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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 8 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 tuition remission program 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.

Children must be at least 17 but not yet 26 years old to use the Wisconsin GI Bill.

Eligibility for Spouses, Unremarried Surviving Spouses, and Dependent Children

A veteran may qualify in one of two ways:

The first way a veteran may qualify is if the veteran (all of the following must be met):

  • Served in the U.S. armed forces, the National Guard, or a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces;
  • Entered service as a Wisconsin resident or resided in Wisconsin for at least five consecutive years immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session for which the veteran’s spouse or child registers at an institution;
  • Has been awarded at least a 30% service-connected disability rating by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The second way a veteran may qualify is if the veteran (all of the following must be met):

  • Served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces under honorable conditions;
  • Entered active duty as a Wisconsin resident or resided in Wisconsin for at least five consecutive years after attaining the age of 18;
  • Died on active duty, died as the result of a service-connected disability, or died in the line of duty while on active or inactive duty for training purposes; Died while a resident of Wisconsin.
  • 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 May Qualify?

  • 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

For full details about the Property Tax Credit, visit the benefits webpage.

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. The veteran must satisfy eligibility requirements for internment.

Who Qualifies?

  • Surviving spouses who remarry retain burial eligibility
  • Children under 21 (or under 23 if pursuing a course of instruction at an approved 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