New Jersey Veteran Benefits

A nonresident Military spouse who lives in New Jersey does not have to pay state income tax on wages earned in New Jersey.

U.S. Armed Forces pensions are exempt from New Jersey income tax.

New Jersey does not tax VA disability income. New Jersey, Military Personnel and Families Understanding Income Tax

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.

SBP, RCSBP and RSFPP annuities are exempt from New Jersey income tax.

Veterans are eligible for a $6,000 exemption on their New Jersey income tax return if they are a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty service any time during the last tax year.

New Jersey will not tax the income of a resident service member who dies while serving in a combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area , or who dies as a result of wounds, disease, or injuries received in a qualifying area in the year of their death.

Service members deployed or mobilized for active duty service in a time of war may qualify for a deferment of their property tax bill.

New Jersey will award a state high school diploma to Veterans who left a New Jersey high school to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War I, World War II, or the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.

New Jersey public and independent educational institutions offer academic credit for military training and experience. Credit can be granted up to 30 credits for an undergraduate degree or a maximum of 12 credits for a graduate degree.

NJNGTP will waive tuition at public institutions of higher education for New Jersey National Guard Service members and their surviving spouse and children.

The Veterans Tuition Credit Program provides a partial reimbursement of tuition at a New Jersey public institution of higher education for Veterans who served during the Vietnam conflict. The maximum reimbursement is $400 per year for full-time students and $200 for part-time students.

New Jersey offers free undergraduate college tuition at a New Jersey public or private educational institution to a child born or adopted before, or during the time their service member parent was declared a POW or MIA, after January 1, 1960.

Children of service members who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, due to service-connected disabilities, or who are declared missing in action are eligible for $500 per year for four years of college or equivalent training.

State employees who are enrolled in a New Jersey State retirement system can receive credit for military service performed after October 13, 1994. The employee must have entered the peacetime U.S.

Veterans who are enrolled in the following state operated pension funds qualify for Veterans Retirement:

The New Jersey UI program, managed by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, provides temporary financial assistance for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own.

Disabled Veterans and Purple Heart recipients can request a New Jersey Disabled Veteran or Purple Heart recipient placard that authorizes them to park at municipal parking meters, free of charge, for up to 24 hours under the following circumstances:

New Jersey National Guard Service members are eligible for free hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses, permits and stamps.

Honorably discharged New Jersey resident Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability are eligible for free New Jersey hunting and fishing licenses, permits and stamps.

Gold Star Family members who have a New Jersey driver license or ID card with the Gold Star Family designation are authorized free entry to State Parks and Forests. New Jersey Revised Statute 13:1L-12.1

The New Jersey Wounded Warrior Caregivers Relief Act provides a tax credit to qualified family caregivers who take care of a U.S. Armed Forces service member who has a disability from service in any war or conflict on or after September 11, 2001.

The spouse of an active duty service member who is reassigned to New Jersey may be eligible to apply for a temporary instructional certificate to teach. This allows the military spouse to teach while they fulfill any remaining requirements for a full New Jersey instructional certificate.

New Jersey public employees who are service members serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are authorized up to 30 paid workdays of military leave per calendar year for federal active duty service.

Staff specialists at local New Jersey One-Stop Career Centers help Veterans find suitable jobs and opportunities. Veterans will receive first priority referral for all job and training opportunities they qualify for. Veterans can also receive:

Only one of the following are eligible for disabled Veteran hiring preference:

A resident Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who has been awarded the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross, or Navy Cross can be hired or promoted in state employment, without complying with the rules of the Civil Service Commission.

NJ H2H is designed to help service members and Veterans from active, or reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces find careers in the building and construction industry.

Honorably discharged Veterans are eligible for a free license to sell goods, wares, merchandise, or to solicit trade in New Jersey. New Jersey Revised Statute 45:24-9

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 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:

The New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) provides Veterans and their families with a Readjustment Counseling Program that provides services ranging from individual counseling, group counseling, biofeedback, and medication monitoring.

New Jersey will pay $150 per month to severely disabled Veterans or their surviving spouse. Who is eligible for the New Jersey Catastrophic Entitlement? To be eligible the Veteran must be a New Jersey resident who has a permanent service-connected disability rating from the VA for injuries received

The New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs offers referral assistance to Veterans and their family members who are homeless, involuntarily displaced, or in imminent danger of losing their home. For more information, please call 609-530-6826.

The Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery provides a dignified final resting place for eligible Veterans and their families.

The VA National Cemetery Administration maintains two national cemeteries in New Jersey. Please see the local location listing for the nearest cemetery.

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) offers an imprinted Veteran designation on driver licenses and non-driver ID cards for eligible Veterans. Applicants will need the following to apply:

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) offers a Gold Star Family Member designation on driver licenses and probationary licenses for eligible family members of a service member who died while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Deployed service members serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, (this includes activated New Jersey National Guard and the U.S.

Residents who enter or are actively serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and have a valid New Jersey registration, can get a refund for the remainder of the registration period if they re-register their vehicle at their out of state duty location.

Disabled Veterans may qualify for a free vehicle registration if they meet the following requirements:

$15 fee

The Veterans Transportation Program offers transportation for Veterans to go to:

Provides transitional housing and robust services that facilitate individual stabilization, increased income, and movement to permanent housing as rapidly as clinically appropriate.

The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs offers seven medals to honor the service and sacrifice of eligible New Jersey resident Veterans. No Veteran can receive more than one award of the same medal. All medals may be awarded posthumously.

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