Should I take the post 9/11 GI Bill or should i do the Vocational Rehabilitation with the Veterans Affairs? I don't get it are they the same thing? Should I just forget about the whole thing?
by 
Ironkettle
ANSWERS: 4
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Voc Rehab is a program where you get free school at a college or tech/professional school, usually for two years and you also get a stipend of an amount dependent on your pay grade when you left the military. You also get a government "internship" for which you are paid tax free money (usually minimum wage or close to it). With the GI Bill you get the stipend each month while you are in school until it runs out (you get 4 years of it to not include summers). You have to look at what you want to do, how much Voc Rehab is authorized for you and how much your GI Bill will be in order to make that decision. Voc Rehab might very well be the better choice, but get with your VA Rep and he/she should give you some insight into which would be better for your plans.
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By all means, do not just forget about it. One, you have earned these benefits. Two, in these times you need all the head starts you can get. And three, a lot of people have worked long and hard to get these benefits for us veterans. So get with a representative from Veterans Affairs and have them explain the good and the bad of each program, and take advantage of every benefit you qualify for. Good luck, and let us know how it turns out for you. And, thank you for all you have done for us and this country.
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It depends on the severity of your service-connected disability and your future career goals. The VR program provides placement services and workplace incentives. GI Bill covers education and training but not placement and incentives to employers. Check with your home state and see what else may be offered. Many states have veteran programs that augment VA benefits. Texas, for example, gives Texas veterans (entered service from Texas, left the service to live in Texas, and lived in state for 12 months after getting out) 150 credit hours of tuition and fees at all state-sponsored schools for vets who have used up their GI Bill benefits. This means you could get 2 bachelor degrees, or a bachelor and a master and a doctorate degree, or a bachelor and a law degree, or a bachelor and a medical degree, etc. Either way, this is free money on the table. DO NOT GIVE IT UP. If you incurred a service-related disability, take everything they want to give you.
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I am in the same dilemma I ask my Va rep that is handling my Voc rehab, all he told me was to look them both up and see which one is better. Which was no help for me. I have done the Voc for one semester now and the post 9/11 sounds good to. I live in Texas and I am 50% service connected, but if the post 9/11 is better I would like to change. So if any help for me too would be greatly appreciated
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