Wisconsin Veteran Benefits & Disabled Veterans Benefits
Benefits for Veterans and Disabled Veterans in Wisconsin
In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are Wisconsin veterans benefits programs provided by the state.
Wisconsin Veteran Education Benefits
Wisconsin G.I. Bill
The Wisconsin GI Bill pays full tuition and segregated fees for eligible veterans and their dependents for up to eight full-time semesters or 128 credits, whichever is greater, at any University of Wisconsin System or Wisconsin Technical College System school. Generally, the veteran must have an honorable discharge, wartime service, and Wisconsin state residency. For dependents to be eligible, the veteran must have at least 30 percent disability. Check with your school or the Wisconsin VA for more details.
VetEd Education Grant
The Veterans Education (VetEd) grant program provides a reimbursement grant based on a credit-bank system that is based on length of active duty military service. Veterans who have not yet been awarded a bachelor’s degree may be eligible. It reimburses tuition and fees following successful course completion at an eligible University of Wisconsin, technical college, or approved private college.
National Guard Tuition Grant & Reserve Tuition Assistance Program
Veterans eligible for the National Guard Tuition Grant (NGTG) or Reserve Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) are not eligible for VetEd. A veteran’s eligibility for either of these other grants is the criterion for VetEd eligibility, not whether the veteran has applied for either.
100% college tuition (up to $10,532 per year) or receive 100% college tuition up to the cost of University of Wisconsin-Madison rates for eight semesters. 75% Federal tuition assistance (Up to $4,500 per year) may be used in addition to supplement or separately from the 100% State tuition. May be used for up to eight semesters.
>> Find VA-approved colleges in Wisconsin with our School Finder.
Wisconsin Veteran Housing Benefits
Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit
With the Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit, eligible veterans and unremarried surviving spouses, can receive a refundable property tax credit for their primary, residence and up to one acre of land in Wisconsin.
In order to qualify, a veteran will need to be a Wisconsin resident for a consecutive 5-year period after entering active duty or they will have had to have joined the military from Wisconsin. The veteran must also have a service-connected disability rating of 100% under 38 USC 1114 or 1134 or a 100% disability rating based on their individual unemployability.
This tax credit is for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. In order for the unremarried surviving spouse to qualify, their spouse needs to have been a resident of Wisconsin when they passed away and be receiving DIC.
Wisconsin Health Care Benefits
Wisconsin Veteran Homes
Wisconsin has three veterans homes. They are located in:
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- Chippewa Falls
- King
- Union Grove
A veteran does not have to be a Wisconsin resident to go to these veterans homes.
Veterans have the first priority, then spouses of veterans, spouses of deceased veterans, and parents of veterans who were killed while on active duty.
Those who have resided in Wisconsin for more than six continuous months before the date of their application, will have first priority within each general priority.
After that, priority goes to those who are residents on the date of their application, who have been residing in Wisconsin for six months or less, then, third priority will go to eligible applicants who reside out-of-state when they apply.
In order to qualify as a veteran, a person will have needed to serve on active duty during peacetime for two or more years, or for their full period of their obligation, or be a person who served on active duty for at least 90 days, with at least one day during a wartime period, and have an honorable discharge.
Wisconsin Veteran Employment Benefits
Civil Service Preference
Disabled veterans, or those who have served on active duty during periods or campaigns, are entitled to competitive preference over non-veterans, as long as this is their first civil service position.
Veterans are eligible for preference points for positions that are open for competition, that require a civil service examination.
The points will be added to the passing scores of civil service exams. Veterans can receive an extra 10 points if they have a VA-approved service-connected disability rating. Spouses of certain disabled or deceased veterans may also have these points added to their score.
For non-competitive appointments, certain qualified disabled veterans with at least a 30% service disability, would be appointed to any position in the State of Wisconsin classified service, without competition.
Veteran Employment Grant Program
To help connect veterans with good, family supporting jobs, the State of Wisconsin offers the Veteran Employment Grant Program. This program helps support businesses that hire honorably discharged veterans with a 50% of more service-related disability. Employers can receive $5,000 in funding over a 12-months period when they hire a qualifying veteran for a full-time job, and will receive $2,500 for a part-time job.
Commercial Driver’s License Waiver
If a veteran has a military license because they operated a military commercial vehicle, they might be able to obtain a Wisconsin CDL and have the skills test waived. This is because of their experience and training with those types of vehicles while they were in the military. The veteran would still need to pass the knowledge test. They would also need to be a Wisconsin resident, and this waiver does not cover the Hazardous or School Bus endorsements.
Military Retirement Pay Taxes
Wisconsin does not tax military retirement pay.
For more information regarding Wisconsin veterans’ benefits, please visit – Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs
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About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, blogger, and owner of Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life, a support blog for military spouses. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.