Ohio Veteran Benefits

U.S. Armed Forces service members serving on active duty and stationed outside Ohio can deduct their military pay from Ohio Income taxes (military pay must be included in federal adjusted gross income). In addition, they are not required to pay Ohio school district income tax.

Military retired pay can be deducted from Ohio Income taxes. Ohio Revised Code 5747.01(23)

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:

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

Veterans who have a 100% disability rating from the VA are eligible for expanded Homestead Exemption property tax relief on their primary residential home. Eligible Veterans can exempt $50,000 of the assessed value of their primary residential home from property taxes.

A nonresident military spouse of a nonresident service member stationed in Ohio under military orders is exempt from Ohio income taxes and School District Taxes.

Ohio does not tax Social Security benefits.

Ohio school districts or city boards of education will award high school diplomas to Veterans who left high school before graduating to serve during World War II, the Korean War or Vietnam War. Diplomas can be awarded posthumously.

The Veteran parent must meet the following requirements for their child to be eligible:

ONGSP provides tuition assistance for eligible National Guard service members pursuing a bachelor's degree, associate degree, or a professional license or certification at a participating school in Ohio.

The Ohio GI Promise allows qualified nonresident Veterans and their dependents, to skip the 12-month residency requirement to attend Ohio public colleges and universities at in-state tuition rates.

The Ohio Hidden Heroes Scholarship Program provides educational financial assistance to caregivers of disabled Veterans. Scholarships may be used for tuition, fees, and books. Scholarship amounts are determined by each participating educational institution.

The Ohio UI program provides temporary financial assistance for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. UI is a partial, short-term replacement for lost wages while workers are seeking other work and is not intended to be a permanent source of income.

The Ohio National Guard will pay the beneficiaries of a National Guard service member who dies while serving on active duty a $100,000 death benefit.

Each County Veterans Service Office are authorized to provide short-term financial assistance to Veterans and their families for emergency situations. The amount and type of assistance varies based on each county.

The OHFA Ohio Heroes program offers Ohio residents who serve the public discounted mortgage interest rates.

Ohio National Guard Service members who participate in the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program can be reimbursed for their premium payments when ordered to state or federal active duty. This does not include service members performing full-time Ohio National Guard duty or special work.

The Ohio MIRF provides a $500 tax-exempt payment to service members and Veterans who were serving in the U.S. Armed Forces after October 7, 2001, and were injured or diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of serving in combat.

Service members and honorably discharged Veterans are eligible for a fee waiver when applying for or renewing an Ohio concealed handgun license. Ohio Concealed Carry Information

Service members serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, while on leave or furlough are not required to purchase a hunting license, fishing license, Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp, or fur taker permit. All other licenses and permits are required.

Ohio offers free watercraft registration for resident Veterans who meet the following requirements:

Active duty service members and retired service members can receive a 10% discount every night of the week for all overnight facilities. There is no residency restriction for military customers.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources offers free camping for resident former POWs or honorably discharged Veterans who have a total and permanent disability rating from the VA. This discount is only for campsites and cannot be used for multiple campsites for the same time period.

The Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund provides educational assistance to the children and spouse of a service member who was killed in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

State employees who are serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for up to one month of military leave with pay each federal fiscal year. While on paid military leave, employees continue to earn all forms of leave (sick, vacation and personal).

Ohio State employees who are called to active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces must be reinstated to the same or similar position they left if they meet the following requirements:

An Ohio State employee who is called to federal active duty may maintain or reinstate their health care benefits as if they were still at work.

A reserve component service member who is an Ohio state employee can receive a pay supplement while on a federal active duty under certain limited conditions.

Veterans can receive 20% added to passing scores on an Ohio civil service exam. Current service members serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces, who completes initial entry-level training, can receive 15% added to passing scores.

The Ohio Department of Education has eliminated fees for educator licenses for Veterans, current service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, (including service members serving in the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserve) and spouses of active-duty service members.

The OhioMeansJobs website offers a guide to help Veterans, and their spouses earn a license or certificate required for a civilian occupation in Ohio.

The Ohio Veteran Career Information Center offers a collection of resources available to service members, Veterans and their families who are searching for employment. Resources are grouped in the following categories:

10 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 Ohio 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. This includes:

OhioCares is a collaboration between state and local agencies to support the behavioral health of service members, Veterans and their families. This partnership identifies community-based resources to address behavioral health issues.

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:

To be eligible for admission, Veterans must meet the following criteria:

The Ohio Veterans Home Cemetery offers a dignified final resting place for deceased Veterans who were residents of an Ohio Veterans Home.

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

The Ohio Department of Public Safety offers an "Armed Forces" designation on Ohio driver licenses and ID cards for Veterans and service members serving in an active or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Ohio offers CDL testing waivers to service members and recently separated service members (within the past year) based on their military training and experience.

Active duty service members, and former service (within six months of separation) may be eligible to waive the motorcycle knowledge written test and/or skills test for a motorcycle license or endorsement if they have successfully completed an out-of-state motorcycle safety course.

Eligible Veterans, and active duty service members may qualify for a free removable windshield placard that authorizes drivers to park in parking spaces marked with the international symbol of access for persons with disabilities.

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers expedited dealer and salvage dealer licenses to service members, Veterans their spouses. For those eligible processing times can be reduced by two to four weeks.

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers no fee driver licenses to eligible disabled Veterans. Who is eligible for Free Ohio Driver License for License? Veterans who have a 100% service-connected disability rating from the VA are eligible for new, renewal, and duplicate driver licenses at no cost.

The Ohio Gold Star Family license plate is offered to the immediate family member of a service member who was serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and died in a combat zone. The following family members are eligible:

In addition to the direct services listed above, the Ohio Attorney General's Office can also assist service members by providing information about additional resources that may be available, such as:

Ohio has special Veterans' Courts that emphasize treatment and diversion rather than punishment. The Ohio Department of Veterans Services has established effective working relationships with these courts to assist Veterans involved in the court system.

The Ohio Department of Veterans Services maintains service records for Veterans who enlisted from Ohio and wartime bonus records (no longer active). Veterans can request military records through their County Veterans Service Office.

Ohio offers a County Veteran ID card for eligible resident Veterans. This ID card can be used as proof of eligibility for benefits. Who is eligible for an Ohio County Veteran ID Card: To be eligible Veterans must have received a discharge other than dishonorable.

Active duty service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces who have documentation they successfully completed firearms training that meets or exceeds Ohio licensing requirements do not need a concealed handgun license.

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