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Veteran Family Benefits

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Veteran Family Benefits

Veteran Family Benefits

The following benefits and programs are available to spouses and children of Wisconsin veterans.

Wisconsin GI Bill – Tuition Remission Program

This program provides a waiver of eligible tuition and fees at:

  • All 13 two-year and 13 four-year University of Wisconsin System (UWS) campuses
  • All 16 Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) district campuses

Who Can Use This Benefit?

Eligible veterans, their spouses, unremarried surviving spouses, and children may use the waiver for up to eight semesters or 128 credits—whichever is greater. It applies to all levels of study, including associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

Eligibility for Spouses, Unremarried Surviving Spouses, and Dependent Children

A qualifying veteran (entered active duty as a Wisconsin resident and served honorably) must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Has a 30% or higher service-connected disability (SCD) rating from the Federal VA
  • Killed in action (KIA)
  • Died in the line of duty while on active, reserve, or National Guard service
  • Death after service is determined by the VA to be a direct result of an SCD

To establish eligibility, the veteran must have had at least one day of active duty service and been a Wisconsin resident at the time of death.

For more details, refer to the Wisconsin GI Bill webpage.

Wisconsin Veterans & Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit

This refundable property tax credit applies to an eligible veteran’s or unremarried surviving spouse’s primary Wisconsin residence (dwelling plus up to one acre of land).

Who Qualifies?

  • Unremarried surviving spouse of an eligible deceased veteran
  • Unremarried surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty and was a Wisconsin resident at the time of death

Need Help? Contact your local County Veterans Service Office (CVSO) or call 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387) for assistance.

Wisconsin Veterans Homes

Schedule a Pre-Admission Tour

  • Veterans Home at King: (715) 258-5586 ext. 2270
  • Veterans Home at Union Grove: (262) 878-6700 ext. 6749 or (866) NOW-VETS (669-8387)
  • Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls: 715-720-6775

Eligibility & Residency Requirements

Veterans must meet military service and state residency criteria:

  • Entered service from Wisconsin OR lived in Wisconsin for 12 consecutive months since discharge
  • Widows/widowers of veterans may also qualify

Wisconsin Veterans Cemeteries

Spouses, surviving spouses, and dependent children may be interred in a state veterans’ cemetery, even if the veteran is not buried there.

Who Qualifies?

  • Surviving spouses who remarry retain burial eligibility
  • Children under 18 (or under 26 if enrolled in an educational institution)
  • Adult children with disabilities who are unable to support themselves

Professional/Occupational Licensure Reciprocity

(For Spouses of Active Duty Service Members)

Under 2011 Wisconsin Act 210, spouses of active-duty service members assigned to Wisconsin may receive reciprocal professional credentials if they:

  • Apply on the appropriate licensing board’s form
  • Temporarily reside in Wisconsin due to military assignment
  • Hold a valid license from another jurisdiction
  • Pay any required fees
  • Meet additional board requirements