Connecticut Veteran Benefits

Are you a veteran living in Connecticut or an active servicemember stationed there? In addition to your federal benefits, Connecticut has state benefits that can help you or your family pursue an education, find work, visit state parks, and so much more!

Veteran Home Loans

If you're stationed in Connecticut with the Army or Air Force, it might be worth it to consider buying your own home instead of living on base. You'd still be able to enjoy the convenience of living close to your duty station while also enjoying the freedom of your own home.

One of the most frequently-used military benefits is the VA loan. Whether you're a veteran or are still in the military, applying for VA loans in Connecticut could help you get a home much faster and easier than with other loan types.

In addition, VA loans include a variety of other amazing benefits, including:

• Lower interest rates than other types of mortgages
• No down payment requirement
• Freedom from private mortgage insurance (PMI) payments
• Easy qualification rules
• Lower credit score requirements

The VA guarantees Connecticut veteran loans. Their guaranty means private lenders will get back a portion of each loan, even if the borrower doesn't pay. Together, that guaranty and the VA's loan guidelines allow lenders to offer you such great terms on a VA loan.

When it comes to getting the best deal on your VA home loan, including the amount you get approved for, the rate, and other terms, you should compare quotes from multiple lenders. You'll also want to make sure you choose lenders who have a good track record of doing VA loans—kind of like us here at Low VA Rates.

Veteran Housing Benefits

Property Tax Exemptions

You might qualify for a $1,500 property tax exemption that you can apply to either your home's property or your vehicle by lowering the assessed value of the property. This reduction can help lower your monthly mortgage payment, making it more affordable.

To be eligible, you must have served 90 days with the US Armed Forces during one of the approved wartime periods or meet one of the other eligibility options. Surviving spouses, as well as a sole surviving parent and the minor child of a veteran, may also be eligible.

Veterans who have a service-related disability or an income below a certain limit could qualify for additional exemptions. How much of an exemption you will receive depends on a variety of factors, including how severe your disability is and your exact income level.

Property tax exemptions are not granted automatically; you must actually apply for them. However, with so many different exemption options, it can be difficult to figure out what property tax exemptions you qualify for. If you need help figuring out which ones apply to you, you can contact the Office of Advocacy and Assistance.

Patriots' Landing

In order to help veterans and their families who are at risk of becoming homeless, or who are already experiencing homelessness, Connecticut has a temporary housing program called Patriots' Landing.

Patriots' Landing consists of five single-family homes with three bedrooms. The homes are completely furnished. The homes are available on a month-to-month basis with a 12 month cap, though extenuating circumstances may waive this time limit.

In addition to housing, families living at the Patriots' Landing homes also receive a case manager who will help them create a recovery plan so they can return to full independence. These services can include job and education assistance.

Veterans who apply and are approved must sign an agreement and abide by all its terms and conditions. They will also be required to pay a small fee each month. This fee is determined on a case-by-case basis.

To apply for the program, follow all of the instructions on the Patriots' Landing Program Application.

Connecticut Veterans Residential Facility

Connecticut's residential facility for veterans provides a community environment that includes a dormitory, meals, social services, and more. You'll also have access to computers, TVs, and a fitness center.

The first four months of your stay constitutes a grace period, and you are able to stay there for free. However, after the four months are up, you will need to pay a monthly fee of 30% of your income.

If you want to stay at the residential facility, you must meet the following conditions:

• Received an honorable discharge from the military
• Be a resident of Connecticut or have been a resident when you joined the military

In addition to serving as one of the state's veterans homes, Connecticut's residential facility also provides a variety of rehabilitation services through the Veterans' Improvement Program (VIP).

Veterans participating in VIP work with facility employees, including case workers and social workers, to come up with a plan that helps them progress towards independent living. The plan can include education, vocational rehabilitation, job search services, therapeutic programs, mental health and substance abuse assistance, and more.

When someone in the VIP program gets outside work, he or she moves to the Transitional Living phase of the program, and moves to a new building with private rooms and more independence.

If you're interested in living at the residential facility, you can fill out the application form and mail or fax it, along with any other required documents, to the facility's using their current contact information. The staff there should review your application within about a week.

Respite Care at Sgt. John L. Levitow Healthcare Center

For veterans with chronic diseases or severe medical problems that leave them disabled, the Sgt. John L. Levitow Healthcare Center provides a place to stay while receiving long-term or respite care. Some common conditions they treat veterans for include, but are not limited to:

• Alzheimer's & dementia
• Parkinson's
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Lung disease

The staff of the healthcare center includes full-time doctors and advanced practice registered nurses. All the staff work to create a feeling of community and comfort.

To become a long-term care patient, the veteran must:

• Have served in active duty with the US Armed Forces for 90 days or longer after initial entry training
• Have been a Connecticut resident when he or she joined the military, or for two years before the application to the healthcare center
• Have a final discharge of honorable or general under honorable conditions

To apply for long-term care, fill out the general application. Or, if you need respite care, you should fill out the Application for Respite Care instead.

Veteran Employment & Education Benefits

Education Benefits

Furthering your education can help you in a variety of ways, both while in the service and after, if you choose to leave it. To help you afford that education, Connecticut offers tuition waivers, in-state tuition for those stationed in Connecticut, and more. Keep reading to find out if you qualify for any of these benefits.

Veteran Tuition Waiver

You may not have to pay any tuition at Connecticut's public universities, community colleges, and technical colleges. To qualify, you must:

• Have served 90 days or more of active duty during wartime with the US Armed Forces or less than 90 days if you separated from the military because of a service-related disability or the operation took less than 90 days and you serviced the whole time
• Be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree
• Have been admitted to the academic program
• Have been a resident of Connecticut when accepted to the educational institution
• Have separation documents from the military showing an honorable discharge or discharge under honorable conditions

A waiver can also cover half of the tuition for summer and intersession courses at public universities.

In the period after January 1, 1960 to the present, if a veteran with the US Armed Forces has been MIA, his or her dependents may also qualify for this benefit.

To learn more about this benefit and to apply, contact the school you want to go to through their financial aid, bursar's, or veterans services office. You'll need to take a copy of your separation document with you when you apply.

In-State Tuition for Servicemembers Stationed in Connecticut

According to Connecticut state law [§§ 10a-29(6) & (7)], you and your dependents can immediately qualify for in-state tuition at public universities and institutions of education if you are stationed here on military orders.

This classification is in effect for you as long as you remain stationed in Connecticut. It will remain in effect for your dependents even after you have a permanent change of station, as long as they were already attending and they continue to attend without interruption.

High School Diplomas for World War II Veterans

The state of Connecticut offers honorary high school diplomas to veterans whose service during WWII, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War interrupted their education and were unable to graduate.

To apply for the honorary diploma, you should contact the local board of education that is over the high school you attended.

Employment Benefits

From simplifying you you start a small business to helping you nab a state job you might be eyeing, Connecticut offers veterans and servicemembers a lot of employment-related benefits, all of which are outlined below.

Municipal Employees' Retirement System

Members of the Municipal Employees' Retirement System who left their job to serve in the US Armed Forces during wartime or during a national emergency can have their military service credited towards retirement if they were re-employed by their municipality:

• Within six months of their military discharge
• After more than six months if they suffered a service-connected disability

Essentially, if you qualify for this benefit, the credit of your service works as if you had stayed employed with your municipality the whole time you were serving in the military.

To receive this benefit, you will need to fill out the Retirement Credit Purchase Request for Prior Miscellaneous Services form.

Veterans Employment Preference

Connecticut's employment preference for veterans (see also CGS §§ 7-415) works by adding points to their exam score when they apply for a competitive state or municipal government job. How many points are added depends on a variety of factors.

For example, veterans with an honorable discharge who received or earned an expeditionary medal or campaign badge are eligible to have five points added to his or her passing score. This same amount of points can also be added to the score of wartime veterans who are not eligible for VA compensation or pension.

Ten points get added to the passing score of wartime veterans who are eligible for VA compensation or pension.

In the event that a veteran is unable to take advantage of these benefits, either because of severe disability or death, their spouse or surviving spouse can use the benefits in their place.

Veteran Right to Reinstatement of Public Employment

According to Connecticut law, if you were employed by a municipal or state government agency before you joined the US military, you can get your previous job back after you're discharged from the military. Once you get a document from the military confirming you served satisfactorily, be sure to reapply to your job within 90 days.

Veterans Agriculture Program Tax Incentive

Farmers have to meet certain conditions to get a tax exemption on property that is used for commercial agriculture.

Thanks to a Connecticut law [CGS § 12-412(63)(D)], these conditions are simplified so it's easier for veterans to receive the agricultural tax exemption.

Preference for Veteran-Owned Micro Businesses

Connecticut's Department of Administrative Services (DAS) offers preference to micro businesses owned by veterans. This preference comes into play when you are bidding for a contract with DAS.

DAS contracts are typically awarded to the bid with the lowest offer from a qualified bidder. When the lowest bid is being determined, your bid will receive a 15% price preference making it an even more competitive offer.

To qualify for this preference, you'll need to contact Connecticut's Department of Veterans Affairs to get a Veteran-Owned Micro Business Certification by following these steps by filling out the Connecticut Veteran-Owned Micro Business Certification Application and submitting documents that prove:

• Your honorable service (e.g. DD-214)
• Current business registration in Connecticut
• The company's percentage of veteran ownership
• The business's most recent gross annual income

After you receive the certification, you will need to submit it with your DAS bid. When DAS is evaluating their bid and they see the attached certification, the preference will be added automatically.

Other Veteran Benefits

The Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Fund (SSMF)

Administered by Connecticut's branch of the American Legion, the Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Fund provides short-term financial help when you're sick, unemployed, or disabled. You can use the money for:

• Food
• Utilities
• Clothing
• Medical and surgical aid
• General relief and care
• Funeral expenses
• Rental or mortgage interest payments
• And more! This benefit covers veterans who:
• Honorably served for at least 90 days during wartime with the US military
• Were Connecticut residents when they applied
• Have a qualifying need

To apply, you'll get in touch with a Fund Representative for your local area. You can also contact a nearby American Legion Post, if the Post Service Officer is a Fund Representative.

Free Lifetime Pass to State Parks and Forests

If you have a disability that is related to your military service and are a Connecticut resident, you can get a free lifetime pass for Connecticut's state forests and parks. Please note that it only covers admission into the parks and not any camping fees.

Using the pass is simple. Just bring it with you and present it to the attendant when you enter the park or forest. Any other visitors you may be traveling with will still need to pay the regular fee.

To apply in person, you can visit one of the locations listed online. Make sure to bring documentation of your Connecticut residency, such as a driver's license, plus proof of your service-connected disability. This could include your VA card or a letter from the VA.

If you'd prefer to simply apply by mail, simply make copies of your residency and disability documents and send them to:

DEEP Disabled Veteran Pass, State Parks Division

79 Elm Street

Hartford, CT 06106-5127

You can also call (860) 424-3200 if you have any questions.

Veteran Designation on Connecticut Driver's License

You can honor your veteran status on your driver's license or ID card by requesting to add a flag symbol to the card.

In order to qualify for this benefit, you must be a Connecticut resident, and your military service must include at least 90 days of active duty in the military. Finally, you must have either been:

• Discharged under honorable conditions OR
• Discharged because an injury caused by your military service

To start the process of having the flag symbol added, you will need to fill out and send in the application, plus a copy of your DD-214 or other discharge documentation, at least 30 days or more before your license or ID card expires.

Once you receive your reply, you'll take that verification with you when you go to apply for the actual license. After visiting the DMV, you will not receive your new driver's license or ID card right away. Instead, it will be mailed to you.

If you're adding the veterans designation during a regular renewal—meaning you've received a renewal notice from the DMV—then there's no extra charge. Outside of this period, however, there will be an additional $30 fee.

Veteran Motor Vehicle Privileges

Veterans in Connecticut receive a few privileges related to owning and operating a motor vehicle.

First, if you're a disabled veteran [CGS §§14-49(o)] or you have received a Medal of Honor or are a former POW [CGS 14-21d], you can get your vehicle registered for free. This benefit can also apply to the spouses of recipients of the Medal of Honor or former POWs.

Disabled veterans can also get a free set of license plates that provides them with exemptions from overtime parking fines, .

Second, you may get one free driver's license (and the examination for it) if:

• You were a Connecticut resident when you were inducted into the US military
• You received an honorable discharge
• You apply for the driver's license within two years after your discharge date

Third, you may not have to pay the registration fees for the following:

• Disabled Veteran license plates
• Certain other license plates for these purposes:
  • Specific disabilities, such as blindness, loss of limb(s), or loss of use of limb(s)
  • Handicapped
  • Overtime parking

You may also not have to pay vehicle registration fees if you have received a VA auto grant or if you're a Medal of Honor recipient.

With any of the benefits above, the DMV may need to review your documents that verify your military service, award, or disability.

Pretrial Diversionary Programs

Connecticut offers veterans pretrial diversionary programs, including an accelerated rehabilitation program, that can help you if you're a criminal defendant charged with certain motor vehicle violations, or crimes, that are not too serious. If you qualify, you can avoid jail time and prosecution, as long as you finish a community-based treatment program before the trial.

Though these programs are potentially available to both civilians and veterans, you are able to use it twice while non-veterans may only use it once.

To be eligible, you must have been honorably discharged from the US Armed Forces or be meet the Title 38 requirements to receive VA services. You'll also have to get permission from the court to participate and will need to pay a fee.

State Income Tax Exemption

If you're receiving military retirement pay that is federally taxable, you are entitled to a state income tax exemption. This exemption means that you don't have to pay the state income tax on your military retirement pay.

Connecticut State Veterans Cemetery

Veterans with a discharge that was not dishonorable can be buried for free in Connecticut's state veterans cemetery. Veterans' spouses also qualify. To be eligible, a veteran must have:

• Non-training active duty service OR 20+ years of National Guard or Reserves service
• Connecticut resident at the time of death OR when he or she entered the military

If these qualifications are met, you can receive all of the following free of charge:

• The plot
• Opening and closing of the grave
• Gravesite care
• A headstone.

If you want to apply for a space in advance, you can send a request in writing to the Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs, Cemetery and Memorial Services. Make sure you include a copy of your discharge papers or DD-214 form.

At the time of death, the cemetery will also need a copy of the death certificate, an Eligibility Compliance Statement, and a Burial Form.

Veteran Benefits Assistance

Do any of these benefits seem confusing or overwhelming? You can contact Connecticut's Office of Advocacy and Assistance. Their Veteran Service Officers help veterans and their families understand and get the benefits they've earned.

Some of the ways they can assist you include, but are not limited to:

• Getting the latest information about benefits that are available to you and your family
• Preparing and presenting your claims for benefits
• Giving you advice on the services available to you, including medical, educational, rehabilitation, housing, employment, and others
• Representing you to the VA concerning your benefits and claims

You can contact the office to get started.  

About Low VA Rates

Low VA Rates helps both veterans and current military personnel take advantage of Connecticut veteran loans. By focusing on helping you and other veterans with VA loans, we have a greater knowledge of the process and how it works, allowing us to make it simple and painless for you to use your benefits.

If you need quotes on VA loans in Connecticut, you can pre-qualify online or call us at 866-569-8272. Our professional loan officers will listen carefully to your needs, advise you, and help you take steps toward buying your home.