Wisconsin Benefits Guide for Disabled Veterans

Tax Exemptions, Housing and Financial Assistance

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Property Taxes in Wisconsin?

100% disabled veterans pay no net property tax in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit is a refundable income tax credit that covers 100% of property taxes paid on a veteran’s primary Wisconsin residence and up to one acre of land. Eligibility requires a 100% schedular service-connected disability rating from the VA or a 100% rating based on Individual Unemployability (IU).

How to Apply for the Property Tax Credit

• You must have entered active duty as a Wisconsin resident or have been a Wisconsin resident for at least five consecutive years after entering active duty.
• Contact your County or Tribal Veterans Service Officer (CVSO/TVSO) to certify eligibility through the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Claim the credit on your Wisconsin state income tax return through the Department of Revenue.

Unremarried surviving spouses of an eligible veteran continue to receive the full credit, provided the veteran was a Wisconsin resident at the time of death.

Do you deserve a higher disability rating but the VA underrated you? We may be able to help you win your case. Get a free evaluation today.

Are There Any Other Tax Breaks for Disabled Veterans in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin does not have a separate income tax exemption specifically for veterans, but VA disability compensation is exempt under federal law and is not reported on the Wisconsin return. Military retirement pay is also fully exempt from Wisconsin income tax under state law.

Financial Assistance and Homelessness Prevention

Subsistence Aid and Health Care Aid Grants

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) administers two emergency grants for veterans who have lost income due to illness, injury, or disaster and who have exhausted all other sources of aid.

The Subsistence Aid Grant pays up to $3,000 in any consecutive 12-month period (in 30-day increments, up to three months), and the Health Care Aid Grant covers limited dental, vision, hearing, and prescription expenses. The two programs share a combined $7,500 lifetime cap.

Find out more about WDVA financial assistance.

Homeless Programs for Disabled Veterans

Wisconsin runs two state-managed programs that help disabled veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Veterans Housing and Recovery Program (VHRP)

VHRP provides transitional housing with on-site support including permanent-housing case management, employment and job training, education, healthcare and mental healthcare, substance use recovery, three meals daily, laundry, transportation, and computers with internet.

The current VHRP site is located at 21425 Spring Street, Building D, Fairchild Hall, Union Grove, WI 53182 (262-878-9151). Spouses and children are not eligible to live at VHRP sites, but staff helps families connect to other resources. Learn more about the VHRP.

Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program (VORP)

VORP is a statewide case management service for veterans dealing with mental health or substance use challenges. Wisconsin is divided into 11 regions, each with a dedicated coordinator who connects veterans to treatment, housing, employment, education, benefits, and emergency assistance.

Eligibility extends to all who have served in any component of the U.S. Armed Forces, including current and former National Guard and Reserve members. Find your VORP regional coordinator.

Hill & Ponton prioritizes veterans who are homeless or at risk. We win appeals for previously denied VA disability claims, with no upfront costs. Get a free case evaluation.

Transportation Benefits

Do Disabled Wisconsin Veterans Pay for License Plates?

The U.S. Disabled Veteran license plate is issued at no fee to veterans whose service-connected disability impairs their ability to walk. A VA health care specialist must certify the qualifying condition on Form MV2172. Personalizing the plate costs an additional $15 per year on top of the regular annual registration fee.

What the Disabled Veteran Plate Gets You

• Access to parking spaces reserved for vehicles displaying DIS or VET plates.
• Exemption from any local parking ordinance imposing time limits of 30 minutes or more, including metered municipal parking when the meter exceeds that threshold.
• Wisconsin also issues other veteran plate options including Ex-Prisoner of War, Medal of Honor, Wisconsin Salutes Veterans, U.S. Veteran Motorcycle, and Wisconsin National Guard.

Find out more about the Wisconsin Disabled Veteran license plate.

Veteran Designation on the Driver’s License

Veterans can request a Veteran designation on the front of their Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID after verifying their service through WDVA. The marker makes it easier to receive veteran discounts at participating retailers without producing a DD-214 each time. See the Wisconsin DMV veterans services.

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Sales Tax on Vehicles in Wisconsin?

Yes. Wisconsin does not offer a veteran-specific exemption from the 5% state sales tax (or local county sales tax) on vehicle purchases. Disabled veterans pay the same vehicle sales tax, title fees, and registration fees as any other Wisconsin resident, even when the vehicle is used for personal transportation.

Education Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Get Tuition Assistance in Wisconsin?

Yes. Under the Wisconsin G.I. Bill, a disabled veteran can receive a 100% remission of tuition and segregated fees at any University of Wisconsin System campus or Wisconsin Technical College System school. The veteran must be a current Wisconsin resident (either at the time of entry to active duty or for at least three consecutive years before enrollment) and meet one of several qualifying service criteria:

1. discharge due to a service-connected disability, or
2. 90+ days of active duty during a war period, or
3. 2 consecutive years of active duty during peacetime

Disabled Veterans Dependent Education Benefits

Qualifying spouses and children of disabled veterans receive the same 100% Wisconsin G.I. Bill tuition remission at UW System and Wisconsin Technical College schools.

Eligible Dependents

• Spouse or unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran with at least a 30% service-connected disability, or of a veteran who died on active duty or from a service-connected cause.
• Children ages 17 through 25 of a veteran with at least a 30% service-connected disability, or of a veteran who died on active duty or from a service-connected cause.
• The veteran must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry to active duty or for at least three consecutive years afterward.

Apply online through MyWisVets.com or by submitting WDVA Form 2030 with a DD-214 and proof of residency.

Find out more about the WDVA education programs.

Wisconsin Veterans Education Reimbursement Grant (VetEd)

Veterans who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree can apply for the VetEd reimbursement grant, which pays back tuition and fees for successfully completed courses (minimum 2.0 GPA) at UW schools, Wisconsin technical colleges, and approved private institutions.

Household income must be below $50,000 plus $1,000 per dependent beyond two, and applications must be received within 60 days of the course start date.

Employment Benefits

Wisconsin State Veterans Hiring Preference

Wisconsin offers a point-based veterans preference for state civil service positions. Veterans who pass the civil service exam receive up to 10 points added to their score, and disabled veterans with a VA-approved service-connected disability are placed at the top of most civil service exam lists regardless of score.

Disabled veterans rated 30% or higher who are not current Wisconsin state permanent employees are also eligible for non-competitive appointment, meaning they can be hired without taking the civil service exam.

Find out more about Wisconsin Veteran Employment Services.

Professional and Occupational Licensure Fee Waiver

Wisconsin waives the initial application fee for a wide range of state-issued professional and occupational licenses for veterans, current and former National Guard and Reserve members with at least 12 months of honorable service, and their unremarried surviving spouses. The waiver applies to 13 state licensing agencies and is not available for renewals.

Apply for eligibility at MyWisVets.com, receive an eligibility code from WDVA, and present it to the licensing agency.

See the details about WDVA Licensure Fee Waiver.

Recreation Benefits

Does Wisconsin Offer a Free State Parks Pass to Disabled Veterans?

Yes, for veterans rated 70% or higher. The Resident Disabled Veteran Park Admission Card is free and grants free park and trail access to Wisconsin state parks, forests, and recreation areas. It’s available to Wisconsin residents who are rated at least 70% service-connected disabled by the VA or who are former prisoners of war. The Wisconsin DNR mails you the card, which you present at the park entrance.

Wisconsin Resident Disabled Veteran Recreation Card

Veterans rated 50% or higher service-connected (or determined to be Individually Unemployable) qualify for the Resident Disabled Veteran Recreation Card, which costs $7 per year and bundles together a state fishing license, a small game hunting license, a state park vehicle admission sticker, Heritage Hill State Park admission, and a state trail pass.

This is the most cost-effective recreation benefit for Wisconsin disabled veterans below the 70% park-card threshold. Find out more about Wisconsin DNR veteran permits.

How Much Is the Wisconsin Disabled Veteran Fishing License?

A standalone disabled veteran fishing license is not issued; instead, fishing is bundled into the $7 Resident Disabled Veteran Recreation Card for veterans rated 50% or higher. The card includes annual fishing privileges along with small game hunting and state park access. Veterans below the 50% threshold pay the standard Wisconsin resident fishing license fee.

What Hunting Privileges Do Disabled Veterans Get in Wisconsin?

Veterans rated 50% or higher who hold the Resident Disabled Veteran Recreation Card automatically receive small game hunting privileges. Other big-game licenses (deer, bear) are purchased separately at standard resident rates.

Spring Turkey Hunt for Disabled Veterans

Disabled veterans rated 50% or higher may purchase a Spring Turkey harvest authorization in any zone and time period without entering the drawing. The fee is $10. This is a great benefit for veterans because it completely bypasses the competitive harvest drawing.

Health Care Benefits

Most veteran medical care in Wisconsin is delivered through the federal VA health care system. The state also operates a complementary long-term care network for veterans who can no longer live independently, along with the VORP mental health outreach program.

Wisconsin Veterans Homes

Wisconsin’s state veterans homes provide 24-hour skilled nursing care, assisted living, memory and dementia care, hospice and palliative care, and physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Eligibility extends to honorably discharged veterans, their spouses, and Gold Star Parents.

• Wisconsin Veterans Home at King – N2665 County Road QQ, King, WI 54946 | Phone: 715-258-5586 | 521 nursing beds.
• Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove – 21425 G Spring Street, Union Grove, WI 53182 | Phone: 262-838-6700.
• Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls – 2175 East Park Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 | Phone: 715-720-6775.

Burial and Survivor Benefits

Wisconsin operates three state veterans memorial cemeteries that offer burial at no cost to eligible veterans, with options for casket burial, in-ground cremation, and columbarium niches. Eligible spouses and dependent children may also be interred alongside the veteran. Find out more about Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemeteries.

• Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (King) – N2666 County Road QQ, King, WI 54946 | Phone: 715-256-5000.
• Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (Spooner) – N4063 Veterans Way, Spooner, WI 54801 | Phone: 715-635-5360.
• Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (Union Grove) – 21731 Spring Street, Union Grove, WI 53182 | Phone: 262-878-5660.

If the veteran was 100 percent disabled at the time of death, the unremarried surviving spouse can retain the full Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit. Surviving spouses and dependents are also eligible for federal VA benefits, such as DIC.

Federal Benefits

In addition to Wisconsin’s specific benefits, disabled veterans receive a wide range of federal VA disability benefits, including:

• Monthly tax-free compensation payments based on disability rating (calculate it here)
• Medical care, including mental health services and counseling
• Special compensation, Aid & Attendance, and other financial benefits
• Home loans and housing benefits
• Vocational rehabilitation and employment services
• Education benefits through the GI Bill
• Survivor benefits
• Federal hiring preference

Eligibility for some of these benefits depends on the disability rating percentage. Use the links below to see what federal benefits disabled veterans can get with a rating of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, etc.

• 50% VA disability benefits
• 60% VA disability benefits
• 70% VA disability benefits
• 80% VA disability benefits
• 90% VA disability benefits

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits

Wisconsin veterans with a 100% disability rating receive the highest level of federal VA benefits, including:

• Full monthly VA compensation
• Full VA healthcare coverage
• Dental care
• Adaptive equipment grants

See all federal benefits for a 100% disabled Wisconsin veteran →

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for Spouse and Dependents

Spouses and family members of 100% disabled veterans may also be able to get several benefits:

• Continued property tax credit
• CHAMPVA healthcare
• Education benefits
• DIC eligibility
• Access to Wisconsin state resources

Benefits for Toxic Exposure

Wisconsin veterans and veterans who served at a military base in Wisconsin and developed disabilities may be eligible for additional VA compensation and benefits, including those covered by the PACT Act and the Agent Orange and burn pit presumptive lists. Learn more about toxic exposure at U.S. military bases.

Wisconsin Military Bases with Known Toxins

• Fort McCoy (Sparta, WI) – PFAS contamination from AFFF firefighting foam used in burn-pit training, with high levels detected in groundwater and in nearby Angelo Pond.
• Truax Field Air National Guard Base (Madison, WI) – PFAS contamination linked to AFFF firefighting foam use.
• Volk Field Air National Guard Base (Camp Douglas, WI) – PFAS contamination linked to AFFF firefighting foam.
• General Mitchell Air National Guard Base (Milwaukee, WI) – PFAS contamination from firefighting foam.
• Badger Army Ammunition Plant (Baraboo, WI) – Former World War II–era munitions plant in Sauk County; documented soil and groundwater contamination with carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, and explosive waste products undergoing federal cleanup.

If you served at a different base or in a different state, check its history of toxic contamination and potential health effects using the Military Base Toxic Exposure Map or get in touch with us for a free evaluation of your claim.

Getting VA Disability in Wisconsin

Free Guide to VA Disability Benefits

Attorney Matthew Hill has written THE book on how to get VA disability compensation and benefits. And it’s yours free of charge. We also offer a free ebook for easy, immediate access.

Legal Resources for Disabled Veterans

• Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Benefits and Claims – Statewide hub for state benefits and claims help.
• County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) Directory – Wisconsin has 72 CVSOs who file VA claims at no cost.
• Records Request Service – The WDVA helps veterans and dependents obtain military records, discharge documents, and other records required for VA claims. 

Attorneys Specialized in VA Disability Law

Our VA-accredited lawyers proudly represent Wisconsin veterans who were denied or underrated by the VA, with no upfront costs. Contact us for a free evaluation – even if we don’t take your case, we’ll point you in the right direction!