VOW to Hire Heroes VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011Act of 2011

Veterans Retraining Veterans Retraining Assistance Program Assistance Program

(VRAP) (VRAP)

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Overview

On November 21, 2011, President Obama signed Public Law 112-56, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which includes the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) for unemployed Veterans.

The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DoL) will collaborate to implement the program.

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Overview of DoL Eligibility

The Department of Labor (DoL) will make the initial determination of eligibility for VRAP. In order to be eligible, a Veteran:

• Must be at least 35, but no more than 60 years of age as of the date of application;

• Must be unemployed as of the date of application;

• Must not have been enrolled in a Federal or State job training program at any time during the 180 days prior to the application date; and

• Must submit an application no later than October 1, 2013.

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Overview DoL Eligibility

• Applicants who meet all of the DoL requirements will continue to the VA portion of the VA Online Application (VONAPP).

• Applicants who DO NOT meet the DoL requirements will be notified by DoL of their ineligibility and appellate rights. Disallowed applications will not be forwarded to VA.

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Overview DoL Eligibility

• VA will make further eligibility determinations and issue payments.

• Upon completion or termination of VRAP, participants will be contacted by DoL to provide additional employment assistance.

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VA Eligibility & Entitlement

Determinations

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Overview of VA Eligibility

To establish eligibility for VRAP, Veterans:

•Must have a character of service other than dishonorable for the final discharge;

•Must not be eligible to receive assistance under chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, 1606, 1607 and Post-911 GI Bill (including ToE and FRY) at the time of application for VRAP; and

•Must not be in receipt of compensation for a service-connected disability due to unemployability.

Note: Eligibility for all Veterans under VRAP will terminate April 1, 2014 (no pay date).

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Entitlement

• Veterans are entitled to 12 months of VRAP. The 48-month limitation does not apply (however, VRAP benefits do affect entitlement to VA education benefits).

• Individuals will be charged one day of entitlement for each day of training pursued.

• Entitlement will end effective the earlier of:• The program completion date• The entitlement exhaust date• The VRAP program end date of April 1, 2014

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Approved Programs

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Effective July 1, 2012, eligible Veterans may pursue a program of training that:

• Is approved for VA benefits; • Is pursued on a full-time basis; • Is offered by a community college or technical

school;• Leads to an associate degree or certificate;

and• Provides training for high-demand

occupations as defined by DoL • A list of occupations can be found online at

www.benefits.va.gov/VOW).

Approved Programs

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Change of program• Individuals eligible for VRAP will not be permitted to change

their program once a payment has been issued.

• Natural Progression is not allowed under VRAP.

Reductions • Individuals who reduce their training below full-time will no

longer be eligible to receive assistance under VRAP.

• Benefits will be terminated on the date of reduction.

Note: VA will re-establish benefits if an individual increases his/her training time back to full-time.

Approved Programs

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Terminations VA will terminate VRAP payments the earlier of the training discontinuance date (including completion or Graduation), or the VRAP no pay date of April 1, 2014.

Unsatisfactory Attendance, Conduct, or ProgressVeterans will be terminated the earlier of:

• The date the institution terminates enrollment; or• The date the Veteran’s progress became unsatisfactory.

Approved Programs

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• Enrollments and amendments must be submitted electronically through VA-ONCE. Term, quarter, or semester enrollments may be certified for the ordinary school year plus the summer term; or for the entire length of the course if the institution operates year-round.

• Institutions must electronically certify enrollments before individuals may receive payment.

Certification

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Community colleges and technical schools can be identified by the 2nd position of the Facility Code, which must be between 4 through 9.

VA will make payment to the Veteran only after:

• VA verifies that the program leads to an approved associate degree or certificate at a community college or technical school;

• The institution certifies full-time enrollment; and• The individual verifies his/her monthly attendance

through WAVE or IVR.

Certification

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All certifications must be submitted to VA electronically no later than January 31, 2014, to ensure all payments are issued before April 1, 2014.

Note: Paper or hand written certifications (22-1999 and 22-1999b) will not be accepted.

Certification

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VRAP Enrollment Certification

Training Time is a required entry for VRAP

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To ensure individuals receive job placement assistance by DoL all completions and terminations must be processed using the appropriate end reason codes in BDN.

Termination: 22-1999b

Graduation or completion

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Payments

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VRAP participants will receive a monthly amount equal to the MGIB (ch30) 3 year full-time rate. The

rate is subject to the annual COLA increase.

• Benefits are paid directly to the Veteran. • Veterans will be responsible for all expenses

including tuition, fees, and books.

NOTE: VA will not make any payments after March 31, 2014.

Payments

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Application Process

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Application Process

Step 1:

Veterans interested in VRAP should visit www.benefits.va.gov/VOW for additional information and/or access to VONAPP.

Step 2:

Veterans should select the VRAP application (22-1990R) from the available options.

Step 3:

Veterans will complete the initial questions (name, date of birth, etc) for DoL to determine their eligibility.

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Step 4:

If the Veteran is not eligible based on DoL’s initial questions, a denial letter will be generated (with the option to print) that includes appellate rights, and instructions. The process will terminate.

Application Process

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Denial Letter-DoL

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Step 5:

If the Veteran is eligible based on DoL’s initial questions, the Veteran will continue completion of the VONAPP application for submission to VA.

Application Process

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VONAPP Continue to VA

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Application for VRAP

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Application for VRAP