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Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, Tax Exemption for Veterans, Arizona State Park Pass and more
The state of Arizona might not have as much of a history with the military as other states, but it is still a strong contributor to the US Armed Forces and to Servicemembers and Veterans. Arizona has several major military installations, including Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Fort Huachuca, and Yuma Proving Ground. Those stationed at these bases within Arizona’s borders are fortunate, as Arizona offers a range of benefits to Veterans, including education and training programs, employment assistance, financial exemptions, and access to other benefits. Arizona Veteran benefits also include the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, the Arizona property tax exemption for disabled Veterans, the Arizona income tax exemption for Veterans, the Arizona hunting license for Veterans, and the Arizona state park pass for Veterans. There’s even more!
Financial concerns often plague members of the military, many of whom might be facing deployment, moving from one posting to the next, or having health concerns. For these reasons, Arizona Veteran benefits programs seek to address these issues with state-level financial programs, many of which work alongside federal benefits.
Veterans and their spouses have the option of qualifying for a property tax exemption up to $4,748 of the assessed value of their property as part of the Arizona property tax exemption for disabled Veterans. To qualify, the applicant must have a total and permanent disability, must be an Arizona resident, and, if a widow, submit a copy of their spouse’s death certificate. For Veterans, the disability can be service-related or non-service-related. The assessed value of the property cannot exceed $31,347, and the household income cannot exceed $38,843 if single or married, or $46,600 with children under the age of 18.
Veterans and Servicemembers who receive active duty and combat pay are not taxed for this form of military pay. The Arizona income tax exemption for Veterans also excludes retired military pay, military disability retirement pay, military disability compensation, and nonresident military spouses do not pay Arizona income tax, though they might be required to pay taxes in their home state. Some Arizona Veteran benefits for financial assistance are also available.
The AMFRF is a program that provides financial assistance to the families of currently deployed Servicemembers, plus military and Veteran families, for hardships caused by their military service. The Arizona Military Family Relief Fund provides financial assistance to active duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and their families facing unforeseen hardships due to military service, covering basic living expenses like mortgage/rent, utilities, and travel.
Arizona offers tuition-free education through the Tuition Waiver program for eligible Veterans and surviving dependents at any Arizona public state university or community college, covering tuition for undergraduate programs. Furthermore, as part of the Arizona Veterans benefits program, out-of-state Servicemembers and their families can be granted immediate or temporary residency, allowing them to avoid out-of-state fees at Arizona universities.
Servicemembers and their dependents who are using VA education benefits are typically exempt from tuition and fees at Arizona schools and universities under most circumstances. Those making use of federal-level disability benefits also qualify for further financial assistance through the Arizona Disabled Veteran Benefits Educational Program. Members of the National Guard might qualify for a tuition reimbursement program, with $250 per semester hour, while attending Arizona educational facilities. The state also offers honorary high school diplomas for Servicemembers who left to join the service before graduating high school. There is also the Arizona Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children for families experiencing hardship for their children’s education due to frequent military moves. Veterans and their families qualify for the tuition waivers for Arizona colleges under the following conditions:
The State of Arizona Veterans benefits program seeks to help Veterans with employment in a variety of ways. Some of these include offering incentives for businesses that hire Veterans, such as tax breaks, and promoting Veteran preference jobs in Arizona. Arizona offers various education and training programs to help Veterans transition to civilian careers, many of which work in accordance with the VA’s Readiness and Employment services. Veterans in Arizona have guaranteed rights to retain their jobs when forced to be absent due to military service, to return to work without loss of seniority, to have disability accommodations in the workplace, and certain extensions to healthcare and pension plans. The Arizona Department of Economic Security Veterans Employment Assistance and Priority of Service program provides career guidance and training to Veterans seeking to transition from the military to the civilian workforce. The Arizona Hilton Honors Military Program also provides career transition services to Veterans, specifically within the hospitality industry.
Veterans who pass the civil service exam are automatically given extra points in the ranking system and have access to Veteran preference jobs in Arizona. Veterans with active duty time and an honorable discharge get 5 extra points in the system ranking, while disabled Veterans get 10 points.
This Arizona Veterans benefits program seeks to help unemployed Arizona Veterans. The Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Veteran Toolkit Program, a partnership with ARIZONA@WORK and the Arizona Housing Coalition, provides funding to help unemployed Veterans cover expenses associated with starting employment, including work clothing, tools, protective equipment, transportation, and essential electronic devices. The program aims to alleviate the financial burden on Veterans transitioning into employment by providing funding for necessary supplies and expenses.
The Arizona Veterans benefits and Arizona disabled Veterans benefits programs tend to rely on the Veterans Administration healthcare system to provide healthcare for Arizona Servicemembers. Most military personnel residing in Arizona have access to Arizona VA benefits and the VA Medical Center Tucson Arizona is one of the largest in the region. Arizona Veterans can access a range of health insurance benefits through the VA. The state sponsors several programs for members of the National Guard, including state-sponsored life insurance and workers’ compensation for illness, injury, or death while in service to the state, along with other Arizona VA benefits. The Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services also facilitates some of these programs.
The Arizona Veterans benefits system, in addition to its property tax exemption for Veterans, also provides several home-related benefits for resident Veterans within the state. There are Veteran housing assistance Arizona programs, many of which work alongside VA-backed home loan programs, and there are several Veterans homes in Arizona that provide end-of-life care to Veterans in need of assisted living or skilled nursing care.
Arizona has three state-run Veterans homes, in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff, all offering skilled nursing care and rehabilitative services for eligible Arizona Veterans and their spouses. These homes work in partnership with the VA to provide skilled nursing, long-term care, memory care, and rehabilitative services to resident Arizona Veterans and their spouses. They are owned and operated by the state under the State Home Construction Grant program. In Arizona, eligibility for state Veterans homes generally requires an applicant to be an honorably separated Veteran or the spouse of a Veteran, and to require skilled nursing care as determined by a physician, with documented evidence.
The Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services doesn’t have its own home loan programs, but it helps Veterans access the federal VA home loan program, which offers benefits like zero down payments and lower interest rates. While most home loans for Veterans in Arizona come from VA-backed home loans, the role of this program is to help Veterans navigate the VA home loan process by providing information and resources. There is also the VA Home Loan Plus program, which offers 100% financing for Servicemembers, and the Home in 5 program helps with closing costs.
Arizona offers several parks and recreation benefits to Veterans, including discounted or free day-use passes to state parks, free hunting and fishing licenses for 100% disabled Veterans, and access to a free lifetime pass for national parks and other federal recreational lands, as part of the Arizona State benefits program.
There is a specialized Arizona State Park Pass for Veterans, which offers free and discounted admission to Servicemembers. Arizona residents who are former members of the US Armed Forces can show their military ID or other proof of service for a 50% discount on day pass admission to the state parks. Disabled Veterans get a 100% discount with proof of a service-connected disability rated by the VA.
Arizona offers complimentary or discounted hunting and fishing licenses to eligible Veterans, including those with 100% service-connected disabilities and Purple Heart recipients, and those with less than 100% disability receive a discounted license. Also, Veterans 70 years old or older and who have been residents of Arizona for at least 25 years are also eligible for complimentary licenses. Active duty nonresident Servicemembers stationed in Arizona may purchase a resident Arizona hunting license for Veterans.
As part of the Arizona Veterans benefits system, the state operates several Veterans cemeteries in Arizona. The state has three Veterans Cemeteries: the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo in Bellmont, and the Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery at Marana. Burial in Veterans’ Memorial Cemeteries is open to all members of the Armed Forces, including National Guard and reservists, and Veterans discharged from active duty under honorable conditions, along with their spouses, unremarried widows or widowers, and minor children. National Guard or Reservists who die while on active duty are also eligible.
The state of Arizona Veterans benefits system is quite generous to its resident Veterans. The Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services strives to work alongside the VA in offering assistance, benefits, and services to those who reside in Arizona and served in defense of the country. Furthermore, the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services not only serves Veterans, it also serves their families as well.
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