South Dakota Veteran Financial Benefits

  • South Dakota Retirement Income Taxes: South Dakota does not levy a general state income tax on individuals, so you are not required to file an individual state tax return for South Dakota.

  • South Dakota Retired Military Pay Taxes: South Dakota does not levy a general state income tax on individuals, so you are not required to file an individual state tax return for South Dakota.

  • South Dakota State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Military Disability Retired Pay: South Dakota does not levy a general state income tax on individuals, so you are not required to file an individual state tax return for South Dakota.

  • South Dakota State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: South Dakota does not levy a general state income tax on individuals, so you are not required to file an individual state tax return for South Dakota.

  • Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/ Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)/ Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) South Dakota State Tax Benefits: South Dakota does not levy a general state income tax on individuals, so you are not required to file an individual state tax return for South Dakota.

  • South Dakota Property Tax Exemption for Paraplegic Veterans and Their Surviving Spouse: Exempts the property from all property taxes. Property is the house, garage and the lot upon which it sits or one acre, whichever is less.
    To be eligible:

    • The property must be owned by a paraplegic Veteran, a Veteran with loss or loss of use of both lower extremities, or the un-remarried Surviving Spouse of such Veteran.

    • The property must be specifically designed for wheelchair use within the structure.

Sales Tax:

  • Statewide: 4.5%

  • Municipalities: can levy a sales tax of no more than 6.5%

  • Current average sales tax: 5.57% (seniors and disabled individuals may be eligible for a sales tax refund).

RECREATION

Reduced Fee South Dakota Hunting and Fishing Cards for Disabled Veterans and former Prisoner of War: For a $10 fee, eligible Veterans may receive a hunting and fishing card which is valid for four years. This card is the equivalent of the resident fishing and small game license.

South Dakota Special Provisions for Handicapped Hunters: Individuals who are missing an upper limb, or are physically incapable of using an upper limb or who are confined to a wheelchair may use a crossbow to take game birds and animals once they have obtained a disabled hunter permit. A legally blind or quadriplegic, legally licensed individual who possesses a disabled hunter permit and who is physically present and participating in the hunt may claim game birds and animals taken by a designated hunter in accordance with the license or licenses possessed by the handicapped hunter. A legally blind or quadriplegic, legally licensed individual who possesses a disabled hunter permit. Applications are obtained from the Game, Fish and Parks office in Pierre or from a game warden.

Lifetime Free Admission and Reduced Camping Fees at South Dakota State Parks for Resident Veterans: Certain resident Veterans may obtain free admission to any South Dakota state park and are eligible for a fifty percent discount on any camping fee or associated electrical fee.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Free Tuition at South Dakota State Supported Schools for Veterans: Certain Veterans are eligible to take undergraduate courses at a state-supported university without payment of tuition provided they are not eligible for educational payments under the GI Bill or any other federal educational program.
Who is eligible for Free Tuition at South Dakota State Supported Schools for Veterans? To qualify the Veteran must:

  • have been discharged under Honorable conditions

  • must be a current resident of South Dakota and qualify for in-state tuition, and meet one of the following:

  • Served on active duty between August 2, 1990, and date to be determined

    1. Received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, or other United States campaign, expeditionary, or service medal awarded for participation in combat operations against hostile forces outside the boundaries of the United States

    2. Has a service-connected disability rating of 10% or more

Free Tuition at South Dakota State Supported Schools for Children of Veterans Who Die During Military Service: The Child of a Veteran who suffered death, for any cause, while on active duty may be eligible for free tuition at a state-supported school or any post-secondary technical institute. The deceased Veteran must have been a bonafide resident of South Dakota for at least six months immediately preceding entry into active service.

South Dakota Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children: It is the purpose of this compact to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by:

  • Facilitating the timely enrollment of children of military families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of educational records from the previous school district or variations in entrance or age requirements

  • Facilitating the student placement process through which children of military families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content or assessment

  • Facilitating the qualification and eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, and participation in extracurricular academic, athletic and social activities

  • Facilitating the on-time graduation of children of military families

  • Providing for the promulgation and enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of this compact

  • Providing for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among member states, schools and military families under this compact

  • Promoting coordination between this compact and other compacts affecting military children

  • Promoting flexibility and cooperation between the educational system, parents and the student in order to achieve educational success for the student

HOUSING: THE FOLLOWING ARE THE SITES FOR VETERANS HOMES

South Dakota State Veterans Home at Hot Springs

ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION:

  • The Veteran must have an honorable discharge

  • Spouse or widow of Veterans are eligible

  • Costs are based on income

EMPLOYMENT AND JOB TRAINING: VETERAN PREFERENCE

By Federal law, Veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to preference over non-Veterans both in hiring into the Federal civil service and in retention during reduction in force. Veterans may be entitled to 5 or 10 points included in any scoring process for examination or interviews.

South Dakota State Employment Wage Compensation Adjustment during Active-Duty Service: Any employee of the state of South Dakota who is also member of the South Dakota National Guard or any other Reserve component, is ordered into active duty under Title 10 or Title 32, after January 1, 2002, for other than training purposes, the employee shall receive the difference between their state salary or wage rate and their military salary and allowances from the state for the duration of their service. The difference in pay will be paid on no less than a quarterly basis.

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.

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. Eligibility for interment in the State Veterans Cemetery follows National Cemetery Administration eligibility requirements. Veterans and their spouses are eligible for burial.

National Cemeteries include:

Harwood: Fargo National Cemetery

SOUTH DAKOTA VA BENEFIT RESOURCES

South Dakota provides Veterans with a Regional Benefits Office and a VA Medical Center.

SOUTH DAKOTA VA REGIONAL BENEFITS OFFICE

SOUTH DAKOTA VA MEDICAL CENTERS

Important information for South Dakota 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.