Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) for Unemployed Veterans

Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) for Unemployed Veterans

Thousand of jobless veterans may be routing back to school in mass under a federal program to get out-of-work veterans trained and back in the job market.

Keeping in mind, the enormous response to the new skills-based program, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has recently introduced the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program. VRAP offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed Veterans.

The program is first-come, first-serve for qualifying veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 and who are unemployed at the time of the application.

Veterans who are at present receiving unemployment benefits or are enrolled in a federal or state job training programs are not eligible for this program.

Within first two weeks of the announcement, the VA received 12,000 applications, the response to the program is magnificent. The VA will approve up to 45,000 veterans through September 30 of this year and up to 54,000 veterans in the next fiscal year beginning October 1.

Participants must be enrolled in a VA approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school. The program must lead to an Associate Degree, Non-College Degree, or a Certificate, and train the Veteran for a high demand occupation.

Successful veterans will receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the monthly full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill–Active Duty program (currently $1,473 per month).

Veteran Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) is a very new and very fast-moving program that will definitely help the veterans as quickly as possible in getting themselves employed.

VA is currently accepting applications for VRAP. For detailed information about the VRAP, visit http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm

Category: News