Virgin Islands US Territory Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans

100% US Territory Benefits- Virgin Islands

Information for this document was gathered from various sources including: https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/State/Territory-Benefits/US-Virgin-Islands And Visit the Virgin Islands Veterans Affairs Office Website for more information: https://veterans.vi.gov/

Burial Plot and Expenses

There are no National or State Veterans’ Cemeteries in the Virgin Islands, however, a Burial entitlement is provided to certain resident veterans. A maximum burial allowance of $3,500 and a free burial plot in a local cemetery is offered to veterans who meet the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility:

1. The veteran was a domiciliary of the Virgin Islands at the time of death.
2. You entered the armed services in the Virgin Islands, or you were a domiciliary of the Virgin Islands but entered the armed services in another jurisdiction while temporarily residing there.
3. You are a member of the Armed Forces, or a veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable who completed the required periods of service.
4. You are a spouse, minor child, or, under certain conditions, an unmarried adult child of an eligible veteran.
5. You are a member of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard Reserves, or the Army and Air Force National Guard with 20 years of qualifying service, or you die while on active duty for training, active duty, or territorial active duty.
6. You are a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) of the Army, Navy, or Air Force who dies on active duty for training.
7. You are a surviving spouse of an eligible veteran, and if you remarry a nonveteran and the remarriage is terminated by death or divorce, you remain eligible.
8. You were a bona fide resident of the Virgin Islands at the time you were either drafted or enlisted, whether residing in the Territory or attending college.

Application Process:

1. Confirm Eligibility: Ensure you meet one of the eligibility criteria listed above.
2. Gather Documentation: Collect necessary documents such as proof of military service, discharge papers, and proof of Virgin Islands residency.
3. Contact the Appropriate Office: Reach out to the Veterans Affairs office in the Virgin Islands or the cemetery administration where you wish to be buried.
4. Submit an Application: Complete and submit the required application forms, along with the gathered documentation.
5. Follow Up: Stay in touch with the office handling your application to ensure all requirements are met and your application is processed in a timely manner.

By following these steps, you can secure the burial benefits you are entitled to in the Virgin Islands.

Financial Benefits

Tax Benefits

General Income Taxes:

• As a resident of the USVI, you file returns and pay income taxes directly to the USVI Bureau of Internal Revenue, not the IRS.
• The tax rates, forms, and rules are the same as federal income taxes, making the USVI tax rate equivalent to states with no state income tax.

Military Income:

• Military income is taxed in the USVI.
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) does not withhold state or local income taxes, but distributions are reported on IRS Form 1099-R and are taxable. Early distributions may incur higher taxes.

Military Retired Pay:

• Military retired pay is taxed in the USVI.

Survivor Benefit Plans:

• Income from the Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP), and Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) is taxed in the USVI.

Military Disability Retirement Pay:

• This pay is not included in taxable income if received as a pension, annuity, or allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Disability benefits that are non-taxable include:
  • Disability compensation and pension payments 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.
  • Benefits under a dependent-care assistance program.

VA 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 from service-connected injuries or diseases.

For more information, refer to  IRS Publication 525 and other relevant resources on USVI taxes.

Homestead Tax Credit and Exemption

The USVI offers a property tax credit for veterans and a property tax exemption for certain disabled veterans.

Veteran Tax Credit: 

Certain veterans are eligible for a $650 tax credit on the assessed value of their home.

Who is Eligible?

• Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and received a discharge other than dishonorable.
• USVI National Guard Service members who:
  • Served 20 or more years in the USVI National Guard and received a discharge other than dishonorable.
  • Served in the USVI National Guard and were deployed for 30 or more days in a combat zone.
• Surviving spouses of eligible veterans.

Total and Permanent Disabled Veterans Tax Exemption:

• Veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, received a discharge other than dishonorable, and have a service-connected permanent and total disability rating from the VA are eligible for an exemption from all property taxes.

How to Apply:

1. Property Ownership: You must be the property owner as of January 1 of the taxable year.
2. Application Deadline: You must apply before March 1 of the year you are requesting the tax credit.
3. Proof Required:
   • Proof of residency (valid USVI driver’s license or voter’s registration card).
   • Proof of occupancy (current utility bill).
   • Proof of service (DD214).
   • Proof of Rating (Summary of Benefits Letter).

Application Process:

1. Confirm Eligibility: Ensure you meet the criteria listed above.
2. Prepare Documentation: Gather proof of residency and occupancy.
3. Submit Application: Apply before March 1 of the year you seek the credit.
4. Contact Tax Assessors Office: For more information or assistance, contact the Tax Assessors Office on your island.

Contact Information:

St. Croix:

• Address: 1131 King Street, Suite 101, Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands 00820
• Phone: 340-773-6449

St. Thomas / St. John:

• Address: 5049 Kongens Gade, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 00802
• Phone: 340-774-2991

For more information, eligible veterans and surviving spouses should contact the Tax Assessors Office on their respective island.

USVI Veterans Home/Land Mortgage Program

Visit the following website for more information: https://vihfa.gov/homeownership-programs/

The Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority (VIHFA) offers a Home/Land Mortgage Program for resident Veterans to purchase their first home, buy land, improve, alter, or repair their primary residence, or refinance their home.

Eligibility:

• You must be a Veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces or the National Guard and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
• First-time home buyer.
• Meet established income requirements.
• Resident of the USVI for the last three years.
• Able to pay a minimum earnest money deposit of $500 (qualified Veterans are not required to pay earnest money).
• Pre-qualify for a mortgage loan based on FHA, VA, or Conventional Mortgage standards.
• Attend VIHFA’s Home Buyer’s Education Program and earn a Certificate of Completion.
• Occupy the property as your primary residence.

Benefits:

• 25% discount on VIHFA application fee.
• 30% set aside in all VIHFA new land and home developments.
• 10% additional discount on the established price of land sold by VIHFA.
• Fixed interest rate 3% below the Federal Prime rate.
• Zero down payment required.
• Loan amounts up to $220,000 for homes and $50,000 for land.
• Payroll deduction payment option available.

Additional Loan Options:

Home Improvement Loans:

• Maximum loan amount: $40,000.
• Maximum loan term: 10 years with an interest rate 3% below the Federal Prime rate.
• The combined loan-to-value ratio must not exceed 100% of the appraised value.

Refinancing Loans:

• For Veterans whose primary residences are at risk of foreclosure.
• Fixed rate 3% below Federal Prime Rate.
• Maximum loan amount: $220,000.
• Payroll deduction payment option available.

Application Process:

1. Verify Eligibility:
   • Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria.
2. Contact VIHFA:
   • Reach out to the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority for detailed application instructions.
3. Submit Application:
   • Provide necessary documentation (e.g., service records, proof of income, residency verification).
4. Complete Home Buyer’s Education:
   • Attend and complete the Home Buyer’s Education Program to earn a Certificate of Completion.
5. Pre-Qualify for Mortgage:
   • Pre-qualify for a mortgage loan based on FHA, VA, or Conventional Mortgage standards.

    

For more information, contact the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority.

State Employment Preference

Visit the following website for more information: https://www.dopusvi.org/employees/

Preference points can be added to qualifying veterans’ scores on local civil service tests. 

You are eligible for 10 points Veterans’ Preference Credit if you are:

• A Veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and received a discharge other than dishonorable.
• The spouse of an eligible Veteran.
• The unremarried surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran.

You are eligible for 15 points Veterans’ Preference Credit if you are:

• A disabled Veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, received a discharge other than dishonorable, and has been awarded a 10% or more service-connected disability rating from the VA.
• The spouse of an eligible disabled Veteran.
• The unremarried surviving spouse of an eligible disabled Veteran.

Contact the US Virgin Islands Personnel Division for more information on the application process for veterans: 

Contact: 340-774-8588 or 340-718-8588 and listen carefully to all options.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8AM-5PM.

License Plates

Free license plates to all veterans residing in the Virgin Islands.

The USVI Bureau of Motor Vehicles offers three free specialty license plates to honor Veterans and their families. You still need to pay for the registration process. 

How to Apply:

To apply for a Veteran license plate, you must register with the USVI Office of Veterans Affairs. You can have up to two sets of Veteran license plates at a time.

Types of USVI Veteran Specialty License Plates:

Veteran License Plate:

• You are eligible if you served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and received a discharge other than dishonorable.

Disabled Veteran License Plate:

• You are eligible if you served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, received a discharge other than dishonorable, and have a mobility-impairing condition.

Gold Star Family License Plate:

• Immediate family members of a Service member killed in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible. Each family is authorized two plates, issued in this order: Father, Mother, Child (eldest to youngest).

For more information or assistance, please contact:

• USVI Office of Veterans Affairs
  • St. Thomas: 340-774-8387
  • St. Croix: 340-773-8387
  • Email: info_va@va.vi.gov

USVI Unemployment Insurance (UI)

For more information, visit the following website: https://www.vidol.gov/unemployment-insurance-overview/

The USVI Department of Labor’s Division of Unemployment Insurance manages the UI program, offering temporary financial assistance to workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. UI provides a partial, short-term replacement of lost wages while you seek other work and is not meant to be a permanent income source. Benefits are not based on financial need, and employers cover all program costs.

Eligibility for UI benefits depend on the wages you earned, not on your family’s financial resources.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

To file a claim, you must:

• Be unemployed through no fault of your own
• Be completely or partially unemployed
• Be able and available for work
• Be actively seeking work
• Have earned enough in the base period to be monetarily eligible

Information Needed to File a Claim

When you apply, you’ll need:

• ID card, alien resident card, or driver’s license (or any other valid and legally acceptable form of ID)
• Social Security Card
• Last employer’s separation letter
• Last check stub
• DD214 (if you’re a former U.S. Armed Forces service member)
• SF8, SF50 (if you’re a former federal civil service employee)

Application Process

You must apply for UI using the USVI Department of Labor’s UI online application. For more information, contact the nearest USVI Department of Labor Office:

St. Croix Office:

• Address: 4401 Sion Farm Ste 1, Christiansted, VI 00820-4245
• Phone: 340-773-1994
• Fax: 340-713-3415
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

St. Thomas / St. John Office:

• Address: 2353 Kronprindsens Gade, St. Thomas, VI 00802
• Phone: 340-776-3700
• Fax: 340-715-5743
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 am – 5 pm

Education Benefits

The Virgin Islands offer 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)

USVI National Guard Tuition Assistance:

As a USVI Army National Guard Service member, you are eligible for a 100% tuition waiver for up to 32 semester hours at public educational institutions in the USVI. This waiver can be applied toward Associate through doctorate level degrees. However, if you receive federal financial tuition assistance, you are not eligible for this waiver.

Application Process:

1. Ensure you are not receiving federal financial tuition assistance.
2. Apply to a public educational institution in the USVI.
3. Submit your tuition waiver request through the appropriate channels within the USVI National Guard.

U.S. Virgin Islands In-Territory Tuition

Visit the following website for more information: https://www.uvi.edu/registrar/veterans.html

You are eligible for in-territory tuition rates at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) if you meet any of the following criteria:

Eligibility:

1. Veterans Using VA Educational Assistance
   • You live in the USVI while attending UVI.
   • You must enroll within three years of your discharge or release from active-duty service of 90 days or more.
2. Anyone Using Transferred VA Educational Assistance
   • You live in the USVI while attending UVI.
   • You must enroll within three years of the transferor’s discharge or release from active-duty service of 90 days or more.
3. Anyone Using Benefits Under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
   • You live in the USVI while attending UVI.
   • You must enroll within three years of the Service member’s line of duty death, following a period of active-duty service of 90 days or more.
4. Continuous Enrollment
   • If you enrolled at UVI prior to the three-year expiration of eligibility, you must remain continuously enrolled (excluding regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms).

Application Process:

1. Verify Your Eligibility
   • Ensure you meet one of the eligibility criteria listed above.
2. Contact UVI Admissions Office
   • Phone: 877-GO-TO-UVI
   • St. Thomas Campus: 340-693-1150
   • St. Croix Campus: 340-692-4158
   • Email: admissions@uvi.edu
3. Submit Required Documentation
   • Provide necessary documentation to confirm your eligibility (e.g., discharge papers, proof of residence, VA educational assistance paperwork).
4. Enroll at UVI
   • Complete the enrollment process within the specified time frame to benefit from the in-territory tuition rate.

University of the Virgin Islands’ Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning Program
(UVICELL)

Visit the following website for more information and to access the application: https://cellcourses.uvi.edu/modules/shop/index.html?action=program&ProgramID=154

The University of the Virgin Islands’ Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning Program (UVICELL) offers free in-person and online courses to Veterans. Topics range from cake decorating to computer science.

Programs:

• In-Person Courses
• Online Courses

Application Process:

1. Visit the UVICELL Veterans Course Registration Webpage.
2. Register for your desired courses.

For more information, contact the USVI Office of Veterans Affairs:

1. • St. Thomas: 340-774-8387
   • St. Croix: 340-773-8387
   • Email: info_va@va.vi.gov

Education Grant for Children of USVI National Guard Service Members

Visit the following website for more information: https://myviboe.com/grants/

Children of USVI National Guard Service members who die or become disabled in the line of duty while serving on territorial active duty are eligible for an educational grant to attend the University of the Virgin Islands. The grant covers matriculation fees and tuition for up to four years.

Eligibility:

• You must be under 25 years of age.
• Your parent must be a USVI National Guard Service member who died or became permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty while serving on territorial active duty.

Application Process:

1. Verify Eligibility:
   • Ensure you meet the age and parent’s service criteria.
2. Contact the USVI Board of Education:
   • Gather detailed information and instructions on how to apply.
3. Submit Application:
   • Provide necessary documentation to prove eligibility (e.g., parent’s service records, proof of relationship, age verification).

For more information, contact the USVI Board of Education.

Other Local Benefits

Emergency Ambulance Service

Free emergency ambulance service is provided to all veterans residing in the Virgin Islands.

For more information, you can contact the USVI Office of Veterans Affairs. They will provide detailed information regarding eligibility, application processes, and any other relevant details.

Contact Information:

• USVI Office of Veterans Affairs
  • St. Thomas: 340-774-8387
  • St. Croix: 340-773-8387
  • Email: info_va@va.vi.gov

Additionally, you can visit the official website of the USVI Office of Veterans Affairs or reach out to local healthcare providers in the Virgin Islands who might have information on the program. They can guide you on how to avail of the free emergency ambulance service for Veterans.

USVI Veterans Medical Travel Reimbursements

Visit the following website for more information: https://veterans.vi.gov/2023/04/06/travel-reimbursement-policy-reminder/

The USVI Office of Veterans Affairs provides travel assistance for eligible Veterans to attend medical appointments up to three times per fiscal year.

Eligibility:

1. Travel within the VA Caribbean Healthcare Network:
   • Travel to the closest VA medical facility for non-service-connected appointments.
   • Appointments must be initiated by the CBOC or authorized by the Director of the USVI Office of Veterans Affairs on an emergency basis.
   • Provide your appointment slip from the local CBOC, boarding passes, and ticket receipt to the USVI Office of Veterans Affairs upon return.
   • One family member’s flight can be reimbursed if the attending physician documents the need in writing.
   • Veterans 70 years or older can be reimbursed for a travel companion without written authorization from the CBOC.
2. Travel outside the VA Caribbean Healthcare Network:
   • Travel to a VA Hospital or VA Medical Center (CBOC care does not qualify).
   • Reimbursement of up to $250, pre-approved by the Director of the USVI Office of Veterans Affairs.
   • Travel attendants are not authorized for reimbursement.
   • Authorizations are based on the availability of funds.

Application Process:

1. For Travel within the VA Caribbean Healthcare Network:
   • Ensure your appointment is initiated by the CBOC or authorized by the Director for emergencies.
   • After your appointment, submit your appointment slip, boarding passes, and ticket receipt to the USVI Office of Veterans Affairs.
2. For Travel outside the VA Caribbean Healthcare Network:
   • Get pre-approval from the Director of the USVI Office of Veterans Affairs before traveling.
   • Verify your appointment at a VA Medical Facility.
   • Submit the necessary documents for reimbursement.

For more information, contact the USVI Office of Veterans Affairs:

• St. Thomas: 340-774-8387
• St. Croix: 340-773-8387
• Email: info_va@va.vi.gov