I had a lengthy discussion with my counselor about having internet service included in my plan as a "required supplies". When I first requested for the computer package and to have internet service included with it, he explained that the VA does not pay for internet service at all.
I did my research on the validity of his response. The M28R that lays out the administration of Voc Rehab has a section that outlines "Supplies and Equipment," specifically, page 4-3, paragraphs 1 and 2 on that page are related to this request.
Using these two paragraphs as references, they both state:
PARAGRAPH 1 "Example: A veteran is competing in training or in an employment search with non-Veteran job candidates who are younger and have no disabilities. Many of these other candidates own and use computers to succeed in training and demonstrate job-related computer skills. This Veteran may well need a computer package to remain competitive. The VRC should decide to buy a computer package only after carefully analyzing the Veteran's situation and need for the computer package (e.g, the training facility does not have sufficient computer equipment on campus or the Veteran's situation does not allow adequate access to the facility's equipment).
PARAGRAPH 2:
"The VRC should also take into consideration whether the Veteran already owns a computer before authorizing purchase of a computer package. There may be situations when a Veteran already owns a computer, but if it used by others in the household, it may still be necessary to purchase a computer package for the Veteran. However, it may not be necessary to purchase Internet Service in this situation if the Veteran already has Internet Service provided for the use of his/her entire household. In general, supplies such as a computer package or Internet Service should only be purchased when the VRC determines that the purchase is required or deemed necessary to assist the Veteran in completing the objectives of a rehabilitation plan."
When I confronted my counselor with these paragraphs, and how they pertain to my situation, he admitted that he had seen cases of some Veterans approved for Internet to be included with their computer package. But a while ago, I was told the complete opposite from him. I made a written appeal, and after a few weeks later, I find out I was assigned to a new counselor. This newly assigned counselor has been already briefed/aware of my case for the internet. She tells me that the VA is already in the process of changing the M28R. Tries to convince me that Internet service is a "living expense" that should be covered by my subsistence allowance.
It shouldn't matter how much money the VA is compensating me every month. I earned that through service. By principle of the text within the M28R, the internet service should have been included with the computer purchase as I didn't have internet service at the time, there wasn't sufficient equipment on campus to use. With their logic in mind, how is it fair to give the computer package along with a printer when supposedly my allowance and disability can cover for it?
I asked my counselor to put it in writing along with a reference as to why I am being denied. She was very hesitant at first as she quickly assumed I was going take the appeal to their headquarters in Washington (which I am looking into) I have been calling the Voc Rehab hotline, but they want me to handle at this level first before I continue forward. However, my counselor is telling me that this appeal will not go higher than the RO's decision at this Voc Rehab office.
Can you provide your insight on this? Do you think I have a justifiable cause that internet service should have been provided? Why or why not?
VA Regional Voc Rehab office is saying they are not allowed to do this. My counselor claims that zero veterans have been approved for internet service from this regional office. Please help. I don't know what to do. I am fighting for this but they make me feel helpless. It's like they want me to give up on this even though the M28R is written in such a way that helps the veteran reference to which supplies and equipment the VA can provide. This particular regional office seems to be making up their own damn rules as they go along with cases, and it's not just mine. They were shocked to learn that I read the M28R, as if I was the first veteran to confront them with it. My counselor even told me "every counselor is different". How is that a fair statement to say to the veteran? They really aren't looking out for your best interests, only to cover their own asses and give you the bare minimum in benefits. this same counselor has over 10+ years bullshitting veterans and giving them the run around. She won't even approve school parking passes that cost $100. Tells the veteran "budget your subsistence allowance". THE SUBISTENCE ALLOWANCE IS MEANT FOR LIVING EXPENSES. It's defined that way on VA Form 28-057 page 2. Anything that isn't a "living expense" such as tuition, fees, books, and required supplies/equipment can be covered by the VA. How is internet service a "living expense" when it became a required tool for me to complete online assignments? I made a suggestion to my counselor that I could get one of my professors to make a written statement that internet service was a need to complete online assignments. She immediately told me not do that and to "stop reaching around" and to simply accept the denial and move on.
VA Regional's defense for not granting reimbursement for internet service? According to them, I need to show "financial hardship" which would have to be "deemed necessary" which is quoted from the last sentence in paragraph 2. AGAIN, THIS IS BULLSHIT. The RO ignorantly disregarded everything else and severely misinterpreted the M28R. First off, nowhere in the M28R does it mention the fact that the veteran has to display financial hardship to acquire internet service. Oh, and by "financial hardship" what they mean by that is that they want to see bank statements in the negative. And even if I were to provide records of such financial hardship, I could risk getting terminated from the program because of debt and lack of budget management. It makes no sense. Another utterly made up bullshit reason is that this particular VA Regional interprets "Internet Service" as a "Service" and they only cover tools/supplies, and they don't cover "Services". Again this makes no sense as other veterans from different regional offices all around the nation were able to acquire internet SERVICE along with their computer packages. Even more so, the fact that Internet Service falls under Supplies & Equipment, but they fail to acknowledge this.
I've tried calling the VR&E hotline multiple times about certain issues but nothing has been fairly resolved. The RO is not doing the right thing. He clearly does not want to follow the M28R to assist veterans, only to find and makeup reasons not to include internet.
If anyone is wondering, RO stands for Regional Officer. He/she is the person that is basically the supervisor for the voc rehab counselors.
and for the record, I did not have a computer or internet service during the event I requested internet to be provided. As of yet, There has been no clear reason of denial in writing from my counselor as to why they cannot provide this to me.
I did my research on the validity of his response. The M28R that lays out the administration of Voc Rehab has a section that outlines "Supplies and Equipment," specifically, page 4-3, paragraphs 1 and 2 on that page are related to this request.
Using these two paragraphs as references, they both state:
PARAGRAPH 1 "Example: A veteran is competing in training or in an employment search with non-Veteran job candidates who are younger and have no disabilities. Many of these other candidates own and use computers to succeed in training and demonstrate job-related computer skills. This Veteran may well need a computer package to remain competitive. The VRC should decide to buy a computer package only after carefully analyzing the Veteran's situation and need for the computer package (e.g, the training facility does not have sufficient computer equipment on campus or the Veteran's situation does not allow adequate access to the facility's equipment).
PARAGRAPH 2:
"The VRC should also take into consideration whether the Veteran already owns a computer before authorizing purchase of a computer package. There may be situations when a Veteran already owns a computer, but if it used by others in the household, it may still be necessary to purchase a computer package for the Veteran. However, it may not be necessary to purchase Internet Service in this situation if the Veteran already has Internet Service provided for the use of his/her entire household. In general, supplies such as a computer package or Internet Service should only be purchased when the VRC determines that the purchase is required or deemed necessary to assist the Veteran in completing the objectives of a rehabilitation plan."
When I confronted my counselor with these paragraphs, and how they pertain to my situation, he admitted that he had seen cases of some Veterans approved for Internet to be included with their computer package. But a while ago, I was told the complete opposite from him. I made a written appeal, and after a few weeks later, I find out I was assigned to a new counselor. This newly assigned counselor has been already briefed/aware of my case for the internet. She tells me that the VA is already in the process of changing the M28R. Tries to convince me that Internet service is a "living expense" that should be covered by my subsistence allowance.
It shouldn't matter how much money the VA is compensating me every month. I earned that through service. By principle of the text within the M28R, the internet service should have been included with the computer purchase as I didn't have internet service at the time, there wasn't sufficient equipment on campus to use. With their logic in mind, how is it fair to give the computer package along with a printer when supposedly my allowance and disability can cover for it?
I asked my counselor to put it in writing along with a reference as to why I am being denied. She was very hesitant at first as she quickly assumed I was going take the appeal to their headquarters in Washington (which I am looking into) I have been calling the Voc Rehab hotline, but they want me to handle at this level first before I continue forward. However, my counselor is telling me that this appeal will not go higher than the RO's decision at this Voc Rehab office.
Can you provide your insight on this? Do you think I have a justifiable cause that internet service should have been provided? Why or why not?
VA Regional Voc Rehab office is saying they are not allowed to do this. My counselor claims that zero veterans have been approved for internet service from this regional office. Please help. I don't know what to do. I am fighting for this but they make me feel helpless. It's like they want me to give up on this even though the M28R is written in such a way that helps the veteran reference to which supplies and equipment the VA can provide. This particular regional office seems to be making up their own damn rules as they go along with cases, and it's not just mine. They were shocked to learn that I read the M28R, as if I was the first veteran to confront them with it. My counselor even told me "every counselor is different". How is that a fair statement to say to the veteran? They really aren't looking out for your best interests, only to cover their own asses and give you the bare minimum in benefits. this same counselor has over 10+ years bullshitting veterans and giving them the run around. She won't even approve school parking passes that cost $100. Tells the veteran "budget your subsistence allowance". THE SUBISTENCE ALLOWANCE IS MEANT FOR LIVING EXPENSES. It's defined that way on VA Form 28-057 page 2. Anything that isn't a "living expense" such as tuition, fees, books, and required supplies/equipment can be covered by the VA. How is internet service a "living expense" when it became a required tool for me to complete online assignments? I made a suggestion to my counselor that I could get one of my professors to make a written statement that internet service was a need to complete online assignments. She immediately told me not do that and to "stop reaching around" and to simply accept the denial and move on.
VA Regional's defense for not granting reimbursement for internet service? According to them, I need to show "financial hardship" which would have to be "deemed necessary" which is quoted from the last sentence in paragraph 2. AGAIN, THIS IS BULLSHIT. The RO ignorantly disregarded everything else and severely misinterpreted the M28R. First off, nowhere in the M28R does it mention the fact that the veteran has to display financial hardship to acquire internet service. Oh, and by "financial hardship" what they mean by that is that they want to see bank statements in the negative. And even if I were to provide records of such financial hardship, I could risk getting terminated from the program because of debt and lack of budget management. It makes no sense. Another utterly made up bullshit reason is that this particular VA Regional interprets "Internet Service" as a "Service" and they only cover tools/supplies, and they don't cover "Services". Again this makes no sense as other veterans from different regional offices all around the nation were able to acquire internet SERVICE along with their computer packages. Even more so, the fact that Internet Service falls under Supplies & Equipment, but they fail to acknowledge this.
I've tried calling the VR&E hotline multiple times about certain issues but nothing has been fairly resolved. The RO is not doing the right thing. He clearly does not want to follow the M28R to assist veterans, only to find and makeup reasons not to include internet.
If anyone is wondering, RO stands for Regional Officer. He/she is the person that is basically the supervisor for the voc rehab counselors.
and for the record, I did not have a computer or internet service during the event I requested internet to be provided. As of yet, There has been no clear reason of denial in writing from my counselor as to why they cannot provide this to me.
