Helping Unemployed Veterans Find Work

Statement

This week it was announced that unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 can now apply for new benefits to cover education costs for up to one year through a joint Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor program that focuses on retraining 99,000 veterans for high-demand jobs. I urge Memphis veterans who are eligible to take advantage of this federal program.

Starting May 15, unemployed veterans between the ages of 35 and 60 can now apply for new benefits to cover education costs for up to one year through a joint Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor (DOL) program that focuses on retraining 99,000 veterans for high-demand jobs. As part of a provision of the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, the Veteran Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) allows qualifying veterans to receive up to 12 months of assistance equal to the full-time Montgomery GI Bill -- Active Duty rate, currently $1,473 per month.

Eligible veterans can apply on a first-come, first-serve basis for VRAP beginning on May 15, 2012, for programs that begin on or after July 1, 2012. Assistance under this benefit program ends on March 31, 2014. For more information on VOW, VRAP, high demand occupations, and how to apply, eligible veterans may go to the website at www.benefits.va.gov/VOW or call VA's Call Centers toll free at 1-800-827-1000.

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