Post 9/11 GI Bill

For approved programs, the Post 9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits.

If your release from active duty was before January 1, 2013, there is a 15-year time limitation for use of benefits. For individuals whose last discharge date is on or after January 1, 2013, the time limitation has been removed. More information can be found at the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs.

Consolidation of Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefit Levels Effective August 1, 2020

The Statement of Benefits Tool is back online.

To get the most update information about your benefits sign up for the GI Bill Student Newsletter.

Can I Transfer My Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits?

You may be able to transfer your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits if you're on active duty or in the Selected Reserve and you meet all of these requirements.

All of these must be true:

• You've completed at least 6 years of service on the date of your request is approved, and
• ou agree to add 4 more years of service, and
• The person getting benefits has enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEER)

How Do I Transfer the Benefit?

While you're still on active duty, you'll request to transfer, change, or revoke a Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) through milConnect. Transfer, Change or Revoke a TOE

If the DOD approves the TOE, your family members may apply for benefits.

• Apply online now, or
• Apply by mail. Fill out and mail an Application for Family Member to Use Transferred Benefits (VA Form 22-1990E to download) to the nearest VA Regional Office

Get VA Form 22-1990E
Find Your Nearest VA Regional Office

Once you leave active duty, you can still provide a future effective date for when the TOE can be used, change the number of months transferred, or revoke the TOE by submitting a written request to VA through milConnect.

Vocational Rehabilitation

You may receive Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment services to help with job training, employment accommodations, resume development, and job seeking skills coaching for those who are disabled and unable to work in traditional employment.

Eligibility

Active Duty Servicemembers are eligible if they:

• Expect to receive an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge upon separation from active duty
• Obtain a memorandum rating of 20% or more from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and
• Apply for VR&E services

Or

• Are participating in the Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) or are certified by the military as having a severe injury or illness that my prevent them from performing their military duties
• Apply for VR&E services, and
• Report for an evaluation with a VR&E counselor before separating from active duty

Veterans are eligible if they:

• Have received a discharge that is other than dishonorable
• Have a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% from VA
• Apply for VR&E services

Basic Period of Eligibility

The basic period of eligibility ends 12 years from the date of notification of one of the following:

• Date of separation from active military service, or
• Date the Veteran was first notified by VA of a service-connected disability rating.

More information can be found at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Dependent Education Assistance

If you're the child or spouse of a Veteran or service member who has died, is captured or missing, or has VA service connected disabilities, you may be able to get help paying for school or job training. Dependent Education Assistance (DEA) is a monetary benefit that can be used for whatever is needed.

Eligibility

You may be able to get these benefits if both you and the Veteran or service member meet certain eligibility requirements.

One of the descriptions below must be true. The Veteran or service member:

• Is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or
• Died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability, or
• Is missing in action or was captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or
• Was forcibly detained (held) or interned in the line of duty by a foreign entity, or
• Is in the hospital or getting outpatient treatment for a service-connected permanent and total disability and is likely to be discharged for that disability (effective December 23, 2006)

If you're the child of a Veteran or service member

• You can get benefits if you're between the ages of 18 and 26. except in certain cases. You may be married or unmarried.
• If you're over 18 years old and using DEA, you can't get Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the VA.

If you're the spouse of a Veteran or service member

• Your benefits start on the date we conclude that you qualify or on the date of the Veteran's death, and last for 10 years
• If we rated the Veteran as permanently and totally disabled, with an effective date that's 3 years after discharge, you'll qualify for benefits for 20 years from that effective date. This new policy began on October 10, 2008. We won't pay benefits for training you started before this date.
• If the service member died on active duty, your benefits end 20 years from the date of death.
• You can get DIC payments from the VA and use DEA benefits.

More information can be found at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

**On August 1, 2022 the Col. John M McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021 will go into effect. Through the act, surviving dependents, using Survivors' and Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) program benefits, are eligible for in-state tuition wherever they choose to attend school for terms beginning on or after August 1, 2022.

• Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves (1606)
• Reserve Education Assistance Program (1607)

Wisconsin GI Bill

The Wisconsin GI Bill waives tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Technical College schools. Eligible veterans and certain dependents may receive the greater of eight full-time semesters or 128 credits for technical, undergraduate, professional or graduate study.

Eligibility Highlights
You must have been a resident of Wisconsin at the time of entry into active duty service or in the U.S. Armed Forces. Military service must have been under honorable conditions, and must have included at least one of the following:

• 90 or more days of active duty service during a statutorily-designated wartime period,
• Two years of active duty service during peacetime,
• Active duty service that included the award of the Expeditionary Medal or a qualifying campaign service medal; or
• The period of service was ended due to a service-connected disability, hardship or a reduction in forces.

See WDVA Eligibility Requirements - Military Service for more details.

Veteran Student Assistance Grant

This WI benefits is available to qualified veterans, as well as certain spouses and children of the qualified veterans, for use at a private nonprofit educational institution.

Grant Highlights
The amount of the grant for an eligible student for a semester or session is equal to the lesser of the following:

• Two Thousand Dollars
• Fifty percent of the amount of tuition charged by the private institution
• For each grant, the private institution at which the eligible student is enrolled shall match the amount of grant to offset the tuition charged to the student.
• Grants may be made for up to 128 credits or eight semesters, less the number of credits or semesters for which the student received tuition remission under the Wisconsin GI Bill. This means that the 128 credits or eight semesters of coverage between the Wisconsin GI Bill and Wisconsin Veteran Student Assistance Grant are combined and that there is not a separate pool of credits or semesters for each benefit.

See WDVA for information on eligibility, service and residency requirements.

Veterans Education Reimbursement Grant

Serving as a payer-of-last resort, the Vet Ed Grant reimburses eligible veterans for study at qualifying institutions. You must attend an approved program or course and your school must award academic credit. Grant amounts are based on the length of your qualifying active duty service. Reimbursement never exceeds the actual payment you make and maximum limits apply. You have up to ten years from your date of separation to use a Vet Ed Grant for full-time study. After ten years, up to 60 unused credits may be "banked" for additional part-time study.

Eligibility Highlights

• The Vet Ed Grants is for undergraduates only. You are not eligible if you have an undergraduate degree from any institution of higher learning.
• You must first have exhausted any available assistance through the Wisconsin GI Bill, National Guard Tuition Grant, or Reserve Tuition Assistance.
• Income requirements apply.
• You must complete the semester or course(s) with at least a 2.0 or "C" average.

Retraining Grant

If you become unemployed or underemployed (your annual wages are below federal poverty guidelines within the last year) you may qualify for a grant of up to $3,000 per year while receiving educational or on-the-job retraining.

Eligibility Highlights

• You must have been involuntarily laid off or discharged within one year of applying
• You were employed for at least six consecutive months with the same employer or in similar occupations
• You are currently enrolled in a technical college or approved proprietary school that does not offer a four year degree, or are engaged in an on-the-job training program that will be completed with two years of the date your application is filled with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA)