(a) General. VA shall maintain policies and procedures which provide accountability in the authorization and payment of program costs for training and rehabilitation services. The procedures established under this section are applicable to all program costs except subsistence allowance (or the optional allowance at Chapter 34 rates). Policies and procedures governing payment of subsistence allowance are governed by §§21.260 through 21.276, and §§21.320 through 21.334.

(b) Determining necessary costs for training and rehabilitation services. The estimates of program costs during a calendar year or lesser period shall be based upon the services necessary to carry out the veteran's rehabilitation plan during that period (§§21.80 through 21.96). The estimates will be developed by the VBA case manager. If additional approval is required, the VBA case manager shall secure such additional approval prior to authorization of services.

(c) Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Officer's review of program costs. The VR&E Officer will review the program costs for the services in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this section if the case manager's program cost estimate for a calendar year exceeds $25,000. The VR&E Officer may not delegate this responsibility. The case manager will neither sign a rehabilitation plan nor authorize expenditures before the VR&E Officer approves the program costs. The services subject to this review are:

(1) Providing supplies to help establish a small business;

(2) A period of extended evaluation; or

(3) A program of independent living services.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3115(b)(4))

Cross References: See §21.156. Other incidental goods and services. §21.258. Special assistance for veterans in self-employment.

[49 FR 40814, Oct. 18, 1984, as amended at 51 FR 45767, Dec. 22, 1986; 55 FR 25975, June 26, 1990; 62 FR 17710, Apr. 11, 1997; 84 FR 194, Jan. 18, 2019]