How to Use Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation for College and Career Growth

You can go to college and have the military pay for it.

As a veteran or service member, you may qualify for Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) funds to help cover the cost of college or vocational training. Many people call VR&E “voc rehab,” which suggests that the program only pays for a traditional vocational school or requires physical rehabilitation. Neither is true.

VR&E funds help service members and veterans with service-connected disabilities get the training and education they need to find a job, start a business, or return to their pre-service career. Once you qualify for VR&E support, you can apply your funds at a military-friendly college or a vocational trade school for veterans.

Explore our guide below to discover how to use VR&E funds to attend college or vocational school.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) is one VA-sponsored program that can help you earn a degree or undertake vocational training at little or no out-of-pocket costs.

VR&E now stands for Veteran Readiness and Employment but used to stand for Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. Some people just call it “Chapter 31,” and that works, too. All of these titles refer to the same educational funding program offered by the VA.

VR&E helps service members and veterans with service-connected disabilities train for jobs, earn degrees, and open businesses. They may also access other resources to help them live independently through the program.

You must be a veteran or service member who spent time on active duty, and you must have experienced an injury — or had an injury made worse — due to your service-related activities. You will need a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher to receive VR&E support.

If you are still on active duty, you should have received a 20% or higher disability rating or be waiting for a discharge due to a severe injury or illness. In addition, you cannot have received a dishonorable discharge. If you did receive a dishonorable discharge, you have to apply for and receive a discharge upgrade to be considered for VR&E.

VR&E can help you pay for higher education, job training, coaching in job-seeking skills, employment accommodations, and resume development. You can also secure assistance starting your own business. If you have severe disabilities and are unable to work, VR&E can help you access independent living services.

While you are in school or receiving job training, VR&E offers a subsistence allowance that can help you cover household expenses. If you help support a veteran or service member who has a service-related disability, VR&E can also provide you with career counseling and vocational support. You can even ask to use VR&E funds to cover a computer or the cost of moving to attend school.

The VA offers these five tracks to employment through the VR&E program:

Unlike the GI Bill, the VR&E program does not cap tuition expenses. Whatever your school charges is what the U.S. government pays for up to 48 months of enrollment. However, the program does cap textbook costs at $1,000 and routine supplies at $50 per term. You may need to get special permission to use VR&E funds for any uniforms your program requires.

With the VR&E program, how much you get for a monthly stipend depends on a complex combination of factors, including what kind of training you are taking, how much your program costs, how many dependents you have, and whether you are training full-time or part-time.

If you qualify for VR&E funds, you do not need to choose between vocational rehab and your GI Bill. You can use VR&E support first and save your GI Bill money for later. Since most veterans and service members qualify for the GI Bill, let’s look at how to apply for these benefits before we take you through VR&E.

The GI Bill helps veterans and military members pay for tuition, books, and other college or vocational school costs. The original GI Bill was called the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, and it was signed into law under President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help returning World War II veterans.

Today, the GI Bill is not just one but several bills, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, and survivors’ and dependents’ benefits. You can also get top-up assistance if the bill doesn’t cover your costs completely. Attending a school that participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program gives you additional help from your college to pay whatever the GI Bill doesn’t cover.

Active-duty service members, veterans, members of the National Guard or Reserves, and qualified survivors or dependents of veterans may qualify for the GI Bill. However, Post-9/11 GI Bill and Montgomery GI Bill eligibility requirements are more stringent.

For example, to receive the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you must meet one of the following requirements:

If you meet the qualifications to receive aid from the GI Bill, go to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website to get started on your application. You will need your Social Security number, military history, education history, information about the program you want to attend, and direct deposition information for your bank account.

Typically, you should hear back within 30 days of applying. If you have been approved for benefits, VA will mail you a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE). If you were not approved, you will receive a notice of denial.

Unless you have two or more qualifying active-duty periods, the Post-9/11 GI Bill only pays for a maximum of 36 months of education. Usually, that does not give you enough time to complete a bachelor’s degree program.

Fortunately, however, you can help bridge the gap between what you receive and what you owe by attending a Yellow Ribbon school or by qualifying for additional veterans’ benefits, such as VR&E.

Once you’ve completed school or job training, what does the VR&E program offer veterans with disabilities? The good news is that you may be able to access more resources than you might think.

If you are a veteran enrolled in VR&E, you can access employment counseling and support for your job search. You must have a disability or barrier that has stood in the way of becoming employed, and you must already have experience, training, or education in your field of interest.

Many state, federal, and private organizations offer career counseling and related services to veterans receiving vocational rehabilitation support, including the following:

The careers in the following table offer excellent median annual wages and show sharp upward growth trends.

Affordablecollegesonline.org provides information about the GI Bill, including eligibility, benefits, and how to apply, but it’s important to note that we are not an official government agency, and the content we share is for informational purposes only and not legal advice.