VA Program Offers Veterans a Path to New Careers

As students head back to class this fall, a Veterans law attorney is urging former service members with service-connected disabilities to take another look at a little-known federal program that could help them train for a new career.

Benjamin Krause, a VA-accredited attorney and Veterans advocate, says many Veterans overlook the Department of Veterans Affairs' Veteran Readiness and Employment program because they assume it is simply another version of the GI Bill.

It is not.

Known as VR&E or Chapter 31, the program is aimed at helping Veterans and service members whose service-connected disabilities make it harder for them to work. Depending on the veteran's needs, VR&E can provide education, vocational training, apprenticeships, employment services and help starting a business.

The VA says the program can also cover tuition and fees, required books and supplies and a monthly subsistence allowance. Veterans in some cases may qualify for the Post-9/11 GI Bill subsistence rate instead.

"Veterans hear 'education benefit' and picture a classroom, so they never ask what else the program covers," Krause said. "It can just as easily pay for a certification, an apprenticeship or equipment to start a business."

Krause knows the program from both sides of the desk. He is a disabled Air Force Veteran who used VR&E to help fund his education, including his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his legal education. He later earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School and built a career advocating for Veterans seeking VA benefits.

VR&E can provide up to 48 months of full-time services in many cases, although federal rules allow extensions beyond that limit under certain conditions when more services are needed to meet a Veteran's rehabilitation goals.

That can make Chapter 31 especially valuable for Veterans who need extensive training to move into a new field.

The program offers five tracks based on the Veteran's needs: reemployment with a former employer, rapid access to a new job, self-employment, long-term education or training, and independent living services.

Long-term services can include college, vocational training, apprenticeships and on-the-job training. VA employment coordinators can also help Veterans connect with employment services and potential jobs.

The self-employment track may provide another option for Veterans whose disabilities make traditional employment difficult. The VA says that track can include help developing and evaluating a business plan, business training and guidance in finding resources needed to put the plan into action.

VR&E can also provide specialized tools, equipment and workplace changes for eligible Veterans when those items are needed to overcome disability-related barriers at work.

Eligibility rules are more complex than simply having a VA disability rating.

Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% may apply. A VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor then evaluates whether the veteran is entitled to VR&E services based on the veteran's disability and employment barriers.

The time limits have also changed.

Veterans discharged from active duty on or after Jan. 1, 2013, are no longer subject to the old 12-year basic eligibility period. For those discharged before that date, the basic period generally runs 12 years from the later of their separation from active duty or notification of their first qualifying service-connected disability rating. The period can be extended when the VA finds a serious employment handicap.

Krause also stresses that Veterans should prepare before meeting with their Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. He advises Veterans to arrive with a clear career goal and evidence showing why the requested education or training is needed.

That first meeting matters because the counselor and Veteran work together to develop a rehabilitation plan that lays out the services VR&E will provide.

Veterans who are denied VR&E benefits are not necessarily at the end of the road. The VA provides a formal decision-review process for applicants who disagree with an eligibility or entitlement decision.

Some active-duty service members do not even have to wait until they leave the military. Service members going through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System may be able to begin accessing VR&E services before discharge.

Veterans interested in the program can review eligibility requirements and apply through the VA's Veteran Readiness and Employment website.

Krause also publishes his Voc Rehab Survival Guide and other Chapter 31 resources through DisabledVeterans.org.

Benjamin Krause is a VA-accredited attorney, veterans law expert, and policy advocate who helps veterans navigate complex VA benefits matters and challenges systemic wrongdoing within the Department of Veterans Affairs. As founder of Krause Law, PLLC and DisabledVeterans.org, he combines legal representation with public education and direct policy advocacy to drive meaningful reform in veterans benefits administration. Benjamin’s work began during the Great Financial Crisis when he was unemployed and misinformed by the VA during his own benefits process. He personally litigated his claims from 10% to 100% permanent and total disability rating, then successfully compelled the VA to fund his education at Northwestern University and the University of Minnesota Law School through Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E). After graduating magna cum laude, he further compelled the VA to fund his law practice startup. Today, he represents veterans nationwide in complex VR&E, advanced education funding, and disability compensation matters. Through the Veteran Rights Podcast and DisabledVeterans.org, Benjamin educates veterans, families, and policymakers, ensuring veterans receive fair treatment and meaningful opportunities for education, economic stability, and leadership.

Editor’s note: information in the above article was provided by Benjamin Krause. ALPolitics.com makes no claim as to the veracity of his statements, although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the above. This should not be considered an endorsement of Mr. Krause’s services. ALPolitics.com is presenting this information as a service to our Veterans and their families, and they are encouraged to verify these claims themselves.