Idaho State Benefits For Military Members
The following are the Idaho veterans’ benefits programs for education, employment, housing, and healthcare. You can also learn about veterans’ benefits in other states.
Education Benefits for Idaho Veterans
In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are veterans’ benefits programs provided by the state of Idaho.
Idaho National Guard State Education Assistance Program (SEAP)
SEAP provides up to $4000 per fiscal year in tuition and registration fees for qualifying National Guard members. This program may be used at any Idaho public or private institution, but federal tuition assistance must be used first. Unlike some other military education benefits, SEAP funds are paid at the end of each semester or term.
To qualify for SEAP, the following must apply:
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- The applicant is a member of the Idaho National Guard.
- The applicant has graduated from Basic Training and has no disciplinary issues.
- The applicant has “no more than 4 unexcused absences” during the last 12 months according to Army.mil.
- The applicant meets fitness and weight requirements for the Guard.
- The applicant must have more than two years remaining of service obligation.
- The applicant must remain in good standing with the Idaho National Guard for the entire course.
More information is at the Idaho National Guard official site.
In-State Tuition For Qualifying Idaho Servicemembers And Family
The State of Idaho, like many states, provides in-state tuition for qualifying servicemembers and their families. To qualify for in-state tuition under this program, students must meet state requirements which include, but may not be limited to, the following:
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- The student is an Idaho resident and military member (or family member) stationed outside of Idaho, OR;
- The student and/or family members are stationed in Idaho, OR;
- The student is a member of the Idaho National Guard or a family member. OR;
- The student has an Honorable discharge after two years of service or more and applies for school within one year of separation. OR;
- The student listed Idaho as their state of residence while they were serving or when separating.
- The student has moved to Idaho to become a resident.
More information is available through the Registrar’s office of the school you wish to attend/
>> Find colleges in Idaho with our School Finder. Use the filters to sort schools by state.
State of Idaho Financial Assistance For Veterans
The State of Idaho offers a cash grant to wartime veterans who have a demonstrated need in an emergency. The Idaho Veterans Emergency Grant Program provides up to $1,500 in emergency relief for food, fuel, housing, or “other necessities of daily living in a time of temporary emergency need” according to the State of Idaho.
Qualifying veterans (see below) may receive one grant in a six-month period and no grant may exceed $1,500. If a veteran is awarded a partial grant or a grant lower than the maximum, once the maximum lifetime benefit of $1,500 is reached the veteran no longer qualifies.
Basic eligibility requirements include, but may not be limited to:
- Residency: Applicants must be Idaho state residents at application time.
- Military discharge: Applicants must be discharged or separated under honorable conditions after 90 days active duty, or less in cases of a service-connected disability being the cause of discharge.
- Idaho must be the home of record: The applicant must have Idaho listed as the home of record while serving. This may be waived if the applicant has been living in Idaho for the past five years.
Other requirements apply depending on who applies: the State of Idaho does not issue these grants to “residents of domiciliaries or long-term care facilities or to a potential recipient who refuses to take advantage of available government benefits or federal-state-local relief.”
The State of Idaho may require applicants to provide documentation that they have applied for other programs and advises that this program’s funds, “may not be used to duplicate assistance from other sources”.
Idaho National Guard Medical Coverage
Those who serve in the Idaho National Guard may qualify for medical coverage under Idaho Workers Compensation laws. If you serve in the Guard and become sick or injured in the line of duty, you may be covered, but those who are paid by another program won’t get compensation under this program. The law is designed to prevent duplicate payments.
You may qualify for National Guard medical coverage if you are on state active duty and you also qualify for Worker’s Compensation.
Tax Benefits for Idaho’s Veterans
State Income Tax Exemption
When active duty service members are stationed outside of the State of Idaho for longer than 120 days, they are exempt from Idaho state income tax on military income.
State of Idaho Military Retirement Pay Tax Exemption
Military retirement pay is exempt from Idaho state taxes.
Idaho Circuit Breaker Property Tax Reductions and Exemptions
Veterans who have a 10% or greater service-connected disability, and those who receive a pension from Veterans Affairs for a non-service-connected disability may qualify for the Idaho Circuit Breaker property tax reduction/exemption program.
Circuit Breaker reduces property taxes on the home and up to one acre of land, based on income from the previous year. This program may offer up to $1,500 in reductions on your property taxes.
You must be an Idaho resident, the property must be your primary residence, and you must meet income requirements. In 2021 those requirements were listed as earning less than $32,230. That amount is subject to change year-to-year and is listed here as a reference only. Your experience may vary.
The Circuit Breaker program changed in 2022, and current requirements include qualifying circumstances including but not limited to:
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- Being a former POW or hostage
- Being a motherless or fatherless child under 18
- Being a surviving spouse
- Being disabled “as recognized by the Social Security Administration, Railroad Retirement Board, Federal Civil Service, VA” or a public employment retirement system.
Nonresident Military Spouse Idaho Tax Exemption
Spouses of nonresident service members may be exempt from paying Idaho state income taxes if they are married to a service member on active duty stationed in Idaho but not a resident there. Spouses may also qualify if they moved to the state to be with the non-resident service member after having lived together elsewhere.
Claiming this tax exemption requires you to file an Idaho State Tax Commission form called ID-MS1, Employee’s Idaho Military Spouse Withholding Exemption Certificate. This must be submitted each year.
Nursing Home Benefits for Idaho Veterans
Idaho Veterans Home
The State of Idaho operates three veterans homes; one in Boise, one in Lewiston, and a facility in Pocatello. These facilities offer skilled care, occupational and physical therapy, and physical therapy. Admission requirements include, but are not limited to the following:
- Open to qualifying peacetime or wartime veterans, and spouses.
- Applicants must have served at least 90 days.
- An Honorable discharge is required.
- You must be a resident of the State of Idaho at application time.
- You must either apply for or already be receiving a VA pension, and Aid and Attendance.
- You must be eligible and apply for Medicaid benefits or be willing to pay the current maximum monthly amount
- Veterans that served on active duty at least 90 days and received an honorable discharge, wartime veterans receive priority for admission
Applicants must require skilled nursing care, and the official site notes that veterans may be admitted “without regard to their financial status”.
Burial Benefits For Idaho Veterans
The State of Idaho operates the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery (with two locations) for eligible veterans and qualifying dependents. Like many state-run veteran cemeteries, services offered including a niche or burial plot, marker, and military funeral honors where available.
The Idaho State Veterans’ Cemetery accepts payment from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the burial fees, all other funeral expenses are the responsibility of the veteran’s estate. A burial fee may apply for dependents.
Eligibility for burial in an Idaho State Veterans Cemetery is the same as for VA National Cemeteries. You do not have to be an Idaho resident, you can have any discharge except Dishonorable, and members of the Guard/Reserve may also qualify.
Pre-registration is encouraged, but you may not be able to reserve or select a physical gravesite until the time of need.
Employment Benefits for Idaho Veterans
Public Employee Veterans Hiring Preference
Veterans who have served on active duty in the armed services, with an honorable discharge and who have a present service-connected disability of 10% or more, or are Purple Heart recipients can also receive preference points for state and federal exams. These points are added to the veteran’s final passing score. The points can not be used for promotions, transfers, or reassignments and may only be added for the veteran’s initial hire.
Veterans who are discharged under honorable conditions, and the surviving spouse of a so-called “preference eligible veteran”, may be eligible for five preference points.
Disabled veterans who have a present service-connected disability of 10% or more, or are Purple Heart recipients may qualify for 10 points. Surviving spouses of these applicants may also receive 10 points. Spouses of veterans unable to qualify for public employment because of a service-connected disability may also claim this preference.
Professional License Fee Exemption
Those who serve and who hold occupational or professional licenses issued by the state of Idaho may be exempt from fees associated with professional or occupational licenses for the duration of service and for up to six months after leaving the military.
For more information regarding Idaho veterans benefits, please visit the Idaho Division of Veterans Services
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