Arizona State Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans

100% State Benefits – Arizona

Note: Information for this document was gathered from various sources including: https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/arizona-state-veterans-benefits.html

More information on these benefits can be found at: https://dvs.az.gov/

Arizona State Veterans Home

For more information, visit: https://www.nasvh.org/state-homes/statedir.cfm

Your eligibility for State Veterans Homes is based on clinical need and setting availability.

Each State establishes eligibility and admission criteria for its homes.

Talk with a VA social worker about the eligibility requirements of State Veterans Homes near you and to figure out a plan for paying for State Veterans Home care services.

Veteran’s Homes locations:

Eligibility: Veteran is Honorably discharged and have a doctor’s certification that the veteran needs skilled nursing care. Spouses’ admission accepted.

Arizona Veteran Cemeteries

For more information visit: https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/state.asp?STATE=AZ

National Cemeteries:

National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona	23029 North Cave Creek Road Phoenix, AZ 85024	Phone: 480-513-3600 FAX: 480-513-1412	Open
Prescott National Cemetery	500 Highway 89 North Prescott, AZ 86313	Phone: 928-717-7569 FAX: 928-717-7570	Cremation Only

State Cemeteries:

Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Camp Navajo	14317 Veterans Drive, Camp Navajo Bellemont, AZ 86015	Judy Dillman, Cemetery Administrator Phone: 928-214-3474 FAX: 928-214-3479
Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Marana	15950 N Luckett Road Marana, AZ 85653	Nicole Contreras, Cemetery Administrator Phone: 520-638-4869 FAX: 520-300-8403
Monte Calvario Veterans Cemetery	5149 W. Omokol Tucson, AZ 85757	Letticia M. Baltazar, Cemetery Manager Phone: 520-879-6317 FAX: 520-879-6308
San Carlos Apache Tribal Veterans Cemetery	42700 W US Highway 70 San Carlos, AZ 85550	Terry Rambler, Chairman, San Carlos Apache Tribe Phone: 928-475-2361
Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery	1300 Buffalo Soldier Trail Sierra Vista, AZ 85635	Joe Larson, Director Phone: 520-458-7144 FAX: 520-458-7147

Eligibility: Veterans with an other-than-dishonorable discharge are eligible for burial at no charge. Spouses and certain dependents are also eligible for burial with a one-time nominal fee.

Many states have established state veterans cemeteries. Eligibility is like Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries but may include residency requirements. Even though they may have been established or improved with Government funds through VA’s Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, state veterans cemeteries are run solely by the states.

Arizona Veteran Financial Benefits

Income Tax

Active-duty pay is considered tax-free.

Federal (Civil Service or Military Retirement) payments (including SBP) of up to $3,500.00 per year are tax-free.

Arizona Military Family Relief Fund

The Arizona Military Family Relief Fund can assist veteran families as well as the families of currently deployed service members. Their aim is to aid families suffering financial hardship caused by a service member’s deployment. The lifetime limit to financial aid is $20,000 for service-members, Veterans, and their families. The emergency assistance limit is up to a $3,000 payment once in a lifetime.

Vehicle License Tax and Registration Fees

License tax and registration fees are waived for 100% Disabled Veterans for one personally owned vehicle. If a veteran attained a vehicle with VA financial aid, they are also exempt from paying license taxes.

If a spouse is listed on the vehicle registration, a 50% fee will be charged.

The tax exemption and fee exemption are extended to a surviving spouse as long as they remain unmarried.

Property Tax

Property tax exemptions are available to widows, widowers, and disabled individuals. The disabled veteran may be eligible for a property tax exemption of up to $3,000 on their primary residence if their total assessment is under $10,000.

It is recommended that you contact your County Assessor office for information on eligibility criteria.

Find your local tax assessor at this link: https://www.publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Assessor-and-Property-Tax-Records.htm

Arizona Veteran Employment Benefits

Hiring Preference

Veterans receive hiring preferences for state, county, or city employment positions.

Requirements: Veteran served 6+ months and has an honorable discharge.

Veterans that pass an employment examination will receive 5 additional points on their certification score.

Veterans receiving VA benefits will receive 10 additional points on their certification score.

Some spouses will also receive an additional 5 points if the veteran died due to a service-connected condition.

Veteran Tool Kit

The Veteran Tool Kit Program was created to help unemployed veterans get the supplies they need to start working. Surveyed veterans repeatedly said they were ready to work, but needed a few things to get them there, ranging from boots and tools to bicycles. Qualifying veterans must live in Arizona, be enrolled in an Arizona Job Connection with ARIZONA@WORK and identify the job they need supplies for. Contact ARIZONA@WORK for more information.

The Veteran Tool kit Program provides currently unemployed veterans with the needed supplies to gain employment.

Qualifications: Live in Arizona, served in U.S Military, be enrolled in an Arizona Job Connection with ARIZONA@WORK and identify the job they need supplies for. Find more information at: https://arizonaatwork.com/

Eligible items include work clothing, tools, protective equipment, transportation, and essential electronic devices. Arizona Department of Veterans Services will review all other requests on a case-by-case basis.

Applications will not be accepted if submitted after five days of the veteran starting a job.

CDL Skills Test Waiver

The Commercial Driver License (CDL) skills test may be waived for eligible veterans or military personnel. Individuals on active duty or within one year of discharge that operated a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) or equivalent for a minimum of 2 years prior to discharge may be eligible.

Arizona Veteran Education Benefits

Arizona Purple Heart Tuition Waiver

The tuition waiver program provides eligible veterans or surviving dependents with tuition-free education at any public state university or community college.

The criterion for eligibility is extensive and can be found at the following site: https://dvs.az.gov/tuition-waiver-and-verification-form

This scholarship is available to:

Post 9/11 veterans with at least a 50% VA disability, a Purple Heart medal, and who were AZ residents during their service

Dependent children under 30 and un-remarried spouses of AZ military member who were killed in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001

Post 9/11 AZ guard members who were medically discharged or received a Purple Heart.

The Tuition Waiver and Verification Form: https://dvs.az.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/ADVS-Tuition-Waiver-and-Verification-Form-Fillable-2020-04.pdf

For additional questions: email benefits@azdvs.gov or call 602-234-5804

Arizona Veteran Recreation Benefits

Hunting and Fishing Licenses

Visit the follow site for more information and links to applications: https://www.azgfd.com/license/speciallicense/disabledvets/

100% service-connected disabled veterans who have been a resident of the state of Arizona for at least 12 months are eligible for a hunting/fishing combo license at no cost to them.

How to obtain a Disabled Veteran’s License:

Visit your local Arizona Game and Fish Department office. Bring a copy of your VA benefits letter, or you may complete the application form below and include a copy of your VA benefits letter that states 100% disabled, permanent and total, and mail them to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Front counter, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. *Note: A paper license will be issued free of charge. A plastic card license may be purchased for $4. Include a check or money order if you are applying by mail.

Process: Complete application form.

Fee: None for 100% service-connected disability. $42 for less than 100% service-connected disability. $28 for Purple Heart recipients.

License Expiration: License is valid for a lifetime from date of issuance. Less than 100% service connected disability license or Purple Heart recipient license is valid for a year from date of issuance.

Additional Information: If the Department of Veterans Affairs certifies that the applicant’s disability rate of 100% is permanent and will not be reevaluated, a new certification is not required for renewal. If reevaluated in three years, the disabled veteran’s license will expire three years from the date of issuance.