How to Sign Up For Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

How To Sign Up For Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

Whether you’re ready to start a new career path or continue excelling on your current one, our staff at employU can give you the tools and support you need to put your best foot forward and find the right fit for you. Additionally, when you work with us through Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), our services are free of charge to you. VR is a federal-state program that works with individuals with disabilities. Set up as a series of services, VR partners with vendors, such as employU, to facilitate the delivery of these services to its customers. But how do you become a VR customer? Check out the information below to find out more.

Contact us by filling out the contact us form below.

Once we receive the form, a member of our Relationship Management Team will reach out by email, phone call, or text message to help you get started with the process of becoming a VR customer. Should you have any questions along the way, this employU staff member is just an email or text message away to assist you. Fill out a VR application

The first step in becoming a VR customer is filling out the application. Your employU staff contact will email you the application to fill out. You can also find the applications for adult and youth services here. When filling out the application, make sure to also watch VR’s orientation video. This is required by VR. Once the application is filled out, you can simply email it back to your employU contact and they will submit it to VR on your behalf.

Processing and eligibility

Once VR has your application, they will begin processing it. This process time will vary depending on each individual’s unique set of circumstances, but rest assured they will reach out to you soon to discuss the next steps. Every individual has a unique set of circumstances which must be reviewed carefully by VR to determine eligibility. Some situations may take longer than others, so be sure to communicate with your VR counselor once they reach out about their decision process. Timely submissions of documentation and other paperwork requested of you will help the counselor move the process along in your case.

Prepare for your meeting with your VR Counselor

When it comes time to meet with your VR Counselor, make sure you are prepared to get the most out of your meeting. This first meeting can take place in the VR office, over the phone, or through video chat. The meeting will last at least an hour. Your VR counselor will ask you about the following topics during your meeting;

Your work history information
Jobs or fields you are interested in
Your disability
Your finances
Your Supports

Make sure to bring the following to the meeting with your VR counselor;

Recent medical or psychological reports (within the last 3 years)
Your physician’s name and address
Your social security card
Your health insurance card
Proof that you are permitted to work in the United States, if you are not a U.S. citizen
Your Medicare or Medicaid card
Current income information such as current W2s and tax returns (form 1040)

You can also prepare by reading VR’s handbook linked here.

After the meeting, your VR counselor may send you for additional evaluations or assessments, at no cost to you, if additional information is required. VR will use this information to determine your eligibility. Eligibility Determinations can take up to 60 days to make.

Plan and Vendor Referrals

Once VR has determined that you are eligible for services, your team at VR will begin writing your Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). This process can take up to 90 days. The plan also lists services and service providers you are eligible for. If you are a Social Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) beneficiary and would like to receive a benefits analysis to determine how income you receive from working could impact your benefits, you can request a benefits analysis, also called a WIPA referral. It is recommended that you request this before your VR team writes your IPE.

Remember, your VR Counselor is there to help and you have the right to use a service provider of your choosing, like employU. You can ask to be referred to a specific vender and request other services such as;

An interpreter
WIPA (Benefits analysis regarding how employment will affect your benefits for SSI and SSDI recipients)
Career Counseling and Guidance
On-the-job Training
Training and Education
Assistive Technology
Job Placement
Job Coaching

Begin your path toward success!

If you choose employU as a provider, your VR counselor will send a referral to employU. Once our staff receives your referral from your VR counselor, your employment services can begin. You will be contacted for an intake where you can discuss your job goals and plan of action with your employU staff member.