Vocational and Educational Counseling for Servicemembers and Veterans (64.125)

Program

64.125 Vocational and Educational Counseling for Servicemembers and Veterans

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
Office: Veterans Benefits Administration

Authorization

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

Program Number

64.125

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To offer vocational and educational counseling to servicemembers within 180 days of their projected discharge or release from active duty and to veterans within one year from the date of their discharge or release from active duty. This counseling is also available to current beneficiaries of VA educational assistance including: Chapter 30-All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program; Chapter 32-Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance; Chapter 35-Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance; Chapter 1606-Educational Assistance for Members of the Selective Service; Chapter 1607-Reserve Educational Assistance Program; and to veterans and qualified dependents who are eligible for educational assistance under any of the above programs(Chapters).

Types of Assistance

ADVISORY SERVICES AND COUNSELING

Uses and Use Restrictions

The program provides the counseling services necessary to enable the service member 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 that 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 vocational rehabilitation counselors or 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. This counseling is also available to current beneficiaries of VA educational assistance including: Chapter 30 - All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program; Chapter 32 - Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance; Chapter 35 - Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance; Chapter 1606 - Educational Assistance for Members of the Selective Service; Chapter 1607 - Reserve Educational Assistance Program and to veterans and qualified dependents who are eligible for educational assistance under any of the above programs (Chapters).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Service members 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. This counseling is also available to current beneficiaries of VA educational assistance including: Chapter 30 - All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program; Chapter 32 - Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance; Chapter 35 - Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance; Chapter 1606 - Educational Assistance for Members of the Selective Service; Chapter 1607 - Reserve Educational Assistance Program and to veterans and qualified dependents who are eligible for educational assistance under any of the above programs (Chapters).

Beneficiary Eligibility

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. Current beneficiaries of VA educational assistance and those eligible for educational assistance must indicate this eligibility or receipt of benefits and have it confirmed at the VA regional or local office. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. 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 or indicate eligibility for, or current receipt of, VA educational assistance.

Award Procedure

The regional office will notify qualified Individual.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Available through special board. Average time to process an appeal is 622 days. In the event of a denial, claimants are advised of appeal rights and procedures at the time of notification.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Not applicable. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Audits

Not Applicable.

Records

Not applicable.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Vocational and educational counseling. Included service members and veterans who received these services under Public Law 102-16, who are not separately identifiable. Fiscal Year 2009: Vocational and educational counseling. Included service members and veterans who received these services under Public Law 102-16, who are not separately identifiable. Fiscal Year 2010: Vocational and educational counseling. Included service members and veterans who received these services under Public Law 102-16, who are not separately identifiable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

36-0137-0-1-702.

Obligations

(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 08 $4,254,000; FY 09 est $6,000,000; FY 10 est $6,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not applicable.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

38 CFR 21.4100; "Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents," VA Pamphlet 80-0-01, $5.00, available from Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. The stock number is: 051-000-00233-4. "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.

Related Programs

64.116 Vocational Rehabilitation for Disabled Veterans; 64.120 Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for Veterans Benefits Administration field offices.

Headquarters Office

Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration 810 Vermont Ave., N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20420 Phone: 202-461-9600

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.