Wisconsin Veteran Benefits

Military pay received by resident service members serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces may be subtracted from their Wisconsin taxable income.

Wisconsin resident service members serving outside the United States and Puerto Rico on the annual tax filing deadline are authorized a two month extension to file their Wisconsin income tax return.

Military retired pay is not taxed in Wisconsin.

Military disability retirement pay received as a pension, annuity or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income. Some of the payments which are considered disability benefits include:

DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of U.S. Armed Forces service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.

SBP, RCSBP and RSFPP annuities are not taxed in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit provides eligible Veterans and surviving spouses with a refundable property tax credit for all the property taxes paid on their primary residence and up to one acre of land.

Wisconsin does not tax Social Security benefits.

For a spouse or child to be eligible they must meet one of the following residency requirements:

For a spouse or child to be eligible the Veteran must meet residency requirements, one of the service requirements above as well as one of the following requirements:

The Wisconsin National Guard Tuition Grant Program offers educational financial assistance to Wisconsin National Guard Service members who are attending full or part time at a Universities of Wisconsin Campus , Wisconsin Technical College System school , an accredited institution of higher education

Local school boards in Wisconsin will award high school diplomas to Veterans who left high school before receiving their diploma to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during a wartime period .

The WDVA Wisconsin provides Veterans Employment Grants to employers for each disabled Veteran they hire. Veterans must have at least a 50% service-connected disability rating from the VA to qualify.

The Wisconsin Veterans Professional/Occupational Licensure Fee Waiver Program will grant a one-time initial license fee waiver to qualified Veterans when issuing professional or occupational licenses.

The Wisconsin UI Program provides temporary financial assistance for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. UI is a partial, short-term replacement for lost wages while workers are seeking other work and is not intended to be a permanent source of income.

Wisconsin offers a Veteran identifier for Wisconsin driver licenses and ID cards for eligible Veterans. Who is eligible for the Veteran Identifier on Wisconsin Drivers Licenses and ID Cards? Veterans must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

The Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers modified driver licensing and registration procedures for resident service members serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces stationed outside Wisconsin, including:

Wisconsin offers seven distinctive license plate designs to honor the service and sacrifice of eligible service members, Veterans, retired service members, and certain family members.

Wisconsin Medal of Honor license plates are offered to recipients of the Medal of Honor. This license plate does not expire, has no issue or renewal fees, and may be transferred to a surviving spouse. Medal of Honor license plates may not be personalized.

The Wisconsin Disabled Veteran license plate is available for Veterans who have disabilities that impair the ability to walk.

The Wisconsin Military license plate is offered to Veterans, service members, service academy students and alumni. This license plate can be ordered with two decals to recognize the owner's branch of service, war time service, medals they received, or that they attended a service academy.

Wisconsin Gold Star Family license plates are available to the immediate family members of a service member who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. This license plate has no issue fee and may be personalized for a $15 annual fee.

Subsistence grants can be provided when there is a loss of income due to illness, injury, or natural disaster and no other sources of aid are available. Applications for Subsistence Aid must be submitted no later than 12 months following the verified loss of income.

Students in grade 6-12 or attending a Wisconsin institution of higher education who play Taps on a bugle, trumpet, or cornet during a Military Funeral Honors ceremony for a deceased Veteran are eligible for a $25 tuition voucher. Wisconsin "Taps" Tuition Fee Voucher

Nonresident service members may be eligible for an elk hunting permit if they meet the following requirements:

Wisconsin resident Veterans who have a 50% or greater service-connected disability rating from the VA or that are receiving service-connected disability benefits because they are individually unemployable are eligible for a $7 Wisconsin Resident Disabled Veteran Recreation Card.

Permanent State employees who are serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for 30 days military leave with pay and without loss of benefits for:

State employees who are serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to receive the difference between their state salary and their military pay, plus housing allowance, for 179 days when they are called to extended active duty service (other than for training).

Wisconsin offers a Veterans hiring preference to eligible Veterans and their spouse when applying for state employment. Preference will only be given for initial employment.

Eligible disabled Veterans who are not currently a Wisconsin state permanent employee may be able to apply for state employment without having to compete or take a civil service assessment.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) recognizes the important role that Veteran-owned and disabled Veteran-owned businesses play in the Wisconsin economy.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) recognizes the important role that Veteran-Owned farms play in the Wisconsin economy.

Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of spouses, surviving spouses, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a spouse (including surviving spouse) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran's service if they both meet the requirements.

Health and pension plan coverage for service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development helps Veterans, and their eligible spouses find suitable long term employment and gain access to training and education opportunities.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development offers apprenticeship and OJT programs to help Veterans, returning service members and reserve component service members acquire the basic skills needed to start rewarding careers.

The Hire Heroes Transitional Jobs Program for Veterans offers local businesses access to subsidized Veteran employees to help Veterans with high barriers to employment gain job skills needed for long-term sustainable employment.

The Wisconsin Hilton Honors Military Program helps make the career transition from service in the U.S. Armed Forces to civilian employment easier for current and former service members. The Hilton Honors Military Program provides hotel accommodation for required employment related travel.

The VA provides valuable life insurance benefits to Veterans, active and reserve component service members, and their families to provide financial security given the extraordinary risks involved in military Service. The VA provides the following life insurance benefit programs:

VHRP helps Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless by providing temporary housing, training, and supportive services to Veterans to help them obtain permanent housing.

VORP is designed to connect Veterans to community services and provide case management and support, with a special focus on treatment and recovery.

Wisconsin has three Veterans Homes that provide long term skilled nursing care and short term rehabilitative care for Veterans and their eligible family members.

The VA National Cemetery Administration maintains seven national cemeteries in Wisconsin. Please see the local location listing for the nearest cemetery.

The Wisconsin MFHP serves to coordinate and provide a final tribute to service members and Veterans who served Wisconsin and the nation as members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Resource Center (VBRC) can help Veterans and their family members find copies of their DD214, military records, or service medals.

The WDVA Women Veterans Program addresses the needs of women Veterans in Wisconsin and creates a community for women with mutual experiences.

The Wisconsin Tribal Veterans Program acts as a bridge between the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and Tribes in Wisconsin. By collaborating closely with Tribal Veterans Service Officers (TVSOs), the program ensures Veterans can access local, state, and federal resources.

The VA has numerous resources and locations throughout the state available to assist Veterans and family members. To find a VA location in Wisconsin enter Wisconsin in the location field and choose the facility type you are searching for from the drop down menu at the "Learn more…" link below.