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Veteran Readiness and Employment, or VR&E, is VA’s program for veterans whose service-connected disabilities make it hard to work. It is also called Chapter 31, and it used to be called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment. Depending on your situation it can pay for college or a trade program, help you find and keep a job, or help you live more independently.
The short version
- You can apply with a 10% or higher service-connected rating and a discharge that is not dishonorable.
- A Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor decides whether you are entitled to services and builds a plan with you.
- Discharged on or after January 1, 2013? There is no time limit. Earlier than that, you generally have 12 years.
- Using VR&E does not use up your GI Bill.
- Apply online or with VA Form 28-1900.
On this page
Who can apply
As a veteran, both of these must be true:
- You did not receive a dishonorable discharge.
- You have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10%.
When VA receives your application, it schedules an evaluation with a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC). The counselor decides whether you are entitled to services. Meeting the two requirements above lets you apply; it does not guarantee a plan.
As a service member still on active duty, at least one of these must be true:
- You have a pre-discharge (memorandum) rating of 20% or more and will soon leave the military.
- You are waiting to be discharged because of a severe illness or injury that happened on active duty.
Service members going through the Integrated Disability Evaluation System can also reach VR&E through that process.
Time limits
- Discharged on or after January 1, 2013: no time limit.
- Discharged before January 1, 2013: your basic period of eligibility generally ends 12 years from the later of your separation notice or your first VA disability rating. A counselor can extend it if you have a serious employment handicap, meaning your disabilities significantly limit your ability to prepare for, get and keep suitable work.
What VR&E can pay for
Depending on your needs and goals, services can include:
- A full evaluation of your abilities, skills and interests
- Career counseling and a rehabilitation plan
- Job training, resume help and other work-readiness support
- Help finding and keeping a job, including employer incentives and job accommodations
- On-the-job training, apprenticeships and unpaid work experience
- College, vocational, technical or business school
- Case management, counseling and medical referrals
- Independent living services if work is not yet a realistic goal
The monthly allowance, and the GI Bill rate
While you train you receive a monthly subsistence allowance. If you also have Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement left and are within your GI Bill eligibility period, you can choose to be paid the GI Bill’s rate instead, which VA says is usually higher. Your counselor helps you make that choice.
VR&E does not use up your GI Bill. VA does not deduct VR&E time from other VA education benefits. In some cases, if you used other VA education benefits before VR&E, your counselor may be able to restore those months.
How to apply
If you already have a VA disability rating, you can apply:
- Online at VA.gov. If you are eligible, VA invites you to an orientation.
- By mail with VA Form 28-1900 to the VR&E Intake Center, PO Box 5210, Janesville, WI 53547-5210.
- In person at a VA regional office.
- With help from an accredited Veterans Service Officer, claims agent or attorney.
Service members without a rating yet use VA Form 28-0588.
Common mistakes
- Assuming you are too old or it is too late. If you were discharged in 2013 or later, there is no time limit.
- Saving the GI Bill instead. VR&E does not consume GI Bill entitlement, so it is often worth using first.
- Worrying it will lower your rating. Training or working through VR&E does not by itself reduce a schedular rating. See working while on VA disability. If you receive TDIU, talk to your counselor first.
Related benefits
- Working while on VA disability
- TDIU
- Chapter 35 education benefits for your spouse or children
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.