Do You Qualify for NH State Veteran's Benefits?

State of NH definition of a veteran:

CHAPTER 21
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION

Section 21:50

RSA 21:50 Veteran; Armed Forces; Active Duty; Service-connected Injury, Illness, or Disability. –


I. (a) ""Veteran'' means any person who:
(1) Served in the United States armed forces for more than 4 years and continues to serve; or
(2) Has been discharged or released from duty in the United States armed forces with:
(A) An honorable discharge; or
(B) An uncharacterized discharge based on a service-connected injury, illness, or disability.
(b) The following documents may be used to establish an individual's status as a veteran:
(1) DD Form 214 from any branch of the armed forces.
(2) DD Form 215 from any branch of the armed forces.
(3) DD Form 217 from any branch of the armed forces.
(4) DD Form 2 (Retired).
(5) WD AGO Form 53-55 from the United States Army.
(6) WD AGO Form 53-98 from the United States Army.
(7) WD AGO Form 755 from the United States Army.
(8) NAVPERS Form 553 from the United States Navy.
(9) NAVPERS Form 554 from the United States Navy.
(10) NAVPERS Form 660 from the United States Navy.
(11) NAVPERS Form 661 from the United States Navy.
(12) NAVMC Form 70-PD from the United States Marine Corps.
(13) NAVMC Form 78-PD from the United States Marine Corps.
(14) NAVCG Form 2510 from the United States Coast Guard.
(15) NGB Form 22 from the National Guard.
(16) GSA Form 6954 from the National Archives.
(17) NA Form 13038 from the National Archives.
(18) NA Form 13041 from the National Archives.
(19) Verification of Service letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(20) Summary of Military Service Record from the New Hampshire Korean War Bonus application.
(21) Other documents approved by the director, state veterans council.
II. ""Armed forces'' means the United States Army, Army Reserve, Navy, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard. ""Armed forces'' also includes other components, but is limited to those components and active duty periods described in 38 C.F.R. 3.7.
III. ""Active duty'' means full-time duty as an enlisted member, or as a commissioned or warrant officer, in any branch of the armed forces.
IV. ""Service-connected injury or illness or disability'' means an injury, illness or disability incurred or aggravated while in the line of duty in the armed forces of the United States

Source. 2004, 89:1, eff. July 6, 2004.

From the NH State Veterans Council website: http://www.nh.gov/nhveterans/benefits/index.htm

The following are veterans benefits are available through the State of New Hampshire. The appropriate statute addressing each benefit is indicated in parentheses. For questions concerning these benefits, please contact the State Veterans Council at 275 Chestnut Street Room 517, Manchester, NH 03103-2411 or telephone (603) 624-9230 or 1-800-622-9230 (in state only).

BONUSES

World War II bonus program expired July 1958. Korean Conflict bonus program expired December 1960.

Bonus of $100 for those with active service of 90 days or more between August 5, 1964, and August 15, 1973, or those who served in Vietnam between July 1, 1958, and August 5, 1964, and earned the Vietnam Service Medal or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Must have been a bona fide resident of New Hampshire at the time of enlistment and have received an honorable discharge. Claims made afte August 22, 1977, must be approved by the Adjutant General and the Governor and Executive Council. (See RSA 115-A:3).

Persian Gulf War Bonus of $100. Each person who actively served as a member of the armed forces of the United States between August 2, 1990, and November 30, 1995, and who earned the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and who was discharged, released or has a certificate of service therefrom, under honorable conditions, and who at the time of entry on such service, and at the time of such service was a bona fide resident of this state shall be entitled to a $100 bonus. However, no individual who has received a Persian Gulf War Bonus payment from another state shall be qualified to receive the NH bonus. Program expires August 31, 2002, but there are provisions that allow for acceptance of applications after that date. (See RSA 115-A:9).

Global War on Terrorism Operations Service Bonus of $100. Each person who actively served in any capacity as a member of the uniformed services of the United States on or after September 11, 2001 and on or before a date to be determined by the Secretary of Defense, and who earned the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or Afghanistan Campaign, or Iraq Campaign Medal; and who was discharged, released or has a certificate of service therefrom, with an honorable discharge, or who is missing in action or who was killed in action; and who at the time of entry on such active service, and at the time of such service was a bona fide resident of this state shall be entitled to the benefits provided under this subdivision. Program ends on June 11, 2009, but there are provisions that allow for acceptance of applications after that date. (See RSA 115-A:16).

BURIAL

Indigent veterans may be buried at the expense of the municipality in which the veteran died. (See RSAs 165:16, 165:17).

NEW HAMPSHIRESTATEVETERANSCEMETERY

Veterans are eligible for interment in the StateVeteransCemetery in BoscawenNH. The cemetery opened in September 1997. Contact NH Adjutant General's Department at (603) 796-2026 for information. (See RSA 110-B-74).

CLAIMS

Copies of public records are provided free when needed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to determine eligibility for benefits. The State Veterans Council and its veterans service officers shall assist veterans and dependents in obtaining benefits to which entitled under state or federal laws or regulations. (See RSAs 115:6, 115:7).

EDUCATION

The child of a missing person who was domiciled in this State serving in or with the U.S. armed forces after February 28, 1961, is entitled to free tuition at vocational-technical college so long as said missing person is so reported/listed as missing, captured, etc. (See RSA 188-F:16).

Children of military members who die in service during wartime, and children of certain wartime veterans who die from a service-connected disability, may qualify for free tuition at New Hampshire public institutions of higher learning. A scholarship for board, room, rent, books and supplies up to $2500 per year for a period of no more than 4 years at such educational institutions may be furnished to these children if they are in need of financial assistance. (See RSA 193:19)., 193:20, 193:22.).

EMPLOYMENT

Preference shall be given in appointing employees of the State Liquor Commission (see RSA 176:10), in selecting members of the State Veterans Council (see RSA 115:1), in appointing the Director of the State Veterans Council (see RSA 115:4), in appointing the Commandant and employees of the New Hampshire Veterans Home (see RSA 119:6), and veterans or their unremarried widows and spouses of disabled veterans in public departments and/or public works of state and local units (see RSAs 283:4, 283:9).

Reemployment of veterans by towns and other political subdivisions upon application being made within 90 days after the veteran is discharged from active military service. (See RSAs 97:1, 97:2, 97:3).

LICENSE FEE EXEMPTION

Honorably discharged veterans who are residents of New Hampshire and who are permanently and totally disabled from service-connected disability may be issued a free perpetual Fish and Game License. (See RSA 214:13).

Patients at the V.A.MedicalCenter in ManchesterNH, and residents of the NH Veterans' Home may be issued free fishing permits under certain conditions. (See RSA 214:14-h).

Service-connected disabled veterans and their unremarried widows may be exempt from fees for a Peddler's License. (See RSA 320:11).

An amputee or paraplegic classified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as permanently and totally disabled from service-connected disability who owns a motor vehicle received from or replaced by the Department of Veterans Affairs may be furnished a special license plate without charge for one motor vehicle. Recipients of the Purple Heart and Survivors of Pearl Harbor may be issued one set of special license plates upon payment of registration fees. (See RSA 261:86).

A veteran determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be totally blind because of a service-connected disability who owns a motor vehicle may be furnished a special license plate without charge for one vehicle. (See RSA 261:86).

Special license plates are available without charge to veterans who are former Prisoners of War (POWs). (See RSA 261:86).

Special license plates may be issued for motor vehicles owned by individuals with walking disabilities. (See RSA 261:88).

No registration fee is payable for a vehicle provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to an amputee, paraplegic or blind veteran classified as being permanently and totally disabled from service connection. (See RSA 261:141, VIII).

Any motor vehicle bearing special disabled veteran license plates shall be allowed free parking time in any city or town if the vehicle is under the direct control of the owner. (RSA 265:73).

No fee shall be charged for a permit to register a motor vehicle owned by a veteran who has been classified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as being totally blind as a result of a service connected disability. (See RSA 261:159).

No fee shall be charged for a permit to register a motor vehicle owned by a war veteran who is an amputee, paraplegic or who suffered the loss of use of a limb from a service connected cause as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs when the vehicle is received or a cash settlement in lieu thereof is received from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (See RSA 261:157).

No fee shall be charged for a motor vehicle operator's license for a veteran who is an amputee or paraplegic and who received a motor vehicle from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs nor for a veteran who has been classified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as being permanently and totally disabled due to service connected disability. (See RSA 263-42).

RELIEF

Disabled veterans may hunt from motor vehicles or boats under certain conditions with a proper permit. (See RSA 207:7-a).

War veterans and their dependent families who are unable to support themselves shall be supported at public expense in the town or city in which they live. (See RSAs 165:5, 165:6).

STATE PARK ADMISSION

NH veterans with any VA service-connected disability rating shall not be charged a fee for day-use admission to NH state parks. Disabled veteran license plates issued by the state of NH, or a letter issued by the VA certifying the veteran suffers from a service-connected disability shall be considered proof of entitlement. Any fees for the use of enterprise activities (including ski lifts, food service, campgrounds, etc.) shall be charged. (See RSA 216-A:3-g, IV).

Any active member of a federally-recognized unit of the NH national guard who is a legal resident of this state and is serving (or who retired) in pay grades E-1 through E-6 shall not be charged a fee for admission to the state park system. Any fees for the use of enterprise activities (including ski lifts, food service, campgrounds, etc.) shall be charged. (See RSA 216-A:3-g, V).

TAX EXEMPTION

Property owned and operated by certain veterans' organizations or departments, local chapters or posts shall be exempt from taxation. (See RSAs 72:23-a, 72:23-c).

Certain wartime veterans, their wives or widows may be eligible for a property tax credit of $50 ($100 if both are eligible veterans). Cities/towns may vote to adopt a higher tax credit of up to $500. (See RSA 72:28).

The widow of a veteran who was killed while on active duty in the military may be eligible for a tax credit of between $700 and $2000 on real estate or personal property. (See RSA 72:29-a).

There is a $700 tax credit on real estate occupied as principal place of abode by a permanently and totally disabled service-connected veteran, double amputee or paraplegic or unremarried surviving spouse. Cities and towns may vote to adopt a higher tax credit of up to $2000. (See RSA 72:35).

A permanently and totally disabled veteran who is blind, paraplegic or a double amputee as a result of service connection and who owns a specially adapted homestead acquired with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or with proceeds from the sale of any previous homestead acquired with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, shall be exempt from all taxation on the homestead. The veteran's surviving spouse shall also be exempt from all taxation on the homestead. (See RSA 72:36-a).

TRAINING

Qualified veterans will be granted priority in obtaining training that is funded in whole or part by the federal government or the State of New Hampshire. (See RSA 115-B).

NEW HAMPSHIRE VETERANS' HOME

Located at Tilton, the Veterans' Home is a 250-bed facility for honorably-discharged veterans who have served for a period of at least 90 days in the armed forces of the United States in time of war and who have been New Hampshire residents for one year preceding application. Some restrictions on assets and medical treatment exist. (See RSA 119:9).

VETERANS LICENSE PLATE

Veterans honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces may be issued a special license plate. The plate will be issued upon application and proof of honorable discharge. (See RSA 261:87-b).