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VR&E Program Overview. Learning Objectives. At the conclusion of this training, you will understand: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program objective Basic Eligibility & Entitlement 5 Tracks to Employment Hiring Incentives Legislative Updates Coming Home to Work (CHTW)
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Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this training, you will understand: • 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
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
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.
Entitlement • A maximum of 48 months. • Must be used during the 12 years of eligibility. • May be extended for participants with a SEH.
VR&E’s 5 Tracks to Employment • Reemployment • Rapid Access to Employment • Employment through long term services • Independent Living Services • Self-Employment
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Services • Medical • Dental • Optical • Mental Health • Vet Centers • Specially Adapted Housing • Vocational/Educational Counseling • Special Hiring Authority
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
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 to50% of Veteran’s salary • Employment is expected to continue following successful completion of the SEI program • Targets private, non-profit sector
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
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
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.
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.
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 .
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
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
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.