Vocational Rehabilitation: Increase in Rates of Subsistence Allowance Payable

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 21

RIN 2900-AH17

Vocational Rehabilitation: Increase in Rates of Subsistence

Allowance Payable

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs

regulations regarding the monthly rates of subsistence allowance

payable under the Vocational Rehabilitation Program to reflect a 2.44%

increase in these rates pursuant to statutory formula. This amendment

is necessary to establish the correct rate in accordance with the

statutory formula.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Charles A. Graffam, Rehabilitation Program Specialist, Policy and

Program Development, Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling Service

(281), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans

Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-7410.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 38 U.S.C. 3108 provides that, for all fiscal

years beginning on or after October 1, 1994, the rate of subsistence

allowance payable to VA Rehabilitation Program participants must be

increased by the percentage that the Consumer Price Index for all

items, United States city average (CPI-W), for the 12-month period

ending on the preceding June 30 exceeds the CPI-W for the previous 12-

month period. The CPI-W increase as of June 30, 1994, was 2.44%. Hence,

the regulations setting the rates of subsistence allowance payable

under the Vocational Rehabilitation Program are amended to reflect this

2.44% increase. This amendment to regulations merely conforms to the

statutory formula.

VA has determined that prior publication for notice and public

comment is unnecessary since the amendment merely reflects a change

pursuant to statutory formula and is not subject to rule-making

requirements.

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs hereby certifies that this final

regulation will not have a significant impact on a substantial number

of small entities as they are defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act

(RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612. The reason for this certification is that this

final regulation merely reflects a change pursuant to statutory

formula.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program number for

these regulations is 64.116.

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 21

Civil rights, Claims, Education, Grant programs, Loan programs,

Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Schools, Veterans, Vocational

education, Vocational rehabilitation.

Approved: January 11, 1995.

Jesse Brown,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

For the reason set forth in the preamble, 38 CFR, Part 21, is

amended as follows:

PART 21--VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION

Subpart A--Vocational Rehabilitation Under U.S.C. Chapter 31

1. The authority citation for part 21, subpart A is revised to read

as follows:

Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501(a); 38 U.S.C. 3108.

2. In Sec. 21.260, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 21.260 Subsistence allowance.

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(b) Rate of payment. Subsistence allowance is paid at the following

rates effective October 1, 1994.

Monthly Rate of Subsistence Allowance

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Addt'l

amount for

Type of program No One Two each

dependents dependent dependents dependent

over two

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Institutional\1\:

Full-time................................................... $374.93 $465.08 $548.05 $39.95

\3/4\ time.................................................. 281.71 349.32 409.76 30.73

\1/2\ time.................................................. 188.49 233.56 274.54 20.49

Nonpay on-job training in a Federal, state, or local agency,

training in the home; vocational course in a rehabilitation

facility or sheltered workshop; independent instructor:

Full-time only.............................................. 374.93 465.88 548.05 39.95

Nonpay work experience in a Federal, state or local agency:

Full-time................................................... 374.93 465.08 548.05 39.95

\3/4\ time.................................................. 281.71 349.32 409.76 30.73

\1/2\ time.................................................. 188.49 233.56 274.54 20.49

Farm cooperative, apprenticeship, or other on-job training\2\:

Full-time only.............................................. 327.81 396.44 456.88 29.71

Combination of Institutional and OJT (Full-time only):

Institutional greater than \1/2\ time....................... 374.93 465.08 548.05 39.95

OJT greater than \1/2\ time................................. 327.81 396.44 456.88 29.71

Non-farm cooperative (Full-time only):

Institutional............................................... 374.93 465.08 548.05 39.95

On-job...................................................... 327.81 396.44 456.88 29.71

[[Page 4562]]

Improvement of rehabilitation potential:

Full-time only.............................................. 374.93 465.08 548.05 39.95

\3/4\ time.................................................. 281.71 349.32 409.76 30.73

\1/2\ time.................................................. 188.49 233.56 274.54 20.49

\1/4\ time\3\............................................... 94.24 116.78 137.27 10.24

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\1\For measurement of rate of pursuit, see Secs. 21.4270 through 21.4275.

\2\For on-job training, subsistence allowance may not exceed the difference between the monthly training wage,

not including overtime, and the entrance journeyman wage for the veteran's objective.

\3\The quarter-time rate may be paid only during extended evaluation. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3108; Pub. L. 102-

568)

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[FR Doc. 95-1659 Filed 1-23-95; 8:45 am]

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