Va Vocational Rehabilitation Program

[labonte1000]

Hi I am wondering if anyone knows the details of the VA voc program? I know you have to be 10% disabled at least. I have bad generalized/social anxiety, right now the VA has me only rated at 10%, but I filed an appeal to that. I only worked two weeks in over a year and a half. I find it really hard to find a suitible job that I can do because of my anxiety.

How long will they train or help you?

What do they pay for?

I also read something about a self employment option under the five track programs, if anyone has any info on what that intales, could you please let me know?

How long will they let you go to college to obtain skills?

I asked my VA shrink about this and she agrees that this would be a good idea if I try for it

There website doesn't really go into all the details, so if anyone knows any info on this, I would greatly appreaciate it. Thanks

[cowgirl]

Have you read up on Vocational Rehabilitation on their web site? Its a start.

I applied to voc rehab once, many steps to take before training or self employment. Counselors vary but the program is open to vets 20% sc I think. Have heard the program works rather well for many people who go in having a good idea of what they want to do. A freind got started working in graphics printing. Try it, it may be for you!

First thing I recall at a breifing, this program isnt like the GI bill, they will try to find the vet employment. Then, after the breifing, given two minutes with a counselor to make sure I understood they are there to try to find the vet employment. Next counselor meeting, near 8 minutes long, thing I recall, is being told to register myself with state employment agency and to study the job market on internet and newspapers. Thats practical. The particular counselor I had gave me paper forms to track my efforts. Also I attended a day long 'contractor' vocational assessment. I felt through my initial experience, it seeemd like a self help book with 'to do' pages being doled out, five at a time. WHo knows?

I have heard many here at Hadit have recieved college and vocational training, along with dependent benefits. WHo knows, I may try again somewhere in the future! Best to ya, cg

Hi I am wondering if anyone knows the details of the VA voc program? I know you have to be 10% disabled at least. I have bad generalized/social anxiety, right now the VA has me only rated at 10%, but I filed an appeal to that. I only worked two weeks in over a year and a half. I find it really hard to find a suitible job that I can do because of my anxiety.

How long will they train or help you?

What do they pay for?

I also read something about a self employment option under the five track programs, if anyone has any info on what that intales, could you please let me know?

How long will they let you go to college to obtain skills?

I asked my VA shrink about this and she agrees that this would be a good idea if I try for it

There website doesn't really go into all the details, so if anyone knows any info on this, I would greatly appreaciate it. Thanks

Edited January 10, 2008 by cowgirl

[Pete53]

If you have only worked a couple of weeks in a year you should file for Social Security disability and ask for TDIU.

[john999]

If you can't work then doing voc rehab is probably a waste of time. If you had lost a hand or foot but were otherwise OK then you could be trained in some field where the disabiilty would not hurt you. However, if you have 20-40 panic attacks a month you probably need to be on IU and SSDI. You could then try the voc rehab and see how it goes. Voc rehab is not going to pay you enough to live on without working part time. You have to be able to show up for class on time.

[calnight]

You should at least go to the voc rehab testing and see the counsler. If voc rehab says you are not able to work or feel that you will not be able to do the voc rehab becuase of your sc then this is very good evidence for your va claim and ssd. Once the testing is done you can reqest copys of the reports. I used these reports for my claim and ssd and voc rehab stated I was unemployable becuase of my ptsd. This is great evidence since a trained counsler in employment is stating you cant work becuase of your sc. That and a doctor stating the same is a very solid claim for iu. I got both and was awarded iu. In my opion voc rehab records can give you the edge in your claim. These are trained people who can hold alot of weight becuase they deal in if you can be re-trained or if you sc is to much and there is nothing can be done. Also In my opion this is great evidence for ssd becuase if voc rehab states you cant do any type of work then what can ssd say, you have in writting by a trained person from the va ( contracted from the va ) stating you are unemployable. In my opion anyone fighting the va and you are able to get voc rehab at least go see the counsler take the test explain to them why you cant hold a job or why you think you might not be able to complete the training. At least you will have it on record and the counsler will wright a report stating if you are a good canidate or not for voc rehab. Then under the freedom of information act request the reports from voc rehab. If the reports state you are either denied or not a good canidate for voc rehab becuase of your sc use this as evidence. Sample, In my voc rehab report " this veteran is unemployable due to ptsd, voc rehab is not feesible becuase of anger in the work place. The veteran is a danger to co-workers due to violence in the work place. Are you getting my point how important this evidence can be. Along with my doctor stating I was unemployable I could not loose. THIS IS A GAME AND YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO PLAY, USE THE SYSTEM AT YOUR ADVANTAGE. TAKE EVERY AND ALL STEPS TO WIN A CLAIM

NEVER TAKE NO FOR A ANSWER NEVER GIVE UP AND ONCE YOU LEARN HOW TO PLAY PASS IT ALONG TO PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING THE SYSTEM. EVIDENCE IS WHAT WINS CLAIMS. I HATE THE VA AND EVERY VETERAN DESERVES WHAT THE HAVE EARNED. IT IS YOUR BENIFITS NOT SOME xxxxxxx SITTING BEHIND A DESK AT YOUR RO.

ok its been a bad day ptsd really flaring up today, Sometimes I read what other veterans are going through and it jerks my chain. Well I am off to the gym to hit some iron instead of some xxxxxxx who pisses me off

[labonte1000]

hey thanks everyone you guys are really helpful

[cowgirl]

Calnight, thanks for your input. Been draggin' my feet here myself. worried bout what may be/not be in vocrehab notes. I'll get em and see what they say. Glad you were able to describe so well, with such clarity and conviction how it works. You sure are valuable to helping us here, thanks again, best to ya, cg

You should at least go to the voc rehab testing and see the counsler. If voc rehab says you are not able to work or feel that you will not be able to do the voc rehab becuase of your sc then this is very good evidence for your va claim and ssd. Once the testing is done you can reqest copys of the reports. I used these reports for my claim and ssd and voc rehab stated I was unemployable becuase of my ptsd. This is great evidence since a trained counsler in employment is stating you cant work becuase of your sc. That and a doctor stating the same is a very solid claim for iu. I got both and was awarded iu. In my opion voc rehab records can give you the edge in your claim. These are trained people who can hold alot of weight becuase they deal in if you can be re-trained or if you sc is to much and there is nothing can be done. Also In my opion this is great evidence for ssd becuase if voc rehab states you cant do any type of work then what can ssd say, you have in writting by a trained person from the va ( contracted from the va ) stating you are unemployable. In my opion anyone fighting the va and you are able to get voc rehab at least go see the counsler take the test explain to them why you cant hold a job or why you think you might not be able to complete the training. At least you will have it on record and the counsler will wright a report stating if you are a good canidate or not for voc rehab. Then under the freedom of information act request the reports from voc rehab. If the reports state you are either denied or not a good canidate for voc rehab becuase of your sc use this as evidence. Sample, In my voc rehab report " this veteran is unemployable due to ptsd, voc rehab is not feesible becuase of anger in the work place. The veteran is a danger to co-workers due to violence in the work place. Are you getting my point how important this evidence can be. Along with my doctor stating I was unemployable I could not loose. THIS IS A GAME AND YOU MUST KNOW HOW TO PLAY, USE THE SYSTEM AT YOUR ADVANTAGE. TAKE EVERY AND ALL STEPS TO WIN A CLAIM

NEVER TAKE NO FOR A ANSWER NEVER GIVE UP AND ONCE YOU LEARN HOW TO PLAY PASS IT ALONG TO PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING THE SYSTEM. EVIDENCE IS WHAT WINS CLAIMS. I HATE THE VA AND EVERY VETERAN DESERVES WHAT THE HAVE EARNED. IT IS YOUR BENIFITS NOT SOME xxxxxxx SITTING BEHIND A DESK AT YOUR RO.

ok its been a bad day ptsd really flaring up today, Sometimes I read what other veterans are going through and it jerks my chain. Well I am off to the gym to hit some iron instead of some xxxxxxx who pisses me off