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 v |