South Dakota Veteran Benefits

There are no individual income taxes in South Dakota. Distributions received from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) are not taxed.

The South Dakota Application for Paraplegic Veteran Property Tax Exemptions is available beginning in January of each year. Applications must be submitted annually to the local County Director of Equalization on or before November 1 st .

The South Dakota Applications for Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemptions are available beginning in January of each year. Applications must be submitted annually to the local County Director of Equalization on or before November 1 st .

South Dakota offers free tuition for undergraduate degrees at state supported universities or technical colleges for Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during a wartime period (see bottom of application located below for qualifying wartime dates).

The child of a service member who died, while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces may be eligible for free tuition at a state supported university or technical college.

The spouse or child of a Veteran who is declared a POW or MIA, may be eligible for free tuition and no mandatory fees at a state supported university or technical college for up to eight semesters.

The spouse or child of a South Dakota National Guard Service member who died or became permanently disabled in the line of duty are eligible for free tuition and no mandatory fees at a state supported university or technical college.

South Dakota National Guard Service members are eligible for a 100% reduction in undergraduate tuition at state supported universities, technical schools, or in-state nonprofit post-secondary institutions.

South Dakota offers honorary high school diplomas to wartime Veterans who left high school before graduation to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

VUB helps Veterans to improve their education skills and prepare for college, university, or technical school.

State employees who are serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces and are ordered to state or federal active duty (not active duty for training), will receive the difference between their state salary and their military salary for the duration of their active duty service.

South Dakota's Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) administers RA, providing temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers who lost their job through no fault of their own.

Veterans who have been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces have the option of adding the word 'Veteran' to the front of their South Dakota Driver's License or ID Card. In addition to the required driver's license and ID card documents , Veterans need to provide one of the following:

South Dakota extends the expiration of driver's licenses for resident service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents. Their license will remain valid as long as the service member continues to serve, and they remain outside South Dakota.

To qualify for the Even Exchange Program applicants must serve in a qualifying Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) and have a military license to operate a military commercial vehicle. The Even Exchange Program authorizes the waiver of both knowledge testing and skills testing requirements.

The South Dakota Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division offers distinctive license plate designs to honor the service and sacrifice of service members, Veterans, Native American Veterans, retired service members and eligible family members.

Medal of Honor recipients are eligible for the South Dakota Medal of Honor license plate for use on passenger vehicles. There is no fee for this license plate.

Purple Heart recipients are eligible for the South Dakota Purple Heart license plate for use on passenger vehicles and motorcycles.

South Dakota offers the South Dakota Disabled Veteran license plate to eligible Veterans who have a service-connected disability they received while serving on active duty during a wartime period. In addition, Veterans must meet one of the following criteria:

Honorably discharged resident Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and active duty service members are eligible for the South Dakota Veteran license plate for passenger vehicles and motorcycles.

South Dakota offers the Gold Star Family license plate for passenger vehicles and motorcycles to resident family members of a service member who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, or as a result of injuries they received while serving. Eligible family members include:

South Dakota will pay a bonus to resident service members and Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during a qualifying wartime period. Active duty for training does not count towards eligibility.

South Dakota will pay up to $200 towards the cost of setting a government headstone or marker at the grave of a Veteran.

South Dakota offers resident disabled Veterans and former POWs a four year hunting and fishing license for $10. South Dakota Codified Laws 41-6-10.2 Who is eligible for Reduced Fee South Dakota Hunting and Fishing License for Disabled Veterans and Former POWs? To be eligible applicants must meet one

South Dakota resident service members serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who are stationed outside South Dakota are not required to have a license to fish or hunt small game while home on leave.

Resident service members and their dependents who are stationed out of state and miss the application period and lottery drawings are authorized an exception to apply for deer, turkey, and antelope licenses when they return to South Dakota.

South Dakota offers a free lifetime State Park Entrance License to eligible resident disabled Veterans, former POWs and Purple Heart recipients. This license authorizes free entrance for the Veteran and their vehicle to all state parks

State employees who are serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces receive 15 days military leave per calendar year for training.

Members of SDRS who are reserve component service members and are called to federal active duty service do not lose credit for retirement. Employees will continue to earn credited service if they meet the following requirements:

South Dakota offers Veterans' preference when hiring for state or local government jobs. Those eligible receive preference for appointment, employment, and promotion at all levels of government, including state, county, and city as well as public education.

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:

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 unremarried surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran who is a least 60 years old and was married to the Veteran for at least one year prior to their death. South Dakota Codified Laws 33A-4-27

South Dakota also has three Tribal Veteran Cemeteries to serve South Dakota's Tribal Veterans and their families. For more information, Veterans or their family members should contact their Tribal Veteran Service Officer or the Tribal Veterans Cemetery directly.

South Dakota will pay $100 to the beneficiaries of an honorably discharged resident Veteran, their spouse, or surviving spouse who did not leave adequate finances to prepare for their burial.

The VA National Cemetery Administration maintains three national cemeteries in South Dakota. Please see the local location listing for the nearest cemetery.

South Dakota counties must provide free certified copies of official documents when used for benefits claims for state and federal benefits. Counties must provide the following documents:

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