Waco Regional Office - Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program
What is Vocational Rehabilitation?
Vocational Rehabilitation is a program of services for service members and veterans with service-connected disabilities, who are experiencing limitations in obtaining and/or maintaining employment, or independence in their daily living.Program Objectives:
- Prepare veterans for a suitable employment
- Help veterans obtain and maintain employment
- Assist veterans in becoming fully productive and independent
Services and Benefits:
Evaluation of abilities and skills; vocational and educational counseling; enrollment in an educational training program to qualify for employment, and financial assistance while in training.Other Services:
- Special accommodations for training and/or employment or independence in daily living.
- Tutorial assistance
- Medical and dental treatment
- Employment services
To Qualify:
Veterans are entitled to vocational rehabilitation services and benefits if all the following conditions are met:- A combined 20 percent* VA-compensable disability rating as a result of active service on or after September 16, 1940;
- Received, or will receive, a discharge or release from active duty under other than dishonorable conditions.
- Rehabilitation services are needed because of an employment handicap; and
- The period of eligibility has not expired.
Length of Eligibility:
If VA determines that a veteran is entitled to Vocational Rehabilitation services, the veteran has 12 years from the date of VA notification that there is a qualifying compensable disability to finish an approved program.Length of Assistance:
A veteran has up to 48 months of potential eligibility in a rehabilitation program. Following training, the VA provides employment services for up to 18 months.Types of Training Programs:
- Employment services and assistance
- Vocational Training
- Educational (college or university level) training
- Apprenticeship or on-job training
- Independent living services
- Training in rehabilitation facility or in a sheltered workshop (under special circumstances)
Financial Benefits:
Chapter 31 pays a subsistence allowance training expense to include required:- Tuition
- Fees
- Books
- Supplies
- Equipment
You can contact us via the internet at https://iris.custhelp.com/
You can call us at 1-800-827-1000 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday.
- Our Mailing Address Is:
- VA Regional Office
- One Veterans Plaza
- 701 Clay Avenue
- Waco, Texas 76799
For Deparment of Veterans Affairs forms, go to http://www4.va.gov/vaforms/
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment page is located at http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/index.htm
