Six benefits Ohio Veterans can take advantage of right now. Do you know other benefits Ohio has to offer?

The estimated 760,000 Veterans residing in Ohio know it as a state of history (the birthplace of seven U.S. presidents), of culture (the site of the Rock and Roll of Fame) and of natural resources (producing everything from coal to rock salt to the Pawpaw tree). You can also lay claim to these additional Buckeye State benefits, and live life to the fullest after your military service:

1. Connect with a County Veterans Service Officers (CVSO). Start by meeting with one of 88 Ohio CVSOs, who are trained and accredited to assist you in applying for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Work together to apply for compensation and pensions, the GI Bill, health care, home loans and more. They also help you file appeals for denied claims and apply for certain state-offered benefits (see below). CVSOs may fulfill your request for short-term financial aid to pay for groceries, mortgages, rents and utilities.

Learn more: Find a CVSO at https://rly.pt/31ThkO5.

2. Get a bonus. If you are an Ohio resident and are serving or have served in the military in the post-Oct. 7, 2001, period, you may be eligible for a bonus. The available amount is $500 for service anywhere in the world or up to $1,000 for service in a designated country (up to a maximum of $1,500). Family members of certain deceased or injured Veterans may also be eligible.

Learn more: Check your eligibility and apply online at https://rly.pt/2GaFETW.

3. Seek Veterans’ treatment court services. If you are or know an Ohio Veteran who is involved in the criminal justice system, explore the Veterans Treatment Courts program, operated by the Supreme Court of Ohio. The courts offer diversion away from prison and into mental health and substance use treatment. There are now 24 Veterans’ courts located through the state.

Learn more: https://rly.pt/3e3zHVn.

4. Look into the state home loan program. You may know about the VA home loan guarantee (https://rly.pt/2GTP467). But the Ohio Heroes program also offers residents a discounted mortgage interest rate benefit to those who served the public, including if you are serving or have served in the armed forces or reserves (including a surviving spouse). You must meet credit score, debt-to-income ratios and other requirements.

Learn more: https://rly.pt/3mv8QEz or call [login to see] .

5. Apply for a tax reduction. Ohio offers you a few ways to reduce your tax burden in exchange for military service:

• Military retirement pension deduction: In general, retired military personnel pay is deductible from state income tax. Details: Consult your tax adviser and learn more at https://rly.pt/3jBTV9T.

• Military injury relief and Veterans’ disability severance payments: These payments are not subject to federal income tax. If you may have erred in including them in your total federal income in tax filings, state officials say you can submit an amended return with the IRS and request a refund from Ohio. Details: Consult your tax adviser and learn more at https://rly.pt/3jBTV9T.

• Personal property tax credit: If you are 100% disabled as a result of military service and have a VA letter attesting to this, you can receive a property tax exemption on your primary residence. The amount varies by jurisdiction. Details: https://rly.pt/3jEAP2R.

6. Start a business. After the military, you may choose a career in health care, high tech, public service, the service sector or another industry (https://rly.pt/2TyGJYU). Or you can become an entrepreneur. Here are a few resources to get your Veteran-owned business off the ground in Ohio:

• Consult with an Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC). This nationwide business assistance network is partly funded by Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The network (https://rly.pt/33Ldx5F) gives you access to free and at-cost training to start, grow and expand your small business. The Ohio SBDC Lead Center (https://rly.pt/35FlSIZ) oversees an in-state network of 31 service centers, which provide no- and low-cost counseling and training to new and established small businesses. You can receive online start-up kits; information on starting, managing and marketing your business; and assistance with exporting your products.

• Locate other trainings. Also check out National Veterans Small Business Week on Nov. 2-6, 2020, at https://rly.pt/3knMdkH; and SBA’s Boots to Business training offerings for transitioning service members, Veterans and military spouses at https://rly.pt/2ZBUTvp. In addition, find local, no-cost business advisers at https://rly.pt/2E3xICV, https://rly.pt/33A6Xi0 and https://rly.pt/3hy2eTc.

• Explore an Ohio small business loan. Ohio’s GrowNow program offers low-interest loans to small businesses headquartered in the state (https://rly.pt/37PnKl9). Other bonds, grants, loans and tax credits to expand your Ohio business may be available through the Ohio Development Services Agency (https://rly.pt/3mCcEnL).

• Get verified as Veteran-owned. Once your Veteran business is set up, get help getting verified from VA’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (https://rly.pt/3kheSZ6) and start doing business directly with VA, the second largest federal agency.

More resources for Ohio Veterans

• Apply for the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program: https://rly.pt/3kEe8wW.

• Download the Ohio Veterans’ benefits booklet: https://rly.pt/3mt436A.

• Register for email updates from the Ohio Department of Veterans Services: https://rly.pt/35KxIkP.

• Subscribe to the Ohio Veterans Newsletter: https://rly.pt/2HLTLzE.

• View family and educational resources: https://rly.pt/3e6rako.

• Visit the Ohio Department of Veterans Services: https://rly.pt/31RcNvu.