Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Chapter 31)

You may qualify for these benefits if you:

• Served after September 16, 1940.
• Have a service-connected disability rated at least 20 percent disabling by the USDVA.
• Need vocational rehabilitation to overcome an employment handicap.

Benefit guidelines

Benefits cover tuition, mandatory fees, books, supplies for a period of time determined by a VA counselor in the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. If the authorized enrollment period is extended, the VA counselor will notify the University. Payments are made directly into your University student account. You may also receive a monthly stipend.

Your benefit amount total will be added to your financial aid awards package as need-based aid. Chapter 31 benefits do not affect your eligibility for Federal Pell or Minnesota State grants.

Application requirements

You must meet with a VA counselor to apply for Chapter 31 benefits (not the veterans certification coordinator at the University of St. Thomas). Once the VA counselor determines your eligibility, s/he will send a payment authorization to the Veterans Certification coordinator at UST. Within two business days the coordinator will set up billing information with Third Party Billing (Business Office) and the UST Bookstore(s).