North Carolina Veteran Benefits

Military retired pay received for 20 or more years of service in the U.S. Armed Forces or by service members who are medically retired can be deducted from North Carolina adjusted gross income.

Military disability retirement pay received as a pension, annuity or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income. Some of the payments which are considered disability benefits include:

Survivor annuities can be deducted from a taxpayer's North Carolina adjusted gross income.

DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.

Any state taxes that are owed by a resident service member who was killed in a combat zone or due to wounds, disease, or injury they received in a combat zone will be forgiven.

The first $45,000 of the appraised value of the permanent residence of an eligible disabled Veteran is exempt from North Carolina property taxes.

Social Security benefits that are taxed on a North Carolina resident's federal income tax return may be deducted from their state income tax return.

NCTAP is a tuition reimbursement program for drilling members of the North Carolina National Guard who are attending an approved North Carolina educational institution .

North Carolina higher education institutions offer resident tuition rates to students who meet one of the following criteria:

The North Carolina Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans Program offers scholarships at participating North Carolina educational institutions for the children of certain Veterans.

NCVVI was formed to grant scholarships at accredited educational institutions by Vietnam Veterans. The amount of the scholarships will range from $1,500 to $2,500 and can be used to pay expenses for any year of undergraduate study at any college, junior college, community college, or trade school.

North Carolina's Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security UI program provides temporary financial assistance for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own.

North Carolina National Guard Service members may be eligible to receive an additional pension from the state of $105 (paid monthly) for 20 years of creditable military service.

SAAF is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to North Carolina National Guard Service members when no other resources are available. They provide grants for the following:

North Carolina offers the following lifetime licenses to eligible disabled Veterans.

North Carolina resident service members stationed outside North Carolina who are home on leave for 30 days or less do not have to purchase hunting, inland and coastal fish­ing licenses.

Resident and nonresident Veterans who received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces are exempt from licensing requirements while fishing in North Carolina Mountain Heritage Trout waters.

Service members and Veterans are eligible for a $6 discount per night on campsite reservations at North Carolina State Parks. Service members and Veterans must provide proof of military service or Veteran status at check in.

North Carolina State employees who are Service members serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for up to 120 hours for military leave for training per federal fiscal year.

North Carolina will pay differential pay to state employees who are service members serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces, when they are called to active duty for more than 30 days.

North Carolina private employers are authorized to have a Veteran hiring preference. Employers may also offer a hiring preference for spouses of Veterans who have a total and permanent disability rating.

Participants in LGERS may be eligible to receive retirement credit for qualifying military service.

Veterans participating in NCWorks Apprenticeships can continue to receive VA education benefits, even though they are employed as part of an apprenticeship. Apprentices train for an industry by receiving a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training.

Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of spouses, surviving spouses, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a spouse (including surviving spouse) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran's service if they both meet the requirements.

Health and pension plan coverage for service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium.

The North Carolina Hilton Honors Military Program helps make the career transition from service in the U.S. Armed Forces to civilian employment easier for current and former service members. The Hilton Honors Military Program provides hotel accommodation for required employment related travel.

North Carolina National Guard Service members and their dependents may be eligible for health care insurance provided by the North Carolina State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees.

The VA provides valuable life insurance benefits to Veterans, active and reserve component service members and their families to provide financial security given the extraordinary risks involved in military Service. The VA provides the following life insurance benefit programs:

TRICARE Reserve Select is a premium-based plan, available worldwide for Selected Reserve, (U.S. Armed Forces Reserve and National Guard service members) and their families who meet the following qualifications:

The VA National Cemetery Administration maintains five national cemeteries in North Carolina. Please see the local location listing for the nearest cemetery.

Honorably discharged North Carolina Veterans are eligible to add a "VETERAN" designation on their driver licenses or ID cards. It is free to add the designation, but renewal or duplicate fees will still apply.

The North Carolina Gold Star Lapel Button license plates are available to immediate family members of a service member killed under the following circumstances:

Service members serving in an active or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces and their family members may renew their North Carolina driver license before being deployed.

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) offers CDL testing waivers to service members and former service members based on their military training and experience.

North Carolina Veterans' Guardianship Act authorizes the appointment of guardians for incompetent Veterans, incompetent dependents of Veterans, and minor dependents of Veterans.

The Register of Deeds of any North Carolina County is required to record all official discharges for resident Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Register must provide free certified copies when requested by a Veteran.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections offers an easy way to register and vote in local, state and federal elections. Service members, their spouse and dependents may register to vote and/or request an absentee ballot until 5:00 p.m. the day before the election.

The VA has numerous resources and locations throughout the state available to assist Veterans and family members. To find a VA location in North Carolina enter North Carolina in the location field and choose the facility type you are searching for from the drop down menu at the "Learn more…" link be