An estimated 251,015 veterans live in Minnesota, making up 5.7% of the state's population or the 41st-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Minnesota Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax free.
Active-Duty Income Tax
Active-duty pay is tax free.
Minnesota Veteran Property Taxes
Disabled veterans with a 70% or greater Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability may qualify for a $150,000 reduction in the assessed value of their home. A veteran with a 100% permanent and total disability rating may qualify for a $300,000 reduction. Some surviving spouses may also qualify.
Minnesota Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
The Minnesota GI Bill provides assistance to eligible Minnesota veterans, currently serving troops, and National Guard and Reserve members who served after Sept. 11, 2001, along with certain spouses and children. The program provides a maximum benefit of $15,000, up to age 62. Veterans may use the benefit for higher education, on-the-job training, apprenticeships or licenses and certifications.
Military Dependent Education
Certain military spouses and children may qualify for the Minnesota GI Bill worth up to $15,000 for higher education, on-the-job training, apprenticeships or licenses and certifications.
The Surviving Children and Spouses Education benefit assists unremarried spouses and dependents whose resident veteran died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected condition. Recipients obtain free tuition at state institutions and may also attend private institutions with substantially equivalent academic standards. In addition, recipients are entitled to $750 per fiscal year for fees, books and supplies, and/or room and board.
Minnesota Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Most veterans receive a limited preference over non-veterans in hiring and promotion for most public employment. A state statute grants most veterans protection against unfair dismissals and demotions without a hearing.
Military Spouse Employment
Preference may apply to certain spouses of veterans.
Minnesota Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Minnesota's eight veterans homes are in Bemidji, Fergus Falls, Hastings, Luverne, Minneapolis, Montevideo, Preston and Silver Bay.
An Adult Day Center with therapeutic health services is part of the Minneapolis Veterans Home.
Admission is available to honorably discharged resident veterans with a medical or clinical need who served at least 181 consecutive days on active duty unless separated sooner because of a service-connected disability.
The spouse of an eligible veteran who is at least 55 years old and meets residency requirements may also be eligible.
Residents contribute to the cost of their care according to their means.
Homeless Veterans
The Minnesota Homeless Veteran Registry helps veterans access stable housing by connecting them with housing and services in their community.
The state and other agencies also provide homeless and at-risk veterans with expanded access to Social Security income and Social Security disability insurance benefits (the Veterans SOAR program) for those experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness who have a mental illness, medical impairment and/or co-occurring substance-use disorder.
Adapted Housing
No state benefits.
Minnesota Veteran Financial Assistance
Subsistence assistance: Veterans who are unable to work due to a temporary disability, or who are permanently disabled and are waiting to receive federal government benefits, may receive temporary subsistence assistance for up to six months to help pay for housing, utility, insurance and other expenses. The benefit is based on income and assets. Surviving spouses may also be eligible without a temporary disability if they apply within the first 12 months of their spouse's death.
One-time grant: The Veterans Relief Grant provides one-time financial assistance to a veteran or surviving spouse to assist in financial stability and to prevent homelessness. Grants may pay for such expenses as housing costs and repairs, medical expenses and auto repairs.
Dental and vision care: Minnesota veterans may receive up to $1,500 worth of free dental care annually. However, this may be increased in certain situations. Minnesota veterans may also receive up to $600 worth of free vision care annually. These benefits are based on income.
Minnesota Veteran Legal Assistance
The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans' Vetlaw program helps veterans address legal issues that can present a barrier to employment or housing, such as evictions, child support, DUI/DWI, driver's license suspension/revocation, back taxes or defaulted student loans.
Minnesota Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Resident military personnel who submit a preference application form receive first preference in drawings for special hunts and lotteries.
Resident service members on leave who have maintained legal residency may hunt small game without a license while on leave but must have appropriate federal stamps.
Veterans with a 100% service-related disability may receive a free small-game license, a free deer license, preference in drawings for special hunts and lotteries, and a free permanent angling license.
Patients of a Minnesota veterans home may fish without a license with written permission of the institution.
Nonresidents stationed in Minnesota can get hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Parks/Camping
Service members, dependents and veterans with any service-related disability rating may receive a free annual state park permit. You do not have to be a Minnesota resident to qualify.
Minnesota 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.
Minnesota Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
Minnesota's four veterans cemeteries are in Duluth, Little Falls, Preston and Redwood Falls. Burial is free of charge to all veterans with an other-than-dishonorable discharge. Dependents may pay a small fee.
More Information
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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