FEDERAL AGENCY:

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

AUTHORIZATION:

Veterans Education and Employment Programs Amendments, Public Law 102-16, 38 U.S.C. 3697A.

To offer vocational and educational counseling to servicemembers within 180 days of their projected discharge or release from active duty and to veterans within 1 year from the date of their discharge or release from active duty.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Advisory Services and Counseling. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The program provides the counseling services necessary to enable the servicemember or veteran to select educational and vocational objectives. The program also assists the veteran to identify the means through which these objectives will be achieved. Counseling may also be provided to aid the veteran to cope with personal problems which might interfere with the successful achievement of the educational and vocational objectives. As part of vocational counseling, the program can help the individual to develop an employment plan. This plan directs the individual to make the best use of his or her existing aptitudes and abilities to obtain employment. These services are provided by professionally qualified counseling psychologists, who are either VA staff members or under contract to VA. To apply for and receive this benefit, servicemembers must be within 180 days of projected discharge or release from active duty. Veterans must apply for and receive this benefit within 1 year from the date of discharge or release or release from active duty. For servicemembers, the projected discharge or release from active duty must be under conditions other than dishonorable. For veterans, the discharge or release from active duty must have been under conditions other than dishonorable.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Servicemembers must be within 180 days of projected discharge or release from active duty. Veterans must be within 1 year from the date of discharge or release from active duty. For servicemembers, the projected discharge or release from active duty must be under conditions other than dishonorable. For veterans, the discharge or release from active duty must have been under conditions other than dishonorable.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Servicemembers must be within 180 days of projected discharge or release from active duty. Veterans must be within 1 year from the date of discharge or release from active duty. For servicemembers, the projected discharge or release from active duty must be under conditions other than dishonorable. For veterans, the discharge or release from active duty must have been under conditions other than dishonorable.

Credentials/Documentation:   Servicemembers must present proof that they are within 180 of projected discharge or release from active duty. Examples of this proof are a copy of the enlistment contract and a brief written statement from the individual's commander. Veterans must present proof they are within 1 year of discharge or release from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. An example of this proof is a copy of the individual's DD Form 214.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Obtain VA Form 28-8832, Application for Counseling, from any VA office or regional office. Complete and submit this form to the nearest regional office. A written statement from an individual requesting vocational and educational counseling is also sufficient. With the application form or written statement, submit proof of prior or pending discharge or release from active duty if VA has not already received this evidence.

Award Procedure:   The regional office will notify qualified individuals of appointment times for them to begin to receive counseling services. Disqualified applicants will receive notices denying benefits and giving appeal procedures.

Deadlines:   Qualified individuals may not receive counseling benefits earlier than 180 days before projected discharge or release from active duty or more than 1 year after discharge or release from active duty.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Average is 60 days.

Appeals:   Available through special board. Average time to process an appeal is 630 days. In the event of a denial, claimants are advised of appeal rights and procedures at the time of notification.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

SSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Not applicable.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Not applicable.

Audits:   Expenditures under this program are monitored. Specific comprehensive procedures exist for reviewing the quality of services provided and staff time involved in service delivery. Contract expenditures require recordkeeping of the services provided and the funds expended.

Records:   Not applicable.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   36-0137-0-1-702.

Obligations:   (Salaries and Expenses/Contract Services Payments) FY 01 $6,000,000; FY 02 est $6,000,000; and FY 03 est $6,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   Not applicable.

In fiscal year 2001, 10,940 individuals received vocational and educational counseling. This included service members and veterans who received these services under Public Law 102-16, who are not separately identifiable.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

38 CFR 21.4100; "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-00-1, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is: 051-000-00220-2. "VA Counseling Can Help You," the VA pamphlet portion of VA Form 28-8821, Application for Counseling, free, is available from any VA office or regional office.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   See Appendix IV of the Catalog for Veterans Benefits Administration field offices.

Headquarters Office:   Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration, Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling Service (28), Washington, DC 20420. Telephone: (202) 273-7419.

Web Site Address:   http://www.va.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Contract counseling psychologists are selected on the basis of 1) their academic credentials and experience in vocational and educational counseling, 2) their location in relation to the geographic dispersion of available clients for referral, and 3) costs of the services to be provided.