State / Territory Benefits - Washington
Summary: Washington offers special benefits for its military Service members and Veterans including property tax exemptions, state employment preferences, education and tuition assistance, vehicle tags, as well as hunting and fishing license privileges. Eligibility for some benefits may depend on residency, military component and Veteran disability status.
State Benefit Highlights and Eligibility
State Tax Advantage:
Retirement Tax: Not Taxed
Military Disability Retired Pay: Not Taxed
Property Tax Exemption: Disposable income is used to determine eligibility for certain property tax relief programs. Veterans' disability, dependency and indemnity compensation benefits are NOT included in the calculation of disposable income. (Military retirement pay still has to be included in disposable income.)
The Property Tax Exemption Program freezes the value of your residence, exempts all excess levies, and may exempt a portion of regular levies. This results in: 1) freezing the value of your residence as of January 1, 1995, or January 1 of the initial application year, whichever is later; 2) providing you with a reduction in your property taxes. The assessor will continue to establish the market value of the property; however, you will only be billed for the taxes on the frozen value.
Eligibility: To qualify for the Exemption Program, you must be at least 61 years of age OR disabled OR a disabled Veteran with a 100 percent service-connected disability. (If a Veteran is disabled and unable to work, or at least age 61, the Veteran may still qualify even if he/she is not 100% service connected disabled.) You must also own and occupy your residence and your combined disposable income must be $35,000 or less.
Property Tax Assistance Program: The purpose of this program is to allow widow and widowers of qualifying Veterans to remain in their homes in spite of rising property taxes. The program will provide funds for the payment of all or a portion of the excess levies and regular property taxes due on the property.
Eligibility: Eligibility is determined by household income, age or disability, and the spouse's Veteran status at the time of death.
Washington State Education Benefits for Veterans: The State Legislature has authorized state community colleges, colleges and universities to waive 'all or a portion of tuition and fees' for eligible Veterans or National Guard members. Each college or university establishes and operates their own Veterans waiver program so it is best to get in touch with the college or university you plan to attend for details on their program. Click here for a list of colleges and universities.
Eligibility: An eligible Veteran or National Guard member is defined as: "...a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a national guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service, under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code, in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge." Click here to read the tuition waiver law.
Education Benefits for Dependents of 100% Disabled Veterans or those who died as a result of military service: The State Legislature requires state universities and state community colleges to waive all undergraduate tuition and fees for Dependents of 100% Disabled Veterans or those who died as a result of military service up to 200 quarter credits or equivalent semester credits. Waivers for graduate credits are encouraged but not required. Fees include all assessments for costs incurred as a condition to a student's full participation in coursework and related activities at an institution of higher education. Click here for a list of colleges and universities.
Eligibility: Eligible dependents are: A child must be a Washington domiciliary between the age of seventeen and twenty-six to be eligible for the tuition waiver. A child's marital status does not affect eligibility. A surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner must be a Washington domiciliary.
- A surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner has ten years from the date of the death, total disability, or federal determination of prisoner of war or missing in action status of the eligible Veteran or National Guard member to receive benefits under the waiver. Upon remarriage or registration in a subsequent domestic partnership, the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner is ineligible for the waiver of all tuition and fees.
- If a death results from total disability, the surviving spouse has ten years from the date of death in which to receive benefits under the waiver.
Operation Recognition: In recognition of their outstanding contributions, The Washington State Legislature passed three bills to issues high school diplomas to Veterans of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. "Operation Recognition" is being instituted through individual school districts to award full high school diplomas to qualifying Veterans. This is a small, overdue, gesture of our society's gratitude for the sacrifice these individuals made in the name of freedom.
Eligibility: Veterans who left high school to join the military during WWII, Korea, or Vietnam are eligible to receive a high school diploma if the Veteran:
- Is an honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the United States
- Was scheduled to graduate from high school; and
- Left high school before graduation to serve in the War
Veterans who received a GED are still eligible to receive a high school diploma. Diplomas can be awarded posthumously.
Employment Assistance: State employees must be granted military leave with pay not to exceed twenty-one working days during each year, beginning October 1st and ending the following September 30th, in order to report for required military duty, training duty in the Washington National Guard or the Army reserves of the United States or any organized reserve or armed forces of the United States, or to report for drills including those in the National Guard under Title 10 U.S.C., or state active status. The employee is charged military leave only for the days that they are scheduled to work.
Eligibility: State employees on orders for Annual Training, Army National Guard and Reserve Service members.
Preference in Public Employment: Veterans may receive scoring criteria status in competitive examinations for public employment. The percentage shall be added to the passing mark, grade, or rating of competitive examinations until the Veteran's first appointment. The percentage shall not be utilized in promotional examinations. (1) Ten percent to a Veteran who served during a period of war or in an armed conflict and does not receive military retirement. (2) Five percent to a Veteran who did not serve during a period of war or in an armed conflict or is receiving military retirement. (3) Five percent to a Veteran who was called to active military service for one or more years from employment with the state or any of its political subdivisions or municipal corporations. (4) All Veterans' scoring criteria may be claimed upon release from active military service.
Eligibility: Must be a Veteran with Honorable Discharge.
Military Service Credit: Washington State Department of Retirement Systems offers military service credit to qualified public employees.1-800-547-6657
Eligibility: Service in the Army, or their Reserve units (including two-week annual training for reservists); or Air National Guard.
Unemployment Compensation: Unemployment benefits replace some of your regular income and help you meet expenses while you look for a job.
Specific criteria must be met to be eligible for Unemployment benefits:
• You must be employed for at least 680 hours in your base year in covered employment.
• Unemployed for reasons that are not your fault. For example, you:
- Were laid off.
- Are still working, but your hours were cut back.
- Were fired for a reason other than misconduct or gross misconduct.
- Quit for a good-cause reason.
• Able to and available for work.
• Actively seeking suitable work.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States and have been authorized to work during your base year.
Everyone's circumstance is unique. The Employment Security Department will decide if you are eligible for unemployment benefits based on the facts about your job loss. Click here for Washington's online Unemployment Insurance Application or to apply by phone, call the claims center at 800-318-6022.
http://www.esd.wa.gov/findajob/specialprograms/veterans-services.php
http://www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/realifelines/stateinfo.htm?state=WA
Special Vehicle License Plates: Washington Department of Licensing has issued license plates to eligible Veterans with six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and WA National Guard. Purchasers also receive a decal indicating their military status to include:
•· Veteran
•· Retired
•· Active Duty
•· Reserves
•· Disabled Veteran
•· Army Guard
•· Air Guard
•· Army Retired (for Army National Guard Retirees)
•· Air Retired (For Air National Guard Retirees)
•· Fallen Hero (This decal would be available for an eligible Family member of a military member killed in action.)
•· Family
•· Gold Star
The original cost to purchase and Armed Forces plate(s) is $40.00 plus any applicable licensing fees. When the vehicle registration becomes due, owners pay an additional $30.00 to keep the Armed Forces plate on their vehicle, even if you have not had the plate(s) for a full year. $28 from the purchase and renewal of each plate will be directed to the Veterans Stewardship Account and is tax deductible.
Eligibility: You are eligible to purchase a plate at any Vehicle Licensing Office if you are serving or have served at any time in the U.S. Military, active duty or in the Guard or Reserves; A spouse of a deceased Veteran; or if you are a Family member of those who have served. Service member must provide DD214 when applying for special plates. Veterans rated at 100% disabled must present VA documentation as proof of disability.
Gold Star Parent Plate: In 2008, the Washington State Legislature approved a license plate for Gold Star Parents. The plates honor parents of military men and women who lost their lives in service to our Country. These plates are not transferable. No special plate fee.
Eligibility: The parent of a member of the United States armed forces who has died while in service to their country or as a result of such service. The parent must be a resident of Washington State, a registered owner of a motorized vehicle, and certified by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA). The term "parent", as defined by The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, (WDVA) includes: (a) Birth mother, (b) Birth father, (c) Stepmother, (d) Stepfather, (e) Mother through adoption, (f) Father through adoption, and (g) Adults who fulfilled the parental role including foster parents and kinship care providers or caretaker relative. (Documentation required). A copy of the letter to a qualifying parent provided by WDVA is required. The letter will be used in lieu of a special plate application to purchase the plate. No other documentation is required.
Vehicle License Plate Remembrance Emblems: To honor the Veteran, who shares a common bond through their service and sacrifice to their country and to Washington, any honorably discharged Veteran may obtain an emblem packet which contains one U.S. Veteran emblem, one U.S. Flag Emblem and their choice of campaign ribbon. Emblem packets are available for a cost of $10.00.
Eligibility: Provide copy of DD214 if a Veteran and copy of the orders awarding a campaign ribbon.
Former Prisoners of War: A qualified prisoner of war may receive an exemption from license fees on one vehicle each year. Special plates are available with a permanent registration to qualified recipients.
Eligibility: Those who qualify for free licensing: have received an honorable discharge - or received a discharge for physical reasons with an honorable record, have been captured or incarcerated for more than 29 days by an enemy of the United States during a period of war with the United States, or are the surviving spouse of a deceased former prisoner of war. A surviving spouse of a former prisoner of war may be issued a regular or special license plate even if the deceased had not been issued a plate.
Disabled Veteran Plate: The following types of disabled American Veterans may be exempt from license fees on one vehicle per year: a) Disabled American Veterans and former prisoners of war; b) Veterans awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and c) Surviving spouses of a deceased former prisoner of war named as a registered owner of the vehicle, including lessees. These plates are good for the life of the vehicle.
Eligibility: Applicants need to have served in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, Reserves, or National Guard, and received: an honorable discharge or a discharge for physical reasons with an honorable record, and a 100% service connected disability rating from the Veteran's Administration or the military service from which the Veteran was discharged.
Medal of Honor: Washington residents who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor may receive a license plate representing that award. You must submit proof from the Department of Veteran Affairs that you have received the Congressional Medal of Honor. No special plate fee.
Eligibility: Obtain letter of eligibility from Dept. of Veteran's Administration verifying that you have received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Complete a Military License Plate Application. Mail the completed application with letter of eligibility to:
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9043
Olympia, WA 98507-9909Learn more
Purple Heart: Any person who was issued the Purple Heart from any branch of the US Armed Forces, including the Merchant Marines, may be issued a special set of license plates indicating that they were injured in one of this nation's wars or conflicts. No special plate fee.
Eligibility: Be a Washington resident, have been wounded in combat during one of this nation's wars or conflicts, have been awarded a Purple Heart as evidenced by Armed Forces documentation (such as a DD-214), and be an owner, co-owner, lessee or co-lessee of the vehicle the Purple Heart plate will be issued to, or be a surviving spouse or domestic partner of a deceased Purple Heart recipient.
Pearl Harbor Survivor: Washington residents who are Pearl Harbor survivors are eligible to apply for Pearl Harbor Survivor license plates. No special plate fee.
Eligibility: Be a Washington resident, have been a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on December 7, 1941, stationed on December 7, 1941 during the hours of 7:55 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. (Hawaii time) at Pearl Harbor, the island of Oahu, or offshore at a distance of not more than 3 miles, received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, or a discharge for physical or medical reasons with an honorable record and be certified as meeting these qualifications by a Washington State charter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.
Medical Benefits: Medical and hospital coverage equivalent to Worker's Compensation.
Eligibility: Injury occurs while serving on State Active Duty.
Group Insurance: National Guard Association offers a variety of life, vehicle, medical and dental insurance at low cost.
Eligibility: Member of Army/Air National Guard.
Workers Compensation: Workers Compensation equivalent to State employees.
Eligibility: Injury occurs while serving on State Active Duty.
Injury/Death Benefits: Workers Compensation equivalent to State employees less any VA payments received.
Eligibility: Injury/Death occurs while serving on State Active Duty.
Parks and Recreation:
Hunting and Fishing Privileges: Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife offers reduced licensing fees at a cost of half the resident fee.
Eligibility: (1) Resident qualified disabled Veterans rated 30% service connected or more as verified by VA letter. (2) Resident Veterans 65 years of age or older with a service connected disability as verified by VA letter. (4) Resident who permanently uses a wheelchair as certified by the doctor. (5) Resident who is blind or visually impaired. (6) Resident with a developmental disability as determined by DSHS authority or physicians signature.
State Parks: Disabled Veteran Lifetime Pass - No charge. Free camping/moorage, campsite reservations through State Parks central reservations system, watercraft launching, and trailer dump. Valid year-round. Offered to Washington state residents with a documented service-connected disability of at least 30 percent.
Eligibility: Must have proof of 12 consecutive months residency in Washington State and have a service-connected disability of at least 30 percent.
Recording of Discharges: County Clerks may charge a basic recording fee and preservation fee, not to exceed $7, for recording of the official discharge of each Veteran who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, as a confidential record.
Eligibility: Military Veteran with DD214.
Public Disclosure of Discharge Papers: Veterans' discharge papers filed with county auditors after June 30, 2002, are no longer public records. Veterans' discharge papers may be released to the Veteran, the Veteran's next of kin, a deceased Veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the Veteran's general power of attorney, or anyone else designated in writing by the Veteran to receive the records.
Reduced Public Transportation Fees: Local participating transit authorities, offer disabled Veteran passengers travel at a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP)
Eligibility: Disabled Veteran passengers certified by the Veterans Administration at a 40 percent or greater disability level.
Reduced State Ferry Transportation Fees: Reduced State Ferry fares may be available to any disabled individuals. Disabled passengers may travel at half the regular passenger fare if proper proof of disability is presented. Acceptable ID includes a Medicare Card, the Regional Reduced Fare Permit, or other identification which establishes disability. In the case of a disabled driver, only the passenger portion of the fare is reduced, not the vehicle portion. If a disabled customer requires attendant care and has proof from physician certification, they can get an endorsement on their Regional Reduced Fare Permit or Ferry System Disability Card allowing the attendant to travel for free as a passenger. Contact 206-553-3060 for Regional Reduced Fare Permit information or 1‑888‑808‑7977 for WSF Disability Permit information.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Counseling: WDVA provides an outreach/counseling program to Veterans with war-era and PTSD-related problems. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program attempts to create community-based avenues to counseling service that are less formal in nature, offering the highest level of confidentiality possible. Services provided throughout the program include individual, couples, Family, and Veteran group counseling.
Eligibility: All honorably discharged Veterans and Family members - including WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the various recent periods of conflict and peace-keeping operations - are eligible for counseling. Washington State National Guard or Military Reserve members deployed in support of the nation's war and peacekeeping missions and their Family members. The Veteran does not need to be suffering from or diagnosed with PTSD but should be able to demonstrate significant post war adjustment issues to warrant outpatient care. No VA service connected disability for any condition is required for this service. Services are free to qualified Veterans. Priority is given to those most vulnerable or having no other reasonable options for care.
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project (HVRP): WDVA provides an individually designed case management plan to help homeless Veterans find employment and offers assistance with housing, food, transportation, and employment support services. HVRP is a proven, successful program that gets homeless Veterans off the street and back to being productive members of society. WDVA provides HVRP-Urban services to Veterans in the Puget Sound Region of King, Pierce, Thurston, and Kitsap Counties. HVRP-Rural services are provided to ten counties in Eastern Washington.
The HVRP offers a structured, individually designed case management plan to assist Veterans become employable and secure.
Eligibility: Homeless Military Veterans
Veterans Estate Management Program: WDVA acts as fiduciary/payee for Veterans and their Family members incapable of managing their own financial affairs. The program ensures basic needs such as housing, food, clothing and medical care are provided. The WDVA director is authorized to provide protective financial services to Veterans and beneficiaries deemed in need of assistance. These services may include the following:
•· Fiduciary appointment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
•· Representative payee appointment by the Social Security Administration; or
•· Act as an executor of a Veteran's estate
Eligibility: Military Veterans
State Veterans Homes: WDVA operates three long-term nursing and assisted-living care homes in Orting, Retsil, and Spokane. (Spokane provides long-term nursing care only.) All Washington State Veterans Homes are Medicare and Medicaid certified facilities.
Eligibility: Served at any time, in any branch of the United States Armed Forces including National Guard, received an honorable discharge, reside in Washington State; be the spouse or widow of an eligible Veteran, or be a Gold Star Parent.
Veterans Innovations Program: Provides financial assistance to Veterans and their Families in emergency or employment needs through two separate programs: Defender's Fund and Competitive Grant.
Eligibility: For the Defender's Fund: Current or former WA National Guard or Reservist; Served in Operation Noble Eagle; Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom or awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and; Are experiencing financial hardships in employment, education, housing, health care or other areas due to extended deployment. Veterans will be screened to determine whether they need additional assistance, such as claims preparation. For the Competitive Grant program; applicants must have served in Operation Noble Eagle; Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom or awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary. (National Guard, Reserves and Active Duty are eligible to apply).
House Key Veterans Program: A down payment assistance, second mortgage program with a 3.00% interest rate and a ten-year loan term for Veterans who have served their country loan amount of up to $10,000.
Eligibility: 1) Persons receiving an honorable discharge or who have received a discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record; members and honorably discharged former members of the Washington National Guard and Reserve; and never remarried spouses and dependent children of deceased Veterans. 2) Borrowers must be a first-time homebuyer or buying in a targeted area. 3) Borrowers must meet the acquisition cost and income limits.
County Veterans Assistance: County aid for indigent Veterans and their Families who have reside in Washington State for at least one year may be available. Contact each individual county official for eligibility information.
Eligibility: Each county establishes a Veterans' assistance program to address the needs of local indigent Veterans and their Families.
Military Funeral Honors: An honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible Veteran consisting of not less than two members of the Armed Forces is available for eligible Veterans.
Eligibility: Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve; former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable; former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment of period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable; former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
State Veterans Cemetery: Washington's first State Veterans Cemetery was dedicated in Medical Lake, WA on Memorial Day 2010. Until now, the nearest Veteran's cemetery was nearly 300 miles away at Tahoma National Cemetery near Kent WA which is about a four-hour drive from Spokane. About 140,000 Veterans live within 75 miles of the new cemetery.
Interment areas and facilities include 1,280 standard burial plots; 2,000 pre-placed crypts; 1,370 in-ground cremain sites and 2,240 columbarium niches. Interments began June 7 with the initial capacity for 10,700 and ultimate capacity of 70,000. Operating costs for the cemetery are a state expense, but much of it will be covered with the sale of Veterans license plates. Veterans' Families do not pay burial fees, and concrete casket liners and memorial stones are provided.
Eligibility: In general all U.S. Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; Spouses; and Dependent Children. In order to determine eligibility the Veteran's Form DD-214 military discharge must accompany the application for Interment. Eligible spouses and children of Veterans will be charged $300 for interment; the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay the Veteran's interment fees. The Washington State Veterans Cemetery will serve Veterans and other eligible individuals from Washington and other States. Veterans who are eligible for interment are also eligible for a Federal VA Plot Allowance.
Military Disability Retired Pay: Not Taxed
Property Tax Exemption: Disposable income is used to determine eligibility for certain property tax relief programs. Veterans' disability, dependency and indemnity compensation benefits are NOT included in the calculation of disposable income. (Military retirement pay still has to be included in disposable income.)
The Property Tax Exemption Program freezes the value of your residence, exempts all excess levies, and may exempt a portion of regular levies. This results in: 1) freezing the value of your residence as of January 1, 1995, or January 1 of the initial application year, whichever is later; 2) providing you with a reduction in your property taxes. The assessor will continue to establish the market value of the property; however, you will only be billed for the taxes on the frozen value.
Eligibility: To qualify for the Exemption Program, you must be at least 61 years of age OR disabled OR a disabled Veteran with a 100 percent service-connected disability. (If a Veteran is disabled and unable to work, or at least age 61, the Veteran may still qualify even if he/she is not 100% service connected disabled.) You must also own and occupy your residence and your combined disposable income must be $35,000 or less.
Washington State Education Benefits for Veterans: The State Legislature has authorized state community colleges, colleges and universities to waive 'all or a portion of tuition and fees' for eligible Veterans or National Guard members. Each college or university establishes and operates their own Veterans waiver program so it is best to get in touch with the college or university you plan to attend for details on their program. Click here for a list of colleges and universities.
Eligibility: An eligible Veteran or national guard member is defined as: "...a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a national guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service, under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code, in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge." Click here to read the tuition waiver law.
Education Benefits for Dependents of 100% Disabled Veterans or those who died as a result of military service: The State Legislature requires state universities and state community colleges to waive all undergraduate tuition and fees for Dependents of 100% Disabled Veterans or those who died as a result of military service up to 200 quarter credits or equivalent semester credits. Waivers for graduate credits are encouraged but not required. Fees include all assessments for costs incurred as a condition to a student's full participation in coursework and related activities at an institution of higher education. Click here for a list of colleges and universities.
Eligibility: Eligible dependents are: A child must be a Washington domiciliary between the age of seventeen and twenty-six to be eligible for the tuition waiver. A child's marital status does not affect eligibility. A surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner must be a Washington domiciliary.
•o A surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner has ten years from the date of the death, total disability, or federal determination of prisoner of war or missing in action status of the eligible Veteran or National Guard member to receive benefits under the waiver. Upon remarriage or registration in a subsequent domestic partnership, the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner is ineligible for the waiver of all tuition and fees.
•o If a death results from total disability, the surviving spouse has ten years from the date of death in which to receive benefits under the waiver.
Preference in Public Employment: Veterans may receive scoring criteria status in competitive examinations for public employment. The percentage shall be added to the passing mark, grade, or rating of competitive examinations until the Veteran's first appointment. The percentage shall not be utilized in promotional examinations. (1) Ten percent to a Veteran who served during a period of war or in an armed conflict and does not receive military retirement. (2) Five percent to a Veteran who did not serve during a period of war or in an armed conflict or is receiving military retirement. (3) Five percent to a Veteran who was called to active military service for one or more years from employment with the state or any of its political subdivisions or municipal corporations. (4) All Veterans' scoring criteria may be claimed upon release from active military service.
Eligibility: Must be a Veteran with Honorable Discharge.
Military Service Credit: Washington State Department of Retirement Systems offers military service credit to qualified public employees.1-800-547-6657
Eligibility: Service in the Army, or their Reserve units (including two-week annual training for reservists); or Air National Guard.
Special Vehicle License Plates: Washington Department of Licensing has issued license plates to eligible Veterans with six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and WA National Guard. Purchasers also receive a decal indicating their military status to include:
•· Veteran
•· Retired
•· Active Duty
•· Reserves
•· Disabled Veteran
•· Army Guard
•· Air Guard
•· Army Retired (for Army National Guard Retirees)
•· Air Retired (For Air National Guard Retirees)
•· Fallen Hero (This decal would be available for an eligible Family member of a military member killed in action.)
•· Family
•· Gold Star
The original cost to purchase and Armed Forces plate(s) is $40.00 plus any applicable licensing fees. When the vehicle registration becomes due, owners pay an additional $30.00 to keep the Armed Forces plate on their vehicle, even if you have not had the plate(s) for a full year. $28 from the purchase and renewal of each plate will be directed to the Veterans Stewardship Account and is tax deductible.
Eligibility: You are eligible to purchase a plate at any Vehicle Licensing Office if you are serving or have served at any time in the U.S. Military, active duty or in the Guard or Reserves; or if you are a Family member of those who have served. Service member must provide DD214 when applying for special plates. Veterans rated at 100% disabled must present VA documentation as proof of disability.
Vehicle License Plate Remembrance Emblems: To honor the Veteran, who shares a common bond through their service and sacrifice to their country and to Washington, any honorably discharged Veteran may obtain an emblem packet which contains one U.S. Veteran emblem, one U.S. Flag Emblem and their choice of campaign ribbon. Emblem packets are available for a cost of $10.00.
Eligibility: Provide copy of DD214 if a Veteran and copy of the orders awarding a campaign ribbon.
Disabled Veteran Plate: The following types of disabled American Veterans may be exempt from license fees on one vehicle per year: a) Disabled American Veterans and former prisoners of war; b) Veterans awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and c) Surviving spouses of a deceased former prisoner of war named as a registered owner of the vehicle, including lessees. These plates are good for the life of the vehicle.
Eligibility: Applicants need to have served in any branch of the armed forces of the United States, Reserves, or National Guard, and received: an honorable discharge - or - received a discharge for physical reasons with an honorable record, and a 100% service connected disability rating from the Veteran's Administration or the military service from which the Veteran was discharged.
Purple Heart: Any person who was issued the Purple Heart from any branch of the US Armed Forces, including the Merchant Marines, may be issued a special set of license plates indicating that they were injured in one of this nation's wars or conflicts. No special plate fee.
Eligibility: Be a Washington resident, have been wounded in combat during one of this nation's wars or conflicts, have been awarded a Purple Heart as evidenced by Armed Forces documentation (such as a DD-214), and be an owner, co-owner, lessee or co-lessee of the vehicle the Purple Heart plate will be issued to or be a surviving spouse or domestic partner of a deceased Purple Heart recipient.
Hunting and Fishing Privileges: Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife offers reduced licensing fees at a cost of half the resident fee.
Eligibility: (1) Resident qualified disabled Veterans rated 30% service connected or more as verified by VA letter. (2) Resident Veterans 65 years of age or older with a service connected disability as verified by VA letter. (4) Resident who permanently uses a wheelchair as certified by the doctor. (5) Resident who is blind or visually impaired. (6) Resident with a developmental disability as determined by DSHS authority or physicians signature.
State Parks: Disabled Veteran Lifetime Pass - No charge. Free camping/moorage, campsite reservations through State Parks central reservations system, watercraft launching, and trailer dump. Valid year-round. Offered to Washington state residents with a documented service-connected disability of at least 30 percent.
Eligibility: Must have proof of 12 consecutive months residency in Washington State and have a service-connected disability of at least 30 percent.
Recording of Discharges: County Clerks may charge a basic recording fee and preservation fee, not to exceed $7, for recording of the official discharge of each Veteran who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, as a confidential record.
Eligibility: Military Veteran with DD214
Public Disclosure of Discharge Papers: Veterans' discharge papers filed with county auditors after June 30, 2002, are no longer public records. Veterans' discharge papers may be released to the Veteran, the Veteran's next of kin, a deceased Veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the Veteran's general power of attorney, or anyone else designated in writing by the Veteran to receive the records.
Reduced Public Transportation Fees: Local participating transit authorities, offer disabled Veteran passengers travel at a reduced rate with a Regional Reduced Fare Permit (RRFP)
Eligibility: Disabled Veteran passengers certified by the Veterans Administration at a 40 percent or greater disability level.
Reduced State Ferry Transportation Fees: Reduced State Ferry fares may be available to any disabled individuals. Disabled passengers may travel at half the regular passenger fare if proper proof of disability is presented. Acceptable ID includes a Medicare Card, the Regional Reduced Fare Permit, or other identification which establishes disability. In the case of a disabled driver, only the passenger portion of the fare is reduced, not the vehicle portion. If a disabled customer requires attendant care and has proof from physician certification, they can get an endorsement on their Regional Reduced Fare Permit or Ferry System Disability Card allowing the attendant to travel for free as a passenger. Contact 206-553-3060 for Regional Reduced Fare Permit information or 1‑888‑808‑7977 for WSF Disability Permit information.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Counseling: WDVA provides an outreach/counseling program to Veterans with war-era and PTSD-related problems. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program attempts to create community-based avenues to counseling service that are less formal in nature, offering the highest level of confidentiality possible. Services provided throughout the program include individual, couples, Family, and Veteran group counseling.
Eligibility: All honorably discharged Veterans and Family members - including WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the various recent periods of conflict and peace-keeping operations - are eligible for counseling. Washington State National Guard or Military Reserve members deployed in support of the nation's war and peacekeeping missions and their Family members. The Veteran does not need to be suffering from or diagnosed with PTSD but should be able to demonstrate significant post war adjustment issues to warrant outpatient care. No VA service connected disability for any condition is required for this service. Services are free to qualified Veterans. Priority is given to those most vulnerable or having no other reasonable options for care.
Veterans Estate Management Program: WDVA acts as fiduciary/payee for Veterans and their Family members incapable of managing their own financial affairs. The program ensures basic needs such as housing, food, clothing and medical care are provided. The WDVA director is authorized to provide protective financial services to Veterans and beneficiaries deemed in need of assistance. These services may include the following:
•· Fiduciary appointment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
•· Representative payee appointment by the Social Security Administration; or
•· Act as an executor of a Veteran's estate
Eligibility: Military Veterans
Veterans Innovations Program: Provides financial assistance to Veterans and their Families in emergency or employment needs through two separate programs: Defender's Fund and Competitive Grant.
Eligibility: For the Defender's Fund: Current or former WA National Guard or Reservist; Served in Operation Noble Eagle; Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom or awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and; Are experiencing financial hardships in employment, education, housing, health care or other areas due to extended deployment. Veterans will be screened to determine whether they need additional assistance, such as claims preparation. For the Competitive Grant program; applicants must have served in Operation Noble Eagle; Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom or awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary. (National Guard, Reserves and Active Duty are eligible to apply).
House Key Veterans Program: A down payment assistance, second mortgage program with a 3.00% interest rate and a ten-year loan term for Veterans who have served their country loan amount of up to $10,000.
Eligibility: 1) Persons receiving an honorable discharge or who have received a discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record; members and honorably discharged former members of the Washington National Guard and Reserve; and never remarried spouses and dependent children of deceased Veterans. 2) Borrowers must be a first-time homebuyer or buying in a targeted area. 3) Borrowers must meet the acquisition cost and income limits.
State Veterans Homes: WDVA operates three long-term nursing and assisted-living care homes in Orting, Retsil, and Spokane. (Spokane provides long-term nursing care only.) All Washington State Veterans Homes are Medicare and Medicaid certified facilities.
Eligibility: Served at any time, in any branch of the United States Armed Forces including National Guard, received an honorable discharge, reside in Washington State; be the spouse or widow of an eligible Veteran, or be a Gold Star Parent.
County Veterans Assistance: County aid for indigent Veterans and their Families who have reside in Washington State for at least one year may be available. Contact each individual county official for eligibility information.
Eligibility: Each county establishes a Veterans' assistance program to address the needs of local indigent Veterans and their Families.
Property Tax Assistance Program: The purpose of this program is to allow widow and widowers of qualifying Veterans to remain in their homes in spite of rising property taxes. The program will provide funds for the payment of all or a portion of the excess levies and regular property taxes due on the property.
Eligibility: Eligibility is determined by household income, age or disability, and the spouse's Veteran status at the time of death.
Education Benefits for Dependents of 100% Disabled Veterans or those who died as a result of military service: The State Legislature requires state universities and state community colleges to waive all undergraduate tuition and fees for Dependents of 100% Disabled Veterans or those who died as a result of military service up to 200 quarter credits or equivalent semester credits. Waivers for graduate credits are encouraged but not required. Fees include all assessments for costs incurred as a condition to a student's full participation in coursework and related activities at an institution of higher education. Click here for a list of colleges and universities.
Eligibility: Eligible dependents are: A child must be a Washington domiciliary between the age of seventeen and twenty-six to be eligible for the tuition waiver. A child's marital status does not affect eligibility. A surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner must be a Washington domiciliary.
•o A surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner has ten years from the date of the death, total disability, or federal determination of prisoner of war or missing in action status of the eligible Veteran or National Guard member to receive benefits under the waiver. Upon remarriage or registration in a subsequent domestic partnership, the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner is ineligible for the waiver of all tuition and fees.
•o If a death results from total disability, the surviving spouse has ten years from the date of death in which to receive benefits under the waiver.
Operation Recognition: In recognition of their outstanding contributions, The Washington State Legislature passed three bills to issues high school diplomas to Veterans of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. "Operation Recognition" is being instituted through individual school districts to award full high school diplomas to qualifying Veterans. This is a small, overdue, gesture of our society's gratitude for the sacrifice these individuals made in the name of freedom.
Eligibility: Veterans who left high school to join the military during WWII, Korea, or Vietnam are eligible to receive a high school diploma if the Veteran:
•· Is an honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the United States
•· Was scheduled to graduate from high school; and
•· Left high school before graduation to serve in the War
Veterans who received a GED are still eligible to receive a high school diploma. Diplomas can be awarded posthumously.
Special Vehicle License Plates: Washington Department of Licensing has issued license plates to eligible Veterans with six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and WA National Guard. Purchasers also receive a decal indicating their military status to include:
•· Veteran
•· Retired
•· Active Duty
•· Reserves
•· Disabled Veteran
•· Army Guard
•· Air Guard
•· Army Retired (for Army National Guard Retirees)
•· Air Retired (For Air National Guard Retirees)
•· Fallen Hero (This decal would be available for an eligible Family member of a military member killed in action.)
•· Family
•· Gold Star
The original cost to purchase and Armed Forces plate(s) is $40.00 plus any applicable licensing fees. When the vehicle registration becomes due, owners pay an additional $30.00 to keep the Armed Forces plate on their vehicle, even if you have not had the plate(s) for a full year. $28 from the purchase and renewal of each plate will be directed to the Veterans Stewardship Account and is tax deductible.
Eligibility: You are eligible to purchase a plate at any Vehicle Licensing Office if you are serving or have served at any time in the U.S. Military, active duty or in the Guard or Reserves; or if you are a Family member of those who have served. Service member must provide DD214 when applying for special plates. Veterans rated at 100% disabled must present VA documentation as proof of disability.
Gold Star Parent Plate: In 2008, the Washington State Legislature approved a license plate for Gold Star Parents. The plates honor parents of military men and women who lost their lives in service to our Country. These plates are not transferable. No special plate fee.
Eligibility: The parent of a member of the United States armed forces who has died while in service to their country or as a result of such service. The parent must be a resident of Washington State, a registered owner of a motorized vehicle, and certified by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA). The term "parent", as defined by The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, (WDVA) includes: (a) Birth mother, (b) Birth father, (c) Stepmother, (d) Stepfather, (e) Mother through adoption, (f) Father through adoption, and (g) Adults who fulfilled the parental role including foster parents and kinship care providers or caretaker relative. (Documentation required). A copy of the letter to a qualifying parent provided by WDVA is required. The letter will be used in lieu of a special plate application to purchase the plate. No other documentation is required.
Former Prisoners of War: A qualified prisoner of war may receive an exemption from license fees on one vehicle each year. Special plates are available with a permanent registration to qualified recipients.
Eligibility: Those who qualify for free licensing: have received an honorable discharge - or received a discharge for physical reasons with an honorable record, have been captured or incarcerated for more than 29 days by an enemy of the United States during a period of war with the United States, or are the surviving spouse of a deceased former prisoner of war. A surviving spouse of a former prisoner of war may be issued a regular or special license plate even if the deceased had not been issued a plate.
Purple Heart: Any person who was issued the Purple Heart from any branch of the US Armed Forces, including the Merchant Marines, may be issued a special set of license plates indicating that they were injured in one of this nation's wars or conflicts. No special plate fee.
Eligibility: Be a Washington resident, have been wounded in combat during one of this nation's wars or conflicts, have been awarded a Purple Heart as evidenced by Armed Forces documentation (such as a DD-214), and be an owner, co-owner, lessee or co-lessee of the vehicle the Purple Heart plate will be issued to, or be a surviving spouse or domestic partner of a deceased Purple Heart recipient.
Public Disclosure of Discharge Papers: Veterans' discharge papers filed with county auditors after June 30, 2002, are no longer public records. Veterans' discharge papers may be released to the Veteran, the Veteran's next of kin, a deceased Veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the Veteran's general power of attorney, or anyone else designated in writing by the Veteran to receive the records.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Counseling: WDVA provides an outreach/counseling program to Veterans with war-era and PTSD-related problems. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program attempts to create community-based avenues to counseling service that are less formal in nature, offering the highest level of confidentiality possible. Services provided throughout the program include individual, couples, Family, and Veteran group counseling.
Eligibility: All honorably discharged Veterans and Family members - including WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the various recent periods of conflict and peace-keeping operations - are eligible for counseling. Washington State National Guard or Military Reserve members deployed in support of the nation's war and peacekeeping missions and their Family members. The Veteran does not need to be suffering from or diagnosed with PTSD but should be able to demonstrate significant post war adjustment issues to warrant outpatient care. No VA service connected disability for any condition is required for this service. Services are free to qualified Veterans. Priority is given to those most vulnerable or having no other reasonable options for care.
Veterans Estate Management Program: WDVA acts as fiduciary/payee for Veterans and their Family members incapable of managing their own financial affairs. The program ensures basic needs such as housing, food, clothing and medical care are provided. The WDVA director is authorized to provide protective financial services to Veterans and beneficiaries deemed in need of assistance. These services may include the following:
•· Fiduciary appointment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
•· Representative payee appointment by the Social Security Administration; or
•· Act as an executor of a Veteran's estate
Eligibility: Military Veterans
House Key Veterans Program: A down payment assistance, second mortgage program with a 3.00% interest rate and a ten-year loan term for Veterans who have served their country loan amount of up to $10,000.
Eligibility: 1) Persons receiving an honorable discharge or who have received a discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record; members and honorably discharged former members of the Washington National Guard and Reserve; and never remarried spouses and dependent children of deceased Veterans. 2) Borrowers must be a first-time homebuyer or buying in a targeted area. 3) Borrowers must meet the acquisition cost and income limits.
State Veterans Homes: WDVA operates three long-term nursing and assisted-living care homes in Orting, Retsil, and Spokane. (Spokane provides long-term nursing care only.) All Washington State Veterans Homes are Medicare and Medicaid certified facilities.
Eligibility: Served at any time, in any branch of the United States Armed Forces including National Guard, received an honorable discharge, reside in Washington State; be the spouse or widow of an eligible Veteran, or be a Gold Star Parent.
County Veterans Assistance: County aid for indigent Veterans and their Families who have reside in Washington State for at least one year may be available. Contact each individual county official for eligibility information.
Eligibility: Each county establishes a Veterans' assistance program to address the needs of local indigent Veterans and their Families.
State Veterans Cemetery: Washington's first State Veterans Cemetery was dedicated in Medical Lake, WA on Memorial Day 2010. Until now, the nearest Veteran's cemetery was nearly 300 miles away at Tahoma National Cemetery near Kent WA which is about a four-hour drive from Spokane. About 140,000 Veterans live within 75 miles of the new cemetery.
Interment areas and facilities include 1,280 standard burial plots; 2,000 pre-placed crypts; 1,370 in-ground cremain sites and 2,240 columbarium niches. Interments began June 7 with the initial capacity for 10,700 and ultimate capacity of 70,000. Operating costs for the cemetery are a state expense, but much of it will be covered with the sale of Veterans license plates. Veterans' Families do not pay burial fees, and concrete casket liners and memorial stones are provided.
Eligibility: In general all U.S. Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; Spouses; and Dependent Children. In order to determine eligibility the Veteran's Form DD-214 military discharge must accompany the application for Interment. Eligible spouses and children of Veterans will be charged $300 for interment; the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay the Veteran's interment fees. The Washington State Veterans Cemetery will serve Veterans and other eligible individuals from Washington and other States. Veterans who are eligible for interment are also eligible for a Federal VA Plot Allowance.
Washington State Education Benefits for Veterans: The State Legislature has authorized state community colleges, colleges and universities to waive 'all or a portion of tuition and fees' for eligible Veterans or National Guard members. Each college or university establishes and operates their own Veterans waiver program so it is best to get in touch with the college or university you plan to attend for details on their program. Click here for a list of colleges and universities.
Eligibility: An eligible Veteran or national guard member is defined as: "...a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a national guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service, under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code, in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge." Click here to read the tuition waiver law.
Employment Assistance: State employees must be granted military leave with pay not to exceed twenty-one working days during each year, beginning October 1st and ending the following September 30th, in order to report for required military duty, training duty in the Washington National Guard or the Army reserves of the United States or any organized reserve or armed forces of the United States, or to report for drills including those in the National Guard under Title 10 U.S.C., or state active status. The employee is charged military leave only for the days that they are scheduled to work.
Eligibility: State employees on orders for Annual Training, Army National Guard and Reserve Service members.
Preference in Public Employment: Veterans may receive scoring criteria status in competitive examinations for public employment. The percentage shall be added to the passing mark, grade, or rating of competitive examinations until the Veteran's first appointment. The percentage shall not be utilized in promotional examinations. (1) Ten percent to a Veteran who served during a period of war or in an armed conflict and does not receive military retirement. (2) Five percent to a Veteran who did not serve during a period of war or in an armed conflict or is receiving military retirement. (3) Five percent to a Veteran who was called to active military service for one or more years from employment with the state or any of its political subdivisions or municipal corporations. (4) All Veterans' scoring criteria may be claimed upon release from active military service.
Eligibility: Must be a Veteran with Honorable Discharge.
Military Service Credit: Washington State Department of Retirement Systems offers military service credit to qualified public employees.1-800-547-6657
Eligibility: Service in the Army, or their Reserve units (including two-week annual training for reservists); or Air National Guard.
Special Vehicle License Plates: Washington Department of Licensing has issued license plates to eligible Veterans with six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and WA National Guard. Purchasers also receive a decal indicating their military status to include:
•· Veteran
•· Retired
•· Active Duty
•· Reserves
•· Disabled Veteran
•· Army Guard
•· Air Guard
•· Army Retired (for Army National Guard Retirees)
•· Air Retired (For Air National Guard Retirees)
•· Fallen Hero (This decal would be available for an eligible Family member of a military member killed in action.)
•· Family
•· Gold Star
The original cost to purchase and Armed Forces plate(s) is $40.00 plus any applicable licensing fees. When the vehicle registration becomes due, owners pay an additional $30.00 to keep the Armed Forces plate on their vehicle, even if you have not had the plate(s) for a full year. $28 from the purchase and renewal of each plate will be directed to the Veterans Stewardship Account and is tax deductible.
Eligibility: You are eligible to purchase a plate at any Vehicle Licensing Office if you are serving or have served at any time in the U.S. Military, active duty or in the Guard or Reserves; or if you are a Family member of those who have served. Service member must provide DD214 when applying for special plates. Veterans rated at 100% disabled must present VA documentation as proof of disability.
Vehicle License Plate Remembrance Emblems: To honor the Veteran, who shares a common bond through their service and sacrifice to their country and to Washington, any honorably discharged Veteran may obtain an emblem packet which contains one U.S. Veteran emblem, one U.S. Flag Emblem and their choice of campaign ribbon. Emblem packets are available for a cost of $10.00.
Eligibility: Provide copy of DD214 if a Veteran and copy of the orders awarding a campaign ribbon.
Medical Benefits: Medical and hospital coverage equivalent to Worker's Compensation.
Eligibility: Injury occurs while serving on State Active Duty.
Group Insurance: National Guard Association offers a variety of life, vehicle, medical and dental insurance at low cost.
Eligibility: Member of Army/Air National Guard.
Workers Compensation: Workers Compensation equivalent to State employees.
Eligibility: Injury occurs while serving on State Active Duty.
Injury/Death Benefits: Workers Compensation equivalent to State employees less any VA payments received.
Eligibility: Injury/Death occurs while serving on State Active Duty.
Recording of Discharges: County Clerks may charge a basic recording fee and preservation fee, not to exceed $7, for recording of the official discharge of each Veteran who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, as a confidential record.
Eligibility: Military Veteran with DD214.
Public Disclosure of Discharge Papers: Veterans' discharge papers filed with county auditors after June 30, 2002, are no longer public records. Veterans' discharge papers may be released to the Veteran, the Veteran's next of kin, a deceased Veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the Veteran's general power of attorney, or anyone else designated in writing by the Veteran to receive the records.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Counseling: WDVA provides an outreach/counseling program to Veterans with war-era and PTSD-related problems. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program attempts to create community-based avenues to counseling service that are less formal in nature, offering the highest level of confidentiality possible. Services provided throughout the program include individual, couples, Family, and Veteran group counseling.
Eligibility: All honorably discharged Veterans and Family members - including WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the various recent periods of conflict and peace-keeping operations - are eligible for counseling. Washington State National Guard or Military Reserve members deployed in support of the nation's war and peacekeeping missions and their Family members. The Veteran does not need to be suffering from or diagnosed with PTSD but should be able to demonstrate significant post war adjustment issues to warrant outpatient care. No VA service connected disability for any condition is required for this service. Services are free to qualified Veterans. Priority is given to those most vulnerable or having no other reasonable options for care.
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project (HVRP): WDVA provides an individually designed case management plan to help homeless Veterans find employment and offers assistance with housing, food, transportation, and employment support services. HVRP is a proven, successful program that gets homeless Veterans off the street and back to being productive members of society. WDVA provides HVRP-Urban services to Veterans in the Puget Sound Region of King, Pierce, Thurston, and Kitsap Counties. HVRP-Rural services are provided to ten counties in Eastern Washington.
The HVRP offers a structured, individually designed case management plan to assist Veterans become employable and secure.
Eligibility: Homeless Military Veterans
Veterans Estate Management Program: WDVA acts as fiduciary/payee for Veterans and their Family members incapable of managing their own financial affairs. The program ensures basic needs such as housing, food, clothing and medical care are provided. The WDVA director is authorized to provide protective financial services to Veterans and beneficiaries deemed in need of assistance. These services may include the following:
•· Fiduciary appointment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
•· Representative payee appointment by the Social Security Administration; or
•· Act as an executor of a Veteran's estate
Eligibility: Military Veterans
State Veterans Homes: WDVA operates three long-term nursing and assisted-living care homes in Orting, Retsil, and Spokane. (Spokane provides long-term nursing care only.) All Washington State Veterans Homes are Medicare and Medicaid certified facilities.
Eligibility: Served at any time, in any branch of the United States Armed Forces including National Guard, received an honorable discharge, reside in Washington State; be the spouse or widow of an eligible Veteran, or be a Gold Star Parent.
Veterans Innovations Program: Provides financial assistance to Veterans and their Families in emergency or employment needs through two separate programs: Defender's Fund and Competitive Grant.
Eligibility: For the Defender's Fund: Current or former WA National Guard or Reservist; Served in Operation Noble Eagle; Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom or awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and; Are experiencing financial hardships in employment, education, housing, health care or other areas due to extended deployment. Veterans will be screened to determine whether they need additional assistance, such as claims preparation. For the Competitive Grant program; applicants must have served in Operation Noble Eagle; Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom or awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary. (National Guard, Reserves and Active Duty are eligible to apply).
House Key Veterans Program: A down payment assistance, second mortgage program with a 3.00% interest rate and a ten-year loan term for Veterans who have served their country loan amount of up to $10,000.
Eligibility: 1) Persons receiving an honorable discharge or who have received a discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record; members and honorably discharged former members of the Washington National Guard and Reserve; and never remarried spouses and dependent children of deceased Veterans. 2) Borrowers must be a first-time homebuyer or buying in a targeted area. 3) Borrowers must meet the acquisition cost and income limits.
County Veterans Assistance: County aid for indigent Veterans and their Families who have reside in Washington State for at least one year may be available. Contact each individual county official for eligibility information.
Eligibility: Each county establishes a Veterans' assistance program to address the needs of local indigent Veterans and their Families.
Military Funeral Honors: An honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible Veteran consisting of not less than two members of the Armed Forces is available for eligible Veterans.
Eligibility: Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve; former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable; former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment of period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable; former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
State Veterans Cemetery: Washington's first State Veterans Cemetery was dedicated in Medical Lake, WA on Memorial Day 2010. Until now, the nearest Veteran's cemetery was nearly 300 miles away at Tahoma National Cemetery near Kent WA which is about a four-hour drive from Spokane. About 140,000 Veterans live within 75 miles of the new cemetery.
Interment areas and facilities include 1,280 standard burial plots; 2,000 pre-placed crypts; 1,370 in-ground cremain sites and 2,240 columbarium niches. Interments began June 7 with the initial capacity for 10,700 and ultimate capacity of 70,000. Operating costs for the cemetery are a state expense, but much of it will be covered with the sale of Veterans license plates. Veterans' Families do not pay burial fees, and concrete casket liners and memorial stones are provided.
Eligibility: In general all U.S. Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; Spouses; and Dependent Children. In order to determine eligibility the Veteran's Form DD-214 military discharge must accompany the application for Interment. Eligible spouses and children of Veterans will be charged $300 for interment; the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay the Veteran's interment fees. The Washington State Veterans Cemetery will serve Veterans and other eligible individuals from Washington and other States. Veterans who are eligible for interment are also eligible for a Federal VA Plot Allowance.
Washington State Education Benefits for Veterans: The State Legislature has authorized state community colleges, colleges and universities to waive 'all or a portion of tuition and fees' for eligible Veterans or National Guard members. Each college or university establishes and operates their own Veterans waiver program so it is best to get in touch with the college or university you plan to attend for details on their program. Click here for a list of colleges and universities.
Eligibility: An eligible Veteran or national guard member is defined as: "...a Washington domiciliary who was an active or reserve member of the United States military or naval forces, or a national guard member called to active duty, who served in active federal service, under either Title 10 or Title 32 of the United States Code, in a war or conflict fought on foreign soil or in international waters or in another location in support of those serving on foreign soil or in international waters, and if discharged from service, has received an honorable discharge." Click here to read the tuition waiver law.
Employment Assistance: State employees must be granted military leave with pay not to exceed twenty-one working days during each year, beginning October 1st and ending the following September 30th, in order to report for required military duty, training duty in the Washington National Guard or the Army reserves of the United States or any organized reserve or armed forces of the United States, or to report for drills including those in the National Guard under Title 10 U.S.C., or state active status. The employee is charged military leave only for the days that they are scheduled to work.
Eligibility: State employees on orders for Annual Training, Army National Guard and Reserve Service members.
Preference in Public Employment: Veterans may receive scoring criteria status in competitive examinations for public employment. The percentage shall be added to the passing mark, grade, or rating of competitive examinations until the Veteran's first appointment. The percentage shall not be utilized in promotional examinations. (1) Ten percent to a Veteran who served during a period of war or in an armed conflict and does not receive military retirement. (2) Five percent to a Veteran who did not serve during a period of war or in an armed conflict or is receiving military retirement. (3) Five percent to a Veteran who was called to active military service for one or more years from employment with the state or any of its political subdivisions or municipal corporations. (4) All Veterans' scoring criteria may be claimed upon release from active military service.
Eligibility: Must be a Veteran with Honorable Discharge.
Military Service Credit: Washington State Department of Retirement Systems offers military service credit to qualified public employees.1-800-547-6657
Eligibility: Service in the Army, or their Reserve units (including two-week annual training for reservists); or Air National Guard.
Special Vehicle License Plates: Washington Department of Licensing has issued license plates to eligible Veterans with six separate designs, each containing a symbol representing a different branch of the armed forces to include Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and WA National Guard. Purchasers also receive a decal indicating their military status to include:
•· Veteran
•· Retired
•· Active Duty
•· Reserves
•· Disabled Veteran
•· Army Guard
•· Air Guard
•· Army Retired (for Army National Guard Retirees)
•· Air Retired (For Air National Guard Retirees)
•· Fallen Hero (This decal would be available for an eligible Family member of a military member killed in action.)
•· Family
•· Gold Star
The original cost to purchase and Armed Forces plate(s) is $40.00 plus any applicable licensing fees. When the vehicle registration becomes due, owners pay an additional $30.00 to keep the Armed Forces plate on their vehicle, even if you have not had the plate(s) for a full year. $28 from the purchase and renewal of each plate will be directed to the Veterans Stewardship Account and is tax deductible.
Eligibility: You are eligible to purchase a plate at any Vehicle Licensing Office if you are serving or have served at any time in the U.S. Military, active duty or in the Guard or Reserves; or if you are a Family member of those who have served. Service member must provide DD214 when applying for special plates. Veterans rated at 100% disabled must present VA documentation as proof of disability.
Vehicle License Plate Remembrance Emblems: To honor the Veteran, who shares a common bond through their service and sacrifice to their country and to Washington, any honorably discharged Veteran may obtain an emblem packet which contains one U.S. Veteran emblem, one U.S. Flag Emblem and their choice of campaign ribbon. Emblem packets are available for a cost of $10.00.
Eligibility: Provide copy of DD214 if a Veteran and copy of the orders awarding a campaign ribbon.
Recording of Discharges: County Clerks may charge a basic recording fee and preservation fee, not to exceed $7, for recording of the official discharge of each Veteran who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, as a confidential record.
Eligibility: Military Veteran with DD214.
Public Disclosure of Discharge Papers: Veterans' discharge papers filed with county auditors after June 30, 2002, are no longer public records. Veterans' discharge papers may be released to the Veteran, the Veteran's next of kin, a deceased Veteran's properly appointed personal representative or executor, a person holding the Veteran's general power of attorney, or anyone else designated in writing by the Veteran to receive the records.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Counseling: WDVA provides an outreach/counseling program to Veterans with war-era and PTSD-related problems. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program attempts to create community-based avenues to counseling service that are less formal in nature, offering the highest level of confidentiality possible. Services provided throughout the program include individual, couples, Family, and Veteran group counseling.
Eligibility: All honorably discharged Veterans and Family members - including WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the various recent periods of conflict and peace-keeping operations - are eligible for counseling. Washington State National Guard or Military Reserve members deployed in support of the nation's war and peacekeeping missions and their Family members. The Veteran does not need to be suffering from or diagnosed with PTSD but should be able to demonstrate significant post war adjustment issues to warrant outpatient care. No VA service connected disability for any condition is required for this service. Services are free to qualified Veterans. Priority is given to those most vulnerable or having no other reasonable options for care.
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project (HVRP): WDVA provides an individually designed case management plan to help homeless Veterans find employment and offers assistance with housing, food, transportation, and employment support services. HVRP is a proven, successful program that gets homeless Veterans off the street and back to being productive members of society. WDVA provides HVRP-Urban services to Veterans in the Puget Sound Region of King, Pierce, Thurston, and Kitsap Counties. HVRP-Rural services are provided to ten counties in Eastern Washington.
The HVRP offers a structured, individually designed case management plan to assist Veterans become employable and secure.
Eligibility: Homeless Military Veterans
Veterans Estate Management Program: WDVA acts as fiduciary/payee for Veterans and their Family members incapable of managing their own financial affairs. The program ensures basic needs such as housing, food, clothing and medical care are provided. The WDVA director is authorized to provide protective financial services to Veterans and beneficiaries deemed in need of assistance. These services may include the following:
•· Fiduciary appointment by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;
•· Representative payee appointment by the Social Security Administration; or
•· Act as an executor of a Veteran's estate
Eligibility: Military Veterans
State Veterans Homes: WDVA operates three long-term nursing and assisted-living care homes in Orting, Retsil, and Spokane. (Spokane provides long-term nursing care only.) All Washington State Veterans Homes are Medicare and Medicaid certified facilities.
Eligibility: Served at any time, in any branch of the United States Armed Forces including National Guard, received an honorable discharge, reside in Washington State; be the spouse or widow of an eligible Veteran, or be a Gold Star Parent.
Veterans Innovations Program: Provides financial assistance to Veterans and their Families in emergency or employment needs through two separate programs: Defender's Fund and Competitive Grant.
Eligibility: For the Defender's Fund: Current or former WA National Guard or Reservist; Served in Operation Noble Eagle; Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom or awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and; Are experiencing financial hardships in employment, education, housing, health care or other areas due to extended deployment. Veterans will be screened to determine whether they need additional assistance, such as claims preparation. For the Competitive Grant program; applicants must have served in Operation Noble Eagle; Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom or awarded a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary. (National Guard, Reserves and Active Duty are eligible to apply).
House Key Veterans Program: A down payment assistance, second mortgage program with a 3.00% interest rate and a ten-year loan term for Veterans who have served their country loan amount of up to $10,000.
Eligibility: 1) Persons receiving an honorable discharge or who have received a discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record; members and honorably discharged former members of the Washington National Guard and Reserve; and never remarried spouses and dependent children of deceased Veterans. 2) Borrowers must be a first-time homebuyer or buying in a targeted area. 3) Borrowers must meet the acquisition cost and income limits.
County Veterans Assistance: County aid for indigent Veterans and their Families who have reside in Washington State for at least one year may be available. Contact each individual county official for eligibility information.
Eligibility: Each county establishes a Veterans' assistance program to address the needs of local indigent Veterans and their Families.
Military Funeral Honors: An honor guard detail for the burial of an eligible Veteran consisting of not less than two members of the Armed Forces is available for eligible Veterans.
Eligibility: Military members on active duty or in the Selected Reserve; former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable; former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment of period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable; former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
State Veterans Cemetery: Washington's first State Veterans Cemetery was dedicated in Medical Lake, WA on Memorial Day 2010. Until now, the nearest Veteran's cemetery was nearly 300 miles away at Tahoma National Cemetery near Kent WA which is about a four-hour drive from Spokane. About 140,000 Veterans live within 75 miles of the new cemetery.
Interment areas and facilities include 1,280 standard burial plots; 2,000 pre-placed crypts; 1,370 in-ground cremain sites and 2,240 columbarium niches. Interments began June 7 with the initial capacity for 10,700 and ultimate capacity of 70,000. Operating costs for the cemetery are a state expense, but much of it will be covered with the sale of Veterans license plates. Veterans' Families do not pay burial fees, and concrete casket liners and memorial stones are provided.
Eligibility: In general all U.S. Veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; Spouses; and Dependent Children. In order to determine eligibility the Veteran's Form DD-214 military discharge must accompany the application for Interment. Eligible spouses and children of Veterans will be charged $300 for interment; the Department of Veterans Affairs will pay the Veteran's interment fees. The Washington State Veterans Cemetery will serve Veterans and other eligible individuals from Washington and other States. Veterans who are eligible for interment are also eligible for a Federal VA Plot Allowance.
Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Facilities in Washington
VA Health Care System
Lakewood: VA Puget Sound HCS American Lake Division, 9600 Veterans Dr, 253-582-8440 / 800-329-8387
Seattle: VA Puget Sound Health Care System- Seatle Division, 1660 South Columbian Way, 206-762-1010 / 800-329-8387
VA Medical Centers
Spokane: Spokane VA Medical Center, 4815 N. Assembly St, 509-434-7000 / 800-325-7940
Vancouver: Portland VA Medical Center - Vancouver Campus, 3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Rd, 503-220-8262 / 800-949-1004
Walla Walla: Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center, 77 Wainwright Dr, 509-525-5200 / 888-687-8863
Integrated Clinical Facility
Yakima: Yakima Valley Vet Center , 2119 W. Lincoln, 509-457-2736
Community Based Outpatient Clinics
Bellevue: Valor CBOC Bellevue, 13033 Bel-Red Road Suite 210, 425-214-1055 / 800-329-8387
Bremerton: Bremerton CBOC, 925 Adele Ave, 360-782-0129
Chehalis: South Sound CBOC, 151 NE Hampe Way, Suite B2-6, 360-748-3049
Colville: Colville Clinic, 1200 E Columbia, Colville, WA 99114, 509-684-3701
Federal Way: Valor CBOC Federal Way, 34617 11th Place South, Suite 301, 253-336-4142 /
800-310-5001
Mount Vernon: Mount Vernon CBOC, 307 S. 13th St, Suite 200, 360-848-8500
Port Angeles: Port Angeles, 1005 Georgiana St, 360-565-9330
Richland: Richland Community Based Outpatient Clinic, 825 Jadwin Ave, Suite 250, 509-946-1020
Seattle: Valor CBOC North Seattle, 12360 Lake City Way NE, Suite 200, 206-384-4382
Wenatchee: Wenatchee CBOC, 2530 Chester-Kimm Rd, 509-663-7615
Yakima: Yakima Community Based Outpatient Clinic, 717 Fruitvale Blvd, 509-966-0199
http://www.parks.wa.gov/passes/
http://www.retirementliving.com/taxes-new-york-wyoming
http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?State=WA&dnum=ALL
http://www.nationalguard.com/benefits/
http://www.goang.com/benefits/
No state personal income taxDocument Review Date: 31 December 2012