State Benefits

Are you coming to the Veterans Services office for an appointment?

Here are all the things you should bring with you to help your appointment go as smoothly as possible.

General Benefits Overview: DD214 (discharge paper. This is the key to all benefits)

VA Health Care: DD214, Spouse/Children DOB, SSN and your marriage date, Last year’s income information and out of pocket medical expenses, Copy of Medicare Card/Private Health Insurance Card

VA Compensation: DD214, private medical records for claimed condition (VA Medical Records not needed), voided check to send with application.

Update Dependents: Children: DOB, SSN, Place of Birth. Spouse: DOB, SSN, Date and Place of Marriage. Past Spouses: Name, DOB, Date/Place of Marriage, and Date/Place of Divorce/Death for all past spouses for Veteran AND current spouse.

VA Pension/Survivor Pension: DD214, all current financial information with statements, medical expenses, current Social Security Statement, Voided Check for submission with claim - Survivor Pension: Also bring marriage certificate and death certificate, any previous marriages will need to be reported with date of marriage and end date.

DIC: DD214, Death Certificate, marriage certificate (information on any past marriages), voided check for submission with claim

Burial Benefits/Government Markers: DD214, Funeral Home Invoice, Proof of plot/internment expenses, death certificate. (A setting fee for the monument company may apply for government markers)

There is no charge for VA benefits. Veterans should never pay someone for these services.

The Assistance to Needy Veterans grant program provides limited health care and subsistence assistance to low income veterans. The lifetime maximum amount is $5,000.00.

Spouses and dependents of veterans and service members are eligible for assistance under limited circumstances.

Subsistence Aid

Financial aid may be provided when there is a loss of income due to illness, injury, death or natural disaster. Grants are awarded for subsistence aid for a 30-day period, up to a maximum of three months. Grant awards cannot exceed $2,000 during any consecutive 12-month period, or the Assistance to Needy Veterans grant program $5,000 lifetime limit.

Health Care

Financial assistance during any 12-month period may be provided to qualified eligible applicants for:

• Dental care - $2500 maximum
• Vision care - $500 maximum
• Hearing care - $1500 per ear maximum

Benefits Based on Compensation Percentages

Every level of percentage comes with different benefits. These checklists have benefits based on compensation percentages. 

0_ SCD Checklist

10_ SCD Checklist

20_ SCD Checklist

30_ SCD Checklist

40_ SCD Checklist

50_ SCD Checklist

70_, 80_, or 90_ SCD Checklist.doc

100_ SCD Checklist

IU_ SCD Checklist

Wisconsin GI Bill Benefits

• Eligibility - veteran who was a resident of this state at the time of entry into active duty or has resided for at least 3 consecutive years after they have turned 18. 
• WI GI Bill benefits may be used by eligible veterans for 100% waiver of tuition at UW or WI Technical Colleges for up to 8 semesters or 128 credits, whichever is greater.
• The qualifying children and the un-remarried spouse of a WI veteran who dies either in the line of duty or as a result of a service connected disability are eligible for set time periods for the waiver of 100% of tuition and some fees at UW or WI Technical Colleges.
• A qualifying spouse and the children of a WI veteran who has a service-connected disability or disabilities with a combined rating by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of 30% or greater are also eligible for a waiver of 100% of tuition and some fees at UW or WI Technical Colleges.

VetEd Reimbursement Grants

• Eligibility - veteran who was a resident at the time of entry into active duty or establishes Wisconsin residency requirements. Additional restrictions exist.
• Reimbursement for full or part-time coursework following successful completion of coursework.
• There is a pre-application which must be submitted within 30 days of the beginning of the semester. The reimbursement grant application must be submitted no later than 60 days following the end of the course.

Employment Assistance Opportunities

Entrepreneurship — Resources for Wisconsin veterans in business or interested in starting a new business.

Helmets to Hardhats — Helmets to Hardhats is a national program that connects National Guard, Reserve, and transitioning active-duty military members with quality career training and employment opportunities within the construction industry. Candidates can access information about careers and apprenticeships and the Helmet to Hardhats profile they complete helps communicate to hiring managers the transferable skills they acquired during their military service.

Hire a Hero — An online social network to help the military community connect with caring volunteers, local events, and Military-friendly employers to better the chances for obtaining a dream job. Hire a Hero provides the platform for the general public to do more than just put a yellow ribbon on their car- a chance to actively say "thank you for your service" - while helping a hero network transition into a meaningful civilian career.

Troops to Teachers — helps Wisconsin veterans obtain alternative teaching certification so they can obtain employment as teachers and teachers' aides. The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) operates a placement office for the program, which is funded by the Department of Defense.

Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers (UCX)— Application for Unemployment Insurance, including UCX, is made by telephone.

Wisconsin Salutes Veterans License Plates

Eligibility

Wisconsin Salutes Veterans license plates are available to anyone who wishes to express their support for Wisconsin's veterans.

Vehicles that qualify:

• Automobiles
• Motor homes (annual registration only)
• Trucks

For further details, visit the Wisconsin DOT website

Disabled Veteran License Plates

Vehicles that qualify:

• Automobiles
• Motor homes (annual registration only)
• Motor trucks

Veterans with permanent disabilities are eligible

A Disabled Veteran license plate may be issued to a military veteran with a permanent disability incurred in active U.S. military service that limits or impairs the ability to walk.

For further details, visit the Wisconsin DOT website

The Military Funeral Honors Program (MFHP) in Wisconsin provides a final tribute to the men and women who served our state and nation honorably as members of the U.S. armed forces. It allows a grateful nation to pay its last respects in a dignified and solemn ceremony.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) administers the program with assistance from veterans' service organizations, County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs), funeral directors and the active and reserve components of the U.S. armed forces.

The Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit provides a refundable state income tax credit for certain veterans and surviving spouses equal to the amount of property taxes paid. Veterans eligible for the credit must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry into active duty or have been a Wisconsin resident for at least five consecutive years after entry into active service and must also have a federal VA combined service-connected disability rating of 100% or Individual Unemployability rating. The credit is extended to an eligible veteran’s un-remarried surviving spouse. Also eligible for the credit are the un-remarried surviving spouses of Wisconsin veterans who die in the line of duty, including those killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan

To qualify, a veteran must meet one of the following:

Served on active duty under honorable conditions for at least two continuous years or the full period of your initial service obligation

Served on active duty under honorable conditions for at least 90 days during a statutorily-designated wartime period;

Served on active duty under honorable conditions for any period of service as part of the Berlin Crisis under section 1 of executive order 10957 dated August 10, 1961;

 Served on active duty under honorable conditions in a designated crisis zone;

Served under honorable conditions and received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, or an equivalent expeditionary or service medal;

Was honorably discharged due to a service-connected disability or disability subsequently adjudicated to have been service-connected;

Was honorably discharged due to reasons of hardship;

Was released under honorable conditions due to a reduction in the U.S. armed forces;

Served with a special guerrilla unit or irregular forces, operating from a base in Laos in support of the U.S. military during the period beginning February 28, 1961 and ending September 18, 1978;

Former member of the U.S. armed forces who received a discharge under honorable conditions;

Former member of a reserve unit of the U.S. armed forces or the national guard who met the requirements for satisfactory completion of his or her initial term of obligated service and received a discharge of either honorable or under honorable conditions.

Note: Active duty for training and full-time national guard duty on their own do not qualify

Documents that may be used to prove honorable completion of initial term of obligated service in the Reserve or National Guard:

NGB-22 (National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service) reflecting the veteran’s Character of Service;

Retirement points statement and discharge orders;

Retirement points statement and DD-256 (Honorable Discharge Certificate);

DD-214 (Certificate of Uniformed Service) with DD-214-1 (Certificate of Uniformed Service, Reserve Component Addendum) reflecting honorable discharge from Reserves or National Guard; Enlistment contract (DD-4) and DD-256 (Honorable Discharge Certificate);

Notification of Eligibility for Retired Pay (aka 20-Year Letter);

Certificate of Eligibility for VA Home Loans and proof of honorable discharge from the Reserves or National Guard (e.g. discharge orders or DD-256);

Oath of Extension of Enlistment or Reenlistment (DD-4836) and proof of honorable discharge from the Reserves or National Guard (e.g. discharge orders or DD-256).

In some cases, the enlistment contract may be needed to verify length of initial term of obligated service. – E.g. if veteran served for less than six years in the Reserves or National Guard. 

DCVSO can help get your military documents if needed. 

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) operates three state veterans cemeteries. State veterans cemeteries are located near Spooner (Washburn County), at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King (Waupaca County), and near Union Grove (Racine County).

Upon meeting eligibility standards, veterans are provided a burial at no cost. Spouses and dependent children will incur a burial fee.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) operates the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, Union Grove and Chippewa Falls. They provide outstanding care for veterans and their spouses.

Applications for the Homes can be obtained at our office.

WDVA website