Maine offers a comprehensive array of benefits for veterans, covering everything from housing and education to employment and recreation.
Housing Benefits
- Veterans Homes: Maine has six veterans homes located in Augusta, Bangor, Caribou, Machias, Scarborough, and South Paris. Eligibility extends to honorably discharged Maine veterans, their spouses, widows, widowers, and Gold Star parents.
- Home Loans: The Maine State Housing Authority’s Salute Home Again program provides a 0.5% discount on mortgages for active-duty personnel, veterans, and military retirees.
Financial Benefits
- Income Tax: Military pay earned out of state is exempt from state taxes, as are military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments.
- Property Tax Exemption: Eligible veterans can receive a property tax exemption of $6,000 to $50,000, based on certain criteria such as age, disability, and service connection.
- Emergency Financial Assistance: Veterans facing emergency financial situations may qualify for assistance up to $2,000.
Employment Benefits
- Veteran Employment Preference: Veterans receive preference in state employment, including an automatic interview for qualifying applicants. Maine also offers interview guarantees to Gold Star spouses.
- Professional Licensing Initiative: Maine expedites the professional licensing process for service members, veterans, and their spouses, acknowledging the skills and experience gained through military service.
Educational Benefits
- Dependents Educational Benefits: Maine provides a 100% tuition waiver at state schools for dependents of veterans who meet specific service and disability criteria.
- National Guard Tuition Assistance: Members of the Maine National Guard are eligible for a 100% tuition waiver at University of Maine System schools.
- In-State Tuition: Current and former military members, regardless of their GI Bill benefits status, and their dependents using the GI Bill, are eligible for in-state tuition rates at University of Maine System schools.
Recreation Benefits
- Hunting and Fishing Licenses: Disabled veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more can receive free licenses for fishing, trapping, and hunting.
- State Park Admission: Maine veterans with an other-than-dishonorable discharge, 100% disabled veterans, and active-duty members and their dependents are eligible for free or discounted admission to state parks.
Veteran Cemeteries
- Maine operates four veterans cemeteries located in Caribou, Augusta (two), and Springvale, offering free burial for veterans and their dependents.