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Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
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VR&E Program Overview
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Learning ObjectivesAt the conclusion of this training, you willunderstand:
– 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
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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
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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.
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Entitlement
• A maximum of 48 months.
• Must be used during the 12 years of eligibility.
• May be extended for participants with a SEH.
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VR&E’s 5 Tracks to Employment
• Reemployment• Rapid Access to Employment• Employment through long term services• Independent Living Services• Self-Employment
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Other Services
• Medical• Dental• Optical• Mental Health• Vet Centers• Specially Adapted Housing• Vocational/Educational Counseling• Special Hiring Authority
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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
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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 to 50% of Veteran’s salary– Employment is expected to continue following successful
completion of the SEI program – Targets private, non-profit sector
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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 .
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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
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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
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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.
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Questions?
