Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102
§1524 Vocational Training for Certain Pension Recipients
Title 38 › PART II — GENERAL BENEFITS › CHAPTER 15 — PENSION FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH OR FOR SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER II — VETERANS’ PENSIONS › § 1524
Summary
Provides vocational training and evaluations for veterans who get a pension during the program period, which runs from February 1, 1985, to December 31, 1995. For veterans under 45 who are awarded pension during that time, the VA will check its records to see if training could likely lead to a job. If it looks promising, the VA will ask the veteran to apply and then give an evaluation, which may include an interview. For veterans 45 or older awarded pension during the program period, or for anyone awarded pension before the program began, the VA will give an evaluation if the application shows good potential. That evaluation must include a personal interview by a VA employee trained in vocational counseling. If the evaluation shows a vocational goal is reasonably feasible, the veteran may choose a training program made with the VA and set in a written plan. The training uses services like those in VA vocational programs. It normally cannot last more than 24 months, though the VA can extend it one time for up to 24 more months if needed. The program does not pay loans, subsistence allowances, or automobile adaptive equipment under chapter 39. College training is allowed only if it is mostly vocational. After finishing, the VA may provide counseling, job placement help, and extra training for up to 18 months. A veteran must start the training no later than the later of December 31, 1995 or the end of a reasonable time the VA sets after the evaluation or pension award. If a veteran with a permanent and total non-service-connected disability gets a job within one year after their counseling eligibility ends, the VA cannot end the disability finding because they can work until the veteran keeps that job for at least 12 consecutive months. Payments for training and services (except VA employee services) come from the same VA pension funds.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §1524
Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)In the case of a veteran under age 45 who is awarded a pension during the program period, the Secretary shall, based on information on file with the Department of Veterans Affairs, make a preliminary finding whether such veteran, with the assistance of a vocational training program under this section, has a good potential for achieving employment. If such potential is found to exist, the Secretary shall solicit from the veteran an application for vocational training under this section. If the veteran thereafter applies for such training, the Secretary shall provide the veteran with an evaluation, which may include a personal interview, to determine whether the achievement of a vocational goal is reasonably feasible.
(2)If a veteran who is 45 years of age or older and is awarded pension during the program period, or a veteran who was awarded pension before the beginning of the program period, applies for vocational training under this section and the Secretary makes a preliminary finding on the basis of information in the application that, with the assistance of a vocational training program under subsection (b) of this section, the veteran has a good potential for achieving employment, the Secretary shall provide the veteran with an evaluation in order to determine whether the achievement of a vocational goal by the veteran is reasonably feasible. Any such evaluation shall include a personal interview by a Department employee trained in vocational counseling.
(3)For the purposes of this section, the term “program period” means the period beginning on February 1, 1985, and ending on December 31, 1995.
(b)(1)If the Secretary, based upon an evaluation under subsection (a) of this section, determines that the achievement of a vocational goal by a veteran is reasonably feasible, the veteran shall be offered and may elect to pursue a vocational training program under this subsection. If the veteran elects to pursue such a program, the program shall be designed in consultation with the veteran in order to meet the veteran’s individual needs and shall be set forth in an individualized written plan of vocational rehabilitation of the kind described in section 3107 of this title.
(2)(A)Subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, a vocational training program under this subsection shall consist of vocationally oriented services and assistance of the kind provided under chapter 31 of this title and such other services and assistance of the kind provided under that chapter as are necessary to enable the veteran to prepare for and participate in vocational training or employment.
(B)A vocational training program under this subsection—
(i)may not exceed 24 months unless, based on a determination by the Secretary that an extension is necessary in order for the veteran to achieve a vocational goal identified (before the end of the first 24 months of such program) in the written plan formulated for the veteran, the Secretary grants an extension for a period not to exceed 24 months;
(ii)may not include the provision of any loan or subsistence allowance or any automobile adaptive equipment of the kind provided under chapter 39 of this title; and
(iii)may include a program of education at an institution of higher learning (as defined in section 3452(b) and 3452(f), respectively, of this title) only in a case in which the Secretary determines that the program involved is predominantly vocational in content.
(3)When a veteran completes a vocational training program under this subsection, the Secretary may provide the veteran with counseling of the kind described in section 3104(a)(2) of this title, placement and postplacement services of the kind described in section 3104(a)(5) of this title, and training of the kind described in section 3104(a)(6) of this title during a period not to exceed 18 months beginning on the date of such completion.
(4)A veteran may not begin pursuit of a vocational training program under this subsection after the later of (A) December 31, 1995, or (B) the end of a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Secretary, following either the evaluation of the veteran under subsection (a) of this section or the award of pension to the veteran as described in subsection (a)(2) of this section. Any determination by the Secretary of such a reasonable period of time shall be made pursuant to regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe.
(c)In the case of a veteran who has been determined to have a permanent and total non-service-connected disability and who, not later than one year after the date the veteran’s eligibility for counseling under subsection (b)(3) of this section expires, secures employment within the scope of a vocational goal identified in the veteran’s individualized written plan of vocational rehabilitation (or in a related field which requires reasonably developed skills and the use of some or all of the training or services furnished the veteran under such plan), the evaluation of the veteran as having a permanent and total disability may not be terminated by reason of the veteran’s capacity to engage in such employment until the veteran first maintains such employment for a period of not less than 12 consecutive months.
(d)A veteran who pursues a vocational training program under subsection (b) of this section shall have the benefit of the provisions of subsection (a) of section 1525 of this title beginning at such time as the veteran’s entitlement to pension is terminated by reason of income from work or training (as defined in subsection (b)(1) of that section) without regard to the date on which the veteran’s entitlement to pension is terminated.
(e)Payments by the Secretary for education, training, and other services and assistance under subsection (b) of this section (other than the services of Department employees) shall be made from the Department appropriations account from which payments for pension are made.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 103–446 substituted “If” for “Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, if”. 1992—Pub. L. 102–568, § 402(c)(2)(A), substituted “Vocational training for certain pension recipients” for “Temporary program of vocational training for certain new pension recipients” as section catchline. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–568, § 402(a), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, in the case of a veteran under the age of 45 who is awarded pension during the program period, the Secretary shall determine whether the achievement of a vocational goal by the veteran is reasonably feasible. Any such determination shall be made only after evaluation of the veteran’s potential for rehabilitation, and any such evaluation shall include a personal interview of the veteran by a Department employee who is trained in vocational counseling. If the veteran fails, for reasons other than those beyond the veteran’s control, to participate in the evaluation in the manner required by the Secretary in order to make such determination, the Secretary shall suspend the veteran’s pension for the duration of such failure.” Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 102–568, § 402(b), redesignated par. (4) as (3), substituted “
December 31, 1995” for “
December 31, 1992”, and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows: “Not more than 3,500 veterans may be given evaluations under this subsection during any 12-month period beginning on February 1 of a year.” Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 102–568, § 402(b)(2), redesignated par. (4) as (3). Pub. L. 102–291 substituted “
December 31, 1992” for “
January 31, 1992”. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–568, § 402(c)(1), substituted “
December 31, 1995” for “
January 31, 1992”. 1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 524 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing in pars. (1) and (2). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” in pars. (1) and (2). Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3107” for “1507”. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in two places. Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3452(b) and 3452(f)” for “1652(b) and 1652(f)”. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3104(a)(2)” for “1504(a)(2)”, “3104(a)(5)” for “1504(a)(5)”, and “3104(a)(6)” for “1504(a)(6)”. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1525” for “525”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” in two places. 1989—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 101–237, § 114(a), substituted “45” for “50”. Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 101–237, § 114(b), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) and (d) as (d) and (e), respectively. 1988—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100–687, § 1303(a), substituted “is awarded pension during the program period, or a veteran who was awarded pension before the beginning of the program period,” for “who is awarded pension during the program period”. Subsecs. (a)(4), (b)(4)(A). Pub. L. 100–687, § 1303(b), substituted “1992” for “1989”. 1987—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–227 substituted “3,500” for “2,500”. 1986—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–576, § 703(b)(1)(A), substituted “subsection (b) of this section” for “subsection (d) of this section”. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 99–576, § 703(b)(1)(B), substituted “subsection (a) of this section” for “subsection (a)(1) of this section”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–576, § 703(b)(1)(C), substituted “A veteran” for “Notwithstanding subsection (c) of section 525 of this title, a veteran” and “defined in subsection (b)(1) of that section” for “defined in subsection (b) of that section”, and inserted “without regard to the date on which the veteran’s entitlement to pension is terminated.”
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1992 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–291 effective Jan. 31, 1992, see section 2(d) of Pub. L. 102–291, set out as a note under section 1163 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1986 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 99–576 effective as if included in Pub. L. 98–543, see section 703(c) of Pub. L. 99–576, set out as a note under section 1313 of this title. Ratification of Actions of Secretary of Veterans Affairs During Lapsed PeriodProvision of a vocational training program to a veteran under this section and the making of related determinations under this section ratified with respect to period beginning Feb. 1, 1992, and ending May 20, 1992, see section 2(e) of Pub. L. 102–291, set out as a note under section 1163 of this title. Report to Congressional Committees; New Pension Recipients; Health-Care Eligibility section 301(b) of Pub. L. 98–543 directed Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs to submit to Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of Senate and House of Representatives not later than Apr. 15, 1988, a report on results of implementation of this section and section 525 [now 1525] of this title during period beginning on Feb. 1, 1985, and ending on Jan. 31, 1988.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 1524
Title 38, Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102