US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

38 U.S.C. § 1524

Vocational training for certain pension recipients

(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 , and ending on .
(b)
(1)
section 3107 of this title 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 .
(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 sections 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)
section 3104(a)(2) of this titlesection 3104(a)(5) of this titlesection 3104(a)(6) of this title When a veteran completes a vocational training program under this subsection, the Secretary may provide the veteran with counseling of the kind described in , placement and postplacement services of the kind described in , and training of the kind described in 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) , 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)
section 1525 of this title 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 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.

Pub. L. 98–543, title III, § 301(a)(1)98 Stat. 2744Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 703(b)(1)100 Stat. 3303Pub. L. 100–227, title II, § 202101 Stat. 1555Pub. L. 100–687, div. B, title XIII, § 1303(a)102 Stat. 4128Pub. L. 101–237, title I, § 114103 Stat. 2065Pub. L. 102–83105 Stat. 404–406Pub. L. 102–291, § 2(b)106 Stat. 178Pub. L. 102–568, title IV, § 402(a)106 Stat. 4337Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1201(g)(2)108 Stat. 4687(Added , , , § 524; amended , , ; , , ; , (b), , ; , , ; renumbered § 1524 and amended , §§ 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), , ; , , ; –(c)(2)(A), , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 103–4461994—Subsec. (a)(2). substituted “If” for “Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, if”.

Pub. L. 102–568, § 402(c)(2)(A)1992—, substituted “Vocational training for certain pension recipients” for “Temporary program of vocational training for certain new pension recipients” as section catchline.

Pub. L. 102–568, § 402(a)Subsec. (a)(1). , 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.”

Pub. L. 102–568, § 402(b)Subsec. (a)(3). , redesignated par. (4) as (3), substituted “” for “”, 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.”

Pub. L. 102–568, § 402(b)(2)Subsec. (a)(4). , redesignated par. (4) as (3).

Pub. L. 102–291 substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 102–568, § 402(c)(1)Subsec. (b)(4). , substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)section 524 of this title1991—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1)Subsec. (a). , (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).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (b)(1). , substituted “3107” for “1507”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1)Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(i). , (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in two places.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(iii). , 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”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (b)(3). , 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”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1)Subsec. (b)(4). , (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (d). , substituted “1525” for “525”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1)Subsec. (e). , (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” in two places.

Pub. L. 101–237, § 114(a)1989—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). , substituted “45” for “50”.

Pub. L. 101–237, § 114(b)Subsecs. (c) to (e). , added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) and (d) as (d) and (e), respectively.

Pub. L. 100–687, § 1303(a)1988—Subsec. (a)(2). , 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”.

Pub. L. 100–687, § 1303(b)Subsecs. (a)(4), (b)(4)(A). , substituted “1992” for “1989”.

Pub. L. 100–2271987—Subsec. (a)(3). substituted “3,500” for “2,500”.

Pub. L. 99–576, § 703(b)(1)(A)1986—Subsec. (a)(2). , substituted “subsection (b) of this section” for “subsection (d) of this section”.

Pub. L. 99–576, § 703(b)(1)(B)Subsec. (b)(4). , substituted “subsection (a) of this section” for “subsection (a)(1) of this section”.

Pub. L. 99–576, § 703(b)(1)(C)section 525 of this titleSubsec. (c). , substituted “A veteran” for “Notwithstanding subsection (c) of , 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 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–291section 2(d) of Pub. L. 102–291section 1163 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–576Pub. L. 98–543section 703(c) of Pub. L. 99–576section 1313 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in , see , set out as a note under .

Ratification of Actions of Secretary of Veterans Affairs During Lapsed Period

section 2(e) of Pub. L. 102–291section 1163 of this titleProvision 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 , and ending , see , set out as a note under .

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 , a report on results of implementation of this section and section 525 [now 1525] of this title during period beginning on , and ending on .