Get Started with Veterans’ Benefits and Services at the State Level

As Veterans, most of you are familiar with the benefits and services offered by the federal U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), such as compensation and pensions, the GI Bill, health care and the home loan guarantee program. However, states (and the District of Columbia and the territories) also typically offer you benefits directly.

The level of benefit depends on where you live. Most, but not all, are determined based on your VA service-connected disability rating and honorable discharge status. Here’s how to start taking advantage of what’s available:

1. Find your state, D.C. or territory Veterans’ affairs office. Navigate to http://rly.pt/3fv3Uvu, which lists all of these offices. Be sure you’re viewing official websites with a “.gov” or “.us” extension; the main exception is Florida’s, which is a “.org” website. Also, find a state office by typing your state’s name and the phrase “veterans affairs” into a search engine, and the official page should come up high up in the search results.

2. Connect with your Veteran service officer (VSO) or the equivalent staff member. These representatives most often have the title of county or tribal Veteran service officer but they certain states title these positions slightly differently. Nevertheless, the role is the same — they are representatives trained and accredited to assist you in applying for both federal and state benefits. They often conduct other services at no cost, such as filing appeals for denied benefits claims, applying for upgrades in discharge status and locating paperwork. Locate VSOs at your state website, usually from a “locations” link on the home page. You can also find a VSO through http://rly.pt/3dLTzfn and at one of the big six Veterans’ service organizations listed on the page.

3. Reference state benefits guides. As you look into your state’s benefits and work with VSOs, reference your state’s benefits guide (if available). These guides are comprehensive lists of Veterans’ benefits and services available at the federal and state level. They often list VSOs and other helpful contacts and resources.

4. Explore available benefits online. Given that not every state has a guide and online information may be more up to date, you can also use your state’s Veterans’ affairs website to research your benefits. Some benefits are scattered across different pages, so review all the links and sublinks. Be sure to single out “state” benefits. Check into these commonly supported areas:

Education. Education benefits differ from state to state. Almost all offer education benefits for dependents and others also offer higher education tuition and fee discounts or waivers to Veterans. States like Massachusetts even offer pre-college assistance.

Emergency funds and bonuses. Does your state provide you with emergency financial assistance or service bonuses? States such as Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming and others offer you and your family with one-time cash assistance for food, housing, utilities and medical care. And states including Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio and West Virginia honor your service with bonus payments.

Home loans. A handful of states — such as California, Georgia, New York, Texas and Wisconsin — offer state-based low-interest home loan programs and down payment assistance.

State park and hunting license discounts. Most states provide discounts or even free access to state parks and hunting and fishing licenses. You generally need to search and apply for these benefits directly on the websites for your state’s parks, fish and game, and similar departments.

Tax relief and license plates. Almost all states have programs providing Veterans with various forms of property tax exemptions and others provide breaks on income and other taxes and fees. Most offer Veterans’ license plates or identification cards. Search for these benefits at the website for your state or county tax assessor and department of motor vehicles.

Other benefits. Other state benefits to investigate include Veteran-specific criminal justice and treatment court services, Veteran-specific civil legal services (often through state nonprofits), Veteran-specific employment programs and assistance in starting a small business through your state’s Small Business Development Center. Locate yours here: https://rly.pt/3iaaR8f.

Learn more
Read about your state’s most popular benefit: http://rly.pt/3ozFqXv.
Read about your state’s most underused benefit: http://rly.pt/38vFjq9.