Veteran Benefits for Utah

• Utah State Taxes on Military Retired Pay: Utah provides a tax credit for military retired pay that is included in their federal adjusted gross income. The amount of the tax credit is the product of the retired Service member’s federally taxable military retired pay multiplied by 0.0485.

  Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) does not withhold taxes for state or local income tax, but it is reported annually on IRS Form 1099-R. All TSP distributions are subject to state taxes, and early distributions may incur higher taxes.

• Utah State Taxes on Military Pay: Utah treats taxes on military pay the same as the IRS. All income included in federal adjusted gross income is automatically included in Utah income. Income that is exempt from federal taxation is also exempt for Utah tax purposes.
• Utah State Taxes on Survivor Benefits: The spouse or dependent child of a Service member who died while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or a reserve component Service member who died in the line of duty while serving on inactive duty for training are eligible for a tax credit on their survivor benefits. The amount of the tax credit is the product of the Surviving spouse’s federally taxable survivor benefits multiplied by 0.0485.
• Utah State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 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. Some of the payments that are considered disability benefits include:
  • Disability compensation and pension payments for disabilities paid to Veterans or their families
  • Grants for homes designed for wheelchair living
  • Grants for motor vehicles for Veterans who lost their sight or the use of limbs or
  • Benefits under a dependent-care assistance program

   

• Utah State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military Service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.

   

• Utah State Taxes on Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP), Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP): Utah provides a tax credit for SBP, RCSBP, and RSFPP survivor annuities that are included in their federal adjusted gross income. The amount of the tax credit is the product of the Surviving spouse’s federally taxable annuity multiplied by 0.0485.

   

• Utah Nonresident Active Duty Income Exemption: Nonresident Service members do not pay Utah income tax on active duty military pay.

   

• Utah Nonresident Military Spouse Income: All Utah income received by a nonresident spouse married to a nonresident active duty Service member is exempt from Utah income tax under the following conditions:
  • The spouse and the Service member are residents of the same state outside of Utah
  • The service member is in Utah under military orders
  • Spouse is in Utah only to be with the Service member
• Utah Combat-Related Death Tax Credit: Those filing taxes on behalf of a Service member who died as a result of service in a combat zone may be eligible for a tax credit for the taxes owed in the year of the Service member’s death.
• Utah Active or Reserve Duty Armed Forces Property Tax Exemption: Utah offers a total property tax exemption on the primary residence of an active or reserve component Service member when they are stationed outside the state.

  Who is eligible for Utah Active or Reserve Duty Armed Forces Property Tax Exemption: To be eligible, the Service member must be serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces outside Utah for 200 days in a calendar year or 200 consecutive days beginning in the prior year.

  The Service member must be the property owner of record as of January 1 and must file on or before September 1 of the year of their qualifying service. Supporting documentation (military orders) must accompany the application. Service members must re-apply each year they are eligible. Applications and required documentation must be submitted to the County Auditor or Treasurer where the property is located.

• Utah Disabled Veteran and Survivors Property Tax Exemption: Utah offers a property tax exemption of up to $479,504 of the taxable value of the residence or personal property of disabled Veterans. Veterans must have a 10% or greater service-connected disability to be eligible.

  The amount of the exemption is based on the disability percentage of the Veteran. Veterans with 100% disability are able to claim the entire amount of the authorized exemption. If the percentage of disability is less than 100%, the Veteran will receive a percentage of the total exemption allowable that is equal to their disability percentage.

  The Surviving spouse or minor orphans of a Service member who was killed in action or died in the line of duty is eligible for an exemption of the total value of their primary residence and all personal property not used for trade or business.

  All first-time applicants must include official documentation of military service, VA disability percentage, or death (for Surviving spouses or orphaned children). Applications and required documentation must be submitted to the County Auditor or Treasurer where the property is located.

   

Sales Tax:

• Statewide: 6.10%
• Counties: can levy an additional sales tax of no more than 2.95%
• Current average sales tax (with local taxes included): 7.19%

Recreation

Utah Disabled Veteran Discounted Hunting and Fishing Licenses: Utah offers discounted hunting, fishing, and combination licenses to resident disabled Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The following one-year licenses are available:

• Fishing license – $12
• Hunting license – $25.50
• Combination license – $28.50

Who is Eligible for Utah Disabled Veteran Discounted Hunting and Fishing Licenses? Resident disabled Veterans who served in an active or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces and have a 20% or more service-connected disability rating are eligible for these discounted licenses. Applicants must provide an official letter, statement, or card issued by the VA or a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces certifying they have a service-connected disability rating of 20% or higher.

Utah Department of Natural Resources, Veterans with Disabilities Honor Pass: The Utah Parks and Recreation Division offers a free annual Veterans with Disabilities Honor Pass to qualified Veterans.

The Honor Pass authorizes free day-use entry at all Utah State Parks for eligible disabled Veterans and up to seven guests in the same private vehicle. Honor Passes are only valid when in possession of the Veteran they were issued to and are non-transferable.

Who is eligible for the Utah Department of Natural Resources Veterans with Disabilities Honor Pass? Utah resident Veterans who were honorably discharged and had a service-connected disability rating of any percentage are eligible. Veterans are required to provide a current Summary of Benefits letter issued by the VA to prove eligibility.

Veterans with Disabilities Honor Pass pickup locations include Utah State Parks Region Offices, the main office in Salt Lake City, and all the state parks except for Flight Park, Piute State Park, Jordan River OHV State Park, Utah Raptor State Park, Lost Creek State Park, and This is the Place Heritage Park.

The Veterans with Disabilities Honor Pass is not valid at This Is The Place Heritage Park for fees charged by Davis County for travel on the Antelope Island Causeway and for special charges or fees within the park.

Education Programs

Utah National Guard State Tuition Assistance (STA): STA provides additional financial assistance to pay for tuition and fees after a Utah National Guard Service member has reached their annual Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) limit or is otherwise not eligible for FTA. STA will cover up to $250 per semester hour and up to $6,000 per fiscal year.

STA can be used for all Utah System of Higher Education Schools for full or part-time enrollment while pursuing their first associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate, aviation degree, or professional certificate. The type of degree or certificate the Service member is pursuing will determine their additional service requirement after they complete their education.

• Undergraduate degrees incur a one-year service obligation
• Graduate degrees incur a two-year service obligation
• Doctoral and aviation programs degrees incur a three-year service obligation

Service members pursuing a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, or Cyber degree program (STEM-C) are allowed up to $7,000 per fiscal year to be applied toward tuition and fees. STA approval is subject to the availability of funds. 

Who is eligible for STA? To be eligible for STA, Service members must be actively serving in good standing in the Utah National Guard and are not eligible for FTA.

STA packets should be submitted at least 15 days prior to the class start and must include a completed application, signed Statement of Understanding (SOU), and course/cost verification. 

Utah National Guard State Tuition Waiver (STW): The UtahSTW waives tuition for Utah National Guard Service members working towards their first associate or bachelor’s degree. STW waives full-time student tuition for (12-18 credit hours) at Utah public colleges and universities.

Who is eligible for STW? Utah National Guard Service members must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

• Accepted as a student at a Utah public college or university
• Full-time student
• Do not have a four-year degree
• Utah resident for tuition purposes
• Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)/Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) qualified, except for ROTC cadets
• Not serving on active duty
• The end of the Tour of Service (ETS) is after the end of the school year

STW packets must include a completed application, a high school transcript or previous college transcript(s), and a short essay. The application period runs annually from 1 January through 30 April.

Utah Purple Heart Tuition Waiver: Utah resident Purple Heart recipients are eligible for a tuition waiver in all Utah System of Higher Education schools. This benefit can be used toward a degree up to and including a master’s degree. 

Utah Veterans Tuition Gap Program: The Veterans Tuition Gap program provides up to one year of undergraduate tuition for Utah Veterans who have used all their VA education benefits and are in the final year of earning their bachelor’s degree. The program only pays tuition; it does not provide funding for fees and books or a basic allowance for housing. 

Scott B. Lundell Military Survivors Tuition Waiver: Utah System of Higher Education institutions will waive undergraduate tuition for the Surviving spouse and dependents of a resident Service member who was killed or died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. This waiver does not apply to fees, books, or housing expenses.

Who is eligible for the Scott B. Lundell Military Survivors Tuition Waiver? For the Veteran’s Surviving spouse and dependents to be eligible, the Veteran must have been a Utah resident, and their death must have been under the following circumstances:

• Died on or after September 11, 2001
• Served in an active or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces
• At the time of death, was serving on state or federal active duty, and their death was considered in the line of duty
• Was killed or died of wounds or injuries received while serving on federal or state active duty

Surviving spouse and dependent eligibility requirements:

• Surviving spouse or dependent has been accepted as a student at a Utah public college or university
• Utah resident for tuition purposes
• Must not have earned a bachelor’s degree
• Only courses related to their degree are waived

For more information, students should contact the admissions office at the educational institution they plan to attend.

Veterans Upward Bound (VUB): VUB assists Veterans in achieving their education goals by helping them prepare for and succeed while studying at a post-secondary educational institution. All VUB assistance is free for Veterans attending or planning to attend a college, university, technical school, or certificate program.

VUB will provide the following:

• Academic assessment
• Academic instruction in math, English, and computer literacy
• Counseling and advisement
• College and life skills development workshops
• Information and assistance with financial aid and admissions applications
• Referrals to additional college and community services
• Dedicated computer lab, lounge, and study areas

Who is eligible for the VUB Program? To be eligible, Veterans must have served at least 181 days on active duty and meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Low-income student and potential first-generation college graduate (neither parent has a bachelor’s or four-year degree), or
• Was a member of a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces called to active duty for a period of 31 days or more on or after September 11, 2001, or
• Was called to active duty for less than 30 days to serve in support of a contingency operation on or after September 11, 2001

In-State Tuition at Utah Public Institutions for Service Members, Veterans, and their Family Members: Any institution in the Utah System of Higher Education will grant residency for tuition purposes to:

• Nonresident Service members and their immediate family members who are stationed in Utah
• Nonresident U.S. Armed Forces Veteran who received an honorable discharge (within 12 months of applying) and their immediate family using VA educational benefits (must demonstrate intent to become a Utah resident)
• Was a Utah resident for one year prior to active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces?
• Service members in the Utah National Guard or a U.S. Armed Forces Reserve unit in Utah

Honorary High School Diplomas for Utah Wartime Veterans: Veterans who left high school before graduation to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam are eligible to request an honorary high school diploma from their former high school. Veterans should contact the school district where they went to high school for information and to apply.

Utah 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

Utah Purple Star Schools Designation for Military-Friendly Schools: The Utah Purple Star Schools Designation for military-friendly schools recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to the U.S. Armed Forces.

For a school to qualify for the Purple Star Award, they must appoint a school liaison who is specially trained to handle the unique challenges experienced by military families. This liaison will ensure that other teachers at their school are aware of special considerations that students from military families can benefit from. Each school will also have a dedicated page on their school website featuring resources for military families.

 

Housing: The following are the sites for Veterans Homes

Utah Veterans Homes: Utah has four Veterans Homes that provide long-term care for Utah Veterans and their eligible family members.

Utah State Veterans Home at Ivins

Utah State Veterans Home at Ogden

Utah State Veterans Home at Payson

Utah State Veterans Home at Salt Lake City

Services Offered:

• Short-term rehabilitation
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapies
• Skilled nursing care
• Respite care (only at Salt Lake City and Payson locations)
• Memory care
• Hospice Care (only at the Ogden location)
• Post-stroke rehabilitation
• Pain management

Who is eligible for care at the Utah State Veterans Homes? To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Utah resident
• Requires nursing home care
• Served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for more than 180 consecutive days or
• Served in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces or
• Has a service-connected injury or disability, regardless of whether they completed 180 days of active duty
• Received an honorable discharge
• An eligible Veteran’s spouse or Surviving spouse
• Gold Star Parents of a Service member who was killed while serving on active duty

Employment and Job Training: Veteran’s Preference

Utah State Employment Veterans Hiring Preference: Utah offers a Veterans hiring preference when hiring for initial employment with the Utah state government to eligible Veterans, their spouse, or Surviving spouses. Preference is given by adding points or percentage points (whichever is greater) to passing scores on an exam, rating, or ranking system used for hiring.

• Five points or 5% of the total possible score for Veterans
• 10 points or 10% of the total possible score for Veterans with a disability or a Purple Heart recipient
• Eligible spouse or Surviving spouse will receive the same points or percentage the qualifying Veteran is eligible for or would have been eligible for

Who is eligible for Utah State Employment Veterans Hiring Preference? Applicants must meet one of the following requirements to be eligible:

• A veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for 180 consecutive days or more (active duty for training does not qualify) and received an honorable discharge or
• Service member or former Service member in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces who served on active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized and received an honorable discharge or
• Veterans who received a disability rating from the VA or a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or
• Spouse or un-remarried Surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran or
• Purple Heart recipients, or
• Service member who retired from the U.S. Armed Forces

• 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.

Utah Private Sector Voluntary Veterans Hiring Preference: Private-sector employers in Utah are authorized to have a Veterans employment preference policy. The preference policy must meet the following requirements:

• It must be in writing
• Applied uniformly to employment decisions regarding hiring, promotion, or retention during a reduction-in-force
• Publicly posted at the place of employment
• Posted on the internet if the employer has a website or uses the internet to advertise employment opportunities

Employers may require applicants to provide their discharge documents to prove eligibility for the preference.

Utah Veteran Employment Opportunity Program (VEOP): VEOP gives eligible Veterans, their spouse, or Surviving spouse the option to be hired into designated career-service positions with a 6-month on-the-job examination period instead of a competitive hiring process. Hiring officials may choose to interview and hire a qualified applicant who has opted into this program separately from other candidates.

Utah Alternative State Application Program (ASAP): ASAP allows for a non-competitive review and potential hiring for Utah state employment through an on-the-job examination period for qualified disabled applicants.

If hired through ASAP, the candidate is placed in a time-limited position and begins a 6-month on-the-job trial period. At the end of the 6-month period, if the employee is performing successfully, the employee is converted to a career service position and begins their regular probationary period for the job.

Paid Military Leave for Utah State Employees: Utah state employees who are Service members serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are authorized 15 days of military leave with full pay for required military duty. Military leave is in addition to vacation leave with pay.

Utah Department of Workforce Services Veteran Employment Services: The Utah Department of Workforce Services provides web pages containing links to information to help Service members, Veterans and spouses who are trying to find a job in Utah.

In addition, Utah Department of Workforce Services Employment Centers offer:

• Priority of service
• Military MOS / AFSC crosswalks (civilian jobs with equivalency to military skills)
• Referrals to other Veteran and military resources

Extension of Utah Professional Licenses for National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Service Members: Utah professional licenses held by a Service member serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces that expires while they are serving on active duty may be extended until 90 days after they are discharged from active duty status.

Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) Military Resources: Service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and their families are often more affected than others by professional licensing restrictions because of frequent relocations. To ease this burden, the Utah Legislature has authorized certain fee waivers and license exemptions for qualifying Service members and military spouses.

License Fee Waivers:

Initial License and License Renewal: DOPL offers an initial application and renewal fee waiver for full-time active duty Service members. Service members should submit the fee waiver request form with their initial or renewal license application.

Inactive License: Service members who change their professional license to an inactive status or renew an inactive license are authorized a fee waiver.

Licensing for Military Spouses:

Spouses of Service members stationed in Utah are authorized to work in licensed professions without obtaining a Utah license as long as they possess an active license from another state or territory. DPOL offers a verification letter that spouses can use to verify this exemption.

Utah Veterans Business Resource Center (VBRC): The Utah VBRC has a staff of Veteran entrepreneurs who help and support other Veterans as they start and grow their businesses. VBRC supports veterans as they form their companies, test business ideas, develop a business plan, analyze financial needs, and create a marketing approach.

VBRC will provide:

• One-on-one consultations
• Assistance in developing a business plan and financial projections
• Test business ideas and direction of growth
• Assist Veterans in launching their businesses quickly
• Provide research and access to other business resources

Utah Accelerated Credentialing to Employment (ACE) Program: The Utah ACE Program is designed to assist Veterans, Service members, and their spouses in overcoming barriers to employment or finding better employment by helping them earn certificates and licenses by using their military training and experience. The ACE program can also help participants find short-term training that leads to a certificate or license.

The ACE Program provides the following assistance:

• Identifying and translating skills and training received while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces to civilian careers
• Connecting ACE participants to the programs and services offered by the Department of Workforce Services
• Job search techniques, resume writing classes, work readiness, and interviewing skills workshops
• Provide funding for short-term training that leads to a certificate or license

Burials and Memorials

Please note that your preference regarding burial in a national cemetery and use of a headstone provided by VA should be documented and kept with your paperwork and medical records.

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:

Bluffdale: National Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Utah VA Benefit Resources

Utah provides Veterans with a Regional Benefits Office and a VA Medical Centers.

Utah VA Regional Benefits Office

• Salt Lake City: Salt Lake City Regional Office

Utah VA Medical Centers

• Salt Lake City: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System

Important information for Utah 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, 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 and medical records in a safe place where you and your family can access 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 conditions other than dishonorable. 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 November 2023

Utah Veteran Benefits

If you are a disabled Veteran in Utah 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.