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If you are a veteran, this pertains to you, and if not you for whatever reason, likely someone you have served with/know, and will be good to pass on.
I have seen information posted within threads about Ch 31 benefits, or Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab for short), as well as both GI Bills, but some are a few years old, dated, or a quick mention as a subtopic for other situations, in which you have to read to get snippets of info about it. This thread is intended to be the topic, and hopefully stickied (or whatever the word is) so that it is more easily found, and in which all of the information that I can think of is in one spot.
That said....
Upon separation there are multiple ways to fund schooling that are service related (disregard future service, i.e. HPSP/HSCP), be that undergrad, grad, or professional school. We know these as the Montgomery GI Bill (Ch 30, referred to this as Ch 30 hereafter) and the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch 33, referred to as "the GI Bill" or "post 9/11" hereafter). Each has there pros and cons, but one program that not many know about is Veteran Readiness and Employment, previously Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch 31 benefits, referred to as either VRE, Ch31, or Voc Rehab), which also has its pros and cons.
I have personally used both the GI Bill (albeit briefly) and VRE, but not Ch 30 benefits, but there is some information that I know about Ch 30 that should be known as well. I will start with the info I have on Ch 30.
Ch 30 benefits are allotted for up to 36 months with a flat rate stipend to my knowledge. Something I have learned about is that if you are utilizing Ch 30, and COMPLETELY EXHAUST (read: 0 days left of Ch 30 benefits - I say again, 0), you then quality for an additional 12 months of GI Bill (read: Post-9-11) assuming you meet the qualifications for post 9/11 GI Bill in the first place. This gives you a total of 48 months of benefits. If you have even 1 day left of the Ch 30 benefits, and you switch to the post 9/11, you DO NOT receive an additional 12 months of GI Bill, you simply switch to the GI Bill for the remainder of the initial allotted 36 months (in this example, 1 day). If you have been using the Ch 30 benefits and are considering switching, consider how far along in the program you are at the time. If you have any questions, please PM me and I will answer to the best of my ability.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is what most of us utilize upon returning to school after service. This pays up to 100% of the instate rates, or a capped around for private schools, and provides BAH and up to $1000/yr in books/supplies (based on status which is based on number of credits per semester as reported by the school). With this program, you receive up to 36 months of benefit (or 12 if using this is the additional time after exhausting Ch 30). A little known factoid: Once you completely exhaust the 9/11 GI Bill, you SHOULD be able to receive the $1200 back that you paid into Ch 30. If you did the buy-up program, once the GI Bill is exhausted, you may be able to continue for a prescribed about of time or funds - this I'm not 100% sure on, but can refer you to the person who is doing this - and continue on with a similar situation of the GI Bill with what you essential "bought-up" on.
Additionally there is the STEM scholarship, which allows for people enrolled in STEM degrees additional time for completion.
Refer to this: **Effective August 1st 2019** Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program
Switching to VRE with AT LEAST 1 day left allows you to elect the BAH rate instead of the regular stipend of VRE. Each individual situation is different though and depends on CoL of the school area/zip, and how many dependents you have as the standard stipend increases with number of dependents whereas 9/11 BAH pays a flat rate of E5 with dependents already regardless of number. For instance, someone in a LOW CoL area with like 5 dependents may get more out of the standard stipend than they will with BAH in some cases.
Now, onto the almost unknown program: VRE/Voc Rehab. The last few sentences alluded to some information, but anyway, Voc Rehab can be used for quite a few different things, but I will speak only for education because that is where my experience with it lies, and what the majority of us on this forum are pursuing. VRE's goal is to help veterans obtain competitive and suitable employment in your approved field (generally medicine for us on this page). You must apply for VRE through the either ebenefits or VA.gov (I think VA.gov now. It used to be the VONAPP system), and its main basic requirement is a 10% VA disability rating. VRE is VERY similar to the GI Bill in terms of payments to school and certification and all, but does have some little, but major, differences.
1) Voc Rehab provides up to 48 months of benefits (minus what you may have used of the GI Bill). This can be extended case-by-case when the VRC determines you have a Serious Employment Handicap (SEH).
2) VRE pays 100% of tuition and fees with no cap, as opposed to the GI Bill, which caps private schools and pays "up to" 100% of an in-state rate of tuition. This program also continues to provide you with medical and dental benefits through the VA for the duration of the program. Depending on the cost, however, there are thresholds of who needs to approve the case: VRC vs VRO vs Regional office, etc.
3) If you switched from the GI Bill (thus have time left from the original 36 months), you can still qualify for BAH (you must opt for this), but if you have exhausted the post 9/11 GI Bill before applying for/switching to VRE, you will receive the stipend, which is often significantly lower than the BAH rates for most places.
4) All books and required supplies (i.e. medical equipment, laptop, printer, books, etc) are covered whether the cost is $100 or $5000, opposed to the limit of $1000 from the GI Bill for "books only" (which is provided based on the number of credits for which you are registered).
5) Voc Rehab is EXTENDABLE as mentioned in bullet 1, but this is case-by-case, it depends on how much longer is needed, and it depends on the type of disabilities you are rated with, and somewhat up to the discretion of the counselor that you will see. To be able to apply for extended benefits, you must be of "serious employment handicap," or SEH for short.
Please note, this is to obtain competitive, suitable employment and depends on your current degree level (or lack of), current employment, current level of training, etc. What I mean here is for example if you are a successful lawyer with stability and disabilities that do not necessarily inhibit you from continuing on as a lawyer, they will probably not approve your request. On the other hand, maybe you were a police officer after getting out, but have a SERVICE-CONNECTED, lets say, knee injury which has progressively gotten worse and made it difficult to do your job, you stand a good chance for being approved for the program (though final approval based on goals depends on other factors in addition).
It is NOT like the GI Bill that you can stop if you want, then continue, switch fields, get a side job for extra money, change majors, or further you into a new career where your current career is suitable already on your own. Once you switch to VRE, it can be difficult to change the pathway you signed on for in many cases. With VRE, you are committed to the plan you discussed and signed off with the counselor until they approve any further changes, and breaks outside of standard summers off or winters off additionally need approval. If beyond a certain length of time, your case as the potential to be closed.
It is possible to use VRE to pay for medical/dental/pharmacy/etc school. It is by no means a guarantee, but it is quite possible.
Feel free to post or PM me if you have any additional information, different experiences with any of these programs, or questions. I will get back to you as timely as possible, but do realize I do not come on here every day, though I do receive email notifications of messages, so I will do my best. As I stated, this is what I have learned from personal experience and observations of others utilization said programs.
SIDE NOTE:
There is another HPSP program out there, and this one is through the VA with similar coverage of tuition/supplies, and a minimum payback (to the VA) of 2-3 years. The links are right below this paragraph.
I do know someone using this personally and can refer to them for info.
RECENT UPDATE:
The "48-month rule" has recently changed and with it a change with VRE. Previously benefits would stop at the 48-month mark, but now if currently enrolled in a given semester, GI Bill will continue to pay for the remainder of the semester.
Regarding VRE, previously VRE usage would deduct from the GI Bill the same way GI Bill deducted from VRE. GI Bill will still deduct from VRE, HOWEVER, VRE will NO LONGER deduct from GI Bill.
If you are past the delimiting date, this will not help you unfortunately. For those who are within theirs, or do not have one (Forever GI Bill), this benefits you if you used VRE before using up GI Bill as you will continue to have GI Bill remaining when you leave VRE.
GI Bill Entitlements will be re-calculated to remove previously charged months of benefit that were deducted from VRE use.
Additional info available here:
forums.studentdoctor.net
Edited 10 April 2021.
I have seen information posted within threads about Ch 31 benefits, or Vocational Rehabilitation (Voc Rehab for short), as well as both GI Bills, but some are a few years old, dated, or a quick mention as a subtopic for other situations, in which you have to read to get snippets of info about it. This thread is intended to be the topic, and hopefully stickied (or whatever the word is) so that it is more easily found, and in which all of the information that I can think of is in one spot.
That said....
Upon separation there are multiple ways to fund schooling that are service related (disregard future service, i.e. HPSP/HSCP), be that undergrad, grad, or professional school. We know these as the Montgomery GI Bill (Ch 30, referred to this as Ch 30 hereafter) and the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch 33, referred to as "the GI Bill" or "post 9/11" hereafter). Each has there pros and cons, but one program that not many know about is Veteran Readiness and Employment, previously Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch 31 benefits, referred to as either VRE, Ch31, or Voc Rehab), which also has its pros and cons.
I have personally used both the GI Bill (albeit briefly) and VRE, but not Ch 30 benefits, but there is some information that I know about Ch 30 that should be known as well. I will start with the info I have on Ch 30.
Ch 30 benefits are allotted for up to 36 months with a flat rate stipend to my knowledge. Something I have learned about is that if you are utilizing Ch 30, and COMPLETELY EXHAUST (read: 0 days left of Ch 30 benefits - I say again, 0), you then quality for an additional 12 months of GI Bill (read: Post-9-11) assuming you meet the qualifications for post 9/11 GI Bill in the first place. This gives you a total of 48 months of benefits. If you have even 1 day left of the Ch 30 benefits, and you switch to the post 9/11, you DO NOT receive an additional 12 months of GI Bill, you simply switch to the GI Bill for the remainder of the initial allotted 36 months (in this example, 1 day). If you have been using the Ch 30 benefits and are considering switching, consider how far along in the program you are at the time. If you have any questions, please PM me and I will answer to the best of my ability.
The Post 9/11 GI Bill is what most of us utilize upon returning to school after service. This pays up to 100% of the instate rates, or a capped around for private schools, and provides BAH and up to $1000/yr in books/supplies (based on status which is based on number of credits per semester as reported by the school). With this program, you receive up to 36 months of benefit (or 12 if using this is the additional time after exhausting Ch 30). A little known factoid: Once you completely exhaust the 9/11 GI Bill, you SHOULD be able to receive the $1200 back that you paid into Ch 30. If you did the buy-up program, once the GI Bill is exhausted, you may be able to continue for a prescribed about of time or funds - this I'm not 100% sure on, but can refer you to the person who is doing this - and continue on with a similar situation of the GI Bill with what you essential "bought-up" on.
Additionally there is the STEM scholarship, which allows for people enrolled in STEM degrees additional time for completion.
Refer to this: **Effective August 1st 2019** Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship program
Switching to VRE with AT LEAST 1 day left allows you to elect the BAH rate instead of the regular stipend of VRE. Each individual situation is different though and depends on CoL of the school area/zip, and how many dependents you have as the standard stipend increases with number of dependents whereas 9/11 BAH pays a flat rate of E5 with dependents already regardless of number. For instance, someone in a LOW CoL area with like 5 dependents may get more out of the standard stipend than they will with BAH in some cases.
Now, onto the almost unknown program: VRE/Voc Rehab. The last few sentences alluded to some information, but anyway, Voc Rehab can be used for quite a few different things, but I will speak only for education because that is where my experience with it lies, and what the majority of us on this forum are pursuing. VRE's goal is to help veterans obtain competitive and suitable employment in your approved field (generally medicine for us on this page). You must apply for VRE through the either ebenefits or VA.gov (I think VA.gov now. It used to be the VONAPP system), and its main basic requirement is a 10% VA disability rating. VRE is VERY similar to the GI Bill in terms of payments to school and certification and all, but does have some little, but major, differences.
1) Voc Rehab provides up to 48 months of benefits (minus what you may have used of the GI Bill). This can be extended case-by-case when the VRC determines you have a Serious Employment Handicap (SEH).
2) VRE pays 100% of tuition and fees with no cap, as opposed to the GI Bill, which caps private schools and pays "up to" 100% of an in-state rate of tuition. This program also continues to provide you with medical and dental benefits through the VA for the duration of the program. Depending on the cost, however, there are thresholds of who needs to approve the case: VRC vs VRO vs Regional office, etc.
3) If you switched from the GI Bill (thus have time left from the original 36 months), you can still qualify for BAH (you must opt for this), but if you have exhausted the post 9/11 GI Bill before applying for/switching to VRE, you will receive the stipend, which is often significantly lower than the BAH rates for most places.
4) All books and required supplies (i.e. medical equipment, laptop, printer, books, etc) are covered whether the cost is $100 or $5000, opposed to the limit of $1000 from the GI Bill for "books only" (which is provided based on the number of credits for which you are registered).
5) Voc Rehab is EXTENDABLE as mentioned in bullet 1, but this is case-by-case, it depends on how much longer is needed, and it depends on the type of disabilities you are rated with, and somewhat up to the discretion of the counselor that you will see. To be able to apply for extended benefits, you must be of "serious employment handicap," or SEH for short.
Please note, this is to obtain competitive, suitable employment and depends on your current degree level (or lack of), current employment, current level of training, etc. What I mean here is for example if you are a successful lawyer with stability and disabilities that do not necessarily inhibit you from continuing on as a lawyer, they will probably not approve your request. On the other hand, maybe you were a police officer after getting out, but have a SERVICE-CONNECTED, lets say, knee injury which has progressively gotten worse and made it difficult to do your job, you stand a good chance for being approved for the program (though final approval based on goals depends on other factors in addition).
It is NOT like the GI Bill that you can stop if you want, then continue, switch fields, get a side job for extra money, change majors, or further you into a new career where your current career is suitable already on your own. Once you switch to VRE, it can be difficult to change the pathway you signed on for in many cases. With VRE, you are committed to the plan you discussed and signed off with the counselor until they approve any further changes, and breaks outside of standard summers off or winters off additionally need approval. If beyond a certain length of time, your case as the potential to be closed.
It is possible to use VRE to pay for medical/dental/pharmacy/etc school. It is by no means a guarantee, but it is quite possible.
Feel free to post or PM me if you have any additional information, different experiences with any of these programs, or questions. I will get back to you as timely as possible, but do realize I do not come on here every day, though I do receive email notifications of messages, so I will do my best. As I stated, this is what I have learned from personal experience and observations of others utilization said programs.
SIDE NOTE:
There is another HPSP program out there, and this one is through the VA with similar coverage of tuition/supplies, and a minimum payback (to the VA) of 2-3 years. The links are right below this paragraph.
I do know someone using this personally and can refer to them for info.
RECENT UPDATE:
The "48-month rule" has recently changed and with it a change with VRE. Previously benefits would stop at the 48-month mark, but now if currently enrolled in a given semester, GI Bill will continue to pay for the remainder of the semester.
Regarding VRE, previously VRE usage would deduct from the GI Bill the same way GI Bill deducted from VRE. GI Bill will still deduct from VRE, HOWEVER, VRE will NO LONGER deduct from GI Bill.
If you are past the delimiting date, this will not help you unfortunately. For those who are within theirs, or do not have one (Forever GI Bill), this benefits you if you used VRE before using up GI Bill as you will continue to have GI Bill remaining when you leave VRE.
GI Bill Entitlements will be re-calculated to remove previously charged months of benefit that were deducted from VRE use.
Additional info available here:
***2023 Update*** FAQs - Post 9/11 & Montgomery GI Bill Benefits - VR&E Chapter 31 Benefits - Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship (Files Attached)
In this section: Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB), Post 9-11 GI Bill, and Veteran Readiness & Employment Program (formerly known as Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment) Benefits will be discussed in detail (as it pertains to healthcare professional students) along with commonly asked questions...
forums.studentdoctor.net
Edited 10 April 2021.
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