Job retraining funding that covers many unemployed veterans not currently covered by other programs!
First, if you havent signed up at ebenefits.va.gov you want to as this is your friend for everything VA.
Under Benefits check out the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP). This is part of the VOW to Hire Veterans Act of 2011 and still in effect through 31-Mar-14 or until 54,000 available grants are used up.
These grants can be used for high-demand career training including transportation careers. This is the criteria for being accepted
VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to Veterans who:
Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
Are unemployed on the date of application
Received an other than dishonorable discharge
Are not be eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to un-employability
Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program
See more on VRAP and other programs here. Many who got zero benefits in the past can get this one!
Unemployed Veterans Funding = Free
Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by Rockin&Rollin, Nov 5, 2012.
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Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
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They need approx 9,000 more to be filled. Hurry, I know I dod!
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I'm in the program - it took a LOOOONG time - I started the whole process at the end of July. There was a problem between the VRAP benefits website and the school though (so that slowed things down)... so I didn't get my first check until mid October. You can only collect the benefits monthly, and they are limited to so much per month. The requrements have to be met - but once you get through the hurdles - it's a great benefit! The program is going to run again in 2013, but it's hard to tell how much longer that will continue, with budget cuts on the horizon - and the looming 'financial cliff' the government is facing.
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VRAP is pretty much useless for going to a truck driving school. It only covers you while you are in school. You get 1 payment a month, which can be $1500. So say you want to go to a driving school that is 4 weeks and the cost of the school is $5000, you will only get one check for $1500. It won't pay out a lump sum. Believe me, I checked into it.
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My training is with TDDS in Lake Milton. It's an 'Externship' CDL Class A course.
I was the first person to apply for VRAP through the school.
I started the training on Aug 27. I finished the first 10 weeks, 2 weeks ago. I've received 2 payments so far, totaling about $3,000. I'm getting ready to start the next phase of training with a company, for the remaining 6 weeks. My course is scheduled to be completed on December 15. I will be able to claim the month of November for (roughly) another $1500, and 2 weeks in December for 1/2 of that $750. So... it won't pay for all of it, but it does pay for a lot of it.
Even so... once you get into the program, you can use it for a lot of things - and even though I have used it for this - I can still use it for other training / education (as long as it falls within their requirements).
Either way, it's still better than nothing! -
Call your local VA office, there is another program that will refund the entire cost of school and you still get the VRAP money while attending. The catch is you gotta pay for the school upfront and get reimbursed after you graduate. This can work well for those that can get a loan from family or put it on a credit card etc. Im not sure if all classes of veterans can get this program but I do know several can. -
I was approved for the VRAP benefit to attend a 3 month CDL course at my local Community College. The course cost is $2500 bucks so in the end VRAP will pay for all of this. It does take A LONG TIME to get approval from the VA so start early (nearly 3 months for me).
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.