Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program

The Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (VRRAP) was enacted on March 11, 2021, and reached its statutory end date for enrolling new students on December 10, 2022. VRRAP provides an eligible Veteran with up to 12 months of tuition and fees and a monthly housing allowance based on Post-9/11 GI Bill rates, to be used towards training in a covered program of education (high demand occupation, as determined by the Commission of Labor Statistics). VRRAP ends 21 months after the date of enactment and is limited to a maximum of 17,250 participants and up to $386 million. In order to be eligible for VRRAP, a Veteran must meet the following criteria: • At least 22 years of age and less than 67 years of age • Unemployed due to COVID-19 pandemic • Not eligible for GI Bill or Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits • Not enrolled in a Federal or State jobs program • Not rated as totally disabled because you cannot work • Not receiving unemployment compensation including enhanced benefits under the CARES Act, P.L. 116-136 Under VRRAP, schools are paid as follows: • 50-percent of the total amount payable is paid to the school when the eligible Veteran begins the program of education • 25-percent of the total amount payable is paid to the school when the eligible Veteran completes the program of education • 25-percent of the total amount payable is paid to the school when the eligible Veteran finds employment to a field related to the program of education within 180 days after program completion / withdrawal