Chapter VA 2

Chapter VA 2

VETERANS ASSISTANCE GRANTS

VA 2.001   Administrative review.

VA 2.01   Subsistence and health care aid grant programs.

VA 2.02   Veterans tuition reimbursement program.

VA 2.03   Retraining grants.

VA 2.04   Standard student budget.

VA 2.05   Recovery of erroneous payments.

VA 2.07   Grants to nonprofit organizations.

VA 2.08   Veterans employment and entrepreneurship grants.

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Ch. VA 2 Note Note: Chapter VA 2 as it existed on December 31, 1979 was repealed and a new chapter VA 2 was created effective January 1, 1980. Chapter VA 2 as it existed on April 30, 1986 was repealed and a new chapter VA 2 was created effective May 1, 1986.

Ch. VA 2 Note Note: 2005 Wis. Act 22 repealed and recreated Ch. 45, Stats. Cross-references to Ch. 45, Stats., were corrected by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.

VA 2.001 VA 2.001 Administrative review. Any department decision under this chapter is subject to reconsideration by submitting a written request to the department's office of legal counsel. The request for reconsideration must be received by the department within 60 calendar days after the date of the department's decision.

VA 2.001 Note Note: Requests for reconsideration should be submitted electronically to [e-mail] or mailed to Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Legal Counsel, 2135 Rimrock Road, P.O. Box 7843, Madison, WI 53707-7843.

VA 2.001 History History: CR 25-011: renum. from VA 2.05 (5) and am. Register September 2025 No. 837, eff. 10-1-25.

VA 2.01 VA 2.01 Subsistence and health care aid grant programs.

VA 2.01(1g) (1g) Authority and purpose.

VA 2.01(1g)(a) (a) The purpose of this section is to establish rules for the administration of the subsistence and health care aid grant programs, as authorized under s. 45.40, Stats.

VA 2.01(1g)(b) (b) The subsistence and health care aid grant programs provide limited financial assistance to eligible veterans or their dependents who are in need.

VA 2.01(1g)(c) (c) Grants may be used up to the maximum grant limits as specified in this section.

VA 2.01(1r) (1r) Definitions. In this section the following terms shall have the designated meanings:

VA 2.01(1r)(b) (b) “Applicant’s family” means the applicant’s spouse and dependents or, where the applicant is a dependent, the parents, stepparents, or any custodial guardians of the dependent.

VA 2.01(1r)(c) (c) “Approved treatment programs” means treatment programs approved by the USDVA or alcohol and other drug treatment programs certified by the Wisconsin department of health services.

VA 2.01(1r)(e) (e) “Declaration of aid” means a written determination regarding the availability of county, state, or federal aid administered by the county for an applicant. A declaration of aid must be signed by a county or tribal official authorized to determine whether aid is available for an applicant and the applicant’s family and whether the applicant has accepted the aid available.

VA 2.01(1r)(f) (f) “Dental care” means any dental-related care provided by a licensed dental care provider given to teeth, the supporting natural and artificial structures for teeth, and any replacement or restoration of teeth.

VA 2.01(1r)(i) (i) “Description of benefits” means a written determination that an applicant is eligible for health care aid. A description of benefits expires 90 days after the date of eligibility is established and printed by the department unless extended by the department.

VA 2.01(1r)(j) (j) “Earned income” means all anticipated family monthly take-home earnings from employment, including armed forces reserve pay, national guard pay, and work study pay, after all payroll deductions of the applicant and the applicant’s family, except payroll deductions for savings plans and payment of debts.

VA 2.01(1r)(k) (k) “Economic emergency” means a natural disaster that damages an applicant’s primary living residence, a medical emergency, the failure of the applicant’s sole means of transportation, or a severe disruption in essential household systems caused by a failure of the applicant’s stove, refrigerator, heating system, ventilating and air conditioning system, plumbing system, or electrical system such that it materially compromises the applicant’s ability to live.

VA 2.01(1r)(m) (m) “Health care aid” means the payment by the department for health care services authorized under s. 45.40 (2) (a), Stats.

VA 2.01(1r)(n) (n) “Hearing care” means any hearing-related care provided by a licensed hearing care provider. “Hearing care” includes the hearing exam and hearing aids.

VA 2.01(1r)(o) (o) “Illness or injury” means a physical or mental health problem that has been diagnosed by a licensed physician, dentist, optometrist, or audiologist.

VA 2.01(1r)(om) (om) “Liquid assets” means cash on hand, including cash in checking, savings, money market, or other similar accounts owned individually or jointly by the applicant and the applicant’s family.

VA 2.01(1r)(p) (p) “Month” means any consecutive 30-calendar day period.

VA 2.01(1r)(q) (q) “Natural disaster” means a catastrophic occurrence over which the applicant or family members living with the applicant has no control, including, but not limited to, a fire, flood, tornado, blizzard, or earthquake.

VA 2.01(1r)(r) (r) “Subsistence” means essential household living expenses including current rent or mortgage payments on the applicant’s primary residence, food, current medical insurance premiums, current costs for prescribed medications, essential travel, child care required because of employment, educational, or medical reasons, and current costs for electricity, heat, and basic cell phone or landline telephone service. “Subsistence” also means any repairs or purchases required due to an economic emergency.

VA 2.01(1r)(s) (s) “Subsistence aid” means the grant payment provided by the department for subsistence.

VA 2.01(1r)(t) (t) “Unearned income” means income that is not earned through employment.

VA 2.01(1r)(u) (u) “Vision care” means any vision-related care provided by a licensed vision care provider. “Vision care” includes the vision exam and a prescription for corrective eyewear, lenses, frame, and lens coating.

VA 2.01(2) (2) Subsistence aid.

VA 2.01(2)(a) (a) Application.

VA 2.01(2)(a)1m. 1m. A grant application for subsistence aid may be submitted through a county or tribal veterans service officer or directly to the department via a department-approved form or the online grant portal.

VA 2.01 Note Note: The application for subsistence aid (form WDVA 2453) may be obtained at WisVets.com or by request from the Department of Veterans Affairs, PO Box 7843, Madison, WI 53707-7843, or 1-800-WIS-VETS (800-947-8387).

VA 2.01(2)(a)3. 3. The application shall be submitted to the department no later than 12 months following the verified loss of income due to illness, injury, or natural disaster.

VA 2.01(2)(a)4. 4. A declaration of aid shall be submitted with the application. The declaration shall state that the applicant has applied for all aid offered through or administered by the county, including aid from the federal or state government.

VA 2.01(2)(a)5. 5. Effective October 31, 2025, the application shall list all of the applicant’s household assets and the household living expenses for the period of 3 months immediately preceding the date of the application.

VA 2.01(2)(a)6. 6. If requested by the department the applicant shall submit evidence establishing that all other available aid has been applied for and accepted.

VA 2.01(2)(a)7. 7. The department may request additional verification of any information provided in the application.

VA 2.01(2)(a)8. 8. The department shall notify the applicant or the applicant’s county or tribal veterans service officer if any required documentation is missing or if further verification is required to make a decision on the applicant’s eligibility. The department may terminate an application if such documentation or verification does not arrive at the department’s central office within 60 days of that notification.

VA 2.01(2)(b) (b) Eligibility. An applicant is eligible to receive grant funds under this subsection when all of the following apply:

VA 2.01(2)(b)1. 1. The applicant satisfies the requirements of s. 45.01 (12), Stats., to be considered a veteran, or is a spouse or dependent of an individual who satisfies the requirements of s. 45.01 (12), Stats.

VA 2.01(2)(b)2m. 2m. The applicant has suffered a loss of income due to illness, injury, or natural disaster. If the loss of income is the result of alcohol or other drug abuse, the applicant shall verify current participation in a department-approved treatment program.

VA 2.01(2)(b)3m. 3m. Except for an applicant who is eligible under par. (d), the applicant’s household income may not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, in effect on the date the application arrives at the department’s central office, for the number of the applicant’s family members living in the primary residence.

VA 2.01(2)(b)4. 4. The applicant lacks other assets or income to meet basic subsistence needs and is not eligible to receive aid from other sources to meet those needs.

VA 2.01(2)(c) (c) Unremarried surviving spouse and dependent of a veteran who dies in the line of duty. An unremarried surviving spouse and a dependent claiming eligibility due to the death of a veteran in the line of duty shall submit evidence from the appropriate military service indicating that the veteran died in the line of duty.

VA 2.01(2)(d) (d) Spouse and dependent of activated or deployed member. A spouse and dependent of a member of the U.S. armed forces or of the Wisconsin national guard claiming eligibility shall submit evidence that the service member has been deployed or activated, that due to the activation or deployment a loss of income has occurred, that an economic emergency has occurred during the activation or deployment, and that the spouse and dependent are residents of the state.

VA 2.01(2)(e) (e) Limitations.

VA 2.01(2)(e)1. 1. Subsistence aid is available for the 90-day period following the date of the verified loss of income due to illness, injury, or a natural disaster.