VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION BENEFITS
PROGRAM GOALS: Vocational rehabilitation helps servicepersons awaiting discharge for disability and
service-disabled veterans to get a good job suitable to their needs or to increase their ability to live
independently.
SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE: Vocational rehabilitation offers a number of services and assistance. If a
VA counselor finds you entitled to this program, the counselor will work with you to develop a personal plan of
services and assistance to meet your needs. The following chart lists some of these services and assistance:
Counseling and evaluation service
Job placement and adjustment service
Training to qualify you for employment
Tuition, fees, books, equipment, and supplies
Medical and dental treatment and prosthetic aids
Monthly subsistence allowance while training
Tutors, readers, or sign-language interpreters
Independent living training and service
QUALIFICATIONS: To be entitled to vocational rehabilitation, you must meet the following three conditions:
1. Your discharge from active duty must be under other than dishonorable conditions.
2. You must be within your period of eligibility for the program.
3. If VA rates your service-connected condition at least 20 percent, you must have difficulty getting or
keeping a suitable job. With a 10 percent rating, you must have major difficulty getting or keeping such a
job.
PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY: Generally, your period of eligibility is 12 years from the date VA notifies you
that you have a VA rating that meets the program's disability qualification. VA can extend this period under
certain conditions
.
COURSES AND TYPES OF TRAINING: Not all programs include training. If you need training, usually
full-time training can't last more than 48 months. You may train longer under limited circumstances. VA may
also provide job placement and adjustment services for up to 18 additional months. You may train full time or
less than full time. You may train in any of the following programs that meet your needs:
•
College-level education
•
Trade, business, or technical school education
•
Apprenticeship, other on-job training, or on-farm training
•
Self-employment
•
Rehabilitation facility, a sheltered workshop, or your own home.
NOTE: Some of these programs have special requirements. Your counselor will explain these requirements.
HELP EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO VA REHABILITATION: If you don't qualify for
vocational rehabilitation, your VA counselor will help you learn about other services and assistance that may
be available to enable you to reach your educational, training, and job goals.
NOTICE TO VA VETERANS SERVICE CENTER
I am attaching this notice to my application for vocational rehabilitation under chapter 31 of title 38 U.S.C. Code.
Please prepare a memorandum rating if this will speed my eligibility determination for chapter 31 benefits.
VA FILE NUMBER
NAME OF SERVICE MEMBER OR VETERAN
SIGNATURE OF SERVICE MEMBER OR VETERAN
DATE
VA FORM 28-0588, DEC 2000