Veteran Readiness and Employment Service (VR&E), Chapter 31 Funding

As a veteran, students may be entitled to Veteran Readiness and Employment Service (VR&E), Chapter 31, education benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. VR&E benefits allow the student to receive benefits that may cover the cost of tuition, fees, and related education expenses. VR&E may also pay a stipend for course enrollments, based on their enrollment status.

If a student is interested in determining their eligibility for this program, they may call the VA at 1-800-827-1000 and ask about Veteran Readiness and Employment Service benefits. Students may also learn more online by visiting the VA's Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) website. From this site, students can also apply for the benefit online. If it is determined by the VA that a student is eligible, the VA will direct them to a VA Regional Benefit Office (in their local area) to meet with an assigned VR&E counselor to review their goals and be approved to begin enrolling in courses.

Once a student has been approved for Veteran Readiness and Employment Service benefits, their VR&E counselor will need to submit a Purchase Order authorization for educational benefits to APUS using the Tungsten Network portal. This Purchase Order authorization will allow APUS to grant course access for upcoming registrations and submit a student's enrollment (22-1999) to their VR&E counselor.

We recommend that the student's VR&E counselor submit a Purchase Order authorization with starting and ending dates to supply the student with authorization to coincide with our monthly course start dates to allow students the flexibility to schedule courses based on their personal schedule (courses start the first Monday of each month). Students can contact [email protected] with any questions or if we can be of further assistance.

The State Divisions of Vocational Rehabilitation Program provides grants to states to support a wide range of services designed to help individuals with disabilities prepare for and engage in gainful employment consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice. Eligible individuals are those who have a physical or mental impairment that results in a substantial impediment to employment, who can benefit from vocational rehabilitation (VR) services for employment, and who require VR services. Priority must be given to serving individuals with the most significant disabilities if a state is unable to serve all eligible individuals.

If a student is a disabled civilian, they should visit the Rehabilitation Services Administration website for more information regarding Vocational Rehabilitation benefits.

Students can contact [email protected] with any questions regarding how to use their Vocational Rehabilitation benefits at APUS.