An estimated 258,485 veterans live in New Jersey, making up 3.6% of the state's population or the 52nd-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
New Jersey Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax free.
Active-Duty Income Tax
Active-duty pay is taxable, except combat pay for tax year 2021 and later.
Newly discharged veterans qualify for a one-time $6,000 tax deduction in the year they are discharged from active duty.
New Jersey Veteran Property Taxes
Honorably discharged resident veterans who served at least 14 days in a combat zone may receive an annual $250 property tax deduction.
Permanently and totally disabled war veterans may receive a total exemption from property tax on their home. Surviving spouses may also qualify.
New Jersey Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
State National Guard members may receive free enrollment in state institutions for up to 16 credits per semester.
Veterans who served from Dec. 31, 1960, to May 7, 1975, receive partial reimbursement up to $400 per year for full-time students and $200 for part-time students.
Military Dependent Education
Surviving spouses and children of state Guard members may receive free enrollment in state institutions for up to 16 credits per semester.
Children of veterans who were MIA or POW or deceased while in service or from a service-connected disability may receive free undergraduate college tuition or may claim $500 per year for four years of college or equivalent training.
New Jersey Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
State preference: Veterans who receive a passing exam score go to the top of open competitive employment lists. Disabled veterans with at least a 10% disability receive the highest preference.
Driving: Veterans who have or had a military commercial driver's license are exempt from the behind-the-wheel portion of the CDL license exam.
Pension status: Veterans employed by the state may qualify for special retirement benefits. This applies 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)
Retirement: Veterans retirement is different from the standard retirement available to most enrolled in the above pension funds; includes the ability to retire at age 55 (with 25 years of service); and offers a more generous calculation of your maximum annual allowance during retirement.
Military Spouse Employment
The spouse of a disabled veteran may receive the same preference as the disabled veteran. However, the veteran loses their entitlement if the spouse receives 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.
New Jersey Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
New Jersey's three veterans homes are in Menlo Park, Paramus and Vineland. The homes are open to honorably discharged wartime veterans, their spouses and Gold Star parents. State residents receive preference.
Applicants must meet certain asset limitation criteria. Residents pay according to ability, based on income.
Homeless Veterans
Two Veterans Haven transitional housing facilities for homeless veterans are located in Winslow Township (Camden County) and Glen Gardner (Hunterdon County).
Adapted Housing
No state benefits.
New Jersey Veteran Financial Assistance
Certain permanently and totally disabled resident wartime veterans may receive a monthly payment of $150. The veteran must have a qualifying disability that includes loss of sight, amputation of limbs, paralysis and others.
Surviving spouses may also qualify.
New Jersey Veteran Legal Assistance
No state-funded legal services.
New Jersey Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Honorably discharged resident veterans with a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) service-connected disability rating may receive free hunting and fishing licenses and stamps. Disabled veterans may receive free permits for hunting deer, bear and turkey.
Active-duty members, no matter where they're stationed, may buy hunting, fishing and trapping licenses at the resident rate.
State Guard members receive free licenses, permits and stamps.
Parks/Camping
No specific benefits.
New Jersey Veteran Transportation Benefits
The state provides grants to counties for veterans' transportation.
New Jersey Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
New Jersey's Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown provides free interment and perpetual care to state resident veterans and their spouses and dependent children.
More Information
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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