Jersey Veteran Benefits

If you're a servicemember or a veteran in the Garden State, you could enjoy military benefits, including New Jersey veteran loans, education scholarships, tax breaks, and more.

Veteran Home Loans

If you're stationed in New Jersey, you will likely be spending a lot of time at one of the military bases found in the graphic below. If you don't want to live on base, you should consider buying a home of your own near your duty station.



The benefits associated with VA loans in New Jersey could enable you to buy a home much quicker than you may have initially thought. These benefits include features like:

  • No requirement to put money down on a home
  • No minimum credit score needed to qualify
  • Lower interest rates than many other mortgage types
  • No private mortgage insurance (PMI) payments needed

Most veterans and servicemembers can qualify for a VA loan, based on the eligibility requirements set by the VA. However, because private lenders are the ones actually offering these loans, they may have their own additional requirements. Terms, rates, and loan processing will also vary between lenders, so you should compare quotes from several lenders.

How much your loan amount gets approved for is also determined individually by private lenders, and is based on a variety of factors, including your financial history and income.

Because so much about your loan depends on the lender you choose, it's important to get several offers so you can find one that best meets your needs. You'll also want to find a lender that has plenty of experience with the unique aspects of VA loans.

New Jersey Residents Save

$251/mth

Savings based on 2015 active loan data

31Lunches

*Based on an average lunch price of $8.08

Pre-Qualify Now

Veteran Housing Benefits

New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes

New Jersey operates several modern nursing homes for veterans. The facilities offer:

  • 24-hour care from physicians, nurses, and assistants
  • Physical and occupational therapies
  • Speech therapy
  • Recreational activities
  • Meal services supervised by dietitians
  • Beauty and barber shops
  • Lounges for socializing
  • Outdoor recreation areas
  • Outside excursions
  • Religious services

Eligibility for admission to these nursing homes is primarily for veterans who are New Jersey residents, as well as their spouses and Gold Star parents. In order to qualify, veterans should have active duty wartime service and an honorable discharge.

If you'd like to apply for admission, you will need to fill out the application form. If there's a waiting list, the first applicants served will be those who've lived in New Jersey for at least two years before applying.

Help for Homeless Veterans

There are several resources in New Jersey for homeless veterans. Two of the main programs you can use to get housing assistance include:

  1. Stand Down – This program can give you both short-term relief and long-term solutions for homelessness through a variety of events that get you the resources you need.
  2. Veteran's Haven – With two facilities—one in northern New Jersey and one in southern New Jersey—Veteran's Haven offers transitional housing programs in conjunction with medical treatments and options to help you find permanent housing.

Property Tax Deduction for Veterans

You may qualify to get a deduction on your property taxes every year if you meet one of the following conditions:

  • Are an honorably discharged veteran of wartime
  • Participated in peacekeeping operations or missions
  • Are an unmarried surviving spouse or partner of a veteran

You can apply for this deduction with your municipal tax collector.

Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans

Some veterans may even qualify for a full exemption from property taxes. To be eligible, you must:

  • Live on the property as your main residence
  • Have a complete and permanent disability
  • Be a wartime veteran or a veteran of certain peacekeeping operations or missions

Unmarried surviving spouses and other partners may also qualify. To apply for the exemption, you will need to turn in the form to your municipal tax collector.

 

Veteran Education & Employment Benefits

Education Benefits

If you'd like to further your education, or the education of your family members, New Jersey has a variety of programs and scholarships that can help make it more affordable. Often these state-based programs can be used in conjunction with your federal benefits.

Approved Programs for the GI Bill

If you want to use education benefits from the military, you'll need to find an approved institution where you can use them. New Jersey's State Approving Agency (SAA) examines and approves programs at:

    • Colleges and universities
    • For-profit schools
  • Flight schools
  • On-the-job trainings and apprenticeships
  • Correspondence schools
  • Non-degree programs

The SAA's list of approved institutions is accessible through the VA's Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS). Once you follow the link to the WEAMS portal, you will need to:

  • Click on the state labeled "NJ" or the link below the map
  • Scroll through the list on institutions and click on one to learn more about it

If you don't see an institution listed that you want to learn more about, you can contact your If you don't see your institution, you can contact your nearest Veteran Service Office to find out more.

Veterans Tuition Credit Program

Veterans attending approved educational institutions can apply for the Veterans Tuition Credit Program, which provides a partial tuition reimbursement on their behalf. The reimbursement level is higher for full-time students than for part-time students. To be eligible, the veteran must:

  • Have served active duty between December 31, 1960 and May 7, 1975
  • Have been a legal New Jersey resident either:
    • When entering or leaving the US military OR
    • For two years right before applying for this program

You can learn more about how to apply through your nearest Veteran Service Office.

High School Diplomas for Veterans

Did you leave high school early to serve in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam? If you missed out on getting a diploma, the Operation Recognition program can give you one now, even if you already have a GED. To be eligible, you must:

  • Have left your New Jersey high school to serve in the US Armed Forces or the Merchant Marines during World II, Korea, or Vietnam
  • Have an honorable discharge

Surviving family members of a deceased veteran can also apply on their behalf. Whether you're a veteran applying for yourself or a family member applying on their behalf, all applications should include:

  • Your name, phone number, and address
  • A copy of the veteran's discharge document
  • The name and address of the veteran's high school
  • The year the veteran was expected to graduate

Please send this information to:

Operation Recognition–DVS-VBB
New Jersey Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
Box 340
Trenton, NJ 08625-0340

War Orphans Tuition Assistance

This tuition assistance program provides a yearly payment, for up to four years, to the children of servicemembers who are or were residents of New Jersey and who meet one of the following conditions:

  • Died while serving in the US military
  • Died because of a service-related disability
  • Are missing in action

In addition, the student must also be between 16–21 years old and a resident of New Jersey for at least a year before applying. For help on how to apply, or for more information, you should contact your nearest Veteran Service Office.

POW-MIA Tuition Benefit Program

Children of a servicemember who has been declared a prisoner of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA) after January 1, 1960, can receive college tuition assistance in New Jersey. In order to qualify, their POW or MIA parent must also be a New Jersey resident or have been one when they joined the military.

The student can be either a natural or adopted child of the qualifying servicemember, and they must attend either a private or public institution of higher learning in New Jersey.

The application for this benefit will need to include a DD-1300 form. You can learn more from a Veteran Service Office.

 

Employment Benefits

New Jersey has a variety of resources to help its heroes find jobs after they leave the workforce. These resources include priority assistance, preference for government jobs, pension benefits, and more.

New Jersey Career Connections

If you're a veteran looking for work, you can find help at your nearest One-Stop Career Center.

Since you're a veteran, staff there will give you priority referrals to job positions and career trainings that you qualify for. They can also help you:

  • Search for opportunities that match your skills
  • Write a resume
  • Learn more about benefits available to you

Veterans Hiring Preference

If you apply for a civil service job in New Jersey, you can get a veterans hiring preference. This preference is especially helpful if you're being considered for a competitive position, since it means that you'll get placed higher on the list than non-veterans.

If you're a disabled veteran who receives at least a 10% disability compensation, you receive even greater preference.

To be eligible, you must:

  • Have a qualifying number of days of active duty experience from a listed wartime era
  • Turn in a copy of your DD-214 or other document that shows your honorable discharge
  • Turn in a copy of your disability award letter from the VA, if you're applying for the disabled veteran preference

A spouse or a parent of a veteran can qualify for this hiring preference if the following conditions are met, as applicable:

  • If the veteran gives up his or her own right to that preference to his or her spouse and does not work in a civil service job
  • If a surviving spouse is unmarried and the veteran died after his or her time in the service
  • If a veteran died during his or her military service, which allows his or her unmarried surviving spouse to qualify for the disabled veteran preference
  • If a veteran died during his or her military service, which allows his or her parent to claim the disabled veteran preference, as long as a surviving spouse doesn't claim it

You'll need to apply for veterans preference using the claim form. You'll mail it, along with copies of your required documents, to the address at the top of the form. You'll need to have your eligibility established eight days or more before the list is issued for the job position.

Veterans Status for Pension

If you're enrolled in certain state-operated pension funds, you may qualify for veteran retirement, which can allow you to retire earlier and enjoy a higher maximum annual allowance. You must be enrolled in one of the following funds:

  • Police and Firemen's Retirement System
  • New Jersey Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund
  • New Jersey Public Employees' Retirement System

To apply for veterans retirement, you can fill out and mail in the Application for Veteran Designation for Pension to the address on the form. You must have wartime active duty service experience and an honorable discharge.

 

Other Veteran Benefits

New Jersey helps veterans through other benefits like an income tax exemption, disability payments, counseling services, parking privileges, and more.

Catastrophic Entitlement

If you're already receiving VA disability compensation, you might qualify for catastrophic entitlement. This annual compensation from New Jersey is granted to those with a 100% disability from one of the seven approved disabilities, or with equivalent symptoms, as well as the surviving spouse of a qualified veteran.

Other requirements include:

  • Active duty service during wartime
  • New Jersey residency when you entered the military
  • Current New Jersey residency

You can apply for this benefit through a Veteran Service Office.Once approved, you may be able to continue receiving this benefit, even if you have to move to another state for a job or because of your health.

Income Tax Exemption for Veterans

You may be able to claim a $3,000 income tax exemption if you:

  • Are a veteran with active duty experience
  • Have an honorable discharge or a release under honorable circumstances (dated on or before the final day of the tax year)

You and your spouse or partner can both claim this exemption if your spouse or partner also meets the conditions for it and you file a joint tax return.

Surviving spouses who have not remarried may also receive the exemption if their veteran spouse recently died. However, you can only claim it for the year of their death, and you must file a joint tax return.

If you want this exemption, when you're filling out your tax return, you should make sure you indicate if this is a resident return or a nonresident return. You should also turn in a copy of your discharge document if it's your first time claiming this exemption.

Counseling for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Readjustment

New Jersey offers readjustment counseling for veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as their family members. This can help you adjust to civilian life.

Counselling is provided by understanding clinicians, and it may be offered in a group or individual setting. Depending on your needs, you might receive biofeedback, medication monitoring, and other services.

You can apply for these services by getting in touch with your nearest Veteran Service Office.

Transportation Program

New Jersey offers transportation assistance to help you get to the many locations you must visit to get your various benefits.

Whether you need a ride to a VA facility, pharmacy, doctor's office, Veteran Services Office, job center, or any other service location, you can contact your local Veteran Service Office to find out more about the transportation services in your area.

Disabled Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient Placards

If you are a disabled veteran or a Purple Heart recipient, you may not have to pay for parking for up to 24 hours, per location, in areas controlled by parking meters. To receive this parking benefit, which includes a placard, you must:

  • Own the vehicle that is parked
  • Be the driver of the vehicle or a passenger
  • Display the placard provided by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC)

To apply for a parking placard, you can fill out and turn in the Application for Disabled Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient Placard either through the mail or at your nearest MVC office. You'll need to submit copies of your discharge document and proof of your Purple Heart, if applicable.

Veteran Designation on Driver's License

You can get a veteran designation on your New Jersey driver's license or ID card. If you're applying for a license or ID card for the first time, you must:

  • Verify your identity using the 6 Point ID system
  • Turn in a proof of your address
  • Fill out and turn in a driver's license or ID application form, which you can get at your nearest MVC office
  • Turn in a copy of your discharge document to show your discharge status as either "honorable" or "general under honorable conditions"

If you need to renew your license or ID and want to add the veteran designation to it, you can go through the application process at your nearest MVC office.

Disabled Veteran Hunting and Fishing License

If you're a disabled veteran, you can get free licenses, permits, and stamps to hunt and fish in New Jersey. To qualify, you must:

  • Be a New Jersey resident
  • Be a veteran of the US military
  • Have an honorable discharge
  • Have a service-related disability of any percentage, as rated by the VA

To get a free license, you'll need follow the instructions for a simple certification process; these instructions are available on the application form. You can mail your completed application and documents to the mailing address on the form OR apply in person at one of the locations on the form. You're also required to turn in a Child Support Certification every year.

New Jersey State Veterans Cemetery

Eligible veterans and certain dependents can be interred for free at the New Jersey's state veterans cemetery. Experienced and compassionate staff members are always ready to help bereaved family members make the necessary burial arrangements.

Eligibility requirements state that the deceased must be one of the following:

  • A New Jersey veteran with active service that ended with other than undesirable or dishonorable conditions
  • A New Jersey resident who died during active duty with the US military, including reserve units
  • A member of the Reserves with at least 20 years of service
  • A veteran's dependent, including a spouse or an unmarried child
  • The widow or widower of a servicemember who was MIA, buried in a US military cemetery in another country, or buried at sea
  • A Merchant Marine or civilian who was granted veteran status

It's recommended that you pre-register for a grave site at the cemetery in order to make the event simpler when it happens.

 

Veteran Benefits Assistance

If you need help applying for benefits, you can contact your nearest Veteran Service Office, which is part of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA).

At your appointment, you'll meet with an officer who is trained to help you get benefits for education, employment, housing, counseling, medical needs, and other categories that are important to veterans and their family members.

Women Veterans

Although information about New Jersey veteran benefits is gender-neutral, there are some services that are specifically for women veterans. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Health care for women
  • Assistance for homeless women veterans
  • The New Jersey Commission on Women Veterans
  • Upcoming Events

Military Records

If you need a copy of your military records in order to get your benefits, you may be able to order them from the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) using Standard Form 180. You can submit it using the instructions at the bottom of the form.

The DMAVA began receiving discharge records around 1995, so they may have youre records if you served after this time and:

  • You were a member of a Reserve or Active component of the military
  • You called New Jersey home when you were discharged

If you're next of kin for a deceased veteran, you can also request their veteran's records, if necessary. You will, however, need to show proof of their death.

 

About Low VA Rates

Low VA Rates is in the business of serving those who have served our country. We decided many years ago to specialize in helping servicemembers and veterans to get VA loans so they could achieve homeownership as quickly as possible. We'll be happy to help you with VA loans in New Jersey.

If you need a quote or more information about New Jersey veteran loans, please give us a call, toll-free, at 866-569-8272. You'll speak with an experienced and understanding loan officer. Or, if you prefer, you can enter your information using our easy online form.