New Hampshire Veteran Financial Benefits

  • Property Tax Exemption: Wartime Veterans, their wives or widows may be eligible for a property tax credit of $50 ($100 if both are eligible Veterans). Some locations may vote to adopt a higher tax credit of up to $500. The widow of a Veteran who was killed in action may be eligible for a tax credit of between $700 and $2,000 on real estate or personal property. There is a $700 tax credit on the home of a permanently and totally disabled service-connected Veteran, double amputee or paraplegic, or un-remarried surviving spouse. Some locations may vote to adopt a higher tax credit of up to $2,000. A permanently and totally disabled Veteran who is blind, paraplegic or a double amputee as a result of service and who owns a specially adapted home acquired with the assistance of the VA, or with proceeds from the sale of any previous homestead acquired with the assistance of the VA, is exempt from all property tax on the home. The Veteran’s surviving spouse is also eligible for exemption.

  • Indigent Veterans: Wartime Veterans and their families who are unable to support themselves shall be supported at public expense in the town or city where they live.

Sales Tax:

There is generally no sales tax in New Hampshire, with the following exceptions:

  • Prepared meals, room rentals (less than 185 days), motor vehicle rentals: 9%

  • Telecommunications services: 7%

  • Electricity: $.00055 per megawatt-hour

  • Gasoline Tax: 42.23 cents/gallon (includes all state, local and federal taxes)

  • Diesel Fuel Tax: 48.23 cents/gallon (includes all state, local and federal taxes)

  • Cigarette Tax: $1.78/pack of 20

RECREATION

Fish and Game Licenses: Honorably discharged New Hampshire resident Veterans who have a 100% disability rating can get a free lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. Patients at the VA Medical Center in Manchester, NH, and residents of the NH Veterans’ Home may be issued free fishing permits under certain conditions. Disabled Veterans may hunt from motor vehicles or boats under certain conditions with a proper permit.

State Park Admission: New Hampshire Veterans with any disability rating won’t be charged a fee for day-use admission to state parks. Any member of the New Hampshire National Guard who is serving (or who retired) in pay grades E-1 through E-6 won’t be charged a fee for admission to state parks.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Free Tuition for Surviving Children of Military Members: Children of military members who die in service during wartime, and children of certain wartime Veterans who die from a service-connected disability, may qualify for free tuition at any New Hampshire college. They can also get a scholarship of up to $2,500 per year for room/board/rent, books, and supplies for a period of no more than 4 years. Children must be between the ages of 16 and 25 to be eligible.

HOUSING: THE FOLLOWING ARE THE SITES FOR VETERANS HOMES

New Hampshire State Veterans Home at Tilton

ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION:

  • Discharged other than on dishonorable accounts

  • Spouse and Gold Star Parents may be eligible for admission

  • The Veteran must require skilled nursing care

  • Veterans pay based on their need

EMPLOYMENT AND JOB TRAINING: VETERANS PREFERENCE

Honorably discharged Veterans get preference for city, town, and district jobs. Preference is also given in appointing employees of the State Liquor Commission, the State Veterans Council, and the Commandant of employees for the New Hampshire Veterans Home. Some spouses and un-remarried surviving spouses may also be eligible.

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act: Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protect civilian job rights and benefits for Veterans and members of Reserve components. USERRA also makes major improvements in protecting service member rights and benefits by clarifying the law, improving enforcement mechanisms, and adding Federal Government employees to those employees already eligible to receive the Department of Labor assistance in processing claims.

New Hampshire Veteran Reemployment to Previously Held Position in State Employment: Reemployment of Veterans by towns and other political subdivisions upon application shall be made within 90 days after the Veteran is discharged from active military service.

BURIALS AND MEMORIALS

Please note that your preference regarding burial in a national cemetery and use of a headstone provided by VA should be documented and kept with your paperwork and medical records. Veterans eligible must be New Hampshire residents. Spouses are also eligible. There is no fee for Veterans.

National Cemeteries include:

Boscawen: New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery

NEW HAMPSHIRE VA BENEFIT RESOURCES

New Hampshire provides Veterans with a Regional Benefits Office and VA Medical Centers.

NEW HAMPSHIRE VA REGIONAL BENEFITS OFFICE

NEW HAMPSHIRE VA MEDICAL CENTERS

Important information for New Hampshire Veteran Benefits:

For Veterans applying for VA benefits for the first time, you must submit a copy of your DD 214 (discharge paperwork). This will provide your discharge status, along with your full name, social security number, branch of service, and dates for which you served. Honorable and general discharges qualify a Veteran for most VA benefits.

You should always keep your paperwork, along with your medical records, in a safe place where you and your family can have access to them. It is imperative to have it in a location where it cannot be destroyed or tampered with, which includes a safe.

Your eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Any Veteran discharged from the military under the conditions of “Dishonorable” due to bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees may be eligible for certain VA benefits. VA regional offices can clarify the eligibility of prisoners, parolees, and individuals with multiple discharges issued under differing conditions.