This document has been formatted for use on this web site. It contains hyperlinks that enable the user to jump directly to specific areas within the document or to related documents. The information and guidance it contains has been revised and new sections have been added. There are definitions for terms that may be unfamiliar. This communication applies to ESD staff as well as agencies or organizations who have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the local Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) who have signed data sharing agreement with ESD, staff have completed SKIES training and have signed a notice or oath of confidentiality. 

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SUBJECT:  Federal Veterans' Affairs (VA) Work-Study Allowance Program

ORIGINATOR:  WIA Title III (Wagner-Peyser) (Veterans’ Services Unit)

The Federal Veterans' Affairs (VA) Work Study Allowance Program began as a supplemental program to the GI Bill. VA work-study students may be employed by any state or federal agency or training institution, but are limited to working only with veterans' programs.

The cost of the program is the responsibility of the VA. The only cost to the hosting agency is the cost of used space, equipment, training, and supervision of the VA work-study student.

It is the policy of the Employment Security Department (ESD) to provide educationally disadvantaged or unemployed veteran students with an opportunity to learn and work part-time through the utilization of the Federal Veterans' Affairs (VA) Work-Study Allowance Program.

VA work-study students are not used to replace existing staff and are used only to augment Local Veterans' Employment Representative (LVER) and Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) staff to provide quality service to veterans.

Compliance with this policy is a condition of continued work-study participation. Failure to comply by the work-study student can be grounds for dismissal from the program. Appropriate VA authorities will be notified of reason for dismissal.

VA work-study student assignments are directly related to veteran activities only. Work-study students are placed in training and learning environments to develop the skills and abilities to work with veteran customers.

Work-Study Eligibility  | Work-Study Application/Agreement
Recruitment and Selection | Signatures | Training | Duties of VA Work-Study Student
Duties of Supervisor | Determination of Total Number of Work-Study Hours/Students

Work-Study Eligibility

A student enrolled in one of the following programs on a three-quarter time basis or higher is eligible to apply for a work-study allowance:

1. Chapter 30 Title 38, United States Code (USC) (Montgomery GI Bill) - Provides educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty Educational Assistance Program. The program provides education and training opportunities for individuals entering military service after June 30, 1985

2. Chapter 31 Title 38, USC (Vocational Rehabilitation) - Deals with vocational rehabilitation training to assist service-connected Disabled Veterans to obtain and maintain suitable employment, or for certain veterans to achieve maximum independence in daily living. Benefits are available for use in on-the-job or apprenticeship training, or for full-time schooling. The VA pays the trainee a monthly allowance in addition to the wage paid by the employer and the Veteran's disability compensation;

3. Chapter 32 Title 38, USC (Veterans' Educational Assistance Program) - Provides educational benefits under the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP). This program provides education and training opportunities to eligible persons who contributed to VEAP while on active duty after December 31, 1976 and before July 1, 1985;

4. Chapter 35 Title 38, USC (Dependents' Educational Assistance) - provides educational benefits under the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program. This program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans; and

5. Chapter 106 Title 10, USC (Selected Reserve) - This is an education benefits program for members of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserves, the Army National Guard, and the Air Guard. The reserve components decide who is eligible for the program.

Work-Study Application/Agreement

Forms 22-8691, Application for Work-Study Allowance, and 20-8692, Student Work-Study Agreement, are completed by the VA work-study student and the LVER or designee, signed by the VA work-study student, and forwarded to:

The Department of Veterans' Affairs
915 2nd Avenue (242)
Seattle, WA 98174
Attn: Work-Study Coordinator
(206) 220-6124

All LVERs/DVOPs have a supply of these two forms on hand. Additional forms are available from the Veterans' Services Unit in Olympia.

The maximum number of hours that a student can work per college term is equal to 25 times the number of weeks during a four-month school term not to exceed 475 hours. Total service is limited to 1,300 hours in a one-year period. The VA work-study student's salary is paid by the VA, is based on the number of approved work-study hours and the number of hours reported on the time sheet, and is paid at the federal or state minimum wage, whichever is higher. ESD has no role in this payment procedure other than to submit the student's time sheet. The Department of Veterans' Affairs mails the checks directly to the student. No allowances are made by the VA for other costs such as mileage. 

Recruitment and Selection

1. Work-Study program is advertised by VA representative at local colleges
2. LVER may contact VA representative at local college(s)
3. Announcement is usually posted at the college
4. LVER may have a walk-in eligible student bring appropriate document from the college
5. LVER conducts one on one interviews to match needs of student and office(s). DVOP may be involved in the interview process
6. Responsibility of LVER for final selection decision

Work-study students will read, understand, sign and have on file all required agency documentation.

Each work-study student will:

1. Receive training needed to perform job duties
2. Receive ESD New Employee Orientation to include the review, understanding and signing of required documents
3. Receive agency-required training and in-house training, as appropriate

Under the direction of the LVER/DVOP the VA work-study student may assist in performing, but not limited to the following tasks:

1. Conduct veteran file search on job orders.
2. Pre-screen veteran resumes and applications for LVER/DVOPs.
3. Make follow-up contacts with client(s) to verify employment status.
4. Refer to workshops, veteran services, support services, etc.
5. Assist customers in resource room in job search and skills assessment.
6. Schedule clients for follow-up on Transition Assistance Program (TAP).
7. Assist with Job Fairs, veteran functions and veteran activities.
8. Input, update and maintain client files within SKIES work-study access limitations.
9. Review the Federal Contractor List to extract appropriate contractors for contact.
10. Review other lists for referral to services, updating information, and/or other needed information as appropriate.
11. Perform various clerical duties as related to Veteran Services.
12. May assist LVER and DVOP in various duties related to working with or on behalf of veterans, as needed.

VA work-study students will not do employer contacts, case management, or job referrals.

The LVER is the supervisor of the VA work-study student. The responsibilities of the LVER include:

1. Interview and select work-study students.
2. Review, sign and send to Federal Veterans’ Affairs (VA) the Work-Study Agreement.
3. Review time sheets for accuracy, sign and send to Federal Veterans’ Affairs (VA) office.
4. Ensure New Employee Orientation is completed with appropriate documents signed.
5. Prepare written local office training plan for work-study student.
6. May assign DVOP to assist with the training of the work-study student.
7. Assign job duties and give performance expectations to include specific duties for students assigned to non-ESD facilities.
8. Review job performance.
9. Develop corrective action plan if needed.
10. Coordinate with VA counselor in addressing issues of a personal nature that affects work performance.
11. Consult with VA counselor when working with student’s issues or concerns.
12. Ensure all appropriate documentation has been read, understood and signed.
13. May assign DVOP to oversee and direct daily activities of work-study student.
14. If the LVER is unavailable, supervision is the responsibility of the Area Administrator or Operations Manager.

Ensure there is agreement between LVER(s) and Area Administrator on the number of students and hours of work-study positions that can be effectively used to serve veterans. The combined hours of all work-study positions will not exceed agreed upon total number of agreed upon hours.

The number of work-study hours for each area should be based on the following:

1. Veteran population
2. Veteran work load
3. Number of sites
4. Number of hours that work-study student is available
5. Size of area served
6. Cost of doing business (i.e. cost of space)

DEFINITIONS

Definitions relating to Veterans can be found in Policies and Procedures communication number 4030, Services for Veterans.

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, Public Law 103-152 (WorkSource); the Wagner-Peyser Act as amended by WIA (Labor Exchange); Title 38, United States Code (USC), Chapters 41 and 42 (Veterans); and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 20, Chapter V, Part 652, Subpart B, and Chapter IX, Parts 1001 and 1005 (Veterans). The VA work-study allowances are governed by Title 38, USC, Chapters 30, 31, 32, and 35; and Title 10, USC, Chapter 106.

This communication cancels and supersedes Policies and Procedures communication number 4035, dated June 16, 2000.

http://www.wa.gov/esd/policies 

Onésimo R. Espinoza
Employment Security Department
Veterans’ Services Unit
WorkSource Operations Division
P.O. Box 9046, MS 6000
Olympia, WA 98507-9046
E-mail: oespinoza@esd.wa.gov
Telephone: (360) 438-4068
Fax: (360) 438-4014
TTY: (360) 438-3167 (temporarily)