Idaho offers various benefits for veterans. On this page, you’ll find a concise overview of each of these benefits.
Idaho Veteran Housing Benefits
Idaho boasts three state veterans homes located in Boise, Lewiston, and Pocatello. The fourth Idaho veterans home, situated in Post Falls, is set to commence operations in 2022.
Eligible applicants may include peacetime or wartime veterans, with wartime veterans given priority for admission. Applicants must have received an honorable discharge and be residents of Idaho. Additionally, they must be unable to work due to age, illness, or disability, and must either apply for and qualify for Medicaid benefits or be prepared to pay a monthly fee.
Idaho Veteran Financial Benefits
Income Tax
Income earned by military personnel is tax-exempt when stationed out-of-state.
Military retirement and SBP recipients have the option to deduct up to $37,776 of their retirement/SBP income for single filers or $56,664 for joint filers. This deduction, which adjusts annually, is applicable only to veterans or their un-remarried surviving spouses who are aged 65 or older, or disabled and aged 62 or older.
Property Tax
Veterans rated with a 100% service-connected disability or deemed unemployable by the VA are eligible to receive a reduction of up to $1,500 on the property tax for their home and up to one acre of land. This program does not impose an income limit.
Veterans with a minimum 10% service-connected disability may also benefit from a property tax reduction of up to $1,500 for their home if their income does not exceed $32,230 for the year 2021.
Grocery Tax Credit
Veterans who are 65 years of age or older, or disabled and aged 62 or older, are eligible to receive the Grocery Tax Credit, even if they are not mandated to file an income tax return, provided that their sole income consists of VA disability benefits.
Financial Assistance
Offers a grant of up to $1,000 for wartime veterans facing extreme emergencies. Eligibility requires either entry into the military from Idaho or residing in the state for at least 5 years. The emergency or event prompting the request must have transpired within 90 days.
Idaho Veterans Employment Benefits
State Employment Preference
Idaho state employment offers preference points to active duty veterans. Honorably discharged veterans receive 5 preference points, while disabled veterans are granted 10 preference points. Surviving spouses who have not remarried are eligible to receive the same points as the veteran.
Occupational Licenses
Idaho provides expedited processing of occupational licenses for military members and their families, along with recognition of relevant military training for license applications.
Additionally, Idaho residents serving on active, reserve, or guard duty are exempt from paying professional or occupational license fees while in the military. Moreover, service members holding an occupational or professional license will have the expiration date extended until six months after leaving the service.
Furthermore, the state of Idaho may acknowledge military education, training, and experience towards fulfilling the requirements for a license, certification, or registration. Idaho also expedites license applications for military spouses.
Idaho Veteran Recreation Benefits
Idaho State Parks Veterans Pass
Idaho residents who are 100% service-connected disabled veterans receive complimentary access to and camping privileges at Idaho State Parks.
Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Disabled veterans who are residents may qualify for discounted fees for licenses and tags.
Nonresident disabled veterans with a VA disability rating of at least 40% are eligible for reduced nonresident fees for licenses and tags.
Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries
The Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries are situated in Blackfoot and Boise. Eligibility for burial at these cemeteries adheres to the National Veterans Cemetery criteria and Idaho state law. Residency in the state of Idaho is not a prerequisite for burial.
