Veterans Benefits Available to Wisconsin Residents

by State Senator Jon Erpenbach

The State of Wisconsin has a long history of providing generous benefits, programs and services to our veterans who entered “active duty” from Wisconsin and continue to reside in our state.

A primary focus of the state’s Department of Veteran’s Affairs (WDVA) is to assist Wisconsin veterans in obtaining all federal benefits that they may have earned. Through the recently created WDVA “I Owe You” outreach campaign, which includes Supermarkets of Veterans Benefits held throughout the state and the newly created “Mission Welcome Home” program, our state works actively to inform veterans about and accessing federal and state benefits, programs and services.

The “I Owe You” campaign and the “Mission Welcome Home” program have been real success stories for the WDVA and for Wisconsin veterans. In the past four years, Wisconsin has seen over $250 million in additional federal veteran’s funding come into the state, mostly directed to assist Wisconsin’s disabled veterans. There has also been a 30% increase in the number of vets who take advantage of the federal VA Health Care System. Because of the work of the WDVA, many veterans who were previously uninsured now have health insurance and are getting the health care they need and deserve. Those that are just coming home are finding coordinated assistance in getting reintegrated into their communities upon returning from active service.

In addition to the “I Owe You” campaign and the “Mission Welcome Home” program, Wisconsin offers a number of programs financed by the Veterans Trust Fund. Among these include a new program called “VetEd,” the Veterans Education Reimbursement Grant program which allows returning veterans to enroll in or take coursework in Wisconsin schools. Some schools in Wisconsin also now provide academic credit for military experience.

In the last biennium, we also unveiled a new program called “Assistance for Needy Veterans” which includes Health Care Aids and Subsistence Aid Grants to provide veterans and their families with a safety net in times of extraordinary financial circumstances stemming from illness, disability or death.

The state has also created new or enhanced existing programs to provide low-interest loans to veterans that can be used for any purpose, including buying a home, entrepreneurial training and financial assistance for veterans to open or expand a small business, assistance in finding new work if a veteran has experienced a plant closing or has been downsized and transportation for veterans to and from medical appointments.

We put our trust in our soldiers to protect us from harm and ensure our way of life. They should know that when they come home, we will do likewise for them. The programs and services I have listed above are just some of the most recent additions to the long list of benefits Wisconsin proudly provides for our veterans and their families. If you feel that you or someone you know could benefit from any of these services, please feel free to contact me in writing or by calling toll-free at (888) 549-0027 anytime. Likewise, you may contact the WDVA directly at (800) WIS-VETS (947-8387).