Montana State Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans
100% State Benefits – Montana
Note: Information for this document was gathered from various sources including: https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/montana-state-veterans-benefits.html
Visit the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board website for more detailed information: https://dma.mt.gov/MVAD/index
Veterans Homes
For more information, visit: https://nasvh.org/directory/montana/
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.
Veterans Homes Locations:
SOUTHWEST MONTANA VETERANS HOME
Butte, Montana
MONTANA VETERANS HOME – COLUMBIA FALLS
Columbia Falls, Montana
Glendive, Montana
Eligibility:
Honorably discharged veterans of armed forces and their spouses; physicians statement attesting need for nursing home care. There are no state residency requirements. Priority is given to Montana residents.
State Veterans’ Cemeteries
For more detailed information visit: https://www.cem.va.gov/find-cemetery/state.asp?STATE=MT
National Veterans Cemeteries:
| Fort Missoula Post Cemetery Guardsman Lane Missoula, MT 59804 Burial Space: Closed | Phone: Fax: 303-781-9378 |
| Yellowstone National Cemetery 55 Buffalo Trail Road Laurel, MT 59044 Burial Space: Open | |
State Veterans Cemeteries:
| Montana Department of Military Affairs 1911 Tower Road Missoula, MT 59804 VA Grant Funded: N/A | Phone: |
| Apsaalooke Veterans Cemetery Highway 1 and Xavier Street Crow Agency, MT 59022 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: |
| Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery – Miles City Highway 59 and Cemetery Road Miles City, MT 59301 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: Fax: 406-417-3291 |
| Montana State Veterans Cemetery – Fort Harrison Fort Harrison Helena, MT 59604 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: Fax: 406-417-3301 |
| Western Montana Veterans Cemetery – Missoula 1911 Tower Road Missoula, MT 59804 VA Grant Funded: Yes | Phone: Fax: 406-417-3287 |
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.
Montana Veteran Financial Benefits
Income Tax
Visit the following website for more information: https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/State/Territory-Benefits/Montana#Taxes
Montana Military Pay Exemption for Active-Duty Service Members:
The following military pay can be excluded from Montana Income tax:
- Base pay, special pay and incentive pay received by Service members serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces
- Pay received by National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Service members serving on active duty in support of a Contingency Operation or for Homeland Defense
- Combat zone pay:
- Officers in the U.S. Armed Forces who did not receive a complete tax exemption from the federal government for combat pay can exclude additional combat zone pay
- Pay received by hospitalized Service members as a result of service in a combat zone
Service members claiming this exemption must provide verification of their military status, such as a copy of their military orders with their income tax return.
Montana Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Premium Reimbursement:
Reserve component Service members serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces in support of Contingency Operations can receive a reimbursement for SGLI premiums paid when they file their Montana Taxes. The maximum reimbursement amount they can receive is $17.50
per month for each month they serve on active duty in a Contingency Operation.
Montana Military Retired Pay Income Taxes: New January 2024 –
Beginning in tax year 2024, Montana resident retired service members who are working in the state may be eligible for an exemption of part of their military retired pay.
This exemption is available for working retired service members who become Montana residents after June 30, 2023, or who were a Montana resident before they began receiving military retired pay.
The exemption is equal to the lesser of half of the taxpayer’s military retirement income or the amount of Montana source wage income. This exemption is for five consecutive years after meeting eligibility requirements and is scheduled to expire in tax year 2033.
For tax year 2023 Montana taxes all pension, annuities, and retirement income that is taxable on the federal return. Montana does offer a partial exemption for those eligible.
This retirement exemption is subject to two limitations:
- Cannot exclude more than $5,060 per taxpayer for the 2023 tax year
- Exclusion is reduced by $2 for every dollar their 2023 federal adjusted gross income that exceeds $42,140, regardless of filing status
Thrift Saving Plan:
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) does not withhold taxes for state or local income tax, but it is reported annually on IRS Form 1099-R. All TSP distributions are subject to state taxes and early distributions may incur higher taxes.
Montana Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Military Disability Retirement Pay:
Military Disability Retirement Pay received as a pension, annuity or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income. Some of the payments which are considered disability benefits
include:
- Disability compensation and pension payments for disabilities paid to Veterans or their Families
- Grants for homes designed for wheelchair living
- Grants for motor vehicles for Veterans who lost their sight or the use of limbs, or
- Benefits under a dependent-care assistance program
Montana State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC):
DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of Service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.
Montana Income Tax Subtraction for Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP), and Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) Annuities: New January 2024 –
Beginning in tax year 2024, Montana residents receiving military survivor benefits can subtract 50% of the survivor annuities.
This exemption is available for beneficiaries who become Montana residents after June 30, 2023, or who were a Montana resident before they began receiving survivor annuities.
The exemption is equal to the lesser of half of the taxpayer’s survivor annuity or the amount of Montana source wage income. This exemption is for five consecutive years after meeting eligibility requirements and is scheduled to expire in tax year 2033.
For tax year 2023 Montana taxes Montana taxes all pension, annuities, and retirement income if it is taxable on the federal return. Montana does offer a partial exemption for those eligible.
This retirement exemption is subject to two limitations:
- Cannot exclude more than $5,060 per taxpayer for the 2023 tax year
- Exclusion is reduced by $2 for every dollar their 2023 federal adjusted gross income that exceeds $42,140, regardless of filing status
Montana Income Exemption for Nonresident Military Spouses:
A nonresident Service member’s Spouse may be exempt from paying Montana taxes on income earned while stationed in Montana.
Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption
Visit the following website for more information: https://montana.servicenowservices.com/citizen?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0013224
The Montana Disabled Veterans (MDV) Assistance Program helps disabled veterans or their unmarried surviving spouse by reducing the property tax rate on their home. The veteran must have 100% disability from an injury related to service.
Benefit:
Depending on your marital status and income, the reduction is 100%, 80%, 70%, or 50% of the normal tax rate.
For homes on agricultural or forest land, the benefit applies to the home and one-acre homes site.
Eligibility:
To qualify for MDV in Tax Year 2024, you must:
- Own or currently be under a contract to purchase a home
- Live in the home as your primary residence for at least seven months of the year
- Have a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) showing your current disability status is 100% for a service-connected disability
- Have a 2022 Federal Adjusted Gross Income (FAGI), excluding capital and income losses, less than:
- Single: $59,554
- Married or Head of Household: $68,705
- Unmarried Surviving Spouse: $51,911
An unmarried surviving spouse must also have a letter from the VA showing their deceased spouse:
- Died in active duty, or
- Died from a disability related to service and was rated 100% disability at the time of their death
Forms:
To apply for MDV, you must complete the Montana Disabled Veteran Property Tax Relief Application (Form MDV) and return it to your field office.
Apply by April 15. If you miss the deadline, we will consider your application for the following year.
You must meet income and property ownership/occupancy requirements every year.
Renewing Assistance:
As long as you own and live in your home, your application will remain active. You will be sent a letter each year with your current Property Tax Assistance Program status.
Find your local tax assessor at this link: https://www.publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Assessor-and-Property-Tax-Records.htm
Montana Military Family Relief Fund
Visit the following website for more information: https://dma.mt.gov/DO/Military-Family-Relief-Fund
MMFRF grants are intended to help Montana families defray the costs of food, housing, utilities, medical services, and other expenses that become difficult to afford when a wage-earner has temporarily left civilian employment to be placed on active military duty.
There are 3 types of grants offered:
1) Status based grant: flat rate of $250.00 per eligible dependent
The status-based grant offers a flat fee of $250.00 for each eligible dependent to help offset and defray costs associated in relation to the deployment process.
2) Need-based grant: up to $2,000.00 (maximum)
The need-based grant aids those families who experience a decrease in household income or financial hardship during a deployment. If the member’s military income is at least 30% less than their civilian income or a family incurs unexpected or emergency costs this grant can
provide up to $2,000.00 to assist the family.
3) Casualty-based grant: flat rate of $2,000.00
The casualty-based grant offers $2,000.00 to help offset the costs of a member who is injured during a contingency operation. The injury must have been sustained during or in relation to combat.
To apply for a grant:
- Attach copies of all required documentation – incomplete applications will be returned
- All grants awarded on first-come, first-served basis (casualty-based grants given top priority)
- Timeliness of payment will be determined by amount of funds available at time of application.
- Complete appropriate application, sign and date, make a copy for your records, then send the original, signed application to:
Department of Military Affairs
Attn: Director’s Office
1956 Mt Majo Street
PO Box 4789
Fort Harrison, MT 59636
License Plates
Visit the following website for more information: https://mvdmt.gov/military-resources/military-veteran-license-plates/
Montana offers several license plates exclusive to military personnel to acknowledge their service status. Each plate is available only to those individuals having served as an active-duty or reserve member (or their surviving, unmarried spouse) for the specific branch of the plate
they are requesting.
How to Apply:
When purchasing license plates, registering your vehicle, or renewing vehicle registration, the veteran designation on a driver license or ID card will not be accepted as proof of eligibility to receive veteran license plates or exemption from vehicle registration fees.
Veterans must continue to provide official documentation confirming eligibility to display veteran
license plates or receive exemption from vehicle registration fees.
- They must present to the County Treasurer’s Office an official certificate from your unit commander verifying your eligibility and authorizing the department to issue the plates:
- U.S. Department of Defense form 214 (DD-214) or its successor
- documents showing an other-than-dishonorable discharge
- re-enlistment documents
- Pay all applicable vehicle registration fees and any special license plate fees.
If you cannot find the Department of Veterans Affairs’ letter verifying your or your deceased spouse’s disability rating, payment status, or death due to service-connected injury or disability, contact the Veterans Service Office of the Montana Department of Veterans Affairs at (406) 324-3742.
Montana Employment Benefits
Point Preference in Hiring Veterans
For more information, visit the following website: https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0390/chapter_0290/part_0010/section_0020/0390-0290-0010-0020.html
OR
https://wsd.dli.mt.gov/job-seeker/veteran-services/
When applying for public jobs in Montana, an honorably discharged veteran can have additional points added to a passing score.
Veterans receive an additional 5 points added to their score.
Disabled veterans receive 10 points.
Some spouses or unremarried surviving spouses may also be eligible.
The individual must meet the minimum qualifications required for the position to receive the preference points.
Military Waiver for Commercial Driver’s License
Visit the following website for more information: https://mvdmt.gov/military-resources/
Active-duty members and veterans who are licensed and drove a military motor vehicle equivalent to a commercial one may have the skills portion of the CDL waived.
Written tests may be waived, but school bus, passenger, and hazardous materials endorsements cannot be transferred.
The Application for Military Even Exchange (CDL Military Even Exchange) may be used by service members who are currently licensed and who are or were employed full-time within the last twelve months in a military position requiring the operation of a military motor vehicle equivalent to a commercial motor vehicle.
For more information on military waivers, visit the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).
Montana Education Benefits
Montana offers a wide variety of Educational Benefits to resident veterans and their dependents.
State Educational Benefits can be used in conjunction with the National Educational Benefits (DEA)
Visit the following link for a full list: https://dma.mt.gov/MVAD/veterans-benefits
Montana Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver
Visit the following website for more information: https://dma.mt.gov/MVAD/veterans-benefits
Qualified veterans can receive a tuition waiver to attend the Montana University System. All tuition charges will be waived; however, all other fees are the veteran’s responsibility.
Eligibility:
To qualify for the Montana Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver a student must meet all the following:
- Have received an Honorable Discharge
- Have at one time qualified for veterans benefits under Title 38 of the U.S. Code but benefits have expired or been exhausted
- Be a Montana resident
- Meet one of the service qualifications listed below:
- Served during World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War.
- Served subsequent to Vietnam and received an Expeditionary Medal*, and be enrolled in an initial degree or certificate program.
- Served in a combat theater in the Persian Gulf between 8-2-90 and 4-11-91 and received the SW Asia Service Medal*, and be enrolled in an initial degree or certificate program.
- Awarded the Kosovo Campaign Medal* and be enrolled in an initial degree or certificate program.
- Served in a combat theater in Afghanistan or Iraq after September 11, 2001, and received either the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal or the Iraq Campaign Medal and be enrolled in an initial degree or certificate program.
* For purposes of this policy any of above-noted medals shall be deemed to have been “awarded” if a veteran was eligible for the medal but chose to receive another medal in lieu thereof.
How to Apply:
To apply, complete the Montana Honorably Discharged Veteran Tuition Waiver Application and submit it to the Financial Aid Office.
This waiver may not be used with other state waivers.
If service was after Vietnam, the waiver is only applicable to initial undergraduate degree.
The Financial Aid Office must be notified by the third week of each semester for consideration of this waiver.
RETROACTIVE AWARDS ARE NOT MADE FOR PREVIOUS SEMESTERS.
Once the form and supporting documents have been submitted and approved, the form must only be submitted as a request for each semester.
Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information: https://www.umt.edu/finaid/
Montana War Orphans Tuition Waiver
Visit the following website for more information:
https://mus.edu/Prepare/Pay/Waivers/index.html#:~:text=War%20Orphans%20Waiver,the%20Iraq%20or%20Afghanistan%20conflicts.
The War Orphans Tuition waiver is awarded to qualifying children, whose parent was killed in action or died because of combat-related injury or disease.
The waiver covers 100% of the cost of resident tuition.
Eligibility:
The Parent must have:
- Served on active duty during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, the Iraq or Afghanistan conflicts.
- Been a Montana resident at the time of entry into service.
AND - Must have been killed in action or died because of combat related injury, disease, or other disability.
The Student Must:
- Be 25 years or less.
- The student must be a resident of Montana.
You must apply for the waiver by the 3rd week of the first semester for which you are requesting the waiver.
This Waiver does not waive any fees, cannot be used with other tuition waivers, and can only be used towards undergraduate tuition.
This tuition waiver remains in effect as long as the student is 25 years of age or under, and maintains Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) according to the standards detailed by the Financial Aid Office.
Montana National Guard Tuition Waiver
Visit the following website for more information:
https://mus.edu/Prepare/Pay/Waivers/index.html#:~:text=War%20Orphans%20Waiver,the%20Iraq%20or%20Afghanistan%20conflicts.
An Undergraduate or Graduate student who is a member of the Montana National Guard (Army and Air Guard) is eligible for a tuition waiver, provided the student:
- Has applied for the waiver and is a bona fide member of the Guard no later than the 3rd week of the first semester for which they are requesting the waiver;
- Is certified as a MT National Guard member in good standing who has completed Initial Entry Training;
- Maintains reasonable academic progress in accordance with the campus’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy used in administering federal financial aid; and
- Has an outstanding tuition balance after applying ALL other sources of aid (see Fact Sheet for calculation examples).
Waivers for students who meet the criteria above will be applied as LAST DOLLAR awards, up to the total annual cost of in-state tuition only. Thus, individual tuition waiver amounts will vary, depending on the amount of federal grants and all other scholarships received by the student.
Montana National Guard members who do not meet the residency requirements provided in BOR Policy 940.1 but meet the criteria above, are eligible for in-state tuition status for purposes of applying the tuition waiver under this policy. National Guard Tuition Waiver FACT SHEET
*The waiver covers the remaining tuition balance after ALL other grants and scholarships have been applied toward tuition, and is NOT available for Flat Fee Courses. Please view the example calculation on the Fact Sheet.
Montana Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting and Fishing Licenses
Disabled Montana veterans may be eligible for discounted hunting and fishing licenses. Please contact the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Department for more information.
Active-duty non-residents and their families can buy hunting and fishing licenses for the resident rate.
The holder of any hunting license issued by the department may surrender that license and any related permit to the department for reissuance to a disabled veteran or a disabled member of the armed forces for use on an expedition arranged by a nonprofit organization that uses hunting to rehabilitate disabled veterans and disabled members of the armed forces.
A veteran or member or member of the armed forces certified as disabled by a combat connected injury may receive A and B deer tags and a special antelope license at one half the price (limit 50 each).
Resident purple heart recipients may fish and hunt game birds (not turkeys) with a conservation license.
Nonresident purple heart recipients may fish and hunt game birds (not turkeys) with a conservation license during rehabilitative expeditions arranged by nonprofit organizations.
State Park Admission
Visit the following website for more information: https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/fees-and-general-information
Montana residents with veteran’s status receive a discount of 50% off camping fees. (The discount does not apply to electrical fees).
Proof of eligibility to receive the discount includes the DD 214 form, U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs ID or a driver’s license indicating the person’s veteran status.
