VR&E Benefit Extensions for Student Veterans

Veterans Benefits Administration sent this bulletin at 06/17/2020 02:10 PM EDT

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Dear VR&E Participant,

With the enactment of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, (Public Law 116-140) the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been granted the authority to extend certain laws for students who had been pursuing Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) benefits.  The covered period is from March 1, 2020 until December 21, 2020.

This letter informs you that Public Law 116-140, grants the following extensions:

  • Extension of the 18-Month Limitation on Employment Services
    • If a claimant is unable to participate in a program of employment services due to the emergency situation with COVID-19, the 18-month limitation on employment services will not apply during the covered period.
  • Extension of the 12-Year Eligibility Period
    • The eligibility period will not run if a claimant is prevented from participating in his or her rehabilitation program during the covered period due to the emergency situation with COVID-19.
  • Continuation of Subsistence Allowance (SA) for Temporary Closures
    • If the claimant is enrolled in a program or course of education at an educational institution that is temporarily closed by reason of the emergency situation with COVID-19, or the program or course of education is suspended by reason of the emergency situation with COVID-19, during the covered period, SA payments may continue for up to four weeks. Entitlement may be restored in this circumstance.
  • Continuation of Subsistence Allowance (SA) for Permanent Closures
    • If a facility permanently closes or a course of study is disapproved during the covered period, SA payments may continue until either the end of the term in which the closure or disapproval occurs, or 120 days from the date of the closure or disapproval, whichever occurs first. Entitlement may be restored in this circumstance.
  • Restoration of Entitlement
    • If a claimant is unable to complete a course or program of education because of any of the reasons listed below during the covered period, the VR&E staff must restore entitlement used during the term(s) impacted:
      • The education institution closed, either on a temporary or permanent basis; or
      • A course was disapproved for some reason; or
      • The individual did not receive credit; and
      • The individual lost training time toward completion of the program
  • Additional Payments of Employment Adjustment Allowance (EAA)
    • Two additional payments of EAA during the covered period if certain criteria are met:
      • The claimant must be satisfactorily following a program of employment services during the covered period.
      • The payment must apply to dates during the covered period, March 1, 2020 to December 21, 2020.

 

If you have questions about your VR&E benefits, please contact your local Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC), local Regional Benefits Office, or visit https://benefits.va.gov/benefits/.    

 

Respectfully,

VR&E Service