VA Vocational Rehabilitation Stipend Rates

These rates have changed very little over the past ten years, possibly increasing only a couple percentage points. So, you can count on these numbers being relatively accurate for a few years from this date, July 2010.

VR&E Training Programs Subsistence Allowance Rate Increase

 

As of October 1, 2009

In some cases, a veteran requires additional education or training to become employable. A subsistence allowance is paid each month during training and is based on the rate of attendance (full-time or part-time), the number of dependents, and the type of training. The charts shown below reflect the rates as of October 1, 2009.

 

Chapter 31 Subsistence Allowance Rates As of October 1, 2009

The following Subsistence Allowance rates are paid for training in an Institution of Higher Learning (includes Community Colleges)

 

Number of Dependents

Full Time Three Quarter Time One Half Time

No Dependents

$547.54 $411.41 $275.28
One Dependent $679.18 $510.12 $341.07
Two Dependents $800.36 $598.38 $400.92
Each Additional Dependent $58.34 $44.86 $29.93

 

Subsistence Allowance is paid for full time training only, in the following training programs:  Non-pay or nominal pay on-job training in a federal, state, local, or federally recognized Indian tribe agency; training in the home; vocational course in a rehabilitation facility or sheltered workshop; institutional non-farm cooperative.

 

Number of Dependents Full Time

No Dependents

$547.54
One Dependent $679.18
Two Dependents $800.36
Each Additional Dependent $58.34

 


The following rates are paid for Work Experience programs:
Non-pay or nominal pay work experience in a federal, state, local or federally recognized Indian tribe agency.

Number of Dependents

Full Time Three Quarter Time One Half Time

No Dependents

$547.54 $411.41 $275.28
One Dependent $679.18 $510.12 $341.07
Two Dependents $800.36 $598.38 $400.92
Each Additional Dependent $58.34 $44.86 $29.93

Subsistence Allowance is paid for full time training only in the following training programs:  Farm Cooperative, Apprenticeship, or other On-Job Training:

 

 

Number of Dependents Full Time
No Dependent $478.73
One Dependent $578.92
Two Dependents $667.21
Each Additional Dependent $43.40

Subsistence Allowance is paid at the following rates for combined training programs:  Combination of Institutional and On-Job Training (Full Time Rate Only):

 

 

Number of Dependents Institutional Greater than One Half On-the-Job Greater than One Half
No Dependent $547.54 $478.73
One Dependent $679.18 $578.92
Two Dependents $800.36 $667.21
Each Additional Dependent $58.34 $43.40

 

Subsistence Allowance is paid at the following rates for Non-farm Cooperative Training:  Non-farm Cooperative Institutional Training and Non-farm Cooperative On-Job Training – Full Time Rate Only:

Number of Dependents FT Non-Farm Coop/Institutional FT Non-Farm Coop/On-the-Job
No Dependent $547.54 $478.73
One Dependent $679.18 $578.92
Two Dependents $800.36 $667.21
Each Additional Dependent $58.34 $43.40


Subsistence Allowance is paid at the following rates for Independent Living programs:  A subsistence allowance is paid each month during the period of enrollment in a rehabilitation facility when a veteran is pursuing an approved Independent Living Program plan.  Subsistence allowance paid during a period of Independent Living Services is based on rate of pursuit and number of dependents.   Independent Living subsistence allowance rates:

 

 

Number of Dependents

Full Time Three Quarter Time One Half Time

No Dependents

$547.54 $411.41 $275.28
One Dependent $679.18 $510.12 $341.07
Two Dependents $800.36 $598.38 $400.92
Each Additional Dependent $58.34 $44.86 $29.93

Subsistence Allowance is paid at the following rates for Extended Evaluation programs:  A subsistence allowance is paid each month during the period of enrollment in a rehabilitation facility when a veteran requires this service for the purpose of extended evaluation. Subsistence allowance during a period of extended evaluation is paid based on the rate of attendance and the number of dependents.  Extended Evaluation program subsistence allowance rates:

 

Number of Dependents

Full Time Three Quarter Time One Half Time On Quarter Time

No Dependents

$547.54 $411.41 $275.28 $137.62
One Dependent $679.18 $510.12 $341.07 $170.55
Two Dependents $800.36 $598.38 $400.92 $200.45
Each Additional Dependent $58.34 $44.86 $29.93 $14.93

 

Notes:  Original baseline figures may be found on pgs 358-361 of Ch. 31.  Institutional training, Extended Eval and Independent Living are all given in the current year as % increases upon the figures from the prior year – back to this 1994 baseline.  Current figure is, therefore, a cum of annual adjustments.  For Farm Cooperative, Apprentice, OJT figures, the ratios to the Institutional set are as follows (for both 1994 and 2005 sampling comparisons).  Farm No Dep is 87.43% of Institutional, One Dep is 85.24% of Institutional, Two Dep is 83.36% of Institutional, and Each Add Dep is 74.36% of Institutional.

Email questions to: [email protected].

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19 Comments

  1. If you gave your Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) to your dependents prior to 1 Aug 2011. How does this effect Voc/Rehab (Chapter 31) recipients? I have been in the Chapter 31 program since Fall 2011 and now they say I should used my Chapter 33 but I gave my Post 9/11 (Chapter 33) to my dependents in 2010. Since I did this before 1 Aug 2011. Should be grandfather into the program because it happen before 1 Aug 2011? Please explain why i should or should not be grandfather for the Voc/Rehab program. I served my country for 24 years and I went it the theater 7 times. I am disable and my dependents have used 50% of my Post 9/11 GI Bill. please add your comments. Thank you

  2. Can anyone provide me the name and number for the Director of VA Rehab New Jersey. I have an assigned counselor and just get no response or feedback on anything I send via email or voice message. This is very sad when you’re enrolled in a program as a veteran and can’t contact the person who sends you emails and coorespondence to contact them if you have any problems or concerns.

    1. do what I had to do in the same case call senator leahy’s office or what ever senator from your state they move pretty fast when they call, I have have problems with both voc rehab and the va,

  3. Simple question for anyone currently receiving VRE stipend payments. When would the stipend be paid to the member?; i.e. the first of the month or within the first week? I’ve been researching the VA website but can’t find any specifics.

    1. When I started I believe it was close to 6 weeks for my first check. the checks then arrive on the first, sometimes a day or two early with direct deposit. You are paid after a month is completed but they assume you will finish the month and Pay on the first of the following month. If something happens and you drop a course that drops you below full time they will recover that money. A couple of times I just let the teacher fail me rather than drop out because they will pay for failure as long as you maitain the GPA. Hope this was helpful.

      1. Leo, so the first check takes 6 weeks? Then after that it’s every month? So the first check should be 2 months of pay then correct if one is a full time student.

  4. My question is simple: What is the monthly stipend if a veteran is attending an instituiton of higher learning (Wake Tech Community College) has a spouse and one child. Also is there an increase expected January 2012 and also is there a COLA for Dept of Vocational Rehabs participants! Also where could I get the most up-to-date version of Veterans Benefits, programs, entitlements, etc

  5. This is an answer for Sharika Long O’neil, you have to do either all 5 week classes or all8 week, 11 week etc. If you are not going full time everyday for the entire semester ( going to classes 12 cr hr) you will not get paid for full time. They send you all kinds of different check amounts. They want you doing 4 classes (or full time cr hrs) the whole semester in order to get a fulltime check.

    By the way the rates did go up only by about 7 dollars though.

    I was reading at the top about what Voc rehab pays for and what it doesn’t. Are you trying to say that you can’t go to a regular community college? And that you can’t take regular classes i.e. Medical Assistant, Medical Records, or stuff like that? I was just a little confused, maybe I read it wrong. Could you let me know because I am going to a community college for Health Information Tech for an asscociates. I would hate for anyone to get the wrong idea or information just because of the way it is stated.
    Thanks and I hope that I helped out some too.
    Nicole

  6. Full time is full time, based on what your school classifies as full time (provided they aren’t some wacky school-if they get federal Financial Aid they probably aren’t). If you qualify for Full Time Pells or loans, then your school is full time. Tell your counselor where to stick it.

    I didn’t have this problem with mine, but they are probably all different. I graduated out of VRE in 2008. Good luck.

    CAS

  7. I’ve not been able to find information to my question ANYWHERE…not even in the VA regulations manual. How should monthly stipend/ subsistence be determined (ie., monthly or quarterly enrollment). The back drop is that I go to school full-time each quarter. My school offers five week classes and eleven week classes. When the five week classes end, I am left with 1-2 eleven week classes. My VA counselor argues that I’m not going full-time for that month. Is full-time not determined by the quarter?!?!?!?! I believe that since I am going to school full-time that Voc Rehab should still pay out subsistence for a full-time schedule even though that one class has ended. I am taking three classes this coming semester. One is an eleven week class (04/08/2011-06/18/2011) and the other two are five week classes (05/15/2011-06/18/2011). My VA counselor contacted me to inquire about why I was going to school less than half-time for the first half of the semester. It seems that I am being held accountable for the schedule of the institution that they have contracted with.
    If anyone knows the answers and has documentation to back it up, please respond. Thanks for your help.

  8. Does anyone know what the subsistence allowance would be for accelerated classes, and where I could find this documentation. I was enrolled in an accelerated program at one school and since that program was considered full-time, the school certified me as full-time. I switched schools and started a similiar accelerated program but the school will not certify me as full-time. My Voc Rehab, counselor even told the certifying official at my new school that if the program is considered full-time she can certify me as full-time…she won’t do it. My VA counselor can only go by what she puts.

  9. ? will i be able to qualify for the living stipend if i am receiving soc sec disabilty and using my 911 gi/bill.

  10. What are the new October 1, 2010 rates for Chapter 31 Subsistence Pay? Where can this information be located?

    1. I doubt the rates will be any different than the previous year, since the disability rates are not increasing either. It depends if Congress gets off their asses and pass some decent veteran education legislation.

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