Dylan4Vets

VR&E (Chapter 31) Playbook

Turn VR&E into a career and life upgrade

Plain-English walkthrough of tracks, eligibility, money, employer programs, and how to apply.

By Dylan4Vets • For U.S. veterans using or considering VR&E
Benefits guide

Use VR&E to fund school, training, and real job paths.

Chapter 31 can pay for tuition, gear, licenses, subsistence, and on-the-job experience — if you know how to work the system.

Jump to the overview ›
🎓
Overview Eligibility Tracks Money & supports Employer programs How to apply FAQ
📌 Start here

What VR&E actually does

VR&E (Veteran Readiness & Employment, Chapter 31) is the VA program that helps eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, get, and keep suitable employment — or improve independence when work right now isn’t realistic.

  • Pays for training and education that match your abilities and limitations.
  • Provides a subsistence allowance (monthly living money) while you’re in an approved plan, with an option to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill housing rate if eligible.
  • Covers books, supplies, equipment, licenses, exams, and often a computer when needed.
  • Offers employer-side programs like SEI and NPWE that make you easier to hire.
  • Includes an Independent Living track when employment isn’t feasible yet.
Big idea: Chapter 31 isn’t “just school money.” It’s a whole ecosystem: training, equipment, income support, and employer partnerships — all wrapped inside an Individualized Rehabilitation Plan (IRP) you build with your Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC).
✅ Eligibility

Who qualifies and how long you have

Basic eligibility

  • Discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and
  • A VA service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher.

Time limits (the “12-year rule”)

Separated before Jan 1, 2013: you generally must first use VR&E within 12 years of the later of:

  • Your date of separation from active duty, or
  • The date you were first notified of a qualifying service-connected rating.

Separated on/after Jan 1, 2013: there is no basic period of eligibility. You can apply whenever VR&E would help you reach a suitable employment goal.

Special cases

  • On active duty (IDES / med board): wounded, injured, or ill service members may be referred to VR&E before discharge.
  • Certain children of Vietnam / Korean-era veterans: may qualify for up to 24 months of services under special provisions. Check with a VRC or VA.gov for details.
Reality check: Even if you’re outside the usual 12-year window, extensions are sometimes granted when your service-connected conditions have worsened or previous training failed. Don’t self-deny — let VR&E make the call.
🧭 Program tracks

VR&E tracks you can actually choose from

Your VRC will help you pick a track based on your skills, limitations, and goals. You can move across tracks when your plan changes.

Reemployment Return to your previous employer using accommodations, assistive tech, and retraining so the job actually works with your disabilities.
Rapid Access to Employment For vets ready to work soon. Focuses on job-search coaching, resumes, interviewing, and short-term training to land a job quickly.
Employment Through Long-Term Services The classic “go to school” track: college, vocational training, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training when your target job needs more prep.
Self-Employment For a viable business idea. Includes business planning, training, and (case-by-case) funding for tools, software, or other essentials.
Independent Living (IL) If severe disabilities make work unrealistic right now, IL can provide assistive technology, home/vehicle adaptations, and daily-living supports to maximize independence.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to say what you actually want long-term (including self-employment or grad school). VR&E plans work best when the goal is honest and the steps are realistic.
💰 Money & supports

What VR&E can pay for

Not every benefit applies in every plan — but here’s the menu your counselor pulls from.

Subsistence allowance Monthly payment while you’re in training. If you’re eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you can usually elect the Post-9/11 MHA (E-5 w/ dependents) instead of the standard Chapter 31 rate.
Tuition, fees, & books VR&E can pay tuition, fees, textbooks, required supplies, and equipment for your approved training. Computers and software are common if they’re truly needed.
Licenses, exams, & dues Required certification exams, license fees, and professional association dues tied directly to your employment goal.
Job-start essentials Uniforms, work clothing, safety gear, tools, and similar items that are mandatory to start or keep the job in your plan.
Tutoring & academic support Authorized tutorial assistance when you need extra help to pass required courses or keep pace in your program.
Transportation assistance Case-by-case help getting to training and VR&E appointments when transportation is a barrier.
Dental & adaptive equipment Dental care when it’s essential to your rehab goal, plus adaptive tech/equipment so you can participate in training or work.
Vehicle modifications Adaptive driving controls or vehicle mods when needed for training or commuting (often coordinated with VA auto grant programs).
Retroactive induction Training you started just before formal VR&E approval can sometimes be picked up and paid for retroactively.
Employment Adjustment Allowance (EAA) Up to two months of allowance after you finish your plan and land a suitable job — a short bridge while you settle in.
Revolving Fund Loan (RFL) Small, interest-free emergency loan in limited hardship situations that directly affect your VR&E participation.
Campus & career guidance VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) counselors at many schools, and PCPG / “Chapter 36” career planning services even before or alongside VR&E.
Key rule: VR&E pays for what’s necessary for the goal in your Individualized Rehabilitation Plan (IRP). If something matters to your training or job, talk with your VRC about writing it into the plan instead of assuming “they won’t pay for that.”
🏢 Employer side

Programs that make you easier to hire

VR&E doesn’t just help you qualify — it also gives employers reasons to say “yes.”

  • SEI – Special Employer Incentives: VA can reimburse a portion of your wages and training costs while an employer trains you on the job. Great for “try-out” situations.
  • NPWE – Non-Paid Work Experience: Structured, time-limited experience with public agencies or nonprofits where you gain skills and references while keeping your subsistence allowance.
  • On-the-Job Training & Apprenticeships: Earn a paycheck while you learn — VR&E can support required tools, safety gear, and related training costs.
  • Dedicated employment staff: VR&E employment coordinators work with employers on accommodations, incentives, and placements so you’re not doing it alone.
Pro move: If a company wants to hire you but is nervous about training costs or accommodations, ask your VRC whether SEI, NPWE, or OJT can be used as a bridge.
📋 Action steps

How to apply for VR&E (and what happens next)

1

Apply online (VA Form 28-1900)

Submit VA Form 28-1900 on VA.gov to request a VR&E evaluation.

Apply for VR&E (28-1900) on VA.gov ↗

2

Initial evaluation with your VRC

You’ll meet a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor to review your disabilities, interests, strengths, and limits. They confirm eligibility and determine if you have an “employment handicap” VR&E can help with.

3

Build your Individualized Rehabilitation Plan

Together you pick a track, define your employment goal, and write out the services VR&E will provide (training, equipment, supports). If you qualify, you’ll also choose between the standard Chapter 31 subsistence rate and the Post-9/11 MHA option.

4

Start services and adjust as needed

You move into training, employer programs, or independent living services with ongoing support from your VRC. Plans can be adjusted when life changes — just communicate early.

Tip: If you’ve already started classes that clearly fit your VR&E goal, ask your counselor about retroactive induction so Chapter 31 can pick up eligible costs you recently paid out of pocket.
❓ FAQ

VR&E questions I hear all the time

Will VR&E affect my TDIU?

Participating in VR&E doesn’t automatically change a TDIU rating. But if you move into sustained, substantially gainful employment, VA can review TDIU. If you’re on TDIU, talk with your VSO/rep before making big work changes.

Can VR&E fund grad school?

Sometimes, yes. VR&E can approve graduate school when it’s necessary for your agreed-on employment goal and there isn’t a reasonable lower-level option that still gets you there. Expect extra scrutiny and justification.

How long can I use VR&E?

Standard entitlement is up to 48 months of services, with extensions possible in certain situations. The old 12-year basic period only applies to vets separated before 2013; newer separations don’t have that time limit.

What can VR&E pay for when I’m starting a job?

VR&E can cover required uniforms / work clothing, safety gear, tools, licenses, certification exams, and professional dues if those are needed to start or keep a job that’s part of your IRP.

Rules and rates change. Use this as a roadmap, then verify details with your VRC, a VSO, or the latest guidance on VA.gov.