Beyond your federal VA disability compensation, New Jersey offers its own benefits for veterans — property tax, income tax, education, employment, vehicle, recreation, veterans home, financial. Here's what New Jersey veterans can claim, who qualifies, and how to apply.
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Annual $250 deduction from property taxes for honorably discharged veterans with active-duty U.S. Armed Forces service who own and occupy a NJ home. As of the 2020 constitutional amendment, wartime/time-of-war service is NO LONGER required. Surviving spouses/domestic partners who have not remarried also qualify; if both partners are veterans each may claim $250. Apply via Form V.S.S. with the local assessor or tax collector.
Full (100%) annual property tax exemption on the dwelling house and the lot/curtilage it sits on for an honorably discharged NJ-resident veteran with a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs certification of 100% permanent and total service-connected disability who owns and occupies the home as their primary residence. Surviving spouses/civil-union/domestic partners who have not remarried may also qualify if the deceased veteran met the criteria. Apply via Form D.V.S.S.E. with the local assessor.
Honorably discharged (or released under honorable circumstances) veterans of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces get an additional $6,000 exemption on their NJ income tax return, on top of all other exemptions. Available on both resident and nonresident returns. DD-214 (or equivalent) must be submitted the first year claimed.
New Jersey does not tax U.S. military pension or survivors' benefit payments. Military retirement pay (and SBP/RCSBP/RSFPP annuities) issued by DFAS is fully exempt regardless of age or income and is not reported on the NJ return.
VA service-connected disability compensation is not subject to NJ income tax (it is excluded from gross income and is not added back by NJ). There is no separate NJ statute because the income is never in the tax base.
Qualifying members of the NJ National Guard may attend any NJ public college or university tuition-free for undergraduate or graduate study, up to 16 credits per semester. Eligible surviving spouses/children may also use the benefit when criteria are met.
Free undergraduate tuition at any NJ public or private institution for a child (born or adopted before/during the captivity period) of a service member declared POW or MIA after Jan 1, 1960, where the POW/MIA was a NJ resident at entry into service or whose official residence is NJ. Requires a copy of the DD-1300.
Partial tuition reimbursement for eligible NJ veterans (historically Vietnam-era service) attending an approved institution. Reimbursement is paid to the school to offset the veteran's tuition.
$500 per year for up to four years of college or equivalent training for children (ages 16-21, NJ resident at least one year) of service members who died in service, from a service-connected disability, or who are MIA.
NJ grants strong veterans' preference in civil service hiring: disabled veterans are placed at the top of eligible employment lists, followed by non-disabled veterans. Veterans must first establish Veterans' Preference status through the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DVA) and submit proof with their application.
NJ residents honorably discharged with a VA-declared service-connected disability may obtain a 'Disabled Veteran' license plate and a parking placard. The placard provides exemption from municipal parking-meter fees for up to 24 hours when the vehicle is owned and occupied by the disabled veteran (or Purple Heart recipient) and displays the placard. Apply with DD-214/DD-215 and a VA award/disability letter; placards renew every 3 years.
Honorably discharged NJ-resident veterans of any branch declared by the VA to have a service-connected disability of ANY degree qualify for free hunting and fishing licenses, permits, and stamps. Requires one-time certification by NJ Fish & Wildlife (mail-in to Trenton); cannot be done online or at license agents. Requires VA service-connected disability card, DD-214, and NJ proof of residency.
New Jersey operates three Veterans Memorial Homes providing skilled nursing and rehabilitative long-term care: Paramus, Menlo Park (Edison), and Vineland. Open to eligible veterans (and in some cases spouses/Gold Star parents).
NJ pays $150 per month to severely disabled veterans (or surviving spouse) who are NJ residents with a permanent VA service-connected rating from WARTIME service that resulted in a listed catastrophic disability: loss of sight; amputation of both hands/both feet/one hand and one foot; hemiplegia with paralysis of one leg and one arm; paraplegia with paralysis of both legs/lower body; osteochondritis with permanent loss of use of both legs; or multiple sclerosis with loss of use of both feet.
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New Jersey offers veteran benefits across property tax, income tax, education, employment, vehicle, recreation, veterans home, financial. Highlights include $250 Annual Veteran Property Tax Deduction, 100% Disabled Veteran Full Property Tax Exemption, $6,000 Veteran Income Tax Exemption. Eligibility varies — some benefits require a VA disability rating, 100% P&T status, or combat service.
Annual $250 deduction from property taxes for honorably discharged veterans with active-duty U.S. Armed Forces service who own and occupy a NJ home. As of the 2020 constitutional amendment, wartime/time-of-war service is NO LONGER required. Surviving spouses/domestic partners who have not remarried
Honorably discharged (or released under honorable circumstances) veterans of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces get an additional $6,000 exemption on their NJ income tax return, on top of all other exemptions. Available on both resident and nonresident returns. DD-214 (or equivalent) must be submi
Many state benefits are tied to your VA disability rating — the higher your rating, the more you may qualify for. Use the free VA Ready calculator to confirm your combined rating, then check which state benefits you've earned.