Programs available to veterans and their families

A couple of weeks ago this column wrote about the limited support provided to former service personnel by the Sheboygan County Veterans Service Commission. This program is directed to veterans who have come on hard times and do not qualify for Sheboygan County Social Services support. These tend to be single individuals without families.

But there are many other programs in Wisconsin that provide support for veterans.

Before this column lists some of the possible benefits available to Wisconsin veterans, it should be noted that each county in Wisconsin has a County Veterans Service Officer to serve them. Here in Sheboygan County, Charlene Cobb is that contact person. She is located in the Sheboygan County Courthouse, 645 N. Sixth St. Her telephone number is (920) 459-3053. Cobb will be able to explain the Wisconsin veteran program and benefits as well as direct veterans to any federal programs for which they may qualify.

In general, to be eligible for Wisconsin state veterans’ benefits, programs and services, a veteran must meet at least one of the following:

• must be a Wisconsin resident before entering “active duty”;

• must have moved to Wisconsin and been a resident of this state for any consecutive 12-month period after entry or re-entry into service and before the date of his or her application or death.

Benefits programs:

Wisconsin’s G.I. Bill: The State of Wisconsin provides a number of educational programs for state veterans in addition to any federal veterans’ educational benefits that may be available.

To those who qualify, the Wisconsin G.I. Bill provides a full waiver of tuition and fees for veterans and their dependents for up to eight full-time semesters or 128 credits at any University of Wisconsin System or Wisconsin Technical College System. There is also a low-interest personal educational loan program that may be of help to veterans, their spouses or their children, as well as possible VetEd Reimbursement Grant funding.

Property Tax Credit: The Wisconsin Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit program provides a refundable property tax credit for the primary residence (in-state) via the state income tax form for:

- eligible veterans age 65 or older who entered service from Wisconsin and have a combined VA service-connected disability rate of 100 percent.

- un-remarried surviving spouse of an eligible veteran.

- un-remarried surviving spouse of a veteran who entered active duty as a Wisconsin resident, died in the line of duty, and was a Wisconsin resident at the time of death.

There are also some state tax benefits available to veterans: Individual state income taxes for combat pay is exempt as is military retirement pay.

Other services that are available: - home and home improvement loans, - medical assistance (federal), - employment assistance,

- State Veterans Home, and more.

One can go the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Web site and review the services available. If you’re a veteran or a spouse of a veteran and you are not sure if you qualify for a state or federal veteran program, you can call Charlene Cobb at the Sheboygan County Veterans Office at the number listed above. She will be able to answer your questions or point you in the right direction. It is good to remember too that Wednesday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day.

They have served us well.