Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Longitudinal Studies

In 2008, Congress passed the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-389, to improve and enhance benefits for Veterans. A section of this legislation requires VA to conduct a 20-year longitudinal study of Veterans who begin participation in the VR&E program in fiscal year (FY) 2010, FY 2012, and FY 2014. These three cohorts will be followed annually for 20 years, with survey data collection that started in 2012.

FY 2010 Cohort 10,792 Veteran Members
FY 2012 Cohort 15,397 Veteran Members
FY 2014 Cohort Currently entering VR&E Chapter 31 Program

The primary objective of the longitudinal study of the VR&E program is to determine the long-term outcomes associated with Veterans who establish and participate in a plan of services. Section 334 of Public Law 110-389 requires VA to report to Congress annually on 16 specific data elements. The specific outcomes of interest in the mandate are:

employment,
income,
home ownership, and
use of other program benefits, measured by receipt of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or unemployment benefits.

Over time a comparison of cohort findings may show differences between cohorts, but at this early point in the longitudinal study, when comparing outcomes over the same time period there are no significant differences between the FY 2010 and FY 2012 cohorts. Furthermore, the two cohorts are similar demographically; however, as shown in Table E-1, the FY12 cohort is significantly younger, more likely to have served during the Gulf War Era II (OEF/OIF/OND), more educated when starting the program, and more likely to have a PTSD diagnosis.

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Longitudinal Study 2014

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Longitudinal Study 2013

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Longitudinal Study 2012