EDUCATION

Wisconsin GI Bill - The Wisconsin GI Bill waives tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Technical College schools. Eligible veterans and certain dependents may receive the greater of eight full-time semesters or 128 credits for technical, undergraduate, professional or graduate study.

• Eligibility highlights... You must have been a resident of Wisconsin at the time of entry into active duty service or in the U.S. Armed Forces. Military service must have been under honorable conditions, and must have included at least one of the following:
  • 90 or more days of active duty service during a statutorily-designated wartime period,
  • Two years of active duty service during peacetime,
  • Active duty service that included the award of the Expeditionary Medal or a qualifying campaign service medal, or
  • The period of service was ended due to a service-connected disability, hardship or a reduction in forces.

See WDVA Eligibility requirements-Military Service for more details.

Veterans Education Reimbursement Grant (Vet Ed Grant) - Serving as a payer-of-last resort, the VetEd Grant reimburses eligible veterans for study at qualifying institutions. You must attend an approved program or couse and your school must award academic credit. Grant amounts are based on the length of your qualifying active duty service. Reimbursement never exceeds the actual payment you make and maximum limits apply. You have up to ten years from your date of separation to use a VetEd Grant for full-time study. After ten years, up to 60 unused credits may be "banked" for additional part-time study.

• Eligibility highlights
  • The VetEd Grant is for undergraduates only. You are not eligible if you have an undergraduate degree from any institution of higher learning.
  • You must first have exhausted any available assistance through the Wisconsin GI Bill, National Guard Tuition Grant, or Reserve Tuition Assistance.
  • Income requirements apply.
  • You must complete the semester or course(s) with at least a 2.0 or "C" average.

Retraining Grant - If you become unemployed or underemployed (your annual wages are below federal poverty guidelines within the last year) you may qualify for a grant of up to $3,000 per year while receiving educational or on-the-job retraining, or have received a notice of termination within the last year, you may qualify for a grant of up to $3,000 per year while receiving educational or on-the-job retraining.

• Eligibility highlights
  • You must have been involuntarily laid off or discharged within one year of applying.
  • You were employed for at least six consecutive months with the same employer or in similar occupations.
  • You are currently enrolled in a technical college or approved proprietary school that does not offer a four year degree, or are engaged in an on-the-job training program that will be completed within two years of the date your application is filed with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA).
     

ASSISTANCE

Assistance to Needy Veterans Grant (ANV) - ANV grants provide limited health care and subsistence aid to low-income veterans. The lifetime maximum amount is $7,500. Aid is primarily available for veterans. The spouse and dependent of a veteran killed in action or in the line of duty are eligible to apply. Spouses and dependents of service members who experience a loss of income due to the veteran's activation or deployment and suffer an economic emergency may also qualify.

• Subsistence aid - Financial aid may be provided when there is a loss of the veteran's income due to illness, injury, or natural disaster. The grant covers individual 30-day periords or a 90-day period, up to a maximum of $3,000 in a consecutive 12-month period.
• Health Care - Financial aid for dental care, dentures, vision care, and hearing care is available. The maximum lifetime benefit available is $7,500. Applicants with household liquid assets in excess of $1,000 are NOT eligible for health grants.
• Eligibility highlights....
  • Your income cannot exceed WDVA poverty guidelines.
  • You must have applied for and been denied all other aid, such as Unemployment Insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and the federal VA health care system.

Veterans Assistance Program (VAP) - The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) administers a program to assist veterans who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. The Veterans Assistance Program helps veterans receive the support services necessary to: successfully re-enter the work force; establish a consistent source of income that will enable them to live independently; or access long-term, inpatient health care. Transitional housing is provided, along with services focused on education and training, employment, health care, housing referral, counseling and legal assistance.

For more information...

• Contact WDVA at 1-800-947-8387 or www.WisVets.com/HomelessVeterans.
• Contact one of the Veterans Assistance Program sites directly:
  • Chippewa Falls, 715-726-2541
  • Fort Mccoy, 608-26-0234
  • Union Grove, 262-878-9151
  • King, 715-256-1118

Veterans Home at King and Union Grove - Veterans and their spouses may receive skilled nursing care at either Home, King is located on Rainbow Lake near Waupaca. It is the largest, and one of the most modern, nursing homes in the United States. Union Grove is located in Racine County , a modern and affordable residence offers countless opportunties to enjoy the companionship of fellow veterans in a variety of social settings.

• Eligibility highlights: Veterans must meet criteria for military service and state residency. You must have entered service from the state of Wisconsin, or have resided in Wisconsin for 12 consecutive months since your discharge from military service. A spouse of a veteran can also reside at the Wisconsin Veterans home, provided thay are admitted while the veteran is at some type of facility or if the spouse is a widow/widower.

For more information: www.WisVets.com/Homes. Or, call toll-free:

• Veterans Home at King, 1-888-458-5586
• Veterans Home at Union Grove, 1-866-669-8387
• Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls - to be opened in the future

State Veterans Cemeteries - Veterans, their spouses and family members may be buried at the state veterans cemeteries. There is no charge for the burial of an eligible veteran with use of the burial items supplied by the cemetery.

Cemetery Locations...

• Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Spooner, WI
• Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Union Grove, WI
• Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery - King, WI

For more information: www.WisVets.com/Cemeteries.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF INTEREST

• Troops to Teachers - www.WisVets.com/TTT
• Incarcerated veterans - http://dva.state.wi.us/Ben_incarcerated.asp
• Wisconsin Veterans Museum - www.museum.dva.state.wi.us
• Veterans and military license plates - www.dot.wisconsin.gov
• Game licenses; state parks and trails - www.dnr.state.wi.us
• Property tax credit - www.revenue.wi.gov/faqs/ise/vetprop.html
• State employment resources - www.dw.state.wi.us

See WDVA Web Site (State Benefits) for specific details on these and other programs. Generally to qualify for these benefits, veterans must have entered service on active duty from Wisconsin or have been a resident for at least one consecutive year after entry or reentry into service. Veterans who received dishonorable discharges are NOT eligible.