Idaho provides exclusive benefits for Service members, Veterans, and their families, which encompasses the Idaho National Guard State Education Assistance Program, access to state park passes, specialized vehicle license plates, and hunting and fishing license privileges. Eligibility for these benefits may be subject to requirements related to residency, military affiliation, and the disability status of the Veteran. The following are benefits for the state of Idaho.
Idaho Veteran Financial Benefits
- Idaho Income Tax on Military Pay for Resident Service Members: Military pay received by Idaho resident Service members stationed outside Idaho for a continuous 120-day period is exempt from state taxation. Military pay received by an Idaho resident Service member stationed within Idaho is subject to state taxes.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), does not automatically deduct state or local income taxes, but it is reported annually through IRS Form 1099-R. All TSP distributions are liable to state taxes, and early distributions may result in increased tax liabilities.
- Idaho Retirement Benefits Deduction for Military Retired Pay: The Idaho Retirement Benefits Deduction has a two-part qualification. Service members must qualify for both parts to receive this deduction.
Part One – Age, or age and disability requirement:
- The taxpayer is 65 years old or older, or
- The taxpayer is 62 years old or older and:
- A veteran of a U.S. war with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or more
- A veteran of a U.S. war with a non-service-connected disability pension
- Recognized as disabled by the Social Security Administration, the Railroad Retirement Board, or the Office of Management and Budget
- Has a permanent disability (certified by a physician) with no expectation of improvement
Part Two – Qualified retirement benefit:
- Retirement benefits paid by the U.S. Government to a retired Service member of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Survivor benefits paid to an un-remarried surviving spouse of a retired Service member
- Idaho State Taxes on Military Disability Retirement Pay: Military Disability Retirement Pay received as a pension, annuity, or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income.
- Idaho State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC):Idaho State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) is a non-taxable financial benefit disbursed to qualifying survivors of Service members who lost their lives in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death was due to a service-connected injury or disease.
- Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/ Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)/ Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) Idaho State Tax Deduction: The Idaho Retirement Benefits Deduction has a two-part qualification. Surviving Spouses must qualify for both parties to receive this deduction.
Part One is an age, or age and disability requirement:
- The taxpayer is 65 years old or older, or
- The taxpayer is 62 years old or older and:
- A veteran of a U.S. war and has a service-connected disability rating of 10% or more
- A veteran of a U.S. war and has a non-service-connected disability pension
- Recognized as disabled by the Social Security Administration, the Railroad Retirement Board, or the Office of Management and Budget
- Has a permanent disability (certified by a physician) with no expectation of improvement
Part Two is a qualified retirement benefit:
- Retirement benefits paid by the U.S. Government to a retired Service member of the U.S. Armed Forces
- Survivor benefits paid to an un-remarried Surviving Spouse of a retired Service member
- Nonresident Military Spouses Exempt from Idaho Income Tax: The nonresident Spouse of a nonresident Service member does not have to pay taxes on income earned in Idaho if they meet the following requirements:
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- Married to a Service member serving on active duty, stationed in Idaho, who has a state of residence other than Idaho
- Moved to Idaho to be with the Service member and has the same state of residence as the Service member
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- Idaho Property Tax Reduction for 100% Disabled Veterans: The Idaho Veterans Property Tax Reduction program is designed to lower property taxes on the primary residence and up to one acre of land for disabled Veterans who meet the eligibility criteria. This reduction can reach up to $1,500 and is not subject to income limitations.
- Idaho Property Tax Reduction Program: The Idaho Property Tax Reduction Program is aimed at decreasing property taxes for eligible applicants on their primary residence and up to one acre of land. Reductions are determined by the income from the prior calendar year and can provide a reduction of up to $1,500 on property taxes.
- Idaho Property Tax Deferral Program: The Idaho Property Tax Deferral Program permits property owners to postpone the payment of property taxes on their primary residence and up to one acre of land. However, these deferred taxes, along with accrued interest, must be repaid in the event of a change in property ownership or if the property no longer meets the qualifying criteria.
Sales Tax:
- Statewide: 6.0%
- Counties: can levy an additional sales tax of no more than 3.0%
- Current average sales tax (with local taxes included): 6.02% (prescription medicines are exempt)
Recreation
Idaho Resident and Nonresident Disabled Veterans, Reduced Fees for Hunting/Fishing Licenses and Tags: Idaho resident and nonresident disabled Veterans are offered reduced fees for hunting/fishing licenses and tags.
Resident Fees:
- Idaho Disabled Veteran License – $5
- Deer tag – $10.75
- Elk tag – $16.50
- Bear tag – $6.75
- Turkey tag – $10.75
Nonresident Fees:
- Idaho Nonresident Disabled Veteran License – $31.75 (includes 3-day fishing license)
- Deer tag – $23.75
- Elk tag – $39.75
- Bear tag – $23.75
- Turkey tag – $19.75
- Idaho Resident Service Member on Leave, Reduced Fee Fishing, and Hunting Licenses: Service members whose official home of record is Idaho and who are stationed outside the state have the opportunity to acquire hunting and fishing licenses at a reduced fee during their leave periods. To do so, Service members must furnish a copy of their Leave and Earnings Statement, along with their leave paperwork, when purchasing a license.
- Idaho Hunting and Fishing Licenses at Resident Rates for Nonresident Service Members and their Dependents: Nonresident U.S. Armed Forces Service members stationed in Idaho for a duration of 30 days or more are entitled to obtain Idaho hunting and fishing licenses, as well as tags, at resident prices. This benefit extends to the Service member’s Spouse and dependent Children under 18 who reside in the same household.
- Refund or Rain Check of License, Tags, and Permit Fees for Deploying Service Members: Service members deploying in support of contingency operations have the option to receive a raincheck or refund for hunting licenses, tags, or permits that they were unable to utilize because of their deployment.
- Idaho Disabled Veterans Special Big Game Tag Program: The Idaho Disabled Veterans Special Big Game Tag Program enables a recognized organization to seek a special big game hunt tag on behalf of a disabled Veteran.
Idaho Fish and Game allocates five tags annually for hunting deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, black bear, or mountain lion. Participants are exempt from licensing requirements, and the tag is provided at no cost. This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. The application period spans from January 2 to January 31 of the hunting calendar year.
Annually, the Idaho Division of Veterans Services assesses all applicants and furnishes a prioritized list of screened applicants to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The first two candidates, endorsed by the Idaho Divisions of Veterans Services, will receive a tag, while the three remaining tags will be issued to candidates sponsored by other eligible organizations. There is no restriction on the number of applicants a qualified organization may sponsor each year.
- Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Disabled Veteran Program: The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) offers eligible disabled Veterans a free lifetime camping and day-use access pass for Idaho’s State Parks.
The pass authorizes free Idaho State Park day-use access and one free campsite per overnight stay. Camping is limited to a maximum of 15 days.
Education Programs
- Idaho National Guard State Education Assistance Program (SEAP): SEAP (State Education Assistance Program) offers support for Idaho National Guard Service members, covering tuition and registration fees at public or private higher education institutions in Idaho, with an allocation of up to $4,000 per state fiscal year. It’s important to note that federal tuition assistance must be utilized before SEAP assistance. SEAP funds are disbursed at the conclusion of each academic term.
- Idaho Operation Education Scholarship Program: The Idaho Operation Education Scholarship Program is established to provide support to Veterans with permanent disabilities and their spouses as they pursue a degree at the University of Idaho.
Operation Education offers assistance that encompasses tuition, textbooks, fees, on-campus housing, transportation, medical support, childcare, adaptive equipment, mentoring, and tutoring. Additionally, they provide guidance in academic and career planning, facilitate networking opportunities, offer support for internships, and aid in job placement. Priority for assistance will be given to Idaho residents and to those Veterans whose injury and resulting disability are the result of action in a combat zone.
- Idaho Instate Tuition for Service Members Veterans and Dependents: Idaho will grant residence for tuition purposes to eligible Service members, Veterans and their family members.
- Idaho Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3): The purpose of this compact is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on Children of military Families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by:
- Facilitating the prompt enrollment of Children of military Families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of educational records from the previous school district or variations in entrance or age requirements
- Facilitating the student placement process through which Children of military Families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content, or assessment. Facilitating the qualification and eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, and participation in extracurricular academic, athletic, and social activities.
- Facilitating the on-time graduation of Children of military Families
- Providing for the enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of this compact
- Providing for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among member states, schools, and military Families under this compact
- Promoting coordination between this compact and other compacts affecting military Children
- Promoting flexibility and cooperation between the educational system, parents, and the student in order to achieve educational success for the student
Housing: The following are the sites for Veterans Homes
Idaho State Veterans Home at Post Falls
Idaho State Veterans Home at Boise
Idaho State Veterans Home at Lewiston
Idaho State Veterans Home at Pocatello
Eligibility for admission:
- Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for at least 90 days and received an honorable discharge (wartime Veterans receive priority for admission)
- Spouse or Surviving Spouse of an eligible Veteran
- Require skilled nursing care
- A resident of Idaho at the time of application
- Must apply for (or already receive) a VA pension and Aid and Attendance
- Eligible for Medicaid benefits or pay the current maximum monthly charge
- Veterans may be admitted without regard to their financial status
Employment and Job Training: Veterans Preference
Idaho Public Employment Veterans’ Hiring Preference: When selecting candidates for initial classified positions in Idaho’s public employment sector, hiring officials are mandated to provide preference to eligible Veterans, Spouses, and Surviving Spouses.
In situations where applicants are assessed using a scoring system, this preference is realized by augmenting the scores obtained in competitive examinations. For positions where a scoring system is not applicable, Veterans hold priority over other candidates who are comparatively less qualified.
Five Points Veterans’ Preference Eligibility:
- Veterans who served at least 180 days on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and received an honorable discharge
- Unremarried Surviving Spouse of an Eligible Veteran
Ten Point Disabled Veterans’ Preference Eligibility:
- Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces received an honorable discharge and have a service-connected disability rating of 10% or greater
- Purple Heart recipient
- Unremarried Surviving Spouse of an Eligible Veteran
- Spouse of any Veteran who cannot qualify for the position due to their service-connected disability
Ten Point Disabled Veterans’ Preference and Interview Eligibility – Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, received an honorable discharge, and have a service-connected disability rating of 30% or greater will receive 10 points and be offered the chance to interview if they are one of the top 25 qualified applicants.
Applications by Recently Discharged Veterans – Veterans who were discharged within 120 days or were hospitalized (for up to one year) may file an application for any state-classified position that has already closed, provided there is still a vacant position.
Applications by Disabled Veterans – Disabled Veterans may file an application at any time for Idaho state employment classified positions that maintain a register.
Idaho Occupational and Professional License Benefits for Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses: Idaho offers several professional license benefits for Service members, Veterans, and their Spouses.
Service members with an Idaho professional license are exempt from renewal fees while serving in an active or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces. Additionally, their licenses will remain active, requiring no renewal, and are safeguarded against cancellation, suspension, or revocation. The professional license of the Service member remains valid until six months after their discharge.
- Idaho professional and occupational licensing boards may accept military education, training, and experience toward meeting the qualifications for a license, certification, or registration. Boards may also expedite applications from Service members, Veterans, or Spouses.
Idaho State Employee Leave for Military Duty: State employees who concurrently serve as members of the National Guard or the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves are entitled to 120 hours of compensated military leave for their military duties. This leave is granted without any reduction in pay, time, or efficiency rating.
Idaho Department of Labor, Veterans Services: Idaho Department of Labor, Veterans Services: The Idaho Department of Labor is committed to assisting Veterans, transitioning Service members, and eligible Spouses by delivering comprehensive employment training and placement services. They continuously update and provide information regarding employment opportunities, programs, and services accessible to Veterans across federal, state, and local levels, as well as within the private sector.
Federal Employment Veteran’s Hiring Preferences: Federal law mandates that Veterans, especially those with disabilities or those who served during specific time periods or in military campaigns, are granted preference over non-veterans when it comes to Federal civil service hiring and retention during workforce reductions. In various scoring processes for examinations and interviews, Veterans may be eligible for an additional 5 or 10 points.
5-point Hiring Preference: Five points are added to the examination score or rating of a Veteran who served:
- During a war, or
- During the period April 28, 1952, through July 1, 1955, or
- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976, or
- During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992, or
- For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010, the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, or
- In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti, qualifies for preference
10-point Compensable Disability (CP) Preference: Ten points are added to the examination score or rating of a Veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30%.
10-Point 30% Compensable Disability Preference (CPS): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of a Veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.
10-Point Disability Preference (XP): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of:
- A veteran who served at any time and has a present service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the VA but does not qualify as a CP or CPS, or
- Veteran who received a Purple Heart
10-Point Derived Preference (XP): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of Spouses, Surviving Spouses, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a Spouse (including a Surviving Spouse) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran’s service if they both meet the requirements. However, neither may receive preference if the Veteran is living and is qualified for Federal employment.
Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of the Spouse of a disabled Veteran who is disqualified for a federal position along the general lines of their usual occupation because of a service-connected disability. Such a disqualification may be presumed when the Veteran is unemployed and:
- Is rated by appropriate military or VA authorities to be 100% disabled and/or unemployable, or
- Has retired, been separated, or resigned from a civil service position because of a disability that is service-connected in origin, or
- Has attempted to obtain a civil service position or other position along the lines of their usual occupation and has failed to qualify because of a service-connected disability
Preference may be allowed in other circumstances but anything less than the above warrants a more careful analysis.
A campaign medal holder or Gulf War Veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980, (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. The 24-month service requirement does not apply to 10-point preference eligible Veterans separated for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or to Veterans separated for hardship or other reasons under Title 10 U.S.C. 1171 or 1173.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): USERRA protects civilian job rights and benefits for Veterans and members of reserve components. USERRA also protects Service member rights and benefits by clarifying the law, improving enforcement mechanisms, and adding Federal Government employees to those employees already eligible to receive Department of Labor assistance in processing claims.
Absence from Work for Military Duty: USERRA establishes the cumulative length of time that an individual may be absent from work for military duty and retain reemployment rights for five years. Exceptions to the five-year limit, include initial enlistments lasting more than five years, periodic National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve training duty, and involuntary active duty extensions and recalls, especially during a time of national emergency. USERRA establishes that reemployment protection does not depend on the timing, frequency, duration, or nature of an individual’s service if the basic eligibility criteria are met.
Disability Accommodation: USERRA provides protection for disabled Veterans, requiring employers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate the disability. Service members recovering from injuries received during service or training may have up to two years from the date of completion of service to return to their jobs or apply for reemployment.
Return to Work without Loss of Seniority: USERRA provides that returning Service members are reemployed in the job that they would have attained had they not been absent for military service, with the same seniority, status, and pay, as well as other rights and benefits determined by seniority. USERRA also requires that reasonable efforts (such as training or retraining) be made to enable returning Service members to refresh or upgrade their skills to help them qualify for reemployment. USERRA also provides that while an individual is performing military service, they are deemed to be on a furlough or leave of absence and are entitled to the non-seniority rights accorded to other individuals on non-military leaves of absence.
Extension of Health and Pension Plans: Health and pension plan coverage for Service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer-sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium. For military service of less than 31 days, health care coverage is provided as if the Service member had remained employed. USERRA clarifies pension plan coverage by making explicit that all pension plans are protected.
Who is eligible for USERRA Benefits? Veterans, U.S. Armed Forces Reserve or National Guard Service members who leave a position for training or active military service are eligible.
The Department of Labor, through the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), helps all who have claims under USERRA, including Federal and Postal Service employees.
Burials and Memorials
The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) pays tribute to eligible Veterans and their family members by providing a final resting place and a lasting memorial to commemorate the Veteran’s dedicated service to the nation.
The burial benefits encompass a gravesite in any of our open cemeteries with available space, the opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, all at no cost to the family. Some Veterans may also meet the criteria for a burial allowance. Cremated remains are interred or inurned in national cemeteries with the same honors and respect as casketed remains.
Burial benefits extend to eligible spouses and dependents, including burial alongside the Veteran and perpetual care of the interment site. The name and relevant dates of birth and death of the spouse or dependent are inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone at no expense to the family. Importantly, spouses and qualified dependents are eligible for burial even if they pass away before the Veteran and are not required to be interred in the same national cemetery as the Veteran.
National Cemeteries include:
Blackfoot: Idaho State Veterans Cemetery
Boise: https://veterans.idaho.gov/cemeteries/boise-cemetery/
Idaho VA Benefit Resources
Idaho provides Veterans with a Regional Benefits Office and a VA Medical Center.
Idaho VA Regional Benefits Office
- Boise: Regional Office
Idaho VA Medical Centers
- Boise: Boise VA Medical Center
Important information for Idaho Veteran Benefits:
For Veterans applying for VA benefits for the first time, you must submit a copy of your DD 214 (discharge paperwork). This will provide your discharge status, along with your full name, social security number, branch of service, and dates for which you served. Honorable and general discharges qualify a Veteran for most VA benefits.
You should always keep your paperwork, along with your medical records, in a safe place where you and your family can have access to them. It is imperative to have it in a location where it cannot be destroyed or tampered with, which includes a safe.
Your eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions.
Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Any Veteran discharged from the military under the conditions of “Dishonorable” due to bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees may be eligible for certain VA benefits. VA regional offices can clarify the eligibility of prisoners, parolees, and individuals with multiple discharges issued under differing conditions.
*This information is accurate as of October 2023
Idaho Veteran Benefits
If you are a disabled Veteran in Idaho and are VA rated 90% or less, you may be eligible for additional benefits. Contact Veterans Guardian for a free consultation with no obligation. Let us review your claim to determine whether you qualify for additional benefits.