The state of New Jersey provides several veteran benefits. This page explains those benefits.
New Jersey Veteran Housing Benefits
NJ Veterans Memorial Homes
The State of New Jersey runs veterans' homes in Menlo Park, Paramus, and Vineland. The homes are open to honorably discharged wartime veterans, their spouse, and Gold Star parents. Preference is given to New Jersey residents.
Applicants must meet certain asset limitation criteria. Residents pay according to ability based on income.
Veterans Haven
Veterans Haven is a transitional housing program for homeless veterans. The program is divided into three phases: treatment; self-reclamation; and community reintegration. Each phase lasts three to six months and is tailored to individual treatment needs and vocational interests.
Eligible veterans are referred from a VA Medical Center after receiving a medical evaluation. To be admitted into the program, the veteran must agree to a long-term program focusing on psychological, social and vocational rehabilitation. The program is drug and alcohol free.
Locations are in Glen Gardner and Winslow.
New Jersey Financial Benefits
Income Tax
If your permanent home was New Jersey before entering the military, active-duty income is not subject to state taxes, IF you meet all three of the following conditions:
- did not maintain any permanent home in New Jersey during tax year;
- spent less than 30 days in New Jersey state during tax year.
- maintained a permanent home outside New Jersey during the entire year (barracks, bachelor officers´ quarters, quarters assigned on vessel do not count as a permanent home). However, if you pay for and maintain, either by out-of-pocket payments or forfeiture of quarters allowance, an apartment or a home (either owned or rented) outside New Jersey, that does count as a permanent home outside New Jersey.
Retired pay and SBP payments are tax-free.
Veteran Income Tax Deduction
Honorably discharged veterans qualify for one-time $6,000 tax deduction in the year they are discharged from active duty.
New Jersey Property Tax Deduction
Honorably discharged New Jersey resident veterans who served at least 14 days in a combat zone are eligible for an annual $250 property tax deduction.
Permanently and totally disabled war veterans can qualify for a total exemption of property tax on their home. Surviving spouses may also qualify.
New Jersey Catastrophic Entitlement
Permanently and totally disabled wartime NJ resident veterans can qualify for a monthly payment of $150.
The veteran must have a qualifying disability which includes loss of sight, amputation of limbs, paralysis and others.
Surviving spouses may also qualify.
New Jersey Employment Benefits
Veterans Preference for State Jobs
When applying for New Jersey state jobs qualified veterans who receive a passing score are placed at the top of open competitive employment lists.
Disabled veterans with at least a 10% disability are given the highest preference, being placed above both veterans and others on open competitive employment lists.
The spouse of a disabled veteran is entitled to the same preference as the disabled veteran, however the veteran loses their entitlement if the spouse gets it. The surviving spouse of a disabled veteran is entitled to the same preference as the disabled veteran, until they remarry. The surviving spouse of any veteran who died in service is entitled to the disabled veteran preference, until they remarry.
CDL License
Veterans who have or had a military commercial drivers license are exempt from the behind-the-wheel portion of the CDL license exam.
Veterans Status for Pensions
Veterans employed by the state can qualify for special retirement benefits. This applies only to those covered by:
- New Jersey Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS)
- Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS)
- New Jersey Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF)
Veterans Retirement is different than the standard retirement available to most enrolled in the above pension funds, and includes the ability to retire at age 55 (with 25 years of service) and a offers a more generous calculation of your maximum annual allowance during retirement.
War Orphans Tuition Assistance
Children of military members who died while in the military or due to service-connected disabilities, or who are officially listed as MIA can get $500 per year for four years of college or equivalent training.
To qualify, the child must be a resident of New Jersey for at least one year immediately preceding the filing of the application and be between the ages of 16 and 21 at the time of application. The veteran must have also been a state resident.
New Jersey Veteran Recreation Benefits
Fishing and Hunting Licenses for Disabled Veterans
Honorably discharged New Jersey disabled veterans can get free hunting & fishing licenses as well as pheasant, quail and trout stamps.
Licenses for Active Duty Service Personnel
Active duty members, no matter where they are stationed, can get NJ hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses at the resident rate.
Licenses for NJ National Guard Members
Eligible active NJ National Guard personnel are entitled to free licenses, permits and stamps.
New Jersey State Veteran Cemetery
Free interment and perpetual care is available for NJ resident veterans, their spouses and dependent children in the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown.
Visit the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs website for more information on any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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