Chapter 31

What is the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program?

The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program is authorized by Congress and is sometimes referred to as the Chapter 31 program.

The program assists Veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. This includes completing a degree program that will help the veteran do that.

Services that may be provided by the VR&E Program include

Comprehensive rehabilitation evaluation to determine abilities, skills, and interests for employment
- Vocational counseling and rehabilitation planning for employment services
- Employment services such as job-training, job-seeking skills, resume development, and other work readiness assistance
- Assistance finding and keeping a job, including the use of special employer incentives and job accommodations
- On the Job Training (OJT), apprenticeships, and non-paid work experiences
- Post-secondary training at a college, vocational, technical or business school
- Supportive rehabilitation services including case management, counseling, and medical referrals
- Independent living services for Veterans unable to work due to the severity of their disabilities

Go to the VA website for more information.
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)

How VA Processes Monthly Educational Benefits

GI Bill® Comparison Tool follow this link for more information

Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty (MGIB-AD/Chapter 30
- Monthly benefit paid to student
- Student uses monthly benefit to pay tuition/fees to school
- May be eligible for kicker if part of the original enlistment contract or part of a re-enlistment contract
- Must certify enrollment with your VA Regional Office at the end of each month, by phone or on-line

Vocational Rehab and Employment Services (VRE/Chapter 31)
- Tuition and fees paid directly to school
- Books charged through school and paid directly to school
- Monthly stipend to student

Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
- Tuition and fees paid directly to school
- Book stipend paid to student, $41.67 per credit hour, up to $1000 available from August to August. Payment amounts vary based on the following:
  - Payment eligibility rating, a range of 40% to 100%
  - Enrollment status, full-time or less
- Monthly housing stipend (BHA/BAH) paid to student. Payment amounts vary based on the following:
  - Payment eligibility rating, a range of 40% to 100%
  - Enrollment status, full-time or less, and enrolled more than 50% rate of degree pursuit
  - Enrolled in all on-line courses, and enrolled more than 50% rate of degree pursuit
  - If spouse is currently active duty, not eligible for monthly housing stipend

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program
- (DEA/Chapter 35)
- Monthly benefit paid to student
- Student uses monthly benefit to pay tuition/fees to school

Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR/Chapter 1606)
- Monthly benefit paid to student
- Student uses monthly benefit to pay tuition/fees to school
- May be eligible for kicker if part of the original enlistment contract or part of a re-enlistment contract
- Must certify enrollment with your VA Regional Office at the end of each month, by phone or on-line

Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP/Chapter 1607)
- Monthly benefit paid to student
- Student uses monthly benefit to pay tuition/fees to school
- May be eligible for kicker if part of the original enlistment contract or part of a re-enlistment contract
- Must certify enrollment with your VA Regional Office at the end of each month, by phone or on-line

Other VA Educational Monthly Benefits Eligibility Policies and Considerations

1. SouthArk Payment Plan: VA checks may take time to process. Students can set up a payment plan to
hold classes until the VA begins to pay.
A. Once classes are scheduled, students can start a payment plan from their student account under
View/Pay Bill
B. Down payments and enrollment fees are processed immediately.
C. Once VA payments begin, students must contact SouthArk's business office to switch payment
options.

2. Students who are receiving benefits under Chapter 30, 1606, and 1607 must request payment at the
end of each month by using one of the following:
A. By calling 1-(877)823-2378, Automated Verification of Enrollment (W.A.V.E.)
B. Going online at www.gibill.va.gov Click on verify attendance (W.A.V.E.) Tab then create account and submit enrollment for payment. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

3. The Veterans Regional Office will not pay for the following:
A. A course that does not pertain to the degree you are seeking
B. On-line developmental (remedial) courses
C. A course already passed at an acceptable level at SouthArk or any other school
Check with your adviser: a grade of "D" may be an acceptable grade for your degree requirement.

4. SouthArk reports regularly to the Veterans Regional Office. If any of the following actions result in your having been paid more than what you are eligible for, you may have to repay the amount in excess of your eligibility:
A. Dropped class
B. Term withdrawal
C. NC (no-credit) grade in a non-developmental course
D. Non-attendance grade (grade of F)
E. Incomplete grade that is subsequently replaced with an NC (no-credit) grade

5. SouthArk also reports the following information to the Veterans Regional Office:
A. Academic probation
B. Suspension
C. Graduation

*GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website, https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/handouts_forms.asp.

Veterans' Services

Military Student Support Services

VONAPP

Transcripts and Credit for Prior Learning

Vocational Rehab/Employment

Active Duty and Reserve

National Guard

Where to Find More Information

Isakson & Roe Act

Other Sources for Education Funding