Government Shutdown FAQ

Due to the Government shutdown, Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment is closed to the public, and personnel are not available to assist you in-person or virtually. All upcoming appointments will be cancelled and re-scheduled once federal funding has been re-established. For any general questions that are not addressed below, please contact 1-800-827-1000. In the event of an emergency, please contact local emergency services at 911, or the Veteran Crisis Line, dial 988 and press 1. You may also text the Veterans Crisis Line at 838255.

Please see below for a list of Frequently Asked Questions – also reference the attached field guide reference for general VA benefits:

Will I still be paid my subsistence allowance (AKA BAH) while attending school? Will my tuition and fees still be paid for school?
Yes. A skeleton crew will continue to process all subsistence allowance payments, process enrollment certifications, and pay for tuition and fees as they are received, so long as you have a valid authorization on file and are in a valid individualized written rehabilitation plan.

I applied for VR&E to start my ABC program, and it starts on XYZ date – will I be able to start timely?
Unfortunately, there is no timeline when counselors will be able to return to the office and begin scheduling appointments. If you are currently in applicant status, evaluation and planning status, or were in the process of redeveloping your plan for a new vocational goal, there is no guarantee that VR&E would support your program at this time. Please work with the school for other financial options (GI Bill, financial aid, scholarships) or delay your start date until your entitlement decision or plan can be determined/written. Counselors will schedule you for an initial evaluation or next steps appointment as soon as they are back in the office.

I need a book/school supply that the school does not carry. Can I purchase it?
If you are currently in a valid individualized written rehabilitation plan, and you have a syllabus that says you are required to have the book/supply, but the school bookstore does not carry the item, you may purchase it yourself, submit the receipt, and a copy of the syllabus to eva [at] va.gov. We can work on reimbursing the book/supply in the order it was received.

I need to drop/withdraw from my courses!
If you need to drop a class, or withdraw from the semester altogether, please let the school certifying official know as soon as possible so they can submit an enrollment manager for processing. Send an email to your counselor or to eva [at] va.gov why you dropped the course or withdrew from the semester to determine if mitigating circumstances apply. Depending on when the school submits the enrollment manager, time of the month, after add/drop period, etc., you may have an overpayment. VR&E always tries to mitigate overpayments whenever possible. As mentioned before, a skeleton crew will continue to process enrollment managers during the shutdown for timely processing of all payments.

I want to change my vocational goal/change schools/etc.
Counselors cannot schedule or contact Veterans during the shutdown period and therefore cannot make any major or minor changes to plans at this time. To prepare for that conversation, please submit your request to your counselors or eva [at] va.gov with justification to change your plan, or updated labor market research, and they will schedule you upon their return. 

I need a dental referral.
VR&E cannot provide any medical referrals at this time. Typically, most medical centers request a medical referral form, you may attempt to bring in a copy of your individualized written rehabilitation plan to show you are a Chapter 31 VR&E participant and qualify for dental referrals under the VR&E program.