A Veteran’s Guide to VR&E Benefits
Transitioning from military service to civilian life is a major shift — one that comes with new opportunities, new challenges, and sometimes a need for new skills. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) program exists to support and empower veterans during this transition. This article will discuss the VR&E program, whether you are eligible, and how to apply.
What is the VR&E program?
The VR&E program provides personalized career and rehabilitation services to eligible veterans. After you apply for VR&E benefits, the VA will schedule a meeting for you with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to find out if you have an employment handicap and if you’re eligible for VR&E benefits and services. If the VRC determines you are eligible for benefits, then they will develop a personalized rehabilitation plan which will outline the VR&E services available to help reach your goals. Once the rehabilitation plan is in place, the VRC will help you put it into action.
VR&E services might include the following:
- Personalized evaluation of your abilities, skills, and interests for employment;
- Supportive rehabilitation services including case management, counseling, and medical referrals;
- Professional or vocational counseling and planning for employment services;
- Employment services such as job training, resume development, interview preparation, and other work-readiness support;
- Post-secondary education and training at a college, vocational, technical, or business school;
- On-the-job training, apprenticeships, and non-paid work experiences (This video provides information on VA’s non-paid work experience program);
- Help finding and keeping a job, including the use of special employer incentives (SEI—Download the SEI program fact sheet here) and employment accommodations; and
- If employment isn’t feasible, then services to help you live as independently as possible using assistive technology, home modifications, adaptive equipment, and life skills training.
Am I eligible for VR&E services?
If you are a service member or veteran and have a disability that was caused or aggravated by active-duty service and that limits your ability to work, you may be eligible for VR&E benefits.
To be eligible as a veteran, the following must be true:
- You did not receive a dishonorable discharge, and
- You have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from the VA,
- The Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor determines you are entitled to receive VR&E benefits and services, and
- You are within the “basic period of eligibility” (Note: The VA may extend the basic period of eligibility if the VRC finds that you have a serious employment handicap (SEH)).
- If you were discharged from active duty on or after January 1, 2013, the 12-year basic period of eligibility doesn’t apply to you. There’s no time limit on your eligibility.
- If you were discharged from active duty before January 1, 2013, your basic period of eligibility ends 12 years from one of these dates, whichever comes later:
- The date you received notice of your date of separation from active duty, or
- The date you received your first VA service-connected disability rating.
To be eligible as an active-duty service member, either of the following must be true:
- You have a 20% or higher pre-discharge disability rating (memorandum rating) and will soon leave the military, or
- You are waiting to be discharged because of a severe illness or injury that occurred while you were on active duty.
Severely injured active-duty service members can automatically receive VR&E benefits before the VA issues a disability rating.
How do I apply for VR&E benefits?
How you apply for VR&E benefits depends on whether you are still active duty and whether the VA has granted you a service-connected disability rating.
If you are a veteran who has already received a VA disability rating, then you can apply in one of four ways:
- File online: here.
- File by mail
Complete the Application for Veteran Readiness and Employment for Claimants with Service-Connected Disabilities (VA Form 28-1900) and mail it to this address:
Department of Veterans Affairs
VR&E Intake Center
PO Box 5210
Janesville, WI 53547-5210
- File in person at your local VA Regional Office
- File with the help of a trained professional, such as an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative.
If you have not yet received a VA disability rating for a service-connected condition, then you may file the VA Vocational Rehabilitation – Getting Ahead After You Get Out (VA Form 28-0588) form instead.
How to appeal a VR&E decision?
If you disagree with a decision on your application for VR&E services and benefits, you can request a decision review.
Contact us to appeal your VA disability claim denials now!
Has the VA denied your claim for service-connected conditions? Has the VA failed to recognize the proper effective date or rating for your claims? We are here to help you appeal! Contact us to reach our advocates today, or call 1 (877) 777-4021 to take the next step in obtaining the VA disability benefits you deserve.
