DISABLED VETERAN PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT

A Utah permanent place-of-residence property tax abatement that uses the VA’s percentage-rating for a service-connected disability is available for disabled Veterans or for their un-remarried widows or minor orphans. The Veteran’s disability rating must be at least 10% to qualify for this abatement. 

• The percentage cap is subject to change, but here is the formula: 
• The maximum property tax abatement is $275,699 (rated at 100% service-connected disability),
• Multiply your percentage of disability by 275,699 
• Example: a 10% disability X 275,699 = $27,569.90 tax abatement 

This amount is then subtracted from the taxable value of the property and taxes are paid on the remaining amount. To apply for this Property Tax Abatement, request a Summary of Benefits Letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Submit the letter and complete a Property Tax Abatement application at the applicable County Treasurer, Tax Assessor, or Clerk/ recorder located in the county government building of the county in which the property is located on or before 1 September. All property must be on record as of 1 January of the year you file. However, a recent change allows an exemption to that rule to qualified widows and orphans.

ARMED FORCES PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION

The State provides a property tax exemption for members of active or reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces who perform qualifying active-duty military service. For the purposes of this tax exemption, “Qualifying Active Duty Service” is defined as a minimum of 200 days in a calendar year, regardless of whether they were performed consecutively, or 200 consecutive days of active service that may cross over into a second calendar year but has not been applied toward the count for the previous year’s taxes. The amount of the tax exemption is equal to the total taxable value of the claimant’s real property. This tax exemption can be claimed up to a year following the year the service was completed. The exemption may not be claimed by the military person’s spouse, and the military person may not claim the tax exemption for property owned exclusively by the military person’s spouse. (Utah Code 59-2-1104 & 1105)

PURPLE HEART TUITION WAIVER

Utah public institutions of higher learning are required to waive the tuition of a Utah resident admitted to an undergraduate or graduate program leading to a degree, or a vocational training that leads to a certificate or diploma, if the student is a recipient of a Purple Heart. (Utah Code 53B-8-101)

IN-STATE TUITION RATES

Armed Forces personnel pay in-state tuition rates simply by providing proof from their commander that they are indeed assigned to an institution in Utah. (Utah Code 53B-8- 102 (8) (d) (i-iii)

VETERANS TUITION GAP PROGRAM

Effective 1 July 2014 the Veterans Tuition Gap Program came into effect. This “funding” gap enables qualifying military Veterans to receive tuition assistance for the last school year at State institutions of higher education. It is for tuition only and does not include housing, books, etc. The qualifications to receive this benefit are as follows: • Must be a Utah resident • Admitted to a State school • No previous degrees earned • Eligible for Chapters 1606, 30, 31, 32 , 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill, but has exhausted • The money is distributed one quarter or semester at a time • Make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) • Three or less semesters left to complete graduation (Utah Code 53B-13b-104)

SCOTT B. LUNDELL TUITION WAIVER FOR SURVIVING DEPENDENTS

This benefit waives the undergraduate tuition at state institutions of higher education for the surviving dependents of a Utah resident military member killed in the line of duty after 9/11/2001. This waiver does not apply to fees, books, or housing expenses. The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs is the administering agency for this benefit. For more info contact our office at (801) 326-2372. (Utah Code 53B-8-107)

HONORARY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS

Veterans from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam who left high school for military service during those conflicts may be eligible to receive Honorary High School Diplomas from the particular school that they left. Contact the local school district for information on how to receive the diploma. (Utah Code 53A-3- 426)

VETERANS UPWARD BOUND

Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is funded by the Department of Education and sponsored by Weber State University. VUB provides an invaluable service by assisting Veterans in obtaining admission to the States postsecondary schools. Veterans can receive free instruction and free tutorial assistance in Mathematics, English, and basic computer applications. These services are provided to Veterans in the counties of Salt Lake, Davis, and Weber.

PURPLE HEART FEE EXEMPTION

A recipient of the Purple Heart with a Purple Heart license plate is exempt from paying the fees related to motor vehicle license and registration. This does not exempt one from the property taxes or age-based fees which are still applicable.

VETERANS LICENSE PLATES

For an initial $25.00 contribution to the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, plus a $10.00 plate transfer fee and the normal vehicle registration and property tax fees, Utah Veterans license plates may be purchased from any DMV facility. There will also be a yearly $10.00 renewal fee. The proceeds from these sales and/or renewals assist in funding state Veterans programs. The Utah Veterans license plates display colored decal emblems of the U.S. military branch in which served

DISABLED LICENSE PLATES / WINDSHIELD PLACARDS

Disabled license plates having the blue and white international symbol of accessibility decal may be obtained by submission of Application Form TC 842, accompanied by a certification from a duly licensed physician stating: (1) the disability limits or impairs one’s ability to walk as defined in the 1991 policy guide Federal Uniform System for Handicapped Parking, and (2) the time the physician determines that the disability will continue. Disabled Veterans applying for the Utah disability license plates should note that the various Veteran disability letters from the VA Regional Office are not acceptable evidence to Motor Vehicle offices. However, licensed physician certifications by VA doctors are acceptable evidence, provided they provide the same information as indicated above. Normal fees for plate transfer, registration, and property taxes still must be paid upon initial application and renewal of disability license plates. One additional disability windshield placard may be issued, upon request, to a disabled person applying for or already possessing a disability special group license plate

DRIVER LICENSE PRIVILEGES

Driver licenses possessed by persons on U.S. military active duty shall be valid for 90 days after active duty discharge unless the driver’s license is suspended or revoked for cause by a police department or other judicial entity.

VETERAN STATUS ON UTAH DRIVER LICENSE AND UTAH ID CARDS

Veterans can now have “VETERAN” printed on their state issued driver licenses or state ID cards. In order to have this accomplished, go to any state Driver License or ID office and indicate on the application for these cards that you are a Veteran. You must have served on active duty and have an Honorable or General Discharge. Veterans must provide a DD-214 or a Report of Separation to have their status verified. All renewal fees are still applicable.

VETERANS JOB PREFERENCE

Eligible Veterans, spouses, or un-remarried widows/widowers are granted either 5 or 10 additional points for employment preference. These points are added to the results of any written and/or oral exam or other related qualifying technique or examinations by any Utah government entity (i.e., state, county, local municipality, etc.). The Department. of Labor protects the Veteran’s right to Veterans Job Preference.

VETERANS HIRING PRIORITY

Any officers, agents or representatives of the state, or any contractors performing work for the Utah state government, who willfully fail to give preference to a preference eligible Veteran shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

VETERANS EMPLOYMENT REPRESENTATIVES

The Disabled Veterans Outreach Program representatives (DVOPs), along with the Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) are located statewide in various employment centers of the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS). They provide intensive employment-related services and aid for targeted Veterans, such as referrals to employment opportunities, help with resume writing and referral letters, ensuring that Veterans hiring preference is adhered to, employment counseling, etc.

ACCELERATED CREDENTIALING TO EMPLOYMENT (ACE) PROGRAM

The ACE Program assists Utah Veterans, and actively-drilling members of the Guard and Reserve, and their respective spouses, in overcoming most barriers to employment or even better employment by assisting them in attaining certificates and licenses using their military training and/or experience, or by assisting them with short-term training.

Veterans Business Resource Center

This program ensures that veteran entrepreneurs and their family members have the best resources available to start or grow a business in Utah. The program works closely with the Utah Veteran-Owned Business Partnership to help serve the 17,000 veteran-owned business and veteran entrepreneurs throughout the state. This program and Small Business Development Network offer the following free services to the veterans, military personnel, and their immediate families:

MILITARY LEAVE

Utah state, county, city or other municipal government employees, who are members of the organized Reserve / National Guard, are allowed full pay* for 15 days of military leave per year for annual military encampments. This Military leave is in addition to and distinguished from the (annual)) accrued vacation leave with pay.

BUS / TRAX REDUCED FARE CARDS

Utah Transit Authority (UTA) offers Reduced Fare Cards for riding UTA busses and TRAX light-rail systems to Veterans meeting one of the following criteria by having:

A disability that causes difficulty getting on or off a system 

• A difficulty standing in a moving system
• A difficulty reading system schedules and understanding signs
• A difficulty in hearing announcements by system operators

FISHING LICENSE PRIVILEGE

Veterans with 20% service-connected disability rating with the Federal VA can purchase a Fishing License at a reduced cost of $12.00 a year. Verification by Summary of Benefits Letter obtained from Veteran Affairs (ebenefits website or by calling 1-800-827- 1000, or by visiting regional VA Office in Salt Lake City Public Contact Office).

FREE USE OF ARMORIES

Federally chartered Veterans organizations shall have the right to the free use of armories owned or leased by the State of Utah, provided that their use of the armories does not interfere with their use by the National Guard or organized militia of the state.

HOMELESS VETERANS FELLOWSHIP

The Homeless Veterans Fellowship provides transitional housing for up to 18 months for Veterans. They also provide emergency food bags and personal hygiene items, and coffee and donuts are provided during open hours.

UTAH NATIONAL GUARD RECORDS OF SEPARATION

The Utah National Guard Headquarters in Draper maintains copies of National Guard Bureau record of separation certificates (NGB 22 Forms). Certified copies of DD-214 documents are provided free of charge to Guard personnel who have been deployed. Have a photo ID when picking up the requested document.

VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES PARK PASS

Veterans that are 50% service connected disabled will need to provide a current summary of benefits letter issued by the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs in order to obtain the Honor Pass at select locations across Utah.

VETERANS REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

Veterans and serving members of the Utah National Guard and Reserve units may be eligible for reemployment with their civilian employers if they meet requirements under the Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA also offers protection against employment discrimination due to military service.

U.S. Department of Labor

The Department of Labor aids Veterans through their Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS). This program serves both Veterans and separating service members by preparing them for meaningful careers, providing apt employment resources and expertise, and helps in protecting their employment rights.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PASS

This is a lifetime entrance pass to national parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and national wildlife refuges that charge an entrance fee. The Passport admits the holder and accompanying passengers in a private vehicle. Where entry is not by private vehicle, the passport admits the pass holder, spouse, and children. The Pass may also provide a 50% discount on federal use fees charged for facilities and services such as parking, camping, swimming, and boat. launching. It does not cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or fees charged by concessionaires. A Pass must be obtained in person at any federal area where an entrance fee is charged or at one of the agencies administering the Pass. It is available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. who are determined, medically, to be either blind or permanently disabled. Veterans may obtain a passport by showing proof of a medically determined permanent disability or eligibility for the reception of benefits under federal law. A letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stating the Veteran’s disability rating will suffice. Agencies administering the Pass are Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, and the Forest Service.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA)

The VA offers a multitude of benefits and services to the nation’s Veteran population. The following is only a selective description of some of the more commonly applied-for benefits.

Disability Compensation

Veterans with a host of disabilities, medical conditions, or injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service — regardless of when or where they served — may be eligible Requirements To support a claim for service connection, the evidence must show: • You have an existing physical or mental disability • You had an injury or disease or event in service that either caused or aggravated an injury or disease • That a link exists between your current disability and the event, injury, or disease that occurred in military service Veterans are advised to work with a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to assist you with your claim. Submit the following relevant items with your claim: • Discharge or separation papers (the DD- 214 or equivalent) • Private medical provider records and hospital report receive monthly benefits that are nontaxable.

Online Application Process

The fastest and most efficient way to obtain a VA decision on a compensation claim is to submit all the supporting documents and evidence together in a Fully Developed Claim

Education and Training

VA’s education and training benefits are provided through these key programs: • Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program to help pay tuition costs for private or out-of-state schools, or graduate school • Montgomery GI Bill • Reserve Educational Assistance Program • Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance VA education benefits may be used toward traditional degrees, non-college degrees, on -the-job training, apprenticeships and more. VA also aids help Veterans transition from military service to civilian employment. Service-disabled Veterans may be eligible for some one-on-one support, counseling, and training to boost skills and build careers. Requirements • Copies of your discharge or separation papers (DD-214 or equivalent) • Documentation of an enlistment incentive or College Fund, sometimes referred to as a “kicker” (this is an add on to the GI Bill benefit

Application Process

The application process varies for different types of applicants. So, before you apply, determine the benefit that is right for you. You have up to 15 years after release from active duty to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill; other programs have different time limits. If you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program, you must choose which benefit you wish to receive. This decision is irrevocable. It takes about 30 minutes to apply for the benefit online. Consider the following: • Plan ahead and apply early; VA education benefits can take a few weeks to process

Health Care

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is America’s largest integrated health care system, with more than 1,700 sites of care, and it is consistently ranked among the nation’s top health care providers. Many Veterans may be eligible for VA health care. Enrollment in VA health care satisfies your Affordable Care Act health coverage requirement — no add-on insurance plan is needed. VA encourages you to explore your health care benefits.

Benefits Offered

• All enrolled Veterans have access to VA’s comprehensive medical benefits package including preventive and primary care, specialty care, home health care, mental health care, geriatrics and extended care, prescriptions, durable medical equipment and prosthetics, and more.
• Most Veterans qualify for cost-free health care services, although some are required to pay modest copays for health care or prescriptions.
• Women Veterans can receive primary care, prenatal care, maternity care, breast, and cervical cancer screenings, along with other gender-specific services.
• Combat Veterans who were discharged or released from active service on or after 28 January 2003 are eligible to enroll in the VA healthcare system for five years from the date of their discharge or release, regardless of their disability claim status. Those who enroll under this authority will continue to be enrolled even after their enhanced eligibility period ends, although their priority group may change. Many combat Veterans applying after their five-year special enrollment period ends are eligible for enrollment.

Utah@EASE Pro Bono Legal Assistance

This is a program led by the Office of the Utah Attorney General in conjunction with the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs and the Utah State Bar; a public – private partnership offering pro bono legal assistance and representation to veterans and current service members for: SCRA, Property, Landlord, Creditor / Debtor, Consumer Fraud, USERRA, Predatory Lending, Immigration, Wills, Power of Attorney.

VA Hospital

The George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a midsized, affiliated, tertiary care facility with 121 authorized beds. It is also a teaching facility, and provides the full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology and education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, tertiary care, and long-term medical care in the areas of surgery, psychiatry, neurology, oncology, dentistry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and geriatrics.

Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs)

There are 10 community-based outpatient clinics in the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System. The clinics in the VA system provide primary care services to Veterans in outlying communities and in some rural areas where Veteran populations are concentrated

Vet Centers

The goal of the Vet Centers is to provide a broad range of counseling, outreach, and referral services to help eligible Veterans make a satisfying readjustment to civilian life. Family members are also eligible for the services. Vet Centers furnish bereavement counseling to surviving parents, spouses, children, and siblings of service members who die of any cause while serving on active duty, to include federally activated Reserve units and National Guard personnel.