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Tax Exemptions for Veterans, Veterans Homes in Alabama, Lifetime Fishing License and more
The state of Alabama recognizes the importance of the volunteers of the US military and looks to give back to its residents who serve in a variety of ways. While the federal government, through the Veterans Administration, offers Servicemembers several benefits and programs, individual states such as Alabama also offer state-level programs for their Veteran residents. Some of these programs and Alabama Veteran benefits include the Alabama disabled Veteran property tax, the Alabama disabled Veteran license plate, VA hospitals in Alabama, the Veterans homes in Alabama, and the Alabama VA education benefits.
The percentage of Alabama residents facing financial struggles is higher than in other areas of the country, and this is particularly high among Alabama Veterans. For this reason, the Alabama Veteran benefits system, administered by the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, offers several financial programs, including Alabama disabled Veteran benefits, to work in partnership with federal programs to ease financial burdens for military Servicemembers and their families.
In Alabama, disabled Veterans with a 100% disability rating or those over 65 are eligible for a full property tax exemption, or the “Alabama disabled Veteran property tax exemption,” on their home and up to 160 adjacent acres, as part of the Alabama disabled Veteran benefits system. Additionally, homes acquired through a VA Specially Adapted Housing Grant, regardless of value, are exempt from all Alabama property taxes. The home must be the primary residence of the applicant seeking the Alabama disabled Veteran property tax exemption.
The state offers several exemptions for military retirement pay and certain other military benefits. Specifically, compensation received as retirement benefits by those retired from the military service of the United States, and survivor benefits derived therefrom, are exempt from Alabama state, county, and municipal income taxes. Additionally, military combat pay is also exempt from Alabama income tax. The Alabama disabled Veteran benefits program also exempts disability payments from state income tax as part of the Alabama state income tax exemptions for Veterans program.
As part of the Alabama Disabled Veteran Benefits program, Alabama issues the Alabama Disabled Veteran license plate to eligible Servicemembers, which is a distinctive license plate issued to service-connected disabled Veterans who meet certain eligibility requirements. These plates are exempt from registration fees for the first plate for Veterans with a disability rating between 10% and 50%. For Veterans with a 51% or higher disability rating, or those who have a vehicle with special mechanical control devices, the first plate is exempt from registration fees, and subsequent plates have an annual fee of $5.
Many people choose to join the military for the educational benefits offered through many sections of the federal GI Bill. For residents in Alabama, seeking an education is often cost prohibitive, making military service as a means of paying for education an attractive prospect. The Alabama Veteran benefits system, through the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, offers its own state-level programs such as ANGEAP, as well as several scholarship programs. The Alabama Disabled Veteran Benefits system also offers several of its own programs specifically for disabled Veterans.
The Alabama National Guard Education Assistance Program (ANGEAP) is a state-funded program that provides financial assistance to Alabama National Guard members for their education. It helps cover tuition and educational fees at post-secondary institutions in Alabama. The program primarily assists with tuition and fees at accredited community colleges, technical colleges, and universities in Alabama. Eligibility requires that students be active members in good standing with a federally recognized unit of the Alabama National Guard, demonstrate financial need, and have a 2.0 GPA or higher.
In partnership with the Alabama VA Benefits system, the state offers several Alabama disabled Veteran dependent education benefits, primarily through the Alabama GI Dependents Scholarship Program. This program provides financial assistance for tuition, books, and fees at eligible Alabama institutions of higher learning. Specifically, dependents can receive up to five standard academic years (10 semesters) of benefits. The program is for children and stepchildren of Veterans rated 40% or more due to a service-connected disability. Spouses or surviving spouses (not remarried) of Veterans rated 40-90% disabled are also eligible.
Many states seek to help Veterans with employment after military service by offering several benefits and perks both to Veterans and businesses that hire them. The Alabama Veteran benefits system helps connect Veterans with employers looking to hire them through Jobs for Veterans Alabama programs and in partnership with Alabama VA benefits programs that do this as well.
Alabama offers various employment benefits to Veterans through the Jobs for Veterans Alabama and Alabama VA Benefits programs, including hiring preferences, additional points on state employment exams, and access to state-specific resources. Veterans are given preference over non-Veterans with the same ratings on classified service employment lists. Honorably discharged Veterans receive 5 extra points on state employment examinations, while those with VA service-connected disabilities receive 10 extra points. Additionally, spouses and surviving spouses of disabled or deceased Veterans may also receive the 10-point preference.
Access to affordable healthcare is also another reason many join the military. The VA healthcare system is a significant relief to Alabama residents who otherwise might have difficulty paying for healthcare. As part of the Alabama Veterans benefits program, the state co-operates with the VA hospitals in Alabama, especially the VA Clinic Huntsville Alabama location, one of the largest in the state, for Veterans, Servicemembers and their families.
Alabama’s VA health care system includes the Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Montgomery, the Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Tuskegee, and several community-based outpatient clinics. The VA Southeast Network also includes facilities in Georgia and South Carolina, providing care to Veterans across the Southeast.
Veterans in need of various types of care, due to disability or advancing age, can often find them in state-run Veterans homes. These homes offer various types of care, including nursing home care, domiciliary care, and adult day health care. The VA supports SVHs through grants, per diem payments, and payments for hiring and retaining nurses. Alabama itself has several of these homes for Veterans, especially homeless Veterans.
Alabama has several state Veteran homes that provide long-term care and housing for eligible Veterans as part of the Alabama Veteran Benefits system, and in partnership with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. The Veterans homes in Alabama include the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City, the Tut Fann State Veterans Home in Huntsville, the William F. Green State Veterans Home in Bay Minette, the Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City, and the Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home in Birmingham. The Bill Nichols State Veterans Home Alexander City Alabama location is a 150 bed facility offering highly advanced medical care for numerous conditions. The Pell City Veterans Home, also known as the Colonel Robert L Howard State Veterans Home, is an in-patient facility catering to Veterans with specific mental or rehabilitation needs.
Alabama offers various programs to support homeless Veterans and those at risk of becoming homeless through its Alabama Homeless Veterans Program. These include programs like Supportive Services for Veteran Families, Valor Grove, Priority Veteran, and transitional housing programs like Eagle’s Landing. These programs provide case management, housing assistance, and support services to help Veterans find stable housing and access other resources.
Many states offer various recreation and state park benefits to Veterans, often including free or discounted access to parks, campsites, and other recreational areas. These benefits are typically offered as a way to honor their service and sacrifices. The Alabama Veteran benefits program, especially the Alabama Disabled Veteran benefits program, offers the Alabama State Park Pass for Veterans, the Alabama Disabled Veteran Hunting License, and the Alabama Lifetime Fishing License for Disabled Veterans as a show of gratitude for their service.
Alabama’s “Parks for Patriots” program offers free admission to state parks for Veterans and active military personnel year-round. This program is funded through public donations and allows Veterans to enjoy the parks without an entrance fee. Veterans can simply present their military ID at the park gate to receive free entry.
Alabama offers discounted hunting and fishing licenses for disabled Veterans. Resident Veterans with a 20% or greater disability rating from the VA can purchase discounted annual freshwater or saltwater fishing licenses for $3.30 each. Veterans with 40% or more disability can purchase a lifetime disabled military Veteran’s appreciation hunting license. Veterans with 100% service-connected permanent and total disability can also purchase a lifetime resident 100% disabled military Veteran’s appreciation hunting license.
As do many states, Alabama, as part of the Alabama Veteran Benefits Program, operates several state-run Veterans cemeteries for its resident Servicemembers. These cemeteries provide burial options for Veterans, their spouses, and dependent children. The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs administers these cemeteries. In Alabama, the two main state-operated cemeteries for Veterans are the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort and the Fort Mitchell National Cemetery near Phenix City. The Alabama National Cemetery, though a federal cemetery, is also located in Alabama, serving as a final resting place for Veterans.
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