Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) provides educational assistance to veterans with a declared service-connected disability. Vocational Rehabilitation services enables those with disabilities to transition from military service to a successful rehabilitation and on to suitable employment and/or independent living. Vocational rehabilitation services may generally be provided for up to 48 months within a period of 12 years from the date he or she is notified of entitlement to VA disability compensation.
Effective April 1, 2021, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will no longer count the use of Veterans Readiness & Employment (VR&E) benefits (chapter 31) against the 48-month limit on GI Bill® education benefits such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. The use of GI Bill® education benefits will continue to count against the 48-month limit on VR&E benefits.
Effective August 1, 2011, those who are entitled to both Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) benefits AND Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) benefits are able to choose payment of an amount equal to the Post-9/11 monthly housing allowance instead of the Chapter 31 subsistence allowance. This means that you may be able to receive the case management supportive services and other benefits of the Voc. Rehab. program but elect to receive the housing allowance amount under Chapter 33 if it is higher than the Voc. Rehab. subsistence allowance. If you choose the housing allowance, the monthly amount will be based on an E-5 with dependents in the zip code where the institution providing rehabilitation is located.
If you're eligible under both Chapter 31 and Chapter 33, please talk with your counselor to determine how to make the best choice for your particular situation.
To determine eligibility for Chapter 31, please visit the Veterans Affairs website
How to use Chapter 31 VRE benefits at JMU
Step 1: Apply for VRE through the VA online application VA Form 28-1900, Vocational Rehabilitation for Claimants With Service-Connected Disabilities.
- Application is completed through va.gov.
- Once approved and you have worked with your VRE counselor, they will send JMU an authorization through a system called Tungsten.
- The counselor needs to send two separate authorizations:
- 1) JMU for tuition/fees and parking pass (if they will approve a parking pass allowed). Send the tuition/fee authorization to veteran@jmu.edu
- 2) Follett (JMU bookstore) for books and supplies. The bookstore authorization must be sent to 0712mgr@follett.com
Step 2: Once enrolled at JMU and completed orientation: Complete the JMU Veterans Education Benefits Request form.
- Complete and submit online
- Must complete at one time; no save option
- Requires student to login with their JMU credentials and Duo authentication
- Complete after you have participated in orientation and finalized your upcoming semester schedule
- Benefit only cover what you must take for graduation.
Additional Actions:
- If you will be attending on-campus courses, ask your VRE counselor to include a parking pass on the authorization for JMU with tuition/fees.
- Make sure you send in your JST (or CCAF transcript; undergraduate students only. It must send directly to JMU as official copy) for credit evaluation.
- DD-214 (send to veteran@jmu.edu) to have on file.
- Send in all higher education transcripts for credit evaluation, if applicable (typically undergraduate programs). It must be an official copy sent directly to JMU.
- Discuss with your VRE counselor the housing stipend rate you will receive. Some users can qualify for the Post 9/11 stipend rate if eligible for that benefit.