August 28, 2002		2002-R-0728
VETERANS' BENEFITS IN CONNECTICUT AND OTHER STATES
By: Veronica Rose, Principal Analyst

You asked whether other states require veterans to have war service to qualify for state-authorized benefits. The information in this report is based on a review of state statutes and veterans benefit publications (where available), telephone conversations with officials in some veterans' agencies, and data from nasdva. com.

Of the 38 states we surveyed, all, except Maryland, have at least one benefit available only to veterans with wartime service-a standard that varies from state to state, both in terms of qualifying wars and dates. Connecticut and Massachusetts are among the states that require veterans to have war service as a condition of qualifying for most benefits. But Massachusetts requires one day of war service; Connecticut requires 90 days. Generally, states that offer fewer and less expensive benefits, such as free hunting and fishing licenses, are more likely to make them available to all veterans, irrespective of when they served.

 

Many of the 38 states limit some of their benefits to veterans with disabilities-usually service-connected. Other restrictions include length of service in the Armed Forces. No state provides all of its benefits to the entire population of veterans, irrespective of service condition or disability.

 

Table 1 shows veterans' benefits in all 38 states surveyed. Tables 2 through 39 show veterans' benefits by state. Benefits highlighted in red require war service. All other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served. All 38 states offer some type of motor vehicle-related benefits to veterans. These were not included in the report because of the range and numbers, especially of special license plates, offered by some states.

Table 1: State-Authorized Veterans' Benefits (excluding Vehicle-Related Benefits)* in 38 States

Tax Property

Tax (Other)

Education

Veterans' Cemetery

Hospital/Health Care

Employment

Retirement Credit

Hunting & Fishing license

Firing Squad

Burial/Death Benefits

Financial (Emergency Aid)

Financial (Other)

Housing Preference

Prof. & Occupational license/fees

Itinerant Vendors

Bonus

Other

Alabama

Y

YY

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Alaska

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Arizona

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Colorado

YY

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Connecticut

YY

Y

Y

Y

YY

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Delaware

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Florida

Y

YY

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Georgia

YY

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Idaho

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Illinois

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Indiana

YY

YY

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Kansas

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Kentucky

Y

YY

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Louisiana

Y

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Maine

YY

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Maryland

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Massachusetts

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Michigan

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

YY

YY

Y

YY

Minnesota

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Mississippi

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

YY

New Hampshire

YY

Y

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

New Jersey

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

New Mexico

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

North Carolina

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

North Dakota

Y

YY

YY

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Oregon

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Oklahoma

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Pennsylvania

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Rhode Island

YY

YY

Y

Y

YY

YY

Y

Y

Y

YY

South Carolina

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

South Dakota

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Texas

Y

YY

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Utah

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Vermont

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Washington

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

West Virginia

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Wisconsin

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

YY

Y

Y

Wyoming

Y

YY

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

YY indicates more than one benefit within a category, at least one of which requires war service.

Table 2: State Veterans' Benefits-Alabama

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Incompetent veteran's property up to $ 3,000 exempt from property tax	Peacetime or wartime
	Veteran's home acquired with federal grant for specially adapted housing exempt from property tax	Peacetime or wartime
Tax (Other)	Federal compensation for active service in combat zone exempt from income tax	War service (combat zone)
	Military retirement income exempt from state, county, and municipal income tax	Peacetime or wartime
	Disabled veteran's vehicle bought with federal funds exempt from license fees and property tax	War service (plus disability)
Education	Four years' tuition, textbook, and laboratory fee exemption to dependents of qualified veterans at state-supported higher learning institutions; two years for spouse or unremarried spouse of veteran with 20-90% service-connected disability, or up to 18 months to complete one prescribed technical course	90 days peacetime or wartime service (plus disability)
	WW II high school diploma to veteran unable to complete high school because of military service	WW II service
	$ 850 scholarship program	War service
	Disabled American Veterans' Scholarship Program (from $ 200 to $ 3,000) for dependents of needy veterans with service-connected disabilities	Peacetime or wartime (plus service-connected disability)
Veterans' Cemetery	None	NA
Hospital/Health Care	Admission to state veterans' home	Wartime
Employment	Preference in state classified employment (5 points added to exam scores; 10 points for service- connected disability)	Peacetime or wartime
	Up to 5 years credit for peace officers returning to jobs within six months after military service	Peacetime or wartime
	Unemployed veteran may be entitled to unemployment compensation based on honorable service	Peacetime or wartime
	Unclassified state employees called to military service have the same rights and privileges as classified employees	Peacetime or wartime
	County and municipal officials who enter the military during national emergency retain job status and reemployment rights	National emergency service
	Teacher entering the military who is not on continuing service status entitled to credit for service under some circumstances	Peacetime or wartime
	Reemployment/retention rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement	Retirement benefit rights of state employees and teachers who enter the Armed Forces and return to state employment after discharge are preserved	Peacetime or wartime
	Veterans eligible for unemployment compensation based on military service	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Reduced ($ . 25) annual fishing license (non hunting license exemption provided)	Peacetime or wartime (plus total disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/Death Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	Business and occupations license exemptions of $ 15 to $ 25 from each state, county, and municipality, depending on the war and property value	War service (plus 25% disability for some wars)
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	$ 500 bonus to Vietnam or Cambodia POWs	Vietnam or Cambodia service
Other	Public Records-one free copy for Veterans' Administration (VA) claims	Peacetime or wartime
	Discharge Papers-free recording	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 3: State Veterans' Benefits-Alaska

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	First $ 150,000 of assessed value of primary residence of veteran with 50% disability incurred in line of duty exempt from local property tax	Peacetime or wartime (plus 50% disability); also guard service
Tax (Other)	None	NA
Education	WW II diploma for veterans who did not complete high school because they were in the service	WW II
	Free undergraduate tuition for dependents of veterans who died in the line of duty or are listed as prisoners of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA)	See Benefit Summary
	Up to 100% tuition payment for guardsmen at various schools in the state	Guard service
Veterans' Cemetery	None	NA
Hospital/Health Care	No state veterans' home, but law passed recently to convert pioneers' home to veterans homes	Unclear
Employment	State employee hiring preference for classified positions (10 points for disabled veterans; 5 points for other veterans)	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Up to 5 years credit in Teachers' Retirement system for service in the Armed Forces	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free hunting and fishing license	Peacetime or wartime (plus 50% disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/Death Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	See Financial (Other-loan/grant/etc. ) below	--
Financial (Other-loan/grant/etc)	Various state-guaranteed loans: personal loans up to $ 10,000, business loans up to $ 125,000, and multiple dwelling loans up to $ 110,000	Wartime (with exceptions)
Housing Preference	Veterans' preference in moderate cost and rental public housing projects	Peacetime or wartime
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None	NA
Other	Discharge Documents-free recording	Peacetime or wartime
	State Camping Pass-free
	Veterans' Land Sale Preference-25% discount on purchase price of residential/recreational land	Peacetime or wartime (plus 50% disability)
	Death Gratuity-$ 750	Peacetime, wartime, or guard or reservist service
	Public Records-free to determine eligibility for certain benefits	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 4: State Veterans' Benefits-Arizona

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Property of widows, widowers, and disabled persons exempt from tax (ranging from $ 3,000)
	Tax exemption on vehicle acquired through financial aid from the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Tax (Other)	Compensation received for combat zone active service exempt from gross income for tax purposes	War service (combat service)
	Federal payments (civil or military retirement) up to $ 2,500 per year are tax exempt
Education	Veteran or qualified dependent who has applied for educational benefits at state-supported post-secondary educational institutions may defer tuition payments for up to 120 days	Peacetime or wartime
	Honorary diplomas to certain honorably discharged veterans	Peacetime or wartime
Veterans' Cemetery	One scheduled to be opened in November 2002	Peacetime or wartime
Hospital/Health Care	Veterans' home provides long-term care services and skill nursing care	Unclear
Employment	Reinstatement to previous rank after discharge from the military training in U. S. Armed Forces	Veteran fire fighter Veteran
	Appointive officers and state and local government employees must be reinstated to their former position after completing military service (or war service if in Reserves)	Peacetime or wartime
	State employee hiring preference for classified positions (five points, but 10 points for disabilities)	Peacetime or wartime service of at least 6 months
Retirement Credit	Military service computed in length of service for determining retirement eligibility for fire and police officers	Peacetime or wartime
	Participant in the state retirement system or plan may get credit for active military service-must be honorably discharged	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free hunting and fishing license	Peacetime or wartime (plus 100% VA-rated service-connected disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/Death Benefits	County burial allowance of up to $ 150 for indigent veterans	Peacetime or wartime
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	Funeral directors, embalmers, and apprentice embalmers are exempt from license renewal fee while serving in war	War service
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None	NA
Other	Discharge Documents-free recording	Peacetime or wartime
	Public Documents-copies free for VA claims	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 5: State Veterans' Benefits-Colorado

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	None	NA
Tax (Other)	Members of Armed Forces relieved from paying income tax during war service and 12 months after	War service
	Up to $ 20,000 of retirement pay of Armed Forces' members excluded from gross income for tax purposes to the extent it is exempt from federal tax	Peacetime or wartime
Education	Tuition waiver at certain state-supported schools for children of POWs, veterans MIAs, or national guardsmen who died or were permanently disabled while on active state duty; benefit limited to dependents who do not qualify for federal educational benefits.	See Benefit Summary
	Reduced or free tuition at designated post-secondary state institutions for guardsmen (must serve two years for each year of education granted	Guard service
	Honorary diploma for WW II veterans	WW II service
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime
Hospital/Health Care	State veterans' home provides nursing and domiciliary care	Peacetime or wartime
Employment	Civil service examinations (Disabled veterans get 10 and nondisabled war veterans get 5 points added to passing scores on exams for employment in the state personnel system or any comparable local system)	Peacetime or wartime
	Employment preference in firemen's civil service	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	State and public employees retirement system allows credit for military service	Peacetime or wartime
	Credit for military service in retirement system for state and public employees	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free fishing license for certain veterans	Peacetime or wartime (plus 100% disability rating)
	Free small game hunting license	Peacetime or wartime (plus 60% disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Death/Burial Benefits	County burial allowance of up to $ 50 and county allowance of up to $ 50 for setting headstones for indigent war veterans	War service
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	Cities and towns may create veterans' housing authorities and give preference to WW II veterans	WW II service
Professional and Occupational Licenses	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None
Other	Public Records-free copies to determine eligibility for benefits	Peacetime or wartime
	Discharge Records-free recording	Peacetime or wartime
	Payments received by veterans for service-connected disability or disability retirement cannot be deducted from unemployment compensation benefits	Peacetime or wartime (plus disability)
	Except for court-ordered child support, money received by veterans for wartime military service is exempt from execution, attachment, and other legal processes	War service
	State Parks-free admission	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 6: State Veterans' Benefits-Connecticut

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Local property tax exemption of at least $ 1,500	War service
	Town may exempt dwelling house of veteran built with federal grant for specially adapted housing	Peacetime or wartime
Tax (Other)	None	NA
Education	Tuition reimbursement at state colleges	War service
	High school diploma to veterans' who did not finish high school because of WW II service	WW II service
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	War service
Hospital/Health Care	Care and accommodation at state Veterans' Home and Hospital	War service
Employment	Civil service examination preference-5 extra points on competitive state or municipal exams, 10 points if veteran eligible for VA compensation or payments	Wartime service, with exceptions
	Reinstatement rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Members of the Municipal Employees' Retirement System reemployed after war service or national emergency within 6 months of discharge are credited for the period of service as if they had been continuously employed	War service, with exceptions
	War veterans who become members of the State Employees' Retirement System or Teachers' Retirement System may purchase retirement credit for their service time	War service
	State police and correction guards and instructors who return from service to their jobs within 90 days of separation get retirement credit for the service	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	None	NA
Firing Squad	Funeral firing squad	War service
Burial/Death Benefits	$ 150 burial expense for indigent veteran	Peacetime or wartime service
Financial (Emergency Aid)	Temporary aid from Soldiers,' Sailors and Marines' Fund	War service
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	Connecticut Housing Finance Authority provides low-interest 30-year mortgage loans under Military Homeownership Program	Peacetime or wartime
Housing Preference	Preference in Department of Economic Development-funded low- or moderate-income rental housing projects	Peacetime or wartime
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	Various (including reinstatement without paying renewal fee if license expired while in Armed Forces)	Peacetime or wartime
Itinerant Vendors	Itinerant vendor fee exemption	War service
Bonus	All have expired	NA
Other	State residents on duty in the Armed Forces are exempt from paying annual or biennial occupational license fees and taxes during period of active service and for one year after discharge	Peacetime or wartime
	Attorneys on active duty in the Armed Forces are exempt from occupational tax for any calendar year during which they are in service for more than six months	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 7: State Veterans' Benefits-Delaware

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	None	NA
Tax (Other)	None solely for veterans	NA
Education	Tuition and fee payment at post-secondary institutions for up to four years and up to $ 525 per year or the amount of the tuition per year, whichever is more, for 16- to 24-year old dependents of POWs MIAs, and of veterans killed on active duty or who died from service-connected disabilities	Peacetime or wartime
	Funding available for post-secondary tuition and fees for active guard members	Guard service
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	Active duty service (other than training)
Hospital/Health Care	Veterans' health center	Peacetime or wartime (but war veterans have preference)
Employment	Employment preference in classified service for original applicants (up to 10 points for disabled war veterans and up to 5 points for other war veterans)	War service
Retirement Credit	Up to 5 years credit for military service	War service
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Veterans with at least 60% service-connected disability are exempt from hunting, trapping and fishing licensing requirement	Peacetime or wartime (plus 60% disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Death/Burial Expenses	Unspecified amount of burial funds for indigent veterans	War service
	Adjutant general must appropriate burial funds for indigent war veteran	War service
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses	Veterans exempt from license requirement for auctioneer, book agent or book sale canvasser	Peacetime or wartime
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None
Other	Notary public-notary services free for veterans' benefit claims	Peacetime or wartime
	Death Certificates-one free copy of certified death certificate for settlement claims	Peacetime or wartime
	Pension-$ 3,000 pension benefits for paraplegic veterans	Peacetime or wartime (plus paraplegia)

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 8: State Veterans' Benefits-Florida

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property	Total property tax exemption on veteran's homestead purchased with federal special adaptive housing grant	Peacetime or wartime (plus service-connected permanent and total disability)
	$ 5,000 property tax exemption on homestead of veterans with 10% disability	Peacetime or wartime (plus 10% service- connected disability)
Tax (Other)	When certain vehicles purchased under federal law for disabled veteran, the amount the VA pays directly to the dealer is exempt from state sales tax	Peacetime or wartime
	Disabled war veterans exempt from certain occupation license tax up to $ 50	War service
Education	Dependents between ages 4 and 22 of qualified veterans eligible for free tuition and payment of other fees at state higher education institutions. Veteran must have been classified as POW or MIA or died in action or from service-connected disability, or have 100% service-connected disability	See Benefit Summary
	Exemption from half tuition and fees	Guard members
	Veterans who get certain federal benefits and who attend any of Florida's public universities are entitled to defer one tuition each academic year whenever federal payment is delayed	Peacetime or wartime
	High school diploma for WW II and Korean veterans who did not complete high school because of service	WW II and Korean service
Veterans' Cemetery	None	NA
Hospital/Health Care	Veterans' nursing home for veterans who need nursing care and veterans' domiciliary home for veterans who do not need hospitalization of nursing care	Peacetime or wartime
Employment	Employment preference (with some exceptions) at each stage of the hiring process for state and local government jobs. (Where numerically based examinations are used as selection device, 10 points for disabled veterans, 5 points for other veterans. )	War service (1 day) or peace service and service-connected disability
	Reemployment, retention, and reinstatement, and promotion rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Unclear	NA
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free, permanent saltwater fishing license	Peacetime or wartime (plus permanent disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/Death Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	Up to $ 50 exemption for occupational license fee	War service (plus 10% disability)
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None	NA
Other	Discharge or Separation Documents-free recording	Peacetime or wartime
	Local governing bodies authorized to help war veterans present claims and secure compensation, loans, benefits to which veterans are entitled	War service
	Notary Service Commission-issued free to war service veteran with 50% disability	War service (plus 50% disability)
	Certain 100% disabled veterans exempt from license fee for making certain types of improvements to mobile home	Peacetime or wartime (plus 1000% disability)

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 9: State Veterans' Benefits-Georgia

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Property tax exemption on vehicle owned by disabled veteran	Peacetime or wartime (plus 100% service-connected disability)
	Homestead of certain disabled veterans exempt from property tax (Exemption amount is the greater of $ 32,500 or amount that may be granted under federal law)	War service (plus disability)
Tax (Other)	Special adapted vehicle purchased by veterans with VA funds exempt from sales and use tax (exemption applies only on the original grant)	Peacetime or wartime (plus service disability
	Period served on combat duty plus 180 days after disregarded for purposes of income tax filing	War service (combat plus 180 days)
Education	WW II diploma for veterans who did not finish high school because they were in the service	WW II service
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime
Hospital/Health Care	Admission to state veterans' home	War service
Employment	Preference in civil service jobs (5 points added to passing score on competitive civil service examinations; 10 points for 10% disabled veterans)	War service (80 days) (some exceptions)
Retirement Credit	Veterans returning from service may establish creditable service with public retirement system or fund for up to 5 years of qualified service	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free honorary hunting and fishing license	Peacetime or wartime (plus disability)
Firing Squad	Funeral firing squad	Peacetime or wartime
Death/Burial Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	Disabled veterans are exempt from local occupational taxes, administration fees, and regulatory fees for peddling, conducting a business, or practicing a profession or semi-profession	War service (plus 10% disability) or peace service (plus 25% service-connected disability)
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None	NA
Other	State Parks, Historical Sites, Recreational Areas-reduced fees	Peacetime or wartime (plus service-connected disability)
	Discharge Documents-free recording	Peacetime or wartime
	Veterans' Benefits may be exempt from bankruptcy proceedings	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 10: State Veterans' Benefits-Idaho

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Property tax exemptions	War service (plus qualified disabilities)
Tax (Other)	None	NA
Education	Scholarships for children of POWs and MIAs	War service
	Honorary diplomas for WW II veterans	WW II service
Veterans' Cemetery	In process of building state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime
Hospital /Health Care	State veterans' homes provide nursing and domiciliary care	Peacetime or wartime
Employment	Appointment preference for veterans in state, county, and municipal merit system or civil service competitive examinations (5 points for war veterans; 10 points for any 10% disabled veteran	Peacetime or wartime
	Reemployment rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free fishing license for veteran over 70; reduced fee hunting and fishing license for those under 70	Peacetime or wartime
Firing Squad	None	NA
Death/Burial Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	Emergency financial relief and assistance available for destitute war veterans	War service
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None	NA
Other	Discharge and Public Documents-free recording and indexing of discharge documents; also free copies of such documents and public documents to make claims or get benefits	War service

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 11: State Veterans' Benefits-Illinois

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Specially adapted housing bought with federal funds exempt from property tax up to specified maximum	Peacetime or wartime
Tax (Other)	None	NA
Education	Financial aid to children between ages 10 and 18 of veteran who died or became totally disabled as a result of service in certain wars (elementary, high, or vocational training school)	War service
	MIA and POW scholarships to dependents of POWs, MIAs, and veterans who died from service-connected disability or are 100% permanently disabled from service-connected causes. (Entitled to full payment of tuition and certain fees at any state-supported Illinois consisting of the equivalent of four calendar years of full-time enrollment)	Peacetime or wartime
	Veterans' education grant pays tuition and other fees at state-supported colleges, universities, and community colleges for veterans who (with exception for Desert Storm and Somalia) have at least 1 year in the Armed Forces	Peacetime or wartime
	Scholarships for National Guard members for 8 semesters or 12 quarters of study in fulltime or part time undergraduate study	National Guard service
	Honorary scholarships for children of WWI, WW II and Korean and Vietnam veterans, with preference given to children of deceased and disabled veterans	WW I and II, Korean, and Vietnam service
Veterans' Cemetery	None	NA
Hospital/Health Care	Nursing and health care services at state veterans' home	War service of 1 day or more; (peacetime with one year)
Employment	State government employment preference (entrance examinations)	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Unable to determine	NA
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free hunting and fishing license for 10% disabled veterans	Peacetime or wartime (plus 10% disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/Death Benefits	Up to $ 600 burial benefits for indigent veterans	Peacetime or wartime
	Up to allowable reimbursement for setting headstone	Peacetime or wartime
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	WW II bonus ($ 10 per month for domestic service and $ 15 per month for foreign service) (Survivors get a $ 1,000 one-time benefit if the veteran's death was service-connected and within specified period)	Wartime service (60 days)
	$ 100 Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Conflict bonus	War service (plus receipt of specified medal)
Other	State Fairs-free admission on Veterans' Day	Peacetime or wartime
	State Parks-exemption from camping and admission fees for certain disabled persons and former POWs in Illinois state parks	Disabled veterans and former POWs
	POW Compensation-$ 50 for each month held as POW in Southwest Asia	War service
	Survivor's Compensation-$ 1,000 to service member killed by terrorist acts or hostile activities during wartime service	War service
	Vietnam Veteran Survivor Compensation-$ 1,000 for service-connected death or service-connected disability resulting in death	Vietnam service
	Notary Service-free for certain purposes	Peacetime or wartime
	Public Records-free copies to process VA benefit claims	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 12: State Veterans' Benefits-Indiana

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	$ 12,000 property tax exemption (assessed property value must be less than $ 54,000)	War service (plus disability)
	$ 6,000 property tax exemption	90 days service (plus disability)
	$ 9,000 property tax exemption for WW I veterans (assessed property value must be less than $ 78,000)	WW I service
Tax (Other)	Unable to determine	NA
Education	Tuition and mandatory fee waivers for up to 124 semester hours at state-supported post secondary schools	War service (plus service-connected disability)
	Indiana Sailors and Children's' Home provides care and education for children of veterans	Peacetime or wartime
	Tuition free higher education for dependents of Vietnam POWs or MIAs	Vietnam service
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime
Hospital/Health Care	Veterans' home provides nursing and domiciliary care	War service (one day)
Employment	Employment preference in appointment, reappointment, and reemployment for state jobs (10 points for service-connected disability; 5 points for war service; 2 points for 181 days service, regardless of when served)	Peacetime or wartime
	In examinations where experience is an element of qualification, service in the Armed Forces must be credited in a veterans' rating where actual employment in similar vocation was interrupted by war service	War service
	Fire departments must give employment preference to war veterans	War service
Retirement Credit	Unable to determine	NA
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Reduced fee for hunting and fishing license	Peacetime or wartime (plus service connected disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Death/Burial Benefits	Up to $ 100 burial allowance available and up to $ 100 available for federal headstone	Peacetime or wartime
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	With exceptions, free license for hawkers, vendors, and peddlers	War service
Bonus	None	NA
Other	Discharge Documents-free recording and free certified copies	Peacetime or wartime
	Public Documents-free initial certified copies for making benefit claims	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 13: State Veterans' Benefits-Kansas

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	None	NA
Tax (Other)	None	NA
Education	Tuition waiver for qualified veterans' dependents at state-supported institutions	War service
	Honorary WW II diplomas for veterans whose service in WW II prevented them from finishing high school	WW II service
Veterans' Cemetery	No state cemetery at present, but four scheduled for construction	NA
Hospital/Health Care	Veterans' Home and Soldiers' Home	War service or peace service with disability
Employment	Preference in civil service appointments for state, county, and city public department jobs	War service
Retirement Credit
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	None	NA
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/Death Benefits	County must pay cost of burying indigent veteran; amount set by legislature	War service
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	Free hawking and peddling license	War service
Bonus	WW I (appears to have expired)	NA
Other	Discharge Documents-free recording and copies	Peacetime or wartime
	Vital Statistics Records-free copies	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 14: State Veterans' Benefits-Kentucky

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	None located	NA
Tax (Other)	Federal annuities and federal refund tax annuities excluded from gross income when calculating state income tax	Peacetime or wartime
Education	Spouse of any age and child (age 17-23) of permanently disabled guardsman, war veteran, POW, or MIA veteran exempt from tuition at state-supported institutions and vocational training schools for up to 36 months	See Benefit Summary
	Matriculation and tuition fee exemption for dependents and surviving spouse of servicemen or guardsmen killed in service or who died from service-connected disability	See Benefit Summary
	Exemption from matriculation and tuition fees at state-supported universities, junior colleges, and vocational training institutions for nonremarried spouse of any age and children between ages 17-23 of war veterans, veterans who died on active duty regardless of war service, and veterans who died from service-connected disability regardless of war service	See Benefit Summary
	War veteran entitled to free scholarships at state higher educational institutions under certain circumstances	War service
	War veterans may complete high school without paying tuition if service in the Armed Forces prevented completion	War service
Veterans' Cemetery	Veterans' cemetery under construction	Peacetime or wartime; 20 years guard or reservist service
Hospital/Health Care	State veterans' centers	Peacetime or wartime
Employment	State employees get service credit, seniority, and benefits for time spent in Armed Forces under certain conditions	Peacetime or wartime
	State civil service hiring preference (5 additional points on civil service examinations; 10 points for veterans with service-connected disabilities)	Peacetime or wartime
	City and county civil service employment preference (5 points on examinations)	War service
	Reemployment rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Service in Armed Forces may be credited toward teacher's retirement	Peacetime or wartime
	Time spent in Armed Forces may be credited to police or fire department personnel for retirement purposes under certain conditions	Peacetime or wartime
	Reemployed members of state teachers retirement system may get credit for active military service	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Special combination hunting/fishing license for veteran with 50% service-connected disability	Peacetime or wartime
Firing Squad	Military Burial Guard Program established to provide firing squads at veterans' funerals	Unable to ascertain
Burial/ Death Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	All have expired	NA
Other	Birth and Death Certificates-free when needed to support claim against the government for compensation, insurance, back pay, or other allowances or benefits	Peacetime or wartime
	Public Records-free certified copies for VA benefit claims	Peacetime or wartime
	Homeless Veterans' Program works to eliminate homelessness among veterans	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 15: State Veterans' Benefits-Louisiana

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property Tax)	None	NA
Tax (Other)	None	NA
Education	Exemption from tuition and other fees at state-supported colleges, universities, and trade or vocational schools for dependents of veterans who died in service or of service-connected disability during wartime and veterans with 90% disability, including 100% unemployability as a result of a service-connected disability	Peacetime or wartime
Veterans' Cemetery	State veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime
Hospital/Health Care	War veterans' home provides domiciliary and nursing care	War service
Employment	Civil service employment preference (5 points in original appointments; 10 points for veterans with service-connected disabilities, whether peacetime or wartime)	Wartime service (or peace service that earned campaign badge or expeditionary medal)
	Layoff preference	As above
	Leave status, insurance, and reemployment rights, upon release from military service	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Service credit in state, parochial, and municipal retirement systems	Peacetime or wartime
	Retirement credit	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free hunting and fishing license to veterans with 50% service-connected, permanent disability	Peacetime or wartime (plus 50% service-connected disability)
	Certain disabled veterans exempt from licensing or firearm hunter education course requirement	Peacetime or wartime
Firing Squad	Funeral firing squad	Peacetime or wartime
Burial/Death Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	Housing authorities may adopt policies giving preference to veterans	Peacetime or wartime
Professional and Occupational Licenses, Business license	5% points to veterans on state examinations for apprentice and technician license for radio and TV repairmen	Peacetime or wartime
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	World War II (expired); Vietnam appears to have expired as well	NA
Other	State Park Admission-free entrance to state park	Peacetime or wartime (with service-rated disability)
	Public Records-free copies to process VA claims	Peacetime or wartime
	Discharge Documents-free recording	Peacetime or wartime
	Parking-free on state and municipal property, free passage on toll bridges and on toll ferries	Peacetime or wartime (plus disability)

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 16: State Veterans' Benefits-Maine

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Minimum property tax exemption of at least $ 7,000	Peacetime or wartime (plus disability) total disability
	Tax exemption of up to $ 47,500 of house purchased with federal specially adaptive housing grant	War service
Tax (Other)	None	NA
Education	Tuition waiver for up to 8 semesters or 6 consecutive academic years to dependents of veterans at state higher education institutions	Peacetime or wartime (plus disability, death, or MIA)
	War veterans who did not finish high school before age 18 have until age 25 to do so	War service
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime (plus certain guards and reservists)
Hospital/Health	Nursing home services	Peacetime or wartime
Employment	Employment preference for appointments and retention in state-classified service (5 points for 90-day war service; 10 points for 90 days active duty service plus 10% disability)	Peacetime or wartime (plus disability)
	Retention/reemployment rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Unable to determine	NA
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free recreational licenses	War service (plus 100% disability or combat service and 70% disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/Death Benefits	Free burial plot and perpetual care	War service
Financial Aid (Emergency Aid)	Up to $ 200 per month and $ 600 in 12-month period to help veteran awaiting federal VA pension; up to $ 500 emergency aid or up to $ 1,200 in 12-month period	Peacetime or wartime
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	State-guaranteed small business loans	Peacetime or wartime
Housing Preference	Housing authority must give preference to veterans in certain housing authority projects	War service, plus disability
Professional and Occupational Licenses	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None	NA
Other	Public Records-free copies for VA benefit claims	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 17: State Veterans' Benefits-Maryland

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Dwelling house of 100% service-connected disabled veteran exempt from tax	Peacetime or wartime
Tax (Other)	None	NA
Education	Scholarships up to $ 3,000 at state higher education institutions for dependents of qualified veterans	Peacetime or wartime
Veterans' Cemetery	Free burial in state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime
Hospital/Health Care	State veterans' home provides nursing and domiciliary care	Peacetime or wartime
Employment	Employment preference (10 points in selection tests for state civil service employment)	Peacetime or wartime
	Reemployment/reinstatement rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Unable to determine	NA
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free fishing license	POW or 100% disability
Firing Squad	Funeral firing squad	Peacetime or wartime
Death/Burial Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	Unable to determine	NA
Housing Preference	None
Professional and Occupational Licenses	Late renewal allowed for service commitment	Peacetime or wartime
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None	NA
Other	Public Records-free copies of marriage, birth, and death records to establish veterans' claims	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 18: State Veterans' Benefits-Massachusetts

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Local property tax exemption of at least $ 250 on veteran's residence	War service (with exceptions) plus disability for most cases
Tax (Other)	Certain disabled veterans and POWs eligible for motor vehicle excise exemption (Korea, Vietnam, WW I)	War service (see benefit summary)
	Certain disabled veterans eligible for motor vehicle sales tax exemption	90 days service including at least 1 day war service, plus disability
Education	Tuition waiver for undergraduate degree program at all state colleges and universities	As above
	Public service scholarships to pursue undergraduate studies at higher education institutions for children of (1) certain POWs and MIAs and (2) veterans who were killed in action or died from a service connected action	See Benefit Summary
	Orphans of certain war veterans or of veterans who received combat medals during certain operations eligible for state scholarships to Massachusetts state and community colleges	War service
Veterans' Cemeteries	State veterans' cemeteries	90 days service including at least 1 day war service, plus disability
Health/Hospital Care	Soldiers' homes provide a variety of services such as acute hospital, domiciliary, and long-term care; physical and occupational therapy; and laboratory and radiology services	As above
Employment	For promotional civil service examinations, all veterans have two points added to their scores;	90 days service (with at least 1 day war service)
	A veteran who receives 70 points or more on open competitive civil service examination is immediately placed at the head of the eligibility list.	As above
	Veterans who hold state non-civil service positions for more than 3 years cannot be involuntarily separated for lack of work or money when similar offices or positions exist, unless such positions are held by veterans, in which case separation shall occur in reverse order of their respective appointments.	As above
Retirement Credit	Veterans employed by state government and certain other government units for more than 10 years may buy back up to four years of active service (accrued at the rate of 1 year for every 1 year of active duty service) or 4 years of active reserve service (accrued at the rate of 1 year for every 5 years of active reserve service) so long as they are not already retired, have not already received credit pursuant to law, and are not already getting a federal pension	90 days service, including 1 day war service
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	None	NA
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/ Death Benefits	None located	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	Preference in state-aided public housing	90 days service (with at least 1 day war service)
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	Unable to determine	NA
Bonus	Various	War service
Other	Annuities of $ 1,500 payable biannually in 2 installments of $ 750 available for 100% service-connected disabled veterans; parents of veterans who died from service-connected death during actual war service, insurrection, or combat	See Benefit Summary

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 19: State Veterans' Benefits-Michigan

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Certain veterans eligible for up to $ 1,200 in property tax relief in form of tax credit or refund for homestead	War service
Tax (Other)	Total property tax exemption on homestead bought with federal special adaptive housing grant	Peacetime or wartime (plus 100% disability)
Education	Tuition grant program for study at higher education institutions (for up to 36 months full-time and up to $ 2,800 annually) to qualified dependents of veterans killed in action or who died from other cause during war or from service-connected disability or is totally disabled, or was totally disabled before death from any cause, or is listed as MIA	See Benefit Summary
	High school diploma to WW II veterans whose service prevented them from completing high school	WW II service
Veterans' Cemetery	Unable to determine	NA
Hospital/Health Care	Two state veterans' homes provide nursing and domiciliary units for disabled veterans	War service (90 days)
Employment	Unemployment compensation of up to 13 weeks to veterans with 365 days of more continuous active service	Peacetime or wartime
	Employment preference in civil service and public employment (5 points added to passing score on state open competitive examinations within 5 years' of veteran's release from service; 10 points for disabled veterans)	Peacetime or wartime
	Employment preference in county civil service jobs (15 points on competitive exams for disabled war veterans; 10 points for other war veterans)	War service
	Reemployment/retention rights for veterans reemployed after no more than 5 years in service	Peacetime or wartime
	Reemployment of teachers who apply to school district within 90 days of discharge	Peacetime or wartime
	Professional and occupational status preserved while veteran is in service/Reinstatement rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Available to purchase toward state retirement system; local governments may also allow police officers and fire fighters to buy up to 5 years of military service credit in local retirement systems	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free fishing, hunting, and trapping license	Peacetime or wartime
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/ Death Benefits	County burial allowance of $ 300 on veteran's estate up to $ 25,000	War service
Financial (Emergency Aid)	Emergency relief grants for financial aid for sudden, temporary emergencies	180 days active duty, with at least 1 day war service; 90days for WW I veterans
	Temporary emergency assistance for needy veterans	Peacetime or wartime
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )
Housing Preference	None	NA
Retirement Credit
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	Person seeking license or qualification for trade occupation or profession and whose period of study was interrupted by war service entitled to license or qualification under laws in force at time he entered service	War service
	Professional and occupational status preserved while veteran is in service	Peacetime or wartime
Itinerant Vendors	Free peddler's license	180 days active duty service or service-connected disability
Bonus	All have expired	NA
Other	Unemployment Compensation- up to 26 weeks unemployment compensation	Peacetime or wartime (365 days of continuous service)
	Certain veterans' payments exempt from garnishment, attachment, levy, or execution	Peacetime or wartime
	Documents-free copies of marriage and death certificates to establish veterans' claims	Peacetime or wartime
	Discharge Documents-free recording	Peacetime or wartime
	Pensions, Annuity, and Insurance Records-free copies	War service
	Pension-war veterans on a limited income are eligible for a monthly pension	War service (90 days)

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 20: State Veterans' Benefits-Minnesota

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Unable to determine	NA
Tax (Other)	Motor vehicle bought by disabled veteran with VA funds exempt from state and excise taxes	Peacetime or wartime
	Tax exemption on motor vehicles purchased by a disabled veteran VA's help
Education	Tuition free education at state college level institutions, except University of Minnesota, to children of veterans who were killed in action or died from service-connected disabilities (other post-secondary educations benefits are available for dependents of POWs and MIAs)	181 consecutive days active duty
	One-time education grant for veterans who have exhausted their federal resources	Peacetime or wartime
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime, wartime, or 20 years of guard service
Hospital/Health Care	State veterans' homes provide nursing and domiciliary care	181 consecutive days active duty
Employment	Employment preference over nonveterans for certain public sector jobs; on open examinations for such jobs, non-disabled veterans can ask that 5 points be added to a passing test score; disabled veterans may ask for 10 points; a 50% disabled, veteran can also get 5 points on the first promotional test after he is employed. (Veteran does not qualify for preference if receiving or eligible to receive military pension based on length of service)	181 consecutive days active duty-peacetime or wartime
	Reinstatement/retention rights	181 consecutive days active duty-peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Up to 6 years military service credit in veterans' retirement system, under certain circumstances, for war service	Wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free angling and deer license	181 consecutive days active duty (plus 100% disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Death/ Burial Benefits
Financial (Emergency)	State Soldiers Assistance Program provides limited, temporary financial assistance while veteran is disabled and cannot work (must meet asset and income guidelines)	As above
	Medical assistance to help veterans with expenses of emergency hospitalization or medical, dental, and optical needs (must meet asset and income guidelines)	As above
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	Free hawking and peddler's license	Peacetime or wartime
Bonus	Minimum $ 300 for service during eligible periods	181 consecutive days active duty-peacetime or wartime
Other	Records-free certified copies of vital statistics records used for VA benefit claims	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 21: State Veterans' Benefits-Mississippi

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Exemption from property tax on homesteads of up to $ 7,500	Peacetime or wartime (plus 100% service-connected disability)
Tax (Other)	$ 7,500 exemption from income tax on federal and state retirements	Unclear
Education	8-semester scholarship at state-supported colleges and universities for children of veterans listed as POWs or MIA	See Benefit Summary
	Tuition payment at higher education institutions for National Guard members	National Guard service
	Honorary diplomas to WW II and Korean veterans unable to complete high school because of service	Korean and WW II service
Veterans' Cemetery	None	NA
Hospital/Health Care	State veterans' homes provide nursing and domiciliary care	Peacetime or wartime
Employment	Veterans get preference over nonveterans for initial and promotional state jobs-5 additional points; 10 points for disabled veterans	Wartime
	Retention rights-In state layoffs, veterans are granted preference; disabled veterans have additional preference	Wartime
Retirement Credit	Up to 4 years retirement credit may be purchased in the State Public Employees Retirement System after certain service in the military	Peacetime or wartime
	Up to 4 years retirement credit may be purchased in Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System for war service	Wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free hunting and fishing license	Peacetime or wartime (plus total service-connected disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/Death Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	Veterans' Home Purchase Program provides loan/mortgage assistance to veterans	Peacetime or wartime
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None	NA
Other	Public and Court Documents-copies available free to establish certain veterans' claims	Peacetime or wartime
	Discharge Documents-free recording and free copies	Peacetime or wartime
	Notary Public-some notary public services free for war veterans when performed by veterans service officers	War service
	License Renewal-licensee not required to renew license during war until August 1 of next year following release from Armed Services	War service

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 22: State Veterans' Benefits-New Hampshire

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	$ 50 property tax exemption (cities and towns may vote to provide $ 100 instead of $ 50)	War service (90 days)
	$ 700 credit for widows of veterans killed on active duty	War service
	$ 700 tax credit on real estate occupied as principal residence of permanently and totally disabled service-connected veteran (cities and towns may increase this to $ 1,400)	War service (plus service-connected disability)
	Specially adapted homestead acquired with VA assistance exempt from taxation	Peacetime or wartime (plus 100% disability)
Tax (Other)	Unable to determine	NA
Education	Tuition waiver at vocational-technical colleges for children of certain veterans	War service
	Tuition waiver at state colleges and up to $ 1,000 per at state colleges for books, boarding, and related expenses for dependent children of certain deceased war veterans	War service
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime
Hospital/Health Care	State veterans' home	War service (90 days)
Employment	Employment preference in public departments and public works of state and local units	War service
	Reemployment rights by towns and other political subdivisions when veterans apply within 90 days of discharge from service
Retirement Credit	War service credit towards retirement in Police Retirement System	War service
	Certain employees eligible for credit in State Retirement System for Armed Forces service or other emergency wartime service	War service
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free permanent fish and game license	War service (plus 100% disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Death/ Burial Benefits	Indigent war veterans may be buried at the expense of the municipality in which they died	War service
Financial (Emergency Aid)	War veterans and dependents unable to support themselves must be supported at public expense in the town where they live	War service
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	Service-connected disabled veterans may be exempt from fees for peddler's license	NA
Bonus	WW II (expired), $ 100 Vietnam Era bonus, $ 100 Persian Gulf War bonus	War service (90 days)
Other	Public Records-free copies available to determine eligibility for federal VA benefits	Peacetime or wartime
	Veterans have priority in obtaining training funded in whole or part by the federal government or New Hampshire	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 23: State Veterans' Benefits-New Jersey

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax	Property tax abatement according to a schedule culminating in a $ 250 abatement in 2003 and subsequent years	War service (plus 100% permanent service-connected disability)
	Dwelling house of 100% permanently, disabled veteran exempt from property tax	As above
Tax (Other)
Education	High school diploma to WW I, WW II, Korea, and Vietnam veterans who did not finish high school because of service	War service
	POW-MIA tuition benefit-free undergraduate college tuition to children of POWs and MIAs	War service
	War orphans' tuition assistance up to $ 500 per year for four years of college	Peacetime or wartime
	Additional education benefits to veterans eligible for federally funded education programs and who served on active duty from December 31, 1960 to May 7, 1975. Award is $ 400 per year or $ 200 per semester for full-time attendance and $ 100 per semester for part-time	See Benefit Summary
	Up to 75% of tuition accredited schools up to $ 100 for undergraduate and $ 170 per graduate credit for current guardsmen	National Guard service
Veterans' Cemetery	Free burial in state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime; guard service and WW II Merchant Marine service also eligible
Hospital/Health Care	Veterans' memorial homes-long term care and respite care	Peacetime or wartime; guard and reservist service also eligible
Employment	War veterans get absolute preference over non-veterans for state, county, and municipal civil service jobs (excluding promotions); veterans with 10% service-connected disabilities are given preference over other veterans	War service (90 days) or combat service (14 days)
	Reemployment, reinstatement, and retention rights	Unable to determine
Retirement Credit	Under certain conditions, members of Public Employees' Retirement System may (1) purchase up to 10 years of active duty military service rendered prior to enrollment and (2) may purchase military service after enrollment if service was rendered August 1, 1974	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free firearm, bow and arrow, fishing or all around hunting license, a pheasant and quail stamp and trout stamp available to disabled veterans; following permits also available free: bow and arrow deer permit, firearm deer permit, spring and fall turkey permit	Peacetime or wartime (plus service-connected disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Death/Burial Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	Low interest home mortgages to veterans eligible for federal VA loans	See Benefit Summary
Housing Preference	Unable to determine	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	Free license for real estate brokers, agents, and solicitors	War service (plus service-connected disability)
Itinerant Vendors	Free vendor's license	Peacetime or wartime
Bonus	None	NA
Other	State Park Fees-free admission to state parks	Guard members
	Healthcare Services-free transportation available to veterans to go to various places, including VA regional offices and medical centers, clinics, hospitals, and private physicians	Peacetime or wartime
	Transitional Housing Program for Homeless Veterans-long term program focusing on psychological, social, and vocational rehabilitation	Peacetime or wartime
	Catastrophic Entitlements-a monthly entitlement of $ 62. 50	War service (plus 100% permanent service-connected disability)

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 24: State Veterans' Benefits-New Mexico

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	$ 2,000 property tax exemption	Wartime (90 days)
	Homestead of disabled veteran bought with a federal special adaptive housing grant exempt from property tax	Active duty service (plus disability)
Tax (Other)	None	NA
Education	Free tuition, plus up to $ 300 scholarship benefits to state education institution for dependent children ages 16 to 26 of (1) qualified veterans and (2) guardsmen killed while on active duty	War service (with exceptions)
	Vietnam veterans' scholarship	Vietnam service (plus campaign medal)
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime
Hospital/Health Care	State veterans' home	Active duty service (90 days)
Employment	Veterans' preference for appointments to public jobs (10 points for veterans with service-connected disabilities; 5 points for others) (also reemployment rights)	Peacetime or wartime
	Reemployment/retention rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Credit in certain state retirement systems and under certain circumstances for service in the Armed Forces	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	Free lifetime hunting and fishing licenses	Peacetime or wartime (plus 100% disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/Death Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	None	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None	NA
Other	Discharge Documents-free recording	Peacetime or wartime
	State Park and State Museum Admission-free admission	Peacetime or wartime
	Public Records-free copies to process VA claims	Peacetime or wartime
	Government-veterans' benefits exempt from garnishment	Peacetime or wartime

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 25: State Veterans' Benefits-North Carolina

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	A veteran's motor vehicle specially adapted to accommodate a service-connected disability is eligible for property tax relief	War service
	Disabled veterans who get specially adapted housing assistance under the federal program are eligible for tax exclusion on the first $ 38,000 in assessed value of housing and land where house is located	Peacetime or wartime (plus disability)
	Real and personal property belonging to veterans' organizations are exempt from ad valorem taxes	NA
Tax (Other)	Any assessment of income tax due before a person was inducted into the Armed Forces will be cancelled and abated if the person was killed while in the service or is receiving service-connected disability compensation	Peacetime or wartime
	Income tax exemptions-VA payments to veterans enrolled in schools and training establishments under the GI bill; (2) VA grants for motor vehicles to veterans who lost their sight or use of limbs; (3) VA grants for specially adapted housing; (4) gratuity pay to beneficiaries of deceased serviceperson; (5) dividends and other proceeds (except interest on dividends from GI insurance policies); (6) up to $ 4,000 retirement pay for service in the Armed Forces; and (7) disability payments for service in the Armed Forces	Peacetime or wartime
	Serviceman's allowances for subsistence, quarters, uniform, and equipment are not taxable as income; mileage and per diem allowances for official travel and transportation are excludable from service income, except to the extent that they exceed the travel and transportation expenses	Peacetime or wartime service
Education	Four-year scholarships for children of certain categories of deceased, disabled or POW or MIA veterans	War service
	Honorary high school diplomas to veterans who did not finish high school because of WW II service	WW II service
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	Active duty service (except training)
Hospital/Health Care	State veterans' nursing home	Any active duty service (except training)
Employment	Employment preference for certain state government jobs	War service or peace service with service-connected disability
	In reduction in force situations where seniority or years of service is one of the considerations for retention, an eligible veteran must get credit for military service	War service or peace service with service-connected disability
	Military leave with reemployment rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Under certain conditions, credit for both state and local government retirement plans may be granted for military service; credit for teachers' retirement system	Peacetime or wartime service
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	$ 10 lifetime hunting/fishing license	War service (plus disability)
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial, Death, and Related Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	Unable to determine	NA
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	None	NA
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses	None	NA
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	None	NA
Other	Public Records-free copies available for VA benefit claims	Peacetime or wartime service
	Discharge Records-free certified copies for benefit claims	Peacetime or wartime service

Source: state statutes, state veterans' publications, and nasdva. com

* War service benefits are shown in red; other benefits are available to veterans regardless of when they served.

Table 26: State Veterans' Benefits-North Dakota

Benefit Category	Benefit Summary/Description	Service Eligibility Criteria
Tax (Property)	Property tax exemption granted to paraplegic veterans up to net assessed valuation of $ 10,000 and lesser exemption to other service-connected 50% disabled veteran	Peacetime, wartime, or active duty guard service
Tax (Other)	Bonus payments exempt from state and local tax (also from levy, garnishment, attachment, sale, and execution)	Wartime
	One aircraft owned by disabled veteran exempt from aircraft excise tax	Peacetime or wartime
	Certain vehicles acquired by disabled veterans exempt from excise tax	Peacetime or wartime
Education	Tuition waiver at state-controlled schools for National Guard members	Current guard service
	Honorary high school diploma for WW II veterans	War service
Veterans' Cemetery	Burial in state veterans' cemetery	Peacetime or wartime
Hospital/Health Care	State veterans' home	Peacetime, wartime, or active duty guard service
Employment	Employment preference (with exceptions) for state, county, and municipal government jobs (5 extra points on civil service examinations; 10 points for disabilities)	War service
	Public employees get credit for military service in WW I	WW I service
	Job reinstatement/ retention rights	Peacetime or wartime
Retirement Credit	Teachers may purchase up to 4 years in Retirement System for service in Armed Forces	Peacetime or wartime
Hunting and Fishing Licenses	None	NA
Firing Squad	None	NA
Burial/Death Benefits	None	NA
Financial (Emergency Aid)	Emergency assistance grants for dental work, eye glasses, hearing aids, transportation for medical treatment, or other special need the Veterans' Affairs commissioner approves	Peacetime (24 months) or wartime service
Financial (Other-loan, grant, etc. )	Permanent fund for making loans of up to $ 5,000 at 8% interest to veterans (repayment period of 6 to 48 months; half of the interest is refunded if loan is repaid under the agreed upon terms)	Peacetime, wartime, or active duty guard service
Housing Preference	None	NA
Professional and Occupational Licenses/Fees	Unable to determine	NA
Itinerant Vendors	None	NA
Bonus	Gulf War, Granada Conflict, Lebanon and Panama conflicts-$ 100 per month up to $ 1,000 (Purple Heart recipients get lump sum of $ 2,500 instead of the monthly benefits)	War service
Other	Veterans' disability pension benefits exempt from process, levy, or sale	Peacetime or wartime
	Discharge Documents-free recording	Peacetime or wartime