New Mexico Veterans & Disabled Veterans Benefits
Veterans Benefits for Residents of New Mexico
The following are the New Mexico veterans’ benefits programs for education, employment, housing and healthcare.
New Mexico Veterans’ Education Benefits
In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are veterans benefits programs provided by the states.
Children of Deceased Veterans
Children between the ages of 16-26 whose veteran parent was killed in action or died as a result of their wounds incurred in battle, qualify for a full tuition waiver at any state funded post-secondary school. A $150 stipend, per semester, will be issued to help with books or fees.
Vietnam Veteran Scholarship
Veterans who have been residents of New Mexico for a minimum of 10 years, served in Vietnam, and were issued the Vietnam Campaign or Service Medal are eligible. The Vietnam Veteran Scholarship will pay full tuition and books at any state funded post-secondary school.
Wartime Veteran Scholarship Fund
For any veteran who served in combat since 1990 and who has exhausted all their GI Bill. The scholarship pays the full cost of tuition and books at any state school.- see clauses
New Mexico National Guard Tuition Scholarship
New Mexico National Guard Tuition Scholarship Program (NMNGTSP) also referred to as State Tuition Assistance (STA). The scholarship provides eligible members of the New Mexico National Guard an opportunity to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree or below. STA will pay up to 100% per semester towards the cost of tuition and fees during the fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). STA applies to students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree or below (no second equivalent or certificate level is allowed). STA is paid directly to the school and is invoiced after the Last Day to Drop a Class. Army National Guard yearly cap is $4,000 and Air National Guard yearly cap is $8,000 cap.
>> Find colleges in New Mexico with our School Finder. Use the filters to sort schools by state.
New Mexico Veterans’ Housing Benefits
Homeless and At Risk Veteran Services
Through contracts with the New Mexico Veterans Integration Center (NMVIC) in Albuquerque and Mesilla Valley Community of Hope in Las Cruces, the Department of Veterans’ Services provides transition services for homeless and at risk veterans in New Mexico.
Property Tax Exemption
Veterans or their non-remarried surviving spouse, who served a minimum of 90 consecutive days on active duty, other than for training, and were honorably disabled may qualify for a $4,000 reduction in the taxable value of their property.
Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption
Veterans who have been rated 100% “Permanent & Total” disabled by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as well as a legal resident of New Mexico, will qualify for a complete property tax waiver on their primary residence.
Veterans’ Service Organization Property Tax Exemption
US Congressionally-chartered veterans’ service organization are exempt from paying property tax on the property of its facility.
New Mexico Veterans’ Healthcare Benefits
New Mexico Veterans’ Home
New Mexico has one state veterans’ home. It is located in southwestern New Mexico, halfway between Albuquerque and El Paso, in the Rio Grande Valley. It is situated on 12 acres, overlooking one of the southwest’s outstanding retirement communities. Honorably discharged veterans with 90 days or more of service as well as their spouses are eligible. Preference will be given to those who are New Mexico residents if there is a waiting list, but any veteran is welcome to apply. Gold star parents who have lost their children in the service of their country can also apply as well as certain members of a reserve component of the US Armed Forces who meet the legal residence requirements.
New Mexico Veterans’ Employment Benefits
New Mexico Personnel Office Veterans Hiring Preference
Veterans who were honorably discharged from the US Armed Forces or those currently serving in the national guard will have 5 points added to their final passing numerical scores on screening examinations performed by the New Mexico State Personnel Office. Veterans who were honorably discharged with a service-connected disability will have 10 points added to their final passing numerical score.
Business Tax Credit for Hiring Recently-Returned Veterans
There is a business tax credit for any business in the state of New Mexico for each hire of a recently-returned veteran. These businesses can receive up to a $1,000 tax credit.
5% Procurement Advantage for Veteran-Owned Businesses or Contractors
The state of New Mexico sets aside an additional 5% hiring preference for veteran-owned businesses or contractors over the existing 5% preference currently established for locally-owned businesses during the bidding process for state contracts and jobs.
Other Veterans’ Benefits in New Mexico
Special MacArthur Service Medal
This medal is issued to members of 200th/51th Coast Artillery Units who were residents of New Mexico at their original time of entry into the US Military and who served under General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippine Islands during World War II. The medal is also available to surviving family members of 200th/515th units.
For more information regarding New Mexico veterans’ benefits, please visit – New Mexico Department of Veterans Services
RELATED:
- State Veterans’ Benefits – By State
- New Mexico BAH Rates
- Yellow Ribbon Schools
- Scholarships for Students in the Southwestern US
- BAH Rates and GI Bill BAH Calculator
- Military Pay Dates
- USAA Pay Dates
- Navy Federal Pay Dates
- National Guard Pay and Reserve Pay
About the author
Julie Provost is a freelance writer, blogger, and owner of Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life, a support blog for military spouses. She lives in Tennessee with her National Guard husband and three boys.