If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work or prevents you from working, Veteran Readiness and Employment (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) can help. This program—also known as Chapter 31 or VR&E—helps you explore employment options and address education or training needs.
Services provided help eligible students:
- Reemployment track
- Rapid Access to Employment track
- Employment Through Long-Term Services track
- Independent Living track
- Self-Employment track
VR&E Eligibility
Eligible veterans must meet the following to be eligible:
- Honorable or Other than Dishonorable Discharge
- VA service-connected disability rating of 10% or more; or memorandum rating of 20 percent
- Apply for Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) benefits
Eligible active duty service members must meet the following to be eligible:
- Expect to receive an honorable discharge
- Obtain a VA memorandum rating of 20 percent or more
- Are participating in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) process or awaiting discharge due to a medical condition resulting from serious injury or illness in the line of duty
- Severely injured active-duty service members can automatically receive VR&E benefits before VA issues a disability rating; Sec. 1631(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act (PH 110-181)
- Apply for Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) benefits
VR&E Application Process
Veterans and active-duty service members planning to attend UT San Antonio should complete the following steps to use VR&E:
Apply for VR&E services at va.gov
Option 1: Online
Apply for VR&E benefits
Option 2: By mail
Fill out an Application for Veteran Readiness and Employment for Claimants with Service-Connected Disabilities (VA Form 28-1900).
Option 3: In person
Go to a VA regional office and have a VA employee help you.
Option 4: With the help of a trained professional
You can work with an accredited attorney, claims agent, or Veterans Service Organization (VSO) representative to get help applying for VR&E benefits.
Complete your Admissions Process with UT San Antonio
Please go to future.utsa.edu/apply/ and complete the admissions process for the program you want to pursue.
Meet with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC)
After you apply, VA will schedule a meeting with a VRC to evaluate your eligibility and determine whether you are entitled to VR&E services.
UT San Antonio participates in the VetSuccess on Campus program, housing two VRCs within the CMAS office.
Use degree works
VR&E Approved Courses
It’s important to understand that the way Veteran Readiness Employment (VR&E) benefits count enrollment hours is slightly different than just looking at the exact number of credits you register for. It’s not a direct one-to-one relationship. Two factors can alter what your total enrollment hours are for military education benefit purposes:
- Courses you enroll in that are not part of your Program of Study and VR&E Authorization (PO)
- Courses you repeated too many times
VR&E coverage may differ from financial aid regulations, and some courses that are eligible for coverage under specific benefits may not be eligible under other benefits or under financial aid.
To receive the max amount of VR&E benefit stipends, you need to be enrolled full-time in courses that are part of your program of study and are eligible for VR&E benefits. If you are not full-time, applicable stipend payments will be prorated for a given term.
More Info on how these will differ:
A Program of Study is the list of predefined courses/credits you must successfully complete in order to earn your degree in the major/program you’ve declared. You may also see it referred to as a “course Program of Study” (CPOS) or degree plan.
How can I view my Program of Study?
You can view your Program of Study on DegreeWorks. Some tips for using DegreeWorks when registering for courses:
- Ensure your VR&E Authorization (PO) is written for the correct program you intend to enroll in.
- Look at your DegreeWorks plan before you register to know what courses you need to register for your approved VR&E program of study.
- After registering for a course, check DegreeWorks to make sure it does not fall in the “Extra Course” section. If it does show up there, and if you truly need that course, you must see an academic advisor to have that course count towards your Program of Study. Academic advisors can email [email protected] to inform our office if a course is approved for your Program of Study, but is not reflecting as approved on your DegreeWorks yet. You can also request that your VR&E counselor (VRC) provide approval through an authorization (PO) for courses not included in your Program of Study.
- If our office finds that you are registered for course that are not a part of your Program of Study and cannot be covered by your benefits we will process your certification for courses that can be covered by your benefits, and notify you by email of what cannot be covered.
- Students enrolled in a graduate program or certificate may refer to their graduate degree plan provided by their academic advisor. They may need to supply a copy of their degree plan to our office in order to verify degree requirements for certification.
For VR&E benefits honors courses, dual degrees, and minors will be considered as a part of the Program of Study if approved on the VR&E authorization (PO) and will be certified. Additional fees like honors course fees are not covered under VR&E benefits.
Students who need to take a course that is a prerequisite to attend Graduate or Professional School (i.e., medical school) can take these courses as long as they have an available “free elective” slot in their Program of Study. Courses may require additional advisor approval if they are not listed in a required section of the Program of Study, or VR&E authorization (PO).
Students can “round out” a schedule with non-required (additional) courses to bring their course load up to a full-time schedule during their final term only. This allows beneficiaries to continue to receive benefits at the full-time rate in their final term of enrollment, even though fewer credits are required to complete the program. However, the non-required classes must contribute to the VR&E participant’s employment goal as outlined in his or her Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP). The VRC must approve the additional non-required classes prior to the VR&E participant’s enrollment. VR&E Case Managers may submit an updated VR&E authorization (PO) listing the approved course or email our office with their approval.
You cannot receive VR&E benefits for taking a previously passed course. Courses may be repeated if you have not earned a previous passing grade. There may be limitations on how many times a course without a passing grade can be repeated under VR&E benefits. Additionally, students should be aware of extra fees not covered under VR&E standard tuition and fees such as well as academic requirements. Students may contact their academic advisor on how to apply for any charges not covered under benefits such as third repeat fees and excessive 30/45 credit limitation hour fees.
Ordering Books
As a Chapter 31, VR&E student, you can obtain a book voucher to order your books online at the UT San Antonio bookstore. Before ordering, you must work with your VR&E counselor to create an authorization which will be transmitted to the bookstore, who will create an account for you. » view online ordering instructions
VA VetSuccess on Campus
VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) supports Veterans and service members who are transitioning from military to college life, and certain qualified dependents. We have two vocational rehabilitation counselors, called VSOC counselors, located on campus within the Center for Military Affiliated Students. To meet with a VSOC counselor, please make an appointment.
Mrs. Wendy Foster
[email protected]
Mr. Matthew Farnham
[email protected]
