Wisconsin State Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans

100% State Benefits- Wisconsin

Note: Information for this document was gathered from various sources including: https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/wisconsin-state-veterans-benefits.html

Visit the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs website for more detailed information: https://dva.wi.gov/Pages/home.aspx

Veterans Homes

For more information, visit: https://www.nasvh.org/state-homes/statedir.cfm

Your eligibility for State Veterans Homes is based on clinical need and setting availability.

Each State establishes eligibility and admission criteria for its homes.

Talk with a VA social worker about the eligibility requirements of State Veterans Homes near you and to figure out a plan for paying for State Veterans Home care services.

Veterans Homes Locations:

Eligibility:

You don’t have to be a Wisconsin resident to be admitted, however, Wisconsin residents get priority.

You must have an honorable discharge to be admitted.

Spouses, surviving spouses, and Gold Star Parents are also eligible for admission.

There is a monthly fee.

State Veterans’ Cemeteries

For more detailed information visit:https://www.cem.va.gov/find-cemetery/state.asp?STATE=WI

National Veterans Cemeteries:

Northwoods National Cemetery 4520 Lakewood Road Harshaw, WI 54529 Burial Space: Open	Phone: 612-726-1127 Fax: 612-726-9119
Wood National Cemetery 5000 W National Ave. Bldg. 1301 Milwaukee, WI 53295 Burial Space: Closed	Phone: 414-382-5300 Fax: 414-382-5321
Fort Winnebago Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot Highway EE Portage, WI 53901 Burial Space: Closed	Phone: 414-382-5300 Fax: 414-382-5321
Forest Hill Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot One Speedway Road Madison, WI 53705 Burial Space: Closed	Phone: 414-382-5300 Fax: 414-382-5321
Forest Home Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot 2405 West Forest Home Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53215 Burial Space: Closed	Phone: 414-382-5300 Fax: 414-382-5321
Fort Crawford Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot 413 South Beaumont Road Prairie du Chien, WI 53821 Burial Space: Closed	Phone: 414-382-5300 Fax: 414-382-5321
Mound Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot 1147 West Boulevard Racine, WI 53405 Burial Space: Closed	Phone: 414-382-5300 Fax: 414-382-5321

State Veterans Cemeteries:

Wisconsin Veterans Affairs 201 West Washington Avenue Madison, WI 53707 VA Grant Funded: N/A	Phone: 608-267-7124
Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery N2665, Highway QQ King, WI 54946 VA Grant Funded: Yes	Phone: 715-256-5000 Fax: 715-256-3513
Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery N4063 Veterans Way Spooner, WI 54801 VA Grant Funded: Yes	Phone: 715-635-5360 Fax: 715-635-5363
Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery 21731 Spring Street Union Grove, WI 53182 VA Grant Funded: Yes	Phone: 262-878-5660 Fax: 262-878-5664

Many states have established state veterans’ cemeteries. Eligibility is like Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries but may include residency requirements. Even though they may have been established or improved with Government funds through VA’s Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, state veterans cemeteries are run solely by the states.

State Cemetery Eligibility: Honorably discharged Wisconsin resident veterans and their dependents are eligible for burial. There is no fee for the veteran’s burial and a small fee for the dependents.

Wisconsin Veteran Financial Benefits

Income Tax

Visit the following website for more information: https://dva.wi.gov/Pages/benefitsClaims/Financial-Tax-Benefits.aspx

All retirement payments received from the U.S. military retirement system are exempt from Wisconsin income tax.

The exemption extends to payments from the Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan and the Survivor Benefit Plan.

Disabled Veterans Property Tax Credit

The Wisconsin Veterans & Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit gives eligible veterans a property tax credit for their primary in-state residence and up to one acre of land.

Eligibility:

Veterans rated 100% disabled or unemployable by the VA are eligible.
Surviving spouses may also be eligible if they are receiving DIC.
A veteran who had been a Wisconsin resident for a consecutive 5-year period after entering active-duty or was a Wisconsin resident when entering active-duty.
In addition to the above requirements the veteran would have had to be a resident of Wisconsin at the time of death for an unmarried surviving spouse to qualify for the benefit.

Applicants who believe they may qualify should contact their local County or Tribal Veterans Service Office.

Consult the local assessor’s office for detailed requirements regarding these exemptions.

Annual refiling is often required.

Find your local tax assessor at this link: https://www.publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Assessor-and-Property-Tax-Records.htm

Health Care Aid and Subsistence Aid Grant

Visit the following website for more information: https://dva.wi.gov/Pages/benefitsClaims/Financial-Grants.aspx

The Health Care Aid and Subsistence Aid Grant program provides limited financial assistance to those in need and who have exhausted all other sources of aid. The grants may be used for specified health care and subsistence needs up to maximum grant limits.

There are 3 types of grants under this umbrella:

Health Care Aid
- Provides assistance with: Dental, Vision, or Hearing care to qualifying applicants
Subsistence Aid
- Financial aid may be provided when there is a loss of income due to illness, injury, or natural disaster and all other sources of aid have been exhausted. Applications for Subsistence Aid must be submitted to the department no later than 12 months following the verified loss of income.
Aid to Military Families
- Qualifying family members may receive financial assistance in an economic emergency.
- Emergencies include:
  - Medical emergencies
  - Major appliance or household utility failure
  - Vehicle repair
  - Natural disaster etc.

Click here for a link to the eligibility requirements and to apply for these grants online: https://dva.wi.gov/Pages/benefitsClaims/Eligibility.aspx

Wisconsin Veteran Employment Benefits

Wisconsin offers several employment aids to its resident veterans. Visit the following link for a full list: https://dva.wi.gov/Pages/educationEmployment/EmploymentVeterans.aspx

Veterans Retraining Grants

Visit the following website for more information: https://dva.wi.gov/Pages/educationEmployment/Retraining-Grants-.aspx

Recently unemployed or underemployed veterans may receive a grant of up to $3,000 per year, for a maximum of two years, if they have a financial need while being retrained for employment.

The amount of the grant is determined by the applicant’s financial need as calculated by the WDVA.

Other education or retraining grants will be included when determining the veteran’s financial need for this program and should be included in the application.

Veterans may apply for the grant through their County or Tribal Veterans Service Office.

Veterans Preference

Honorably discharged veterans can have a number of points added to a passing score on a state civil service examination.

Veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty during certain periods or campaigns are entitled to preference over non-veterans both in federal hiring and in retention during reductions in force.

Candidates who pass an examination are ranked by their scores. Those eligible for preference are entitled to have 5 to 10 extra points added to a passing grade of 70% or higher.

Qualified veterans with a VA-approved service-connected disability (SCD) rating of 10% or more are placed at the top of most civil service exam lists.

Some spouses of disabled or deceased veterans may also have points added to a passing score.

Civil Service Preference (State) – Please refer to the Division of Personnel Management (DPM)’s rules for veteran preference.

Wisconsin Veteran Education Benefits

Wisconsin offers a wide variety of Educational Benefits to resident veterans and their dependents.

State Educational Benefits can be used in conjunction with the National Educational Benefits (DEA)

Visit the following link for a full list: https://dva.wi.gov/Pages/educationEmployment/Education.aspx

Academic Credit for Military Experience

Visit the following website for more information: https://dva.wi.gov/Pages/educationEmployment/Academic-Credit-for-Military-Experience.aspx

Service members, reservists, and veterans pursuing a college education may be able to obtain academic credit for military courses they have completed through the military.

Prior to enrollment, individuals should discuss possible credit with the Veterans’ Coordinator at the college or university they plan to attend.

The credit received may reduce attendance time and the cost of higher education.

Wisconsin G.I. Bill

Visit the following website for more information: https://dva.wi.gov/Pages/educationEmployment/Wisconsin-GI-Bill.aspx

The Wisconsin GI Bill pays full tuition and segregated fees for eligible veterans and their dependents. Eligible participants can receive up to eight full-time semesters or 128 credits, whichever is greater, at any University of Wisconsin System or Wisconsin Technical College System school.

The Wisconsin GI Bill is a state program that is entirely separate from the Federal GI Bill.

Eligibility determination is a two-part process. First, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs certifies the veteran’s eligibility. Then the post-secondary educational institution determines if the student meets the statutory requirements for eligibility. If the eligible student is a spouse or child, they must also meet the “Residency for tuition purposes” criteria.

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% disability. Check with your school or the Wisconsin VA for more details.

It is important to note that you may also be able to receive federal education benefits. You will want to work with your school’s Veteran Certifying Official to coordinate the use of multiple benefit programs.

VetEd Education Grant

Visit the following website for more information: https://dva.wi.gov/Pages/educationEmployment/Vet-Ed-Reimbursement-Grant.aspx

The Veterans Education (VetEd) grant program provides a reimbursement grant based on a credit-bank system 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 UW, technical college, or approved private college.

Veterans may receive federal VA Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill benefits and VetEd for the same semester. Individuals eligible for Wisconsin GI Bill benefits must apply for and use those benefits to be eligible for VetEd reimbursement. VetEd reimbursement will be reduced to the extent that tuition and fees have already been paid by other grants, scholarships, and remissions provided for the payment of tuition and fees.

Veterans may apply for VetEd through their County or Tribal Veterans Service Officer, apply online, or download an application.

The application must be received by the department or an authorized agent no later than 60 days after the start of the course, term or semester for which reimbursement is being sought, or the grant will be denied.

Wisconsin Veteran Recreation Benefits

Wisconsin offers a variety of free or reduced fee hunting, fishing and park admission passes to disabled veterans. The following link contains a table depicting the privileges of each pass, eligibility, cost, and how to apply: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/permits/veterans.html

Available licenses include:

Wisconsin Resident Disabled Veteran Spring Turkey Harvest Authorization
- Spring turkey harvest authorization available. Turkey stamp and spring turkey license required in addition to the harvest authorization.
Wisconsin Resident Disabled Veteran Recreation Card
- Fishing, Small Game, Park admission and Trail pass
Wisconsin Resident Disabled Veteran Fishing License
- Fishing only
Wisconsin Resident Disabled Veteran or Former POW Park Admission Card
- Park admission and Trail pass
Purple Heart Conservation Patron License
- Hunting, fishing and trapping approvals at resident rates for nonresident Purple Heart medal recipients
- A one-time transfer of a Class A Bear license. Visit awarded permit transfers for details.
- Eligible to purchase one spring turkey harvest authorization without being awarded a harvest authorization through the turkey drawing. Note: Not available if the Purple Heart medal recipient has already purchased a turkey harvest authorization awarded through the drawing.
- Eligible to submit an elk hunting application, whether a resident or nonresident.