Vermont Veterans Benefits
In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are veterans benefits programs provided by the state of Vermont for veterans.
Vermont State Veteran Benefits
Vermont Veteran Education Benefits
Armed Services Scholarship
The Armed Services Scholarship is a State of Vermont program for the spouse and children of military members who died on active duty since 2001, or the spouse and children of Vermont National Guard members who have died while serving at any time.
The scholarship can be used towards the completion of an undergraduate degree at a Vermont school. For Vermont state schools, the scholarship covers the full tuition; for Vermont private schools, the scholarship reduces the tuition.
If the deceased was a member of the Vermont National Guard, applications are processed by the guard’s education office. All others apply to the Veteran Services Director at the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs.
The Vermont State Tuition Assistance (National Guard Education Assistance Program NGEAP)
This program if for Vermont Guard Members and can be applied to any Post-Secondary School within Vermont and to select Technical Education Programs.
Find colleges in Vermont with our School Finder. Use the filters to find your perfect fit.
Vermont Veteran Housing Benefits
The following are the Vermont veterans’ benefits programs for housing in 2020.
Property Tax
Vermont has a property tax reduction for some disabled veterans and their families. Veterans who are receiving disability compensation at a rating of 50% or higher, veterans receiving non-service connected pensions, veterans collecting permanent military retirement pay for a medical military retirement, and surviving spouses of veterans who had received the exemption all qualify. Surviving spouses may also be eligible for the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation or Death Pension.
The exemption level will vary from town to town but state law does mandate a minimum of $10,000. Towns can then increase this up to $40,000. The exemption will reduce the appraised value of a home before the assessment of taxes. If a veteran lived in a home valued at $150,000 with a $10,000 exemption level, they would owe taxes based on $140,000. The exemption only applies if the home is owned by the veteran or the survivor, and is also their primary residence. It can not be passed to landlords if the veteran or spouse is renting a home.
Vermont Veteran Health Care Benefits
Vermont Veterans Home
Vermont has one veterans home that is located in Bennington. Veterans and their spouses, as well as gold star parents are eligible to stay in this home. Veterans from Vermont have priority for admission but veterans from other states are welcome to apply. In order to be considered an eligible veteran, they will need to have served at least ninety days in the US Armed Forces and have an honorable discharge. Spouses and gold star parents of qualified veterans also qualify.
Vermont Veteran Employment Benefits
Vermont Veterans State Employment Hiring Preference
Veterans of the US Armed Forces will have preference points added to their scores if they are an eligible applicant for state employment. Those veterans who have a service-connected disability, the spouse of a totally disabled veteran with a service-connected disability, and unmarried surviving spouses of a veteran will be eligible for additional preference points. Veterans are also able to apply for jobs that normally are just available only to current state employees. An eligible veteran is one in which they have served in the US Armed Forces for at least 90 days, and was separated with honorable or other acceptable conditions.
> Use the CollegeRecon Veteran Jobs matcher to find jobs with companies looking to hire veterans. We match you with what you’re looking for! Go here.
Vermont Commercial Driver Licence Military Skills Test Waiver
Those service members who are currently licenced and who are, or were employed in a military position requiring the operation of a military motor vehicle equivalent to a commercial motor vehicle, within the last year, can qualify for a waiver on the CDL skills test.
The service member will also need to not have more than one license in addition to a military licence, have not had any licence suspended, revoked, or cancelled, have not had any convictions for any type of motor vehicle for disqualifying offences, have not had more than one conviction for any type of motor vehicle for serious traffic violations, or have not had any conviction for a violation, other than for a parking violation, of military, state, or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control arising in connection with any traffic accident, and have no record of an accident in which they were at fault.
Veterans also need to provide evidence that they:
- are regularly employed or have been regularly employed within the last year in a military position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle
- are exempt from the CDL requirements
- had been operating, for at least the two years immediately preceding discharge from the military, a vehicle representative of the commercial motor vehicle the driver applicant operates or expects to operate
Other Vermont Veteran Benefits
Vermont’s Medals for Veterans
There are three medals that Vermont gives out to those who have served and also have a connection with the state. The first one is the Vermont Veterans Medal which is given to most veterans who have an honorable discharge. The second one is the Vermont Distinguished Service Medal which is given to veterans who received an honorable discharge and who served in the combat theater. The third type of medal is the Patriots Medal and is given to the next-of-kin for any Vermont soldiers that were killed in action.
These medals are not given automatically, veterans must apply for them or have someone apply for them on their behalf.
For more information regarding Vermont veterans’ benefits, please visit – Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs
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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.