Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E)Chapter 31

Program

Individualized Path to

Employment

VR&E Mission

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“...let us strive to finish the

work we are in, to bind up

the nation’s wounds, to

care for him who shall have

borne the battle and for his

widow, and his orphan....”

- President Abraham Lincoln

Veteran Population Served

• Portland Regional Office (RO) serves all of

Oregon except six counties bordering

Idaho. We also serve five counties in

Southwest Washington

• Current Veteran population being served

by Portland RO: 2,129 with 1,462 actively

participating in training

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Portland VR&E Team

• Portland RO – 9 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors

(VRCs), 2 Employment Coordinators (ECs), 4 Vocational

Rehabilitation Technicians (VRTs), Division Chief,

Assistant Division Chief, Supervisory VRC

• Medford Out-based Office - 1 VRC

• Eugene Out-based Office - 3 VRCs

• Vancouver Out-based Office - 3 VRCs servicing

Southwest Washington

• College Campuses - Portland State University (PSU)

VetSuccess on Campus program (VSOC)

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VR&E Program Intent

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Provide services to assist Servicemembers and Veterans

(SM/V) with service-connected disabilities to succeed:

• In transition … through services to support transition back to

civilian life

• At work … through services resulting in suitable employment.

• On campus … through services to provide support during

education and training

• At home … and in their communities … through services to

maximize independence in daily living

Eligibility to Apply for VR&E Benefits

Veterans:

• Honorable or other than dishonorable discharge

• A VA service-connected disability rating of 10 percent or

more; or memorandum rating of 20 percent or more are

eligible to apply for services

Active Duty Servicemembers:

• Expect to receive an honorable or other than dishonorable

discharge

• Obtain a VA memorandum rating of 20 percent or more.

• Enrolled in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System

(IDES)

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Entitlement to VR&E Benefits

In addition to eligibility, the SM/V must meet the

criteria for entitlement

• In order for this determination to be made several factors

must be met

Vocational impairment – factors outside of Veteran’s control

leading to Veteran being unemployed

Service-connected disabilities must contribute to impairment

Veteran has not overcome vocational impairment

• Feasibility determination

This determination can only be made by a Vocational

Rehabilitation Counselor

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VR&E Basic Benefit Information

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• A maximum of 48 months of entitlement.

• The time limit for a SM/V’s eligibility to receive VR&E benefits

and services is limited to a 12-year period

• The 12-year period begins on the

latter of these dates:

– Date of separation from active military duty, or

– Date when the Veteran was first notified of a VA service-

connected disability rating

• The basic period of eligibility may be extended if a Vocational

Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) determines that a SM/V has a

serious employment handicap (SEH)

218RehabilitatedEmployment ServicesApplication Entitlement Decision Evaluation and Planning Tracks

• Application received • SM/V’s eligibility

established • Schedule SM/V for initial

counseling appointment if eligible

• VRC meets with SM/V

• Conduct VR&E orientation to include Five Tracks Video (Individualized Path to Employment)

• Conduct vocational evaluation to assess skills, abilities, and interests

• VRC determines employment handicap (VR&E entitlement criteria) and serious employment handicap

• VRC determines if it is reasonably feasible to pursue a vocational goal

• Work with SM/V to identify track

• Establish vocational or independent living goal

• Define services needed to accomplish goal of the rehabilitation plan

• Develop an Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP) or Individualized Independent Living Plan (IILP)

• On-going case management (max of 18 months)

• Provide employment services• Job Seeking skills to include resume

development and interviewing skills• Job placement assistance• VRC may refer SM/V to Department

of Labor (DOL)

• Maintained suitable employment, or

• Improved ability to live independently

• Independent Living

• Employment Thru Long-Term

Services

• Self Employment

• Rapid AccessTo Employment

• Re-Employment

VR&E Process

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Five Tracks to Employment

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1. Reemployment

2. Rapid Access to Employment

3. Employment Through Long-term

Services

4. Self-Employment

5. Independent Living

VR&E Benefits vs GI Bill

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• Is the VR&E program the same as the GI Bill?

• No. The GI Bill is an education program.

• The purpose of the VR&E program is to assist

SM/Vs with service-connected disabilities to

overcome their barriers to employment and

become suitably employed

• Four of the five VR&E tracks of services are

geared specifically toward employment

• The “E” in VR&E stands for the program’s mission

to assist SM/Vs with obtaining and maintaining

suitable Employment

VR&E Benefits vs GI Bill

• 36 months of entitlement time under GI Bill

• 48 months of entitlement time under VR&E (12 additional

months)

• VR&E supports 100% of tuition, fees, books, and

required supplies

• VR&E provides GI Bill basic housing allowance (BAH)

• VR&E provides employment services after completion of

training

• Up to 18 months of employment services (not deducted

from entitlement time)

• Two employment assistance allowance payments

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VR&E Employment Focus

The VR&E program provides employment services

in four of the five rehabilitation tracks.

Personalized employment services may include: Work-readiness preparation

Resume development and job-seeking skills

Interviewing skills preparation

Employment resources development

Job accommodations

Job placement assistance

Post-employment follow-up

Career counseling and rehabilitation planning

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VR&E Employment Focus

Other Employment Services may include:

• Referrals to other employment resources

• Online tool that connects SM/V and employers

access via https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/

Department of Labor (DOL)

• Employment assistance

• Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist

(DVOP)

• Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER)

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Modernization Initiatives

• Moving towards a paperless environment

• Paperless invoicing (Office of

Management and Budget mandate for all

federal agencies)

• VA ONCE certification

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Applying for Services

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Veterans can apply by one of the following ways:

On-line

• https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/

• Create an eBenefits account or login using an

existing account

Mail or deliver application (VA form 28-1900) to the nearest

local VA Regional Office

• 56 Regional Offices and one National Capital Regional

Benefits Office (NCRBO) around the US

https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/offices.asp

For More Information

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Find your local VR&E office by calling

Veterans Benefits Administration

Toll Free Number:

1-800-827-1000

• Online Resources:

www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre

www.va.gov

https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/

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Questions

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QUESTIONS?