The Veteran Supported Education Service Treatment Manual: VetSEd

viii. How does the Veteran plan to pay for school?
In addition to the GI Bill, Veterans may utilize a range of other sources to pay for living
and educational expenses while in school. Some Veterans choose and are able to do this
solely with the use of the GI Bill. Other Veterans choose or need to have other options
such as working part time, or utilizing other income sources (school financial aid
packages, loan/gift from family member, service connection, etc.) to pay for school.
Work and School Balance
Some Veterans will prefer to start or continue work while in school, citing the added
structure of employment and other factors as reasons to work. Still other Veterans will
prefer to focus their time only on school if they can afford to do so. First, ask the Veteran
about his/her thoughts and preferences about this issue. If the Veteran is unsure how s/he
feels about it, then it may be useful for you as the peer VetSEd provider to complete
Worksheet #9a: Ups and Downs for Going to School and Worksheet #9b: Ups and Downs
for Going to School AND Working with the Veteran. This will help the Veteran weigh the
pros and cons of both possible scenarios.
Some items to consider in making these lists:
The flexibility of work and class schedules in order to accommodate both
The degree to which work will positively impact Veteran‘s self-esteem and social
connections from starting a job or staying at current job
The degree to which work hours and energy spent on work will impact school
Time spent commuting between home, school, and work
Adequate time for rest, leisure, treatment for mental health or physical health
issues, and family/friends
The number of other people in the Veteran‘s academic program who work (for
some programs and schools, most people do work while going to school, and for
others it is rare for people to be able to work and go to school due to the
requirements)
Once you and the Veteran have started these lists, the Veteran may also seek information
from family/friends and school advisors to gather additional feedback and information.
The important thing for you and the Veteran to remember is that s/he can always try out
either school only or work and school and then make a different choice during the
semester. If a Veteran needs help with finding work, you can talk to your supervisor
about possible referral options to the vocational rehabilitation services offered at your VA
hospital, VR&E, Vet Success and local career centers.
53 | P a g e