Veterans Resources and Services

No, we are not the Veterans Administration. We work FOR you and WITH the VA to assist & advocate on your behalf.

Were you recently discharged or retire from the Armed Forces? We can help with a myriad of services at no cost. We are not the VA; however, we work for you to help navigate the VA processes and paperwork.

The best timeframe to file for disability claims is within the first year of your date of separation or retirement.

If you're still serving on Active Duty, we encourage you to file your claims under the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program. The window is between 180 and 90 days out before discharge. If you miss the window, we can help you in our office after your separation/retirement date - it just delays the process by a few months, but you will get retroactive pay in most scenarios to your discharge date.

Benefits Delivery at Discharge Website

It depends. If you registered your DD-214 with either the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs or your local county's Register of Deeds in Wisconsin, we can probably find a copy. You will need to show a valid ID to pick up a copy. If you moved from another state, then you may want to check with that local Veterans Service Office or their online services.

Otherwise, you can complete a Military Records Request through the National Personnel Records Center using your ID.me login credentials. Using the NPRC or filing a SF-180 through the mail to request records may take several months. Please plan accordingly.

National Personnel Records Center Website - Veterans Service Records Online Request

Veterans may be entitled to a VA Pension based on war-time service, financial need, age, disability, and required care. Additionally, survivors of Veterans may also be entitled to a Survivors Pension. Please visit the websites below to review eligibility criteria. 

VA Pension Website

VA Survivors Pension Website

If you are Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, or a Retiree, you may be eligible for TRICARE. There are many factors and it's best to call the subject matter experts or visit the TRICARE website.

TRICARE Website (West Region for Wisconsin effective 1/1/2025)

If you are Active Duty or a Retiree, they may be covered. It's best you call TRICARE for the most up-to-date information about eligibility and enrollment. 

 TRICARE Website (West region for Wisconsin effective 1/1/2025)

Are you the spouse or surviving spouse of—or a child of—a Veteran with disabilities or a Veteran who has died? If you don’t qualify for TRICARE (the Department of Defense’s health care program for active-duty and retired service members and their families), you may be able to get health insurance through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA). Through this program, we cover the cost of some of your health care services and supplies. This is called cost sharing. Hint: If you are eligible for any type of TRICARE, you will NOT qualify for CHAMPVA at this time.

CHAMPVA Website

Possibly. There are many factors to consider. There are three main qualifying factors (see website for all):

1. PACT Act Veteran

2. Service Connected Veteran (even 0%)

3. Your total household income is less than the VA threshold

PACT Act Website

VA Health Care Website & Enrollment Link

VA Income Limits Website

The PACT Act expanded and extended eligibility for VA health care for Veterans with toxic exposures and Veterans of the Vietnam, Gulf War, Camp LeJeune water contamination, and post-9/11 eras- these benefits may extend to dependents. There is a plethora of information on the PACT Act website.

There are many opportunities for continuing education, career changes, and more! Each program has unique qualifying factors and it is best to visit those respective program pages. In most situations, the most qualified experts to help you enroll in these programs are the Veterans Resource Offices at each higher education location. 

Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33)

Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance

Wisconsin GI Bill

Wisconsin Retraining Grant

If you are homeless or at imminent risk of being homeless, here are some resources for you:

• The VA has a homeless program.
• You can contact HUD-VASH at the John H. Bradley VA Clinic in Appleton, WI.
  • Mental Health, Building 2 or call 920-831-0070.
• Contact Nick Brewer at the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Outreach & Veteran Program (VORP)
  • VORP website or call (715) 409-3767
• If you need help with a deposit, you can contact LEAVEN.
• The Fox Valley Veterans Council may be able to provide limited assistance for qualified Veterans.
• You can stop by our office Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm
• You might find additional resources at your local Aging & Disability Resource Center
• You can call 211 for some great community resources.
• If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 988, option 1.

There are several nonprofit organizations in our area that may be able to help with rental assistance.

• LEAVEN
• Fox Cities Veterans Council

Many banks, credit unions, and mortgage lenders can help you navigate the VA Home Loan process. Buyer beware:  There are many scams out there taking advantage of Veterans. Be sure to find a reputable resource.

Our office has worked with several organizations. No endorsement implied. These are external links.

• Mortgage Nerds: subject-matter experts in leveraging your VA Home Loan & Realtor resources
• Cardinal Reality: excellent resource for Veterans looking a new home 

You can often ask the lender to pull a copy of you Certificates of Eligibility. You can also request one through the VA website.

Of note, you will need certain items (e.g. DD-214) and will need to create a login, which also requires several pieces of information. COEs can be confusing so we recommend working with a reputable VA Home Loan mortgage specialist to best leverage your benefits.

No. It is not a loan in the conventional sense. The VA helps Veterans, service members, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. As part of our mission to serve you, the VA provides a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help you buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for your own personal occupancy.

VA Home Loans are provided by private lenders, such as banks and mortgage companies. VA guarantees a portion of the loan, enabling the lender to provide you with more favorable terms. Visit VA Home Loans to learn more. You CAN have more than one VA home loan, too. Some Veterans are able to build wealth by leveraging several VA home loans at the same time.

The Larsen-Winchester Lions Club, Inc. builds ramps for disabled people around the area.

Ramp Building Program: Call 920-427-3236

• The Larsen-Winchester Lions club began building ramps in March 1989. We have constructed over 1,350 handicap ramps in the area for persons of limited mobility.
• We ask the family to pay for 1/2 the materials needed for construction if they can and try to get assistance from their local Lions Club or another organization if they can't pay.
• There is no charge for qualified people in the towns of Clayton and Winchester.
• We limit the ramp program to the area of Neenah, Menasha, Appleton and surrounding 25-mile radius, but not the city of Oshkosh due to the work load and other factors.
• Our club has purchased all of the equipment needed to construct the ramps.
• Our ramp construction program has saved the people of the community over 8 million dollars.

Veterans with certain disabilities may qualify for special housing adaptation. The criteria is quite strict and will require due diligence with paperwork and communication. For the best information, visit the VA Website. We can help, in a limited capacity, with some of the paperwork. However, the Veteran is required to get everything together first.

Veterans Crisis Line

• Call: Dial 988 then press 1
• Chat: Veterans Crisis Line LIVE Chat
• Text: 838255

Green Bay Vet Center (Mobile Van)
(920) 435-5650

Appleton VA Clinic
(920) 831-0070

Center for Veterans Issues
Contact Center for Veterans Issues

Wisconsin Heroes Outdoors
Contact Wisconsin Heroes Outdoors

Appleton Area

Pillars, Inc.
(920) 734-9192
Contact Pillars
On most occasions, Veterans will be moved up in priority. You may call, but it is often best if you report to their warm & welcoming Resource Center located at 129 S. Mason St. Appleton, WI, 54914. Get directions to our location via Google Maps.

COTS
(920) 734-3609 (Veterans line)
info@appletoncots.org

Green Bay Area

New Community Shelter
(920) 437-3766
Contact New Community Shelter

There are several community partners that may be able to assist with energy expenses:

Fox Valley Veterans Council
(920) 358-0662
cem@foxvalleyveterans.org

Heat and Housing for Heroes

Old Glory Honor Flight was founded in 2009 by a loyal group of volunteers based in Appleton, WI. We are dedicated to our mission of "Honoring Our Local Veterans One Mission at a Time" which includes all veterans who served prior to May 7, 1975.

The Old Glory Honor Flight missions are completely free of charge to the veteran; we believe it's a meaningful way to say 'Thank You' for their service. Every detail of their day-long trip has the vets' best interest in mind to ensure they have a safe, memorable trip and one that conveys appreciation and admiration from our community. On each flight, we travel with trained volunteers who act as guardian escorts, a volunteer medical team, professional photographers and a host of others like the D.C. Park Police who ensure the veterans get the 'red carpet' treatment.

In late 2025, several organizations merged under Missions of Honor. Please visit their website for the most up-to-date opportunities and experiences. 

The beautiful Outagamie County War Memorial is located in the historic Outagamie County Courthouse building on the 2nd floor and is available to visit during business hours. It was recently updated in May of 2026 with names from the Gulf War, Iraq, & Afghanistan. 

The Outagamie County War Memorial website has a searchable database, too, to help you with any sorts of projects.

It depends. Each program has their own sets of rules and it is best to visit each respective website. Here is a quick synopsis of three programs available for eligible dependents:

1. Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). If you are a qualifying Veteran AND transferred at lease one month of benefits to your dependent before separating or retiring from the Armed Forces, your dependents may be eligible.

Post-9/11 GI Bill Website

2. Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35). A qualifying Veteran rated as permanent and totally disabled due to a service connection (or other additional factors) will be notified they are eligible to receive these benefits. This benefit is for each dependent and is prorated monthly. NOTE: There may be a monthly check in requirement to receive these benefits. You MAY combine this benefit with the WI GI Bill in most cases. Hint: You cannot receive a dependent rate and DEA benefits concurrently; the VA will find out and will generate a debt to repay. You must choose.  

DEA Website

3. Wisconsin GI Bill. If a qualifying Veteran is at least 30% service connected, eligible dependents may qualify for up to 128 credit hours at no cost at any Wisconsin technical college or state university. These benefits extend up to a PhD. There is a 3-year Wisconsin residency requirement. The quickest way to enroll is visiting www.mywisvets.com. Once approved, it is best to continue the enrollment processes with the school's Veterans Resource Office typically located at each school.

Wisconsin GI Bill Website