The
following is a Press Release from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs:
Starting May 15, unemployed Veterans between the
ages of 35 and 60 can now apply for new benefits to cover education costs for
up to one year through a joint Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of
Labor (DOL) program that focuses on retraining 99,000 Veterans for high-demand
jobs.
"This important tool will help those who served
our country receive the education and training they need to find meaningful
employment in a high-demand field," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki. "Veterans are disciplined, hardworking, goal-oriented team members
who can play a vital role in helping businesses and the economy grow."
"Our veterans have made this nation stronger
through their service, and they deserve our continued support," said Secretary
of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This new program will help unemployed veterans expand
their skills and compete for good jobs," she added.
As part of a provision of the Veterans
Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, the Veteran Retraining
Assistance Program (VRAP) allows qualifying Veterans to receive up to 12 months
of assistance equal to the full-time Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty rate,
currently $1,473 per month.
Veterans can apply on a first-come, first-serve
basis for VRAP beginning on May 15, 2012, for programs that begin on or after
July 1, 2012. Assistance under this benefit program ends on March 31,
2014.
To complete an application, a Veteran will need
to know his or her direct deposit information (bank routing number and account
number), the name and location of his or her school, the program the Veteran
wishes to pursue, and the applicable high-demand occupation.
To qualify Veterans must:
Be
35-60 years old, unemployed on the day of application, and not
dishonorably discharged;
Start
education or training after July 1, 2012, in a VA-approved program of
education offered by a community college or technical school leading to an
associate degree, non-college degree or a certificate for a high-demand
occupation as defined by the DOL;
Not
be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g. Post-9/11 GI
Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment);
Not
be enrolled in a federal or state job training program within the last 180
days;
Not
receive VA compensation at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability
(IU).
Upon completion, the Labor Department will
engage with participants within 30 days after their training to help them find
good jobs that utilize their newly learned skills.
"We are working diligently with our partners
around the country to ensure our Veterans have access to all the benefits and
services to which they are entitled—especially when it comes to those
unemployed," added Under Secretary for Benefits Allison A. Hickey.
"This is a true example of interagency
collaboration and we are committed to the full and speedy implementation of
this program to ensure the success of our veterans in the civilian labor
market," said Ismael "Junior" Ortiz, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Veterans
Employment Training Service.
For more information on VOW, VRAP, high demand
occupations, and how to apply, Veterans may go to the website at www.benefits.va.gov/VOW, or call VA's Call
Centers toll free at 1-800-827-1000, Veterans may also access the VRAP
application online at https://www.ebenefits.va.gov through eBenefits, a joint project between the Department of
Defense and VA.
Veterans are also encouraged to visit the nearly
3,000 One-Stop Career Centers across the nation for assistance from staff,
Local Veterans' Employment Representatives (LVERS), and Disabled Veterans'
Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists. To find the center near you visit www.servicelocator.org.
For more information about the Department of
Labor's Veterans programs, go to http://www.dol.gov/vets/
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