comment to me that they feel other disabled veterans are entitled to the program more than they are.  Stop it.  If you have a 10% or greater disability rating, you are entitled to apply for benefits.  Let the professionals sort out who is and is not worthy of Voc Rehab services.  That is not your job and you have no training in that area.

Second, Voc Rehab receives around $30,000 per veteran enrolled in the Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program.  According to the Rehabilitation Services Administration, graduates of rehabilitation programs pay over $1 billion in taxes every year.  Within their first year of work, they earn $3.5 billion in wages, with a payback of usually less than 4 years through tax money (DVA, 2004).  This means the money is there for us to use. 

With more veterans opting to use the New GI Bill, there should be more money available for everyone else in the program.  It also means the payback is very real for the American taxpayer who is funding your training.  Take advantage of this program and treat it as an opportunity to change your life.  I did. 

Before reading on, click on this next link to read what the VA says about Voc Rehab: VA Voc Rehab website. 

Now I have a few additional comments to make.  To view my own story and guides to Voc Rehab, click here The Vet Set.  My site is in development so the Knols will have to do for now.  Email me with questions at thevetset@gmail.com.

The majority of program participants use the program to fund their education, as opposed to the other services.  The New GI Bill is a very generous program that can be constructed to displace the need for Voc Rehab.  As a strategy, veterans can enter Voc Rehab first and opt to receive the funding benefits of the GI Bill for the full amount of entitlement, up to 36 months.  You cannot double dip in both programs, but you can use Voc Rehab services and guidance while you work towards your educational goal.

Once the GI Bill is used up, veterans still have at least 12 months remaining of entitlement under Chapter 31 Voc Rehab.  Depending on your training goal, your entitlement can include both a Bachelor’s and Master’s/ Doctorate level training.  While most civilians come out of an MBA, MD or JD program with a great deal of debt, you will not have this burden, allowing you to take job offers because you love the opportunity, not because you need to pay your student loans back.  Yes, being a lawyer can actually be fun if you’re not working 80 hours per week at a large law firm.  Using the program in unison with your New GI Bill can be a great way to put you ahead in life.

If you completed college under Voc Rehab and used your entire 48 month entitlement, you may still be eligible for training if your disability has increased.  If you already had a “severe employment handicap” you already have this opportunity.  If you had a regular “employment handicap” an increase in your Comp & Pension could increase this benefit. 

This is especially valuable news if you were unable to find work within the field of your training goal, like a lot of Voc Rehab participants.  If you’re unemployed or working within career that does not fit with your training, reapply for benefits.  The worst thing that can happen is you would receive a “no”.  Best case, you could qualify for a professional degree or master’s degree.  Either option will increase your long term value to any company.

When developing your training plan, take control even if your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor does not agree.  You can always appeal.  In my own case, the VRC the told me they would not approve a track of Commercial Lawyer.  He followed up by telling me they would pay for an MBA.  I successfully appealed.  I knew I had to develop my own plan and do my own research.  For an example of what this process looked like, please feel free to follow this link to my Knol:  The Vet Set: Veterans Guide to Writing VA Appeals and Other Letters.

Voc Rehab is an excellent way to push ahead of the field and change your life whether you are a single person or have a family.  Attending college full-time is to your advantage in the long run, adding over a million dollars to your overall lifetime earning potential.  Good luck. 

This article will be followed with The Vet Set 7 Essentials to a Voc Rehab Win.  After you apply for the benefit, you will have some time before the VA determines if you’re qualified to meet with Voc Rehab.  Then, you will have some time to prepare for your first meeting.  Failing to do this could be fatal to your case.  Read on!

Bibliography

DVA. (2004). “The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program for the 21st Century Veteran.”  Retrieved May 4, 2007, from Department of Veterans Affairs website.