Former and current Armed Forces members in West Virginia can take advantage of the many veteran exemptions and benefits. The state has veteran-specific bonuses and exemptions such as tuition assistance benefits, property tax exemptions, recreational discounts, and state income tax exemptions.
1. Tax Exemptions
The property tax exemption relieves disabled veterans of a percentage of their yearly property tax. Veterans with total {P&T} and 100 percent permanent VA disability rating qualify for property tax of $20,000.
If you’re a veteran residing outside West Virginia, you need to have lived in West Virginia for not less than two years. Also, veterans qualify for income tax exemptions equaling 3 to 6.5 percent.
To apply, contact the local County Assessor’s office to start the application process. You can also claim your VA disability rights with a West Virginia professional attorney.
2. Housing Benefits
Veterans in West Virginia also qualify for varied housing-related benefits. These include the two veteran nursing homes in Clarksburg and Barboursville. For veterans to be eligible for these benefits, they should have served on active service or active duty in the reserves for at least a year. Veterans may also be eligible for downpayment-free VA loans that offer a number of incentives for current and former servicemembers.
The West Virginia Veterans Nursing facility also offers long-term care for veterans who have lived in the State for at least a year. The facility has a comfortable nursing home catering to the needs of patients with memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Driver’s License and Vehicle Benefits
Honorably discharged veterans in West Virginia can also apply for a veteran designation on their ID card or driver’s license. Qualifying veterans can apply for the designation service through the Motor vehicle Division. If you are eligible, you will need to submit your veteran designation application with a DD214 at your local West Virginia DMV office.
Similarly, disabled veterans in West Virginia can also be eligible for cost-free license plates. However, the no-fee license plate benefits are only available to disabled veterans with 100 percent total {P&T} VA and permanent VA disability.
4. Recreational Veteran Benefits
You can also apply for many recreational veteran benefits as an honorably discharged veteran in West Virginia. For instance, qualified disabled veterans are eligible for unpaid fishing and hunting licenses.
If you qualify for these recreational benefits, you can get free fishing and hunting licenses if you provide proof of POW or disability status. West Virginia has programs that honor active duty service members and veterans with a 10% discount in all state park cabins and lodges.
5. Financial Assistance Benefits
West Virginia has the highest per capita veteran population of 125,084, which equals 8.7% of the United States veteran population. Veterans who served in the Afghanistan, Kosovo, or Iraq wars can also be eligible for bonuses up to $600.
If you were a military officer who acted out of the combat zones, you would get a bonus of $400, while if you served in the combat zone, you would earn a reward of $600.
Serving military officers can apply for the bonuses any time before they retire. However, honorably discharged veterans must apply for the bonuses within a year after leaving the military service.
6. Employment Benefits
As a veteran living in West Virginia, you may also qualify for employment benefits. In fact, West Virginia offers employment support and resources to enable veterans and loved ones to advance their careers and find well-paying jobs. West Virginia State gives top priority to honorably discharged veterans when giving out local government, federal, and county jobs.
Members of Reserves, Armed Forces, and National Guard who were honorably discharged can also apply for employment assistance. The benefits and assistance come in the form of tools and resources to enable you to advance or change your career.
Final Thoughts
If you are a serving military officer or a veteran, the West Virginia State has your needs at heart. Consider the many army rewards, financial assistance, bonuses, and employment preferences for which you may qualify.
Mark Scott
With a law degree under his belt, Mark Scott understood very early that law communication was a relatively neglected area. He decided to help people by “translating” the language and offering information and advice in a clear, useful, and actionable manner. For this reason, instead of finding him in court, you will most likely find his name online, where he is very active and thriving as a legal columnist. His part of making the world a better place is to make the law a less convoluted maze. He aims to make it easier for people to understand when and how to seek legal counsel, how to proceed in a significant number of legal matters, and to find the proper resources so they can stand up for their rights.
