Nebraska State Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans

Nebraska State Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans

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100% State Benefits- Nebraska

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

Visit the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs for more detailed information: https://veterans.nebraska.gov/

Veterans Homes

For more information, visit: https://nasvh.org/directory/nebraska/

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:

WESTERN NEBRASKA VETERANS HOME

Scottsbluff, Nebraska

NORFOLK VETERANS HOME

Norfolk, Nebraska

EASTERN NEBRASKA VETERANS HOME

Bellevue, Nebraska

CENTRAL NEBRASKA VETERANS HOME

Kearney, Nebraska

Eligibility:

Veterans who served on active duty with an honorable or general discharge, and who have lived in Nebraska at least two years during their lifetime, are eligible to live in a State of Nebraska Veterans’ Home. Veterans must be disabled by reason of service or age or otherwise unable to earn a living.

Spouses, surviving spouses of veterans, and Gold Star spouses and parents are also eligible for membership under similar requirements.

Member contribution is determined by a sliding scale depending on a person’s income and or assets. Your contribution to the cost of care at the Home could be from $0 to $4,541.00 per month.

State Veterans’ Cemeteries

For more detailed information visit: https://www.cem.va.gov/find-cemetery/state.asp?STATE=NE

National Veterans Cemeteries:  

National Cemetery Contact Info
Fort McPherson National Cemetery
12004 South Spur 56A
Maxwell, NE 69151

Burial Space: Open		 Phone:
308-582-4433

Fax:
308-582-4616
Omaha National Cemetery
14250 Schram Road
Omaha, NE 68138

Burial Space: Open		 Phone:
402-253-3949
Forest Lawn Cemetery Soldiers’ Lot
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
7909 Mormon Bridge Road
Omaha, NE 68112

Burial Space: Closed		 Phone:
913-758-4105

Fax:
913-758-4136

State Veterans Cemeteries:

Cemetery Contact Info
Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Alliance
2610 C.R. 57
P.O. Box 718
Alliance, NE 69301

VA Grant Funded: Yes		 Phone:
308-763-2958

Fax:
308-763-2963
Nebraska Veterans Home Cemetery
2300 West Capital Avenue
Grand Island, NE 68803

VA Grant Funded: No		 Phone:
308-385-6252

Fax:
308-385-6257

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.

Nebraska Veterans Financial Benefits

Income Tax

Visit the following website for more information: https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/State/Territory-Benefits/Nebraska#taxes

Nebraska Income Taxes on Military Pay:

Military pay earned by Nebraska resident Service members is subject to state income taxes.

Nebraska State Income Taxes on Military Retired Pay:

Military retired pay is exempt from Nebraska income tax.

Thrift Savings 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. TSP distributions after retirement are not subject to state taxes, early distributions may incur higher taxes.

Nebraska Taxes on 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.

Nebraska 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 U.S. Armed Forces Service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.

Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)/Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) Nebraska State Tax Benefits:

SBP, RCSBP and RSFPP annuities are not taxed in Nebraska.

Combat Zones Exclusion and Filing Extensions for Nebraska Income Taxes for Deployed Service Members:

Nebraska follows federal guidelines for tax filing extensions and does not tax income received by a Service member while serving in a designated combat zone, contingency operation, or in a qualified hazardous duty area.

Nebraska Veterans’ Aid Fund

Visit the following website for more information: https://veterans.nebraska.gov/nva

This temporary emergency aid fund assists veterans, their spouses, and dependents when an unforeseen emergency occurs disrupting their normal method of living and when other resources are not immediately available.

Eligibility:

To be eligible, you must be a veteran with honorable service and active-duty service other than for training, or the dependent of a veteran. This information can be found on an appropriate discharge document such as a DD-214. If in doubt, you may contact your CVSO for assistance. 

Additionally, you must demonstrate that you are experiencing a current financial hardship that was caused by a temporary emergency that generally was no fault of your own, such as a medical episode or catastrophic life event.

How Do I Apply? 

To apply, you should collect the necessary paperwork such as your DD-214 and current bills that you are requesting assistance with and see your local CVSO.

How Much Am I Eligible to Receive?

Upon receiving your application, NDVA will compare your income to your expenses in consideration of your emergency. If eligible, you may receive an amount equal to the need for living expenses, medical bills, or funeral up to the maximum allowed.

Applications are generally processed in seven to ten days if the application is complete upon arrival at NDVA.

Nebraska Homestead Exemption

More information may be found at: https://revenue.nebraska.gov/PAD/homestead-exemption

The Nebraska homestead exemption program is a property tax relief program for six categories of homeowners.

Three of these categories are specific to Veterans: 

  • A veteran receiving compensation from the USDVA because of a 100% disability that is service connected.
  • A wartime veteran totally disabled by a nonservice-connected illness or accident.
  • A paraplegic veteran or multiple amputee whose home is substantially contributed to by the USDVA.

The Veteran must:

  • Own and occupy the homestead continuously on or before January 1 through August 15th.
  • File after February 1 and before June 30th.
  • Some categories of this exemption for veterans have income limits
  • Some categories of this exemption require annual filing, while one is renewed every 5 years.

Surviving spouses may also be eligible to receive this exemption.

Consult the local assessor’s office for detailed requirements regarding these exemptions. 

Annual refiling is required.

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

Veterans’ Designation on Nebraska License or ID

Instructions and fee information may be found at: https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dl/veterans-designation

Veterans may register to have a Veteran’s designation displayed on their Nebraska license or ID card.

The Veteran must be enrolled in the Nebraska Veteran’s Registry through the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Military Honor License Plate

More information may be found at: https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/military-honor-plates

Military Honor license plates are available, in lieu of regular county plates, to persons who have served, are currently serving, on active duty or in the Guard/Reserves. The Veteran must be enrolled in the Nebraska Veteran’s Registry through the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs and have served (with an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge/separation), or be currently serving, on active duty in the specific branch for which a license plate is requested.

Disabled Veteran Motor Vehicle Tax Exemption

Approval of an application for a Disabled American Veterans License Plate is not related to the disabled veteran motor vehicle tax exemption.

The disabled veteran motor vehicle tax exemption is available for one motor vehicle owned and used for his or her personal transportation by a disabled or blind veteran of the United States Armed Forces.

For purposes of the motor vehicle tax exemption, disabled is defined as a veteran who has lost the use of or has undergone amputation of two or more extremities or has undergone amputation of one or more extremities and has lost the use of one or more extremities; and blind is defined as a veteran whose sight is so impaired as to seriously limit his ability to engage in the ordinary vocations and activities of life.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs must recognize the veteran’s disability or blindness and the veteran must have been discharged or otherwise separated with a characterization of honorable or general (under honorable conditions).

Veterans who qualify must apply for the motor vehicle tax exemption to the County Treasurer in their county of residence. 

Those who qualify are encouraged to contact their County Treasurer for more detailed information about the application process.

Military and Veterans Registry

To register online: https://www.nebraska.gov/va_registry/index.cgi

The Nebraska Veterans’ Registry allows Nebraska’s veterans to voluntarily identify themselves to the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) to verify eligibility for state benefits.

  • Active-Duty Service Members and National Guard may register by providing an application and copy of your current Military identification card to NDVA.
  • Veterans may register by providing an application and a copy of your military discharge to NDVA. Your discharge must include the characterization of service.

Nebraska Veteran Employment Benefits

State Employment Veterans Preference

Visit the following website for more information: https://dol.nebraska.gov/LaborStandards/WorkerRights/Overview

Honorably discharged veterans may be eligible for a 5% addition to their passing score on employment testing. Disabled veterans get another 5% on top of that. Spouses of active-duty members, those separated within 180 days, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans may also qualify.

This preference is for all state, county, and municipal jobs.

All notices of positions of employment available for Veteran’s Preference and all applications for such positions shall state that the position is subject to a Veteran’s Preference. 

Veterans that applied and are not hired shall be notified by phone, mail or e-mail that they have not been hired and shall be advised of any administrative appeal available.

Private Sector Voluntary Veterans Preference

Visit the following website for more information: https://dol.nebraska.gov/LaborStandards/WorkerRights/Overview

Private sector employers with a veteran’s preference policy can be listed on the Nebraska Dept. of Labor’s Voluntary Veterans Preference Registry. 

Employers listed on the registry may implement veteran’s preference policies without having to be concerned that hiring decisions may violate a state or local equal employment opportunity law.

Link to Register for Voluntary Veterans Preference: https://dol.nebraska.gov/LaborStandards/VeteransPreference/VolVetPrefApplication

Link to Employer Registry: https://dol.nebraska.gov/LaborStandards/VeteransPreference/EmployerRegistry

Department of Labor Priority of Service for Workforce Programs

More information on Department of Labor Veteran Services may be found at: https://www.dol.nebraska.gov/ReemploymentServices/Training/VeteranEmploymentServices

Veterans and eligible spouses receive access, on a Priority of Service basis, to the full range of public employment and training services. Priority of Service means the Veteran will be granted front of the line privileges and be served first by the next available staff member. Additionally, you receive access to that program or service, for which you are eligible and qualified, either earlier in time or instead of persons who are not eligible for priority of service.

These services include:

  • Job search assistance 
  • Workshops, Resume assistance
  • Labor market information
  • Career counseling
  • Job referrals, and referrals to other supportive and training resources

Occupational Licenses

For more information, including a list of occupations, please visit: https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Licensing-Home-Page.aspx

Veterans, active-duty members, and their families may be eligible to receive occupational licenses based on their military experience. You may also be eligible for expedited and temporary license approvals. 

Contact the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Resources Licensing department to see what your options are for your specific license.

Nebraska Veterans Education Benefits

Nebraska 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://veterans.nebraska.gov/education

Tuition Waiver

Visit the following website for more information and to access the application: https://veterans.nebraska.gov/waiver

Waiver of Tuition is available for dependents of eligible veterans at participating schools including the University of Nebraska, the Nebraska State College System, and the Nebraska Community College System. Participating schools waive 100% of tuition charges and tuition-related fees.

Applicants must meet Nebraska residency requirements and may use the program for one degree, diploma, or certificate from a community college and one baccalaureate degree from a state college or university.

Eligibility

This benefit is available to the spouse/surviving spouse, biological/adopted child, or step-child of a veteran who:

  • Is rated permanently and totally disabled because of military service; or
  • Has died of a service-connected disability; or
  • Has died after discharge as a result of injury or illness sustained while a    member of the armed forces; or
  • Has been classified as missing in action or a prisoner of war during armed hostilities while a member of the armed forces.

Eligibility for dependent children ceases at age 26, but may be extended with qualifying military service.

How To Apply

Download a copy of the application, along with instructions for completing and submitting the application to NDVA. You will also need to work with your school to obtain Part VI: Student Credentials of the application.

Not covered by Waiver:
Waiver of Tuition does not cover non-tuition-related fees, housing or food costs, parking fees, etc. The student is also responsible for purchasing any necessary books and materials needed for their courses. If a student would like to inquire into what charges and fees will be waived, they should contact the school.

Reservist Tuition Credit

Visit the following website for more information: https://veterans.nebraska.gov/reservist-tuition

Nebraska residents who are members of a Nebraska-based unit of the Active Selected Reserve may be eligible for a 75% tuition credit (or 50% if pursuing a graduate or professional degree). 

Tuition credit may be granted to 200 applicants each calendar year who are attending University of Nebraska campuses, Nebraska state colleges or Nebraska community colleges.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

  • A current Nebraska resident
  • A member of a Nebraska-based Active Selected Reserve Unit
  • Have agreed to serve a minimum of 3 years in the reserves
  • Pursuing a course of study leading to a diploma, certificate, or degree
  • There is no lifetime limit on tuition credit for any qualifying member

In-State Residency Requirements

For an active reservist to receive the tuition credit, they must meet the Nebraska residency standard for in-state tuition. If the residency requirement has not been met, the reservist will experience a delay in receiving the tuition credit until those requirements are met.

Approved Institutions

Directory of School Authorized Representatives

How to Apply for Reservist Tuition Credit

If you have never applied for Reservist Tuition Credit before, you will need to complete an application.

If you have been approved for Reservist Tuition Credit and are starting a new term at school, you will need to complete a
Re-certification Form.

Nebraska Veteran Recreation Benefits

Veteran Hunt/Fish/Fur Permit

Visit the following website for more information: https://outdoornebraska.gov/permits/veterans-and-military-permits/

Veterans age 64 and older who are legal residents of Nebraska are eligible for a Veteran’s Annual Small Game Hunt/Fish/Fur Harvest Permit for $5. This permit includes all state stamps. 

A copy of a DD214 or a Veteran Indicator on the applicant’s Nebraska Driver’s License must be presented in person at the time of application. If a copy of a DD214 is not available, an application form and signature from a Veteran’s Service officer is required.

The Veteran Hunt/Fish/Fur Harvest Permit must be renewed annually for $5. It may be renewed at any Game and Parks office, online or at one of our vendor locations. Renewal does not require a copy of a DD214 or an application form.

To apply for a Veteran’s Permit via the mail, fill out the application below and enclose a copy of your DD214 and payment of $5. Mail to:

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
PO Box 30370
Lincoln NE 68503-0370

Deployed Military Permit

Visit the following website for more information: https://outdoornebraska.gov/permits/veterans-and-military-permits/

A Nebraska resident who is or has been deployed out of the state with a branch of the United States military within the last 12 months shall, upon returning to the state, be eligible to receive an Annual Small Game Hunt/Fish/Fur Harvest Permit on a one time basis for $5. This permit includes all state stamps. A copy of deployment paperwork must be presented in person at the time of application.

To apply for a Deployed Military Permit via the mail, fill out the application below and enclose a copy of your deployment papers and payment of $5.
Mail to:

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
PO Box 30370
Lincoln NE 68503-0370

Disabled Veteran’s Lifetime Annual Park Entry Permit (no fee)

More information may be found at: http://outdoornebraska.gov/veteransandmilitarypermits/

Disabled Veterans who are legal residents of Nebraska and who have been deemed 50 percent or more service related or 100 percent disabled non-service connected and receive a pension from the Veterans Administration, are eligible for one (1) perpetual Disabled Veteran’s Lifetime Annual Park Entry Permit at no fee.

An application form and signature from a Veteran’s Service officer is required. The application can be presented in person when applying for this permit. Nebraska Game and Parks Service Centers can print out applications for individuals interested in the lifetime annual park entry permit. Otherwise, the application may be accessed on the Nebraska Game and Parks’ website.