Washington, D.C. Veterans Benefits
Washington D.C. Veterans’ Benefits
In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are veterans benefits programs provided by Washington, D.C.
The following are the Washington, D.C. veterans’ benefits programs for education.
Housing Benefits for Veterans
Property Tax Relief
There is property tax relief for senior citizens or disabled property owners. Property owners need to be 65 years or older or be totally and permanently disabled or receiving government disability payments. The benefit will reduce a qualified property owner’s property tax by 50%, and they must own at least 50% or more of the property. The total federal adjusted gross income of everyone living in the property or cooperative unit, not to include tenants, must be less than $133,100 (2019).
Health Care Benefits for Veterans
Nursing Homes
Washington DC has the Armed Forces Retirement Home. It is a retirement community for enlisted military and veterans. They have a wide range of programs and amenities for residents as well as healthcare, including assisted living and long-term nursing care. In order to live there, you would need to be able to live independently upon admission, have no felony conviction, and free of drug, alcohol, and psychiatric problems. If a veteran does need advanced care later on, there are three levels of skilled nursing that are available. You must also have served as a member of the Armed Forces, where at least one-half of your service was not active commissioned service. There are additional requirements concerning years of service,
Employment Benefits for Veterans
Paid Leave For District of Columbia Government Employees for Military Duty
Those who are considered government employees who are also members of the reserve component for active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty training, will receive 15 days of military leave per fiscal year. Employees can carry them over to the next year.
Credit For Military Time For Annual Leave Accrual
DC government employees with prior military service are entitled to credit for active military service if the military retirement was based on a disability that was from an injury or disease received in the line of duty as a direct result of armed conflict or caused by an instrumentality of war.
Paid Leave For Emergency Military Duty
They provide 22 workdays per calendar year for emergency duty when it is ordered by the President, the Secretary of Defense, or a state governor. National Guard and reserve service members that are government employees are eligible.
Veterans Hiring Preference
Veterans hiring preference is restricted to initial appointments or new appointments following a break in service, except for reduction-in-force purposes.
The District of Columbia offers a 5-point and 10-point veteran preference. Veterans who have established a service-connected disability or who are receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or a pension because of a public law administered by the Veterans Administration or a military department, receive a 10-point preference.
Spouses and eligible survivors might also qualify. Veterans should receive 10 or 5 points based on their status, if they served in a war, their disability level, and could be based on other factors after a careful analysis.
RELATED: Guide to Veterans’ Preference Points
District of Columbia Veterans’ Employment Initiative
Priority service should be given to veterans and eligible spouses who meet the eligibility requirements. They should also receive priority for the full array of services provided at an American Job Centers (AJC). These services include registration at the job center, one on one case management, assessment of individual interest, skills and abilities, counseling to assist with an effective job search, follow-up services, and assistance in securing medical services or counseling.
Education Benefits for Veterans
District of Columbia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Reimbursement (STAR)
STAR is a program available to National Guard soldiers and airmen whose tuition and fees are not 100% covered by the FTA. They will be reimbursed for these costs each semester, up to $2,000 a year for tuition and $500 for fees. $6,000 for Air. Service members will have to maintain a certain GPA and have 1 year remaining prior to ETS. It can only be used up to a master’s degree.
District of Columbia Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
This compact will remove barriers to educational success that is imposed on the children of military families because of the frequent moves and deployments of their parents.
DC National Guard Scholarship
The DC National Guard Scholarship will reimburse members of the Army DC National Guard up to $1,500 per semester or quarter at an approved college, university or educational institution while monies are available.
> Find VA-approved colleges in the Washington, D.C. area with our School Finder.
Tax Benefits for Veterans
Military disability retirement pay that is received as a pension, annuity or a similar allowance for a personal injury or sickness because of active service shouldn’t be included in taxable income if:
- You were entitled to receive a disability payment before 09/25/75.
- You were a member of the military or were under a binding written commitment to become a member on 09/25/75.
- You receive disability payments for a combat-related injury that resulted directly from armed conflict, took place while you were engaged in extra-hazardous service, took place under conditions simulating, including training exercises, or was caused by an instrumentality of war.
- You would be entitled to receive disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs if you filed an application for it.
Survivor Benefits
Any survivor benefits that are received from the District of Columbia or the federal government by people over the age of 62 are fully excluded from District Individual Income Tax.
For more information regarding Washington, D.C. veterans’ benefits, please visit – District of Columbia Mayor’s Office of Veteran 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.