VR&E Chapter 31

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), also called Chapter 31, is often misunderstood. Calling it “the other GI Bill” is one of the most common reasons applications get denied. VR&E is an employment program. School is one of five ways it can help, and the goal is a suitable job that your service-connected disability won’t undermine. You can qualify even while working if your job makes your condition worse or you can’t keep it up.

​

VR&E doesn’t use your GI Bill. It offers up to 48 months of services and pays full tuition with no national cap, plus books, tools, uniforms, licensing fees and required equipment like a computer. It also pays a monthly allowance on top of your disability pay. The new full-time rate starts at $837.23 a month and goes up with dependents. If you have Post-9/11 GI Bill entitlement left, you may be able to choose the higher GI Bill housing rate instead. VR&E also ends with help finding a job, which the GI Bill doesn’t offer.

​

This page covers:

• who qualifies and what an “employment handicap” means

• the five tracks, including on-the-job training and self-employment

• the new monthly rates

• what VA will ask you

• how to prove your job goal leads to a real local job

• common reasons for denial and what to do next

• real-world examples and links to official VA sources and the law

​

Download the free VR&E Chapter 31 Prep Guide. It has the new rates, the questions VA will ask, a job posting log, a completed example and your rehabilitation plan checklist. It also has statement pages that link to our Statement Writer, plus a tracking sheet and contact log.