VETERAN ASSISTANCE AT CAREER CENTERS

All of Maine’s Career Centers have dedicated Veteran Employment Representatives who help veterans find jobs by assisting with resume writing, networking, and interviewing skills.

STATE OF MAINE VETERAN HIRING PREFERENCE

Any veteran candidate who meets the minimum qualifications for a state job is guaranteed an interview, including veterans with an Other Than Honorable discharge. Gold Star spouses are also eligible for the hiring preference

ACCELERATED OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING INITIATIVE

Provides fast-track civilian licensing for veterans with military expertise in Boiler, Electrical, Fuel, Plumbing.

​HEALTH CARE EMPLOYMENT FOR MILITARY VETERANS

All veterans discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, who completed health care related military training while in the Armed Forces, may utilize their military credentials when seeking civilian employment. Qualified veterans will receive individualized assistance when connecting one-on-one with the Department of Labor’s program staff to facilitate the transition.one-on-one with the Department of Labor’s program

staff to facilitate the transition.

VETERAN EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

VEFA was created to aid with Maine Veterans who suffer an emergency and do not have sufficient savings or access to other financial assistance to resolve the emergency. Examples of assistance may include Damage to the veterans home due to fire, flood or hurricane that is not covered by insurance; Illness of the veteran or family member that results in hardship, assistance to prevent or resolve the veteran being homeless; and any other condition that puts the veteran at risk of not having the necessities of food, shelter, or safety.

MILITARY PENSIONS

Fully exempt from income tax

PROPERTY TAX

$50,000 for paraplegic veterans; $6,000 for veterans who served during a recognized war period and are 62 years or older; or, receive 100% disability as a Veteran; or, became 100% disabled while serving

VEHICLE REGISTRATION

100% permanent and total, service-connected disabled veterans exempt from one registration fee, title fee, and driver license renewal fee.

MAINE VETERANS’ HOMES

Six locations across Maine providing expert rehabilitative, skilled nursing, and long-term care for Maine’s veterans, spouses and Gold Star parents

MAINE VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERIES

With two cemeteries in Augusta, one in Caribou, and one in Springvale, Maine offers beautiful, final resting places for honorably discharged veterans and their eligible dependents

GOLD STAR FAMILY PLATES

Gold Star families may receive a specially designated license plate to honor their fallen family member. Maine’s program is distinct in that it not only provides Gold Star Plates to those who lost a family member to combat, but also to those whose family member died while honorably serving as an active member of the United States Armed Forces, but did not die in combat

FREE COPIES OF DD 214S

Maine veterans may request a free copy of their DD 214 from the Bureau’s archive of more than 45,000. Veterans must have this critical document to prove veteran status for everything from retail discounts to applying for state and federal benefit programs.

MILITARY SERVICE DRIVER’S LICENSE

Honorably discharged veterans may obtain a driver’s license that identifies them as a veteran. The designation allows the license-holder to prove veteran status to obtain retail and restaurant discounts, as well as free admission to most of Maine’s State Parks.

COMPLIMENTARY VETERAN LICENSE PLATES/SPECIAL VETERAN PLATE

Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers honorably discharged veterans (former POWs, Purple Heart recipients, Medal of Honor winners, and disabled veterans) various license plates that are exempt from registration fees. Veterans may also select a Special Veteran License Plate (at cost), that include a Commemorative Decals of their choice, reflecting the branches of service, specific awards or commendations, campaign awards for service in a hostile fire zone, among others.

VETERANS DEPENDENTS EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

100% tuition waiver at University of Maine schools, Community Colleges, and Maine Maritime Academy for dependents of 100% permanent and total, service-connected disabled veterans who have been residents of Maine for five years.

POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION FOR MAINE NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS

100% tuition waiver at University of Maine schools, Community Colleges, and Maine Maritime Academy for fully qualified, drilling members of Maine’s National Guard

FREE LIFETIME VETERANS PARK & MUSEUM PASS

Maine veteran residents who were honorably discharged may receive a free, lifetime park pass for complimentary admission to most of Maine’s State Parks and Historic Sites.

FREE ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL DAY USE PARK PASS

Maine’s active duty personnel may receive a free day use park pass that provides complimentary admission for the service member and his/her spouse and children to most of Maine’s State Parks and Historic Sites

DISABLED VETERANS CONTROLLED MOOSE HUNT

First of its kind in the nation, the Moose Hunt offers 25 disabled veterans (15 in-state residents and 10 out-of-state residents) the opportunity to tag a moose, with nearly all guide services, equipment, lodging, food, and meat processing costs covered by sponsors. The Hunt is a joint effort of the Bureau of Veterans’ Services, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Bridgewater, Maine-based Smoldering Lake Outfitters

DISABLED VETERANS’ FREE LICENSES

Veterans with a service-connected disability of 50% or more may receive a complimentary license to fish, trap, hunt a range of wildlife (bear, migratory bird, pheasant, wild turkey, among others). The license remains valid for the life of the license holder, as long as the license holder continues to satisfy residency requirements and the license is not revoked or suspended

DISABLED VETERAN ACCESS TO STATE PARKS

Any veteran displaying a specially designated disabled veteran license plate or other placard (in accordance with Title 29-A, section 523, subsections 1 and 2) is allowed free admission to any state-owned park, camping area or beach.