An estimated 203,031 veterans live in Louisiana, making up 5.8% of the state's population or the 40th-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Louisiana Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax free.
Active-Duty Income Tax
Up to $50,000 is tax free if stationed out of state for 120 or more consecutive days.
Louisiana Veteran Property Taxes
Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or higher may receive a property tax exemption, in addition to the homestead exemption, on their primary residence as follows:
- 50% disability rating or more, but less than 70%: In addition to the homestead exemption, the next $2,500 of the assessed valuation of the property is exempt.
- 70% or more, but less than 100%: In addition to the homestead exemption, the next $4,500 of the assessed valuation of the property is exempt.
- 100%: Exempt from all ad valorem taxation, except for certain municipal tax assessments.
Louisiana Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
State National Guard members are exempt from tuition at any state-funded college, university or vocational/technical school for five years or a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.
Military Dependent Education
Dependents and surviving spouses of veterans killed in action (KIA), who died from a service-connected disability or who are at least 90% disabled or unemployable receive a tuition exemption at state institutions.
A deceased veteran must have been a resident of Louisiana for at least 12 months immediately preceding entry into service. A living veteran must have lived in the state for at least 24 months prior to the child being admitted into the program.
The surviving spouse has 10 years to use the benefit. The child must be between the ages of 16 and 25 to be eligible.
Louisiana Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Louisiana state and city civil service departments award a 5-point hiring preference to honorably discharged veterans and 10-point preference to honorably discharged service-connected disabled veterans.
Individuals with military training and experience may receive a corresponding professional license or certification if they had a military occupational specialty that qualified them for that license.
Military Spouse Employment
Each licensing board decides how to accept relevant education, training and service.
Spouses of veterans who are rated unemployable by the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as unremarried widows of deceased veterans and Gold Star parents may receive the same preference as a veteran.
Louisiana Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Louisiana's five veterans homes are in Bossier City, Jackson, Jennings, Monroe and Reserve.
A veteran must be a state resident with an other-than-dishonorable discharge. Applicants who have income will be expected to pay for their care.
Spouses and Gold Star parents are eligible if they meet basic qualifying criteria.
Homeless Veterans
No specific benefits.
Adaptive Housing
No specific benefits.
Louisiana Veteran Financial Assistance
The Military Family Assistance Fund (MFA) provides financial support to resident veterans and their families when they experience financial hardships. Certain criteria apply. MFA can pay up to $10,000 for one claim per active-duty order in a 12-month period.
Louisiana National Guard members who received a permanent and total disability while on federal or state active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, or the beneficiary of record of those killed in action may qualify for a $250,000 death or $100,000 disability benefit from the state. Certain restrictions apply.
Louisiana Veteran Legal Assistance
The state Department of Veterans Affairs partners with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services to provide free legal services to low-income veterans.
Louisiana Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Any veteran with a disability rating of 50% or more may receive a free basic recreational fishing license, saltwater license, basic hunting license or big-game license with submission of a form signed by a parish veterans service officer.
Active-duty members and their dependents may buy hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Parks/Camping
Disabled veterans, as well as everyone in the same vehicle as them, are exempt from paying the day-use entrance fee to state parks.
Active-duty members, plus one additional family member, get half off admission to state parks.
Louisiana Veteran Transportation Benefits
No state-funded transportation benefits. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) offers van rides to VA medical centers in many states and may be available in the states without a state-funded transportation benefit.
Louisiana Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
Louisiana's four veterans cemeteries are in Keithville, Leesville, Rayville and Slidell. The cemeteries are available for qualifying veterans, their spouses and dependent children. There is no charge for veterans and only a small fee for spouses and dependent children.
More Information
Visit the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs' website for more information about any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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