Arizona offers a variety of benefits to its veteran residents, providing support across education, employment, housing, financial assistance, and more. Here’s a summary of some of the key benefits available:
Education Benefits
- Veterans and eligible dependents can postpone payments for tuition, fees, and books. They can delay these payments for 120 days without interest. This applies while they are waiting for their G.I. Bill benefits.
- In-State Tuition: Immediate residency status is granted for eligible veterans and dependents, allowing them to pay in-state tuition rates.
- Arizona Purple Heart Tuition Waiver: Offers tuition waivers to post-9/11 veterans with at least a 50% VA disability rating and recipients of the Purple Heart medal, along with dependent children and spouses of Arizona military members killed in the line of duty.
Employment Benefits
- Civil Service Preference: Extra points are added to the certification scores of veterans and certain spouses in state, county, or city civil service exams.
- Veteran Employment Roadmap: A resource developed to connect veterans to employment, training, and resources in Arizona.
- Veterans Toolkit Program: Provides up to $750 in supplies needed for employment for eligible veterans.
Housing Benefits
- State Veteran Homes: Arizona has veteran homes in Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, and Yuma offering skilled nursing care.
- Arizona Veterans Stand-down Alliance (AVSA): Organizes events providing resources for veterans experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
Financial Benefits
- State Income Tax Exemptions: Federal payments up to $2,500 per year are exempt from state income tax for veterans.
- Vehicle License Tax and Registration Fees: Exemptions are available for 100% service-connected disabled veterans.
- Arizona Military Family Relief Fund: Offers financial assistance to families of deployed service members and post-9/11 veterans experiencing hardship.
Additional Benefits
- Property Tax Exemptions: 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans may qualify for a property tax exemption of up to $4,188 on their primary residence. Must be a permanent resident of Arizona and the property’s assessed value cannot exceed $28,458.
- Benefits Counseling: Free information and assistance on veterans benefits through Veterans Benefits Counselors.
- Hunting and Fishing Licenses: Free or discounted licenses for 100% disabled veterans.
- State Parks Access: “Disabled Veterans Annual Day Use pass” for free access to state parks.
- Veteran Designation on Driver Licenses and ID: Option to have a “VETERAN” designation on Arizona issued licenses and IDs.