The Wisconsin GI Bill provides a full waiver of tuition and fees (but not books) for eligible veterans and eligible dependents for up to eight full-time semesters or 128 credits (whichever is greater) at any University of Wisconsin System or Wisconsin Technical College System institution for any degree seeking courses or for study at the undergraduate, masters or even doctorial level in the UW System.  

This program is a state VA program and is separate from the federal Post 9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill programs.

In order for a veteran to be eligible for Wisconsin GI Bill, they must have been a Wisconsin resident at the time of entry onto active duty or had to have established and maintained status as a Wisconsin resident for at least five consecutive years immediately preceding the beginning of any semester or session. They also must be a current resident of Wisconsin. Veterans with less than honorable discharges are not eligible for this program. There is no post-service time limitation, such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill where the benefit must be used within 15 years of discharge. 

Dependents qualify for this program if they are:
– A spouse; or
– An nonremarried surviving spouse; or
– A child between the ages of 17 and 25; and
– They are a resident of Wisconsin; and
If the veteran:
– Has a combined VA disability rating by the VA of 30 percent or greater; or
– Died in the line of duty while on active, reserve or guard duty; or
– Died as the direct result of a service-connected disability, as determined by the federal VA.

The five-year residency requirement is a new change to this program, which began with the fall of 2013 semester.  This change is for the veteran only. Dependents cannot use this benefit unless the veteran entered active duty from Wisconsin.

Tammy Walters is available at 715-369-6127 or twalters@co.oneida.wi.us.