The state of Vermont provides several veteran benefits. This page explains those benefits.
Vermont Veterans Home
The state of Vermont runs a veterans home in Bennington. Vermont veterans have priority admission but veterans from other states are welcome to apply. Honorable discharge and at least 90 days of service is required.
Gold Star parents and spouses of qualified veterans also are eligible for admission.
Veterans without Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance will have to pay for their care, but the home’s staff will help make sure all available insurance programs are used if the individual is eligible.
Vermont Veteran Financial Benefits
Income Tax
Active duty pay earned while out-of-state is tax-free.
Up to $2,000 in guard/reserve pay is tax-free. Income limits apply.
Beginning in 2022, up to $10,000 in retirement income is tax-free for those with a gross income less than $50,000 for single filers or $65,000 for joint filers.
Emergency Financial Assistance
Vermont state Veterans Affairs provides emergency financial assistance to veterans and their dependents by providing a one-time payment. Applications are processed over the phone or in person. Applicants will need to provide detailed information on their income and expenses to apply.
Property Tax Reduction
The following are eligible for the exemption:
- Veterans receiving VA disability compensation of at least 50%
- Veterans receiving VA pension
- Veterans collecting military medical retirement pay
- Surviving spouses of veterans who had received the exemption
The exemption level varies from town to town, but is at least $10,000 off the appraised value.
Vermont Veteran Employment Benefits
State Employment
Veterans applying for state jobs in Vermont get five points added to their employment test score, disabled veterans get ten points. You must have an honorable discharge. Surviving spouses can also get the preference.
Eligible veterans can also apply for jobs that normally are available only to current state employees.
Vermont CDL Military Skills Test Waiver
Service members who have a military CDL and have driven a commercial vehicle in the last 12 months may have their skills test waived when applying for a CDL.
Vermont Veteran Recreation Benefits
Disabled Veteran Hunting & Fishing License
Veterans with a VA Service Connected Disability rating of at least 60% can get a free lifetime hunting and fishing license.
Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Non-Resident Veterans
Non-resident veterans who live in a state that provides reciprocal privilege for Vermont residents and who would qualify for a free license under the disabled veteran provision above if they were a Vermont resident, can get a free one-year fishing, hunting or combination hunting and fishing license.
Active Duty Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Active duty members can get free fishing and hunting licenses by signing paperwork that certifies their active duty status.
Non-residents on active duty in Vermont can get hunting & fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Green Mountain Passport
Vermont veterans can get the Green Mountain Passport for $2. Those with a VA disability of at least 60% can get it for free.
Vermont State Veterans Cemetery
The Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located in Randolph Center. Veterans, their spouse, and unmarried minor children are eligible for burial as are National Guard and Reserve members with 20 years of service.
There is no cost for the veteran's burial and a small cost for dependents.
Visit the Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs website for more information on any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
Stay on Top of Your Veteran Benefits
Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by subscribing to Military.com, and get access to up-to-date pay charts and more with all latest benefits delivered straight to your inbox.
