Arkansas Veterans Benefits & Disabled Veterans Benefits
Arkansas Veterans Benefits & Disabled Veterans Benefits
There are many federal programs for veterans, and there are also programs for them in the state of Arkansas. You can also learn about veterans’ benefits in other states.
Housing Benefits For Veterans In Arkansas
Homestead and Personal Property Tax Exemption
Qualifying disabled veterans in Arkansas may be exempt from state homestead or personal property taxes. This is true of vets with qualifying disabilities (see below) who draw “special monthly compensation” from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Qualifying disabilities include:
- Loss or loss of use of one or more limbs
- Total blindness in one or both eyes
- Those with a VA disability rating of 100%
Unremarried surviving spouses and dependent children may also qualify. Those who qualify for this benefit must recertify annually.
Arkansas Disabled Veteran Tax Exemption
Veterans who are blind as a result of a service-connected injury may be entitled to a tax exemption on “gross receipts or proceeds derived from the sale of a new automobile”. You are required to have a relevant entitlement letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and this tax break is only available for one vehicle every two years.
Tax laws are subject to frequent change; what applies in one tax year may change the next year, depending on circumstances. If you aren’t sure about the current year’s state and federal tax rules as they apply to veterans, contact a tax professional for advice.
The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services
This state department offers employment counseling and referral services specifically for veterans, including job creation and hiring preference programs. Two of those options are the Local Veterans Employment Representatives program and the Disabled Veterans Outreach program.
Education Benefits
In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are state-level veteran education benefits programs provided in Arkansas.
Arkansas Heroes Scholarship
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education offers the Arkansas Heroes Scholarship to qualifying military spouses and dependent children. This program replaces the old Military Dependents Scholarship and provides a waiver of tuition, mandatory fees, and on-campus housing at any state-supported college, university, technical school, or vocational school. This benefit is available to families of service members who were killed in action, declared a POW or MIA, are rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the VA, or are Medal of Honor or Purple Heart recipients.
Find colleges in Arkansas with our School Finder. Use the filters to sort schools by state.
Arkansas National Guard Tuition Assistance Program
This program offers college tuition assistance for qualifying Arkansas National Guard members. It covers up to 100% of tuition and mandatory institutional fees for a student’s first undergraduate degree at any state-supported public two-year or four-year institution in Arkansas.
The tuition assistance is pro-rated for part-time students. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and once the current year’s funding is gone, the program may be suspended until the next fiscal year.
RELATED: Tuition Assistance and National Guard Tuition Assistance
Arkansas Public College In-State Tuition Policy For Military Families
Military members and their families may qualify for in-state college rates regardless of residency if they meet state requirements. Those requirements include meeting at least one of the following:
The veteran was discharged or released from a period of not less than ninety (90) days of active duty “within three years before the date of enrollment in a program of study.”
- The applicant is a dependent of a qualifying veteran.
- The applicant is a member of the armed forces.
- The applicant is a spouse of a military member.
Read more: Post 9/11 GI Bill Guide for Spouses and Dependents
Health Care Benefits For Veterans In Arkansas
Arkansas State Veterans Homes
The State of Arkansas operates two veterans’ homes: one in Little Rock and the other in Fayetteville. General admissions criteria include having an honorable discharge and a demonstrated medical need for nursing home care. Services offered by these two facilities may include:
- Hospice care
- 24/7 RN, LPN, CNA skilled care
- Physical therapy
- Occupational and speech therapy
- Coordinated daily activities
- Personal laundry service
Residency is limited, and services may vary depending on location.
Other Benefits For Veterans In Arkansas
Arkansas Military Retirement Pay is Exempt from State Taxes
Military retirement pay is exempt from Arkansas state income taxes. Other tax considerations for military retirement pay and benefits may be applicable depending on the tax year; if you are not sure which tax options are available to you before filing your current taxes, consult with a tax professional.
While Arkansas’ Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) doesn’t automatically take out state or local income taxes, everything you withdraw is still reported every year on an IRS Form 1099-R. Your actual state tax bill depends on where you live, and withdrawing funds early can trigger additional tax penalties.
Arkansas State Burial Benefits
The State of Arkansas operates two state veterans’ cemeteries. One is located in North Little Rock, and the other is located in Birdeye, Arkansas. Pre-registration is allowed and requires:
- The veteran’s proof of military discharge
- A pre-eligibility application.
- Marriage documentation, where applicable
- Payment for the family’s out-of-pocket costs at burial time (applicable when burying a spouse or dependent).
Gravesites and interment niches cannot be reserved. Burial services available to qualifying veterans and their families include:
- Fee-free veteran interment.
- The gravesite, opening, and closing of the grave.
- Perpetual care.
- An upright federal government-supplied headstone or niche cover.
- A burial flag, provided by the funeral home.
- Military honors, arranged by the funeral home.
For more information regarding Alabama veterans’ benefits, please visit the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs.
Related state military and veteran information:
About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, and blogger. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.
Michelle Nati is a contributing writer to CollegeRecon who has written about higher education and finance for Granita Media/Big Edition site Work and Money. She's also written law content for Leaf Group's Legal Beagle site and is a ghostwriter of non-fiction books. She lives in Los Angeles and spends her spare time combing flea markets for vintage photos and decor and playing with her dogs, Jellybean and Jukebox.
