There are approximately 370,000 veterans living in the state of Alabama today.
There are many benefits for Alabama resident veterans and their dependents and partners: financial, educational, and recreational.
This guide will outline the different types of Alabama state veterans benefits available today.
Read on to find out more.
1. Veterans Homes in Alabama State
State Veterans Homes are facilities that provide nursing, domiciliary care, and adult day care services for veterans. There are four veterans’ homes in the state of Alabama:
- The Col. Robert L Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City.
- The Floyd E. “Tut” Fann State Veterans Home in Huntsville
- The Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City
- The William F. Green State Veterans Home in Bay Minette
To be eligible for a veteran’s home, applicants must have at least one day of active wartime service and an honorable discharge from the military.
2. Alabama Veteran State Employment Benefits
Veterans who are honorably discharged can add 5 to their state employment examination results. Those with service-related disabilities will have an additional 10 points added to their score.
Spouses and surviving spouses of disabled or deceased veterans may also claim the 10-point advantage on their exam results.
Veterans are also given precedence over non-veterans when assessing test scores. Veterans can seek guidance on claiming employment benefits from local professional advisors.
3. Alabama Veteran Education Benefits
There are a variety of educational support payments and benefits available to Alabama veterans and their dependents. They include:
X GI Dependents Scholarship Program
Each semester, Alabama veterans are eligible for up to $250 off per semester hour and a $1,000 grant for books and learning materials, including at community colleges, technical institutions, and junior colleges.
The children of Alabama resident veterans with a VA disability rating of at least 40 percent may be eligible for up to 5 years of state benefit payments. If the parent is over 20 percent disabled, dependent children may qualify if the VA rating was before Jul. 31, 2017.
Spouses and surviving spouses of veterans who are permanently and fully handicapped can also get five years of educational benefits. Spouses and un-remarried surviving spouses of service veterans with a disability rating of 20-90 percent are eligible for three years of payments.
The veteran must have received an honorable discharge and have served for at least 90 consecutive days. Children must be under 26 to be eligible.
Tuition for Purple Heart Recipients
Those who have received the Purple Heart medal for their service may be eligible for free tuition at Alabama’s public institutions for higher learning.
This includes two and four-year tech schools, community colleges, and junior colleges. Applicants should check with their school to see if they offer the program.
Alabama National Guard Education Assistance Program (ANGEAP)
Educational support benefits are provided to qualifying National Guard Service personnel through the Alabama National Guard Education Assistance Program (ANGEAP). The maximum payment amount for the school year 2019-2022 is $5,554 each semester. You will be compensated for your costs after making any federal GI Bill payments. Books and living costs are not included.
You must be above the age of 17, a member of the Alabama National Guard, a resident of Alabama, demonstrate financial hardship, and have a GPA of at least 2.0. Only undergraduate degrees are eligible for funding.
4. Tax Benefits For Veterans in Alabama
The state of Alabama provides several tax benefits for veterans. These benefits include:
VA Grant for a Motor Vehicle
Disabled veterans are required to pay license fees or ad valorem taxes on a vehicle that was paid for with a Veterans Association grant. Veterans can only receive a VA motor vehicle grant once in their lifetime.
Property Tax for Adapted Houses
All housing obtained under a Veteran Association grant for specially adapted homes is tax-exempt. The veteran or their surviving partner must own and occupy the home.
Income Tax
Survivor Benefit Program packages and retirement payments are not subject to county, state, and municipal income taxes in Alabama. These payments do not need to be included on veterans’ tax returns.
Property Tax for Homes of Totally Disabled Persons Aged 65 or Over
All Alabama veterans who have been classified by the VA as 100 percent wholly and permanently disabled, or who are aged 65 or over with a net yearly income of $12,000 or less, are exempt from ad valorem tax on their property. This includes up to 160 acres of adjoining land.
5. Veteran Recreation Benefits
Alabama resident veterans can enjoy many recreation veterans affairs benefits. These benefits include:
State Park Admission
Active-duty service personnel and honorably discharged Alabama veterans are permitted free access to state parks. They are required to show a military ID card, a veteran designated Alabama driver’s license, or their DD214 on entry.
Discounted Fishing License
Everybody who wants to fish in Alabama public waters requires a fishing license. Resident veterans with at least a 20% VA disability rating are eligible for a discount on a freshwater fishing license.
Special Hunting License
A special hunting license for 100 percent service-connected veterans is available for $2 plus the standard issuing charge.
A special hunting license can also be issued to veterans who are 50 percent service-connected for half the standard cost plus the relevant registration charge.
Retired Military Pistol Permit
Those who have retired from active duty in the Reserves or National Guard are entitled to a pistol permit at no cost. They must also meet all state and federal requirements for firearm ownership.
6. Alabama State Veterans Cemetery
Spanish Fort is home to the Alabama State Veterans Cemetery. The National Cemetery Administration sets the eligibility criteria for internment at the Veterans Cemetary.
Honorably discharged veterans, as well as their wives and dependent children, are often eligible.
A fee will be levied on the day of burial for dependants and spouses. There is no charge for veterans. Even if they remarry, spouses are still entitled to internment.
For additional information on any of these programs, go to the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Alabama State Veterans Benefits Explained
We hope this guide has helped explain the ins and outs of Alabama state veterans benefits. At Vetlink Solutions, we’re here to help with education, support, and advice for United States veterans across the country.
We’d like to help you too. Be sure to contact us today for a free evaluation.
