Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Veterans Affairs
Chapter VA 2 - Veterans Assistance Grants
Section VA 2.03 - Retraining grants
Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง VA 2.03
Current through February 26, 2024
(1) DEFINITIONS. In this section the following terms shall have the designated meanings:
(a) "Available liquid assets" means cash on
hand, cash in a checking or savings account, stocks, bonds, certificates of
deposit, treasury bills, money market funds and other liquid investments owned
individually or jointly by the applicant and the applicant's spouse, unless the
applicant and spouse are separated or are in the process of obtaining a divorce
as established by the criteria set forth in s. VA 1.12(4), but does not
include funds deposited in IRAs, Keogh plans, deferred compensation plans, or
cash surrender value of life insurance policies.
Note: Section VA 1.12(4) has been repealed.
(b) "Course of instruction" means any series
of classroom or shop courses that have a unified purpose and lead to a diploma
or degree or to an occupational or vocational objective.
(c) "Earned income" means all anticipated
monthly and academic year take-home earnings from employment, including armed
forces reserve and national guard pay and work-study pay, after all payroll
deductions of the veteran and the veteran's spouse, except payroll deductions
for savings plans and payment of debts.
(d) "FAO" means a school's financial aid
officer.
(e) "Grant period" means
one year from the date the application is received by the department or until
the anticipated completion date of the applicant's approved retraining program,
whichever is earlier.
(f)
"Underemployed" means the status of a veteran whose annual income from
employment does not exceed the federal poverty guidelines, as established by
the department of health and human services, for the veteran's family size. The
department shall adjust the guidelines on July 1 of each year to reflect the
most recent federal poverty guidelines.
(g) "Unearned income" means the estimated
amount the veteran and spouse will receive during the academic year from USDVA
educational assistance allowance (G.I. Bill) benefits, scholarships,
fellowships, grants, tuition and fee waivers, all other definite awards other
than loans, including amounts paid to the veteran or to the school on behalf of
the veteran for vocational rehabilitation by the USDVA or any other agency,
income from trusts or inheritances, unemployment insurance benefits, worker's
compensation, social security payments, net rentals from real estate, interest
or dividend income, or other unearned income, but does not include disability
compensation paid to the veteran by the USDVA for service-connected
disabilities, armed forces disability retirement pay, or parental
contributions.
(h) "Unusual
expenses" means monthly or academic year payments that a veteran will be
required to make on medical and dental expenses or alimony being paid under a
final judgment or decree of divorce.
(2) LIMITATIONS.
(b)
Amount of grant.
1. An applicant who qualifies for a
retraining grant under the provisions of this section and s. 45.21, Stats., are
entitled to a grant equal to their need during the grant period or the
statutory maximum grant, whichever is less.
2. Except as provided in par. (h), need shall
be determined by deducting 75 percent of earned income and all unearned income
to be received by the applicant during the grant period, available liquid
assets in excess of $2,400 plus 6 months' living expenses computed as set forth
in s. VA 2.04 held by the applicant at the time of application and all other
financial aid that will be received by the applicant during the grant period
from the amount needed during the grant period.
3. The amount needed will be the sum of the
amount shown on the standard student budget described in s. VA 2.04 for the
appropriate time period and for the appropriate number of family members plus
any unusual expenses reported by the applicant.
(d)
Completion date. The
anticipated completion date of a course of instruction or a structured
on-the-job training program may not be more than 2 years from the date the
application is received by the department.
(e)
Number of retraining
grants. A veteran may receive only one grant in a 12-month period. A
check for an additional grant may not be mailed until a year has passed since
the date the check for the previous grant was mailed. No more than 2 grants may
be awarded to a veteran.
(f)
Qualifying prior employment. The veteran shall demonstrate a
work history of at least 6 consecutive months of employment with one employer
or in the same or similar occupations. Loss of that employment or a reduction
in earnings may not be caused by the voluntary actions of the
veteran.
(g)
Grant
payments.
1. The department may make
partial grant payments to assure that the veteran continues to pursue an
approved course of instruction or engage in an approved structured on-the-job
training program during the grant period.
2. The department may require written
verification from the school or the employer that the veteran is making
satisfactory progress towards completion of the course of instruction or the
structured on-the-job training program.
3. If the veteran is unable to verify
satisfactory progress towards completion or discontinues pursuit of the course
of education or engagement in the structured on-the-job-training program, the
department may cancel any unpaid portion of the grant.
(h)
Earned income.Income
from an employer who is providing an approved structured on-the-job training
program to the veteran shall be disregarded in determining the veteran's need
under par. (b).
(i)
Grant
limit.The maximum grant payable under this section for each grant
period is $3,000.
(j)
Lifetime limit.The total cumulative amount that a veteran may
receive under this section is $6,000.
(k)
Other available financial
assistance.The department may not provide a grant payment under this
section if other financial assistance is available to meet the veteran's
needs.
(3) GRANT APPLICATION.
(a)
Required
information. A grant application for retraining funds shall include
all of the following exhibits and supplements:
1. Documentation verifying the applicant has
a period of qualifying prior employment, is enrolled in a qualifying course of
instruction or is engaged in a structured on-the-job training program that
meets the requirements of sub. (5).
2. Documentation verifying the applicant has
become unemployed, underemployed, or received a notice of termination of
employment within the year prior to the date the application is received by the
department or has received a retraining grant within 13 months prior to the
date the department receives an application for a second grant.
3. A statement written by the applicant
explaining the circumstances leading to the need for retraining and an
explanation as to why the applicant feels that the desired retraining will lead
to gainful employment.
(b)
Procedure for a school-based
course.
1. An application shall be
initiated in the office of a county veterans service officer and completed and
submitted by the FAO or other appropriate official representing the school
attended by the applicant.
2. The
application shall include verification that the applicant has received
counseling from an assessment counselor and the counselor approves of the
retraining to be taken.
(c)
Procedure for structured
on-the-job training program.
1. The
application shall be initiated, completed, and submitted by the office of a
county veterans service officer.
2.
Each application shall contain a certification by the employer that the
requirements of sub. (5) are met.
3. The department shall evaluate the program
and determine whether the requirements of sub. (5) are met.
(4) COORDINATION WITH OTHER OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS.
(a) The
department shall stay in regular contact with and shall promote cooperation
with the United States department of labor, the USDVA, the department of
workforce development, and any other occupational training program
administrator as appropriate.
(b)
The department may exchange program literature with the agencies and encourage
county veterans service officers to provide information about other programs to
veterans who participate in or inquire about the retraining grant
program.
(5) ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. All of the following requirements shall be met for approval of a grant for engagement in a structured on-the-job training program:
(a) The employer is planning, upon completion
of the veteran's training program, to employ the veteran for the position for
which the veteran has been trained and the employer reasonably expects that
such a position will be available to the veteran on a stable and permanent
basis at the end of the training period.
(b) The training program is not for
employment that consists of seasonal, intermittent, or temporary
jobs.
(c) The training content of
the program is adequate to accomplish the training objective of the program
taking into account the occupation for which training is to be provided and the
content of comparable, available training opportunities that lead to the
occupation.
(d) The wages and
benefits to be paid to the veteran participating in the training program may
not be less than the wages and benefits normally paid to other employees
participating in a comparable training program.
(e) The employment of a veteran under the
program may not result in the full or partial displacement of currently
employed workers.
(f) The
employment of a veteran under this program may not be in a job while any other
individual is on layoff from the same or substantially equivalent job or the
opening that was created as a result of having terminated the employment of any
regular employee or otherwise having reduced the work force with the intention
of hiring a veteran under this program.
(g) The employer may not employ in this
program a veteran who is already qualified by training or experience for the
job for which training is to be provided.
(h) The employer shall consider the veteran's
prior applicable training and may shorten the training program
accordingly.
(i) Each participating
veteran shall be employed full-time in the program of job training.
(j) The training period under the proposed
program may not be longer or shorter than the training period that employers in
the community customarily require new employees to complete in order to become
competent in the occupation for which training is to be provided.
(k) The training establishment or place of
employment shall have adequate space, equipment, instructional material, and
instructor personnel as needed to accomplish the training objective.
(l) The employer shall keep records adequate
to show the progress made by each veteran participating in the program and
otherwise to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the program for at
least 3 years. The employer shall make these records and accounts available for
examination by the department as may be required.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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