The state of Oregon offers many veteran benefits for service members and Veterans that have served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. These benefits include income and property tax exemptions, financial exemptions, education and training programs, hunting and fishing licenses, vehicle registrations, and assistance with employment. Your residency, military career, and disability status may result in certain differences in what benefits you may be eligible for. The following are benefits for the state of Oregon.
Oregon Retired Military Pay Income Taxes: Retired military personnel may be able to subtract some or all of their federal pension income. The subtraction amount is based on the number of months of federal service before and after October 1, 1991. Retirees can subtract their entire federal pension if all the months of federal service occurred before October 1, 1991. If there are no months of service before October 1, 1991, retirees cannot subtract any federal pension. If service included months before and after October 1, 1991, retirees can subtract a percentage of their pension income. To determine your percentage, divide your months of service or points earned before October 1, 1991, by your total months of service or points earned. Round your percentage to three places (example: 0.4576 = 45.8%). Once you determine the percentage, it will remain the same from year to year.
Oregon Property Tax Exemption: Veterans rated at 40% or more disability rating may qualify for a property tax exemption.
Oregon State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.
Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/ Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)/ Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) Oregon State Tax Benefits: The Surviving Spouse of a deceased military Service member may be able to subtract some or all of their federal pension income. The subtraction amount is based on the number of months of federal service before and after October 1, 1991. Spouses can subtract the entire federal pension if all the months of federal service occurred before October 1, 1991. If there are no months of service before October 1, 1991, retirees cannot subtract any federal pension. If service included months before and after October 1, 1991, retirees can subtract a percentage of their pension income. To determine your percentage, divide your months of service or points earned before October 1, 1991, by your total months of service or points earned. Round your percentage to three places (example: 0.4576 = 45.8%). Once you determine the percentage, it will remain the same from year to year.
Sales Tax:
Disabled Veteran Hunting and Fishing Licenses: Service-connected resident disabled war veterans rated 25% or more can get free hunting & fishing licenses. Disabled veterans are also eligible for an Oregon Elk tag at a reduced cost.
Active Duty Hunting & Fishing Licenses: Active duty members can get hunting & fishing licenses for the resident rate.
Oregon State Parks: You DO NOT have to be an Oregon resident to qualify for these benefits. Service-connected disabled veterans get free parking and camping at state parks. You may camp for free in a tent, RV or standard horse campsite for 10 nights at a time at a single state park, or a total of 10 nights in a 30 day period, regardless of the location. If you stay longer than 10 nights at a park, you will pay the standard rate for the extra days. You also have to pay the reservation fee. Active duty members get the same benefit, but they have to pay upfront and then file for reimbursement. Additionally, all active duty service members can visit Oregon state parks for free on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.
Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance: The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4035 in 2018 authorizing the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to administer $2.5 million in grants to Oregon National Guard Service members attending Oregon community colleges or public universities. This grant provides funding for tuition at Oregon community colleges (up to 90 credits) and public universities (up to 180 credits) for current Oregon National Guard members. The Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funds are used. The grant is a “last dollar” program, meaning it is calculated after other state and federal grants for which eligible students qualify.
Oregon Instate Tuition and Fees for Student Veterans: A public university listed in ORS 352.002 or community college shall charge an enrolled student who is not a resident of this state, and who is attending classes as an undergraduate or graduate on a public university or community college campus in this state, tuition and fees no greater than the resident rate if the student:
Oregon Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children: It is the purpose of this compact to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by:
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Eligibility for admission:
All honorably discharged Veterans can have 5 points added to any state employment examination scores. Those with a VA service-connected disability will get 10 points added to their score.
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act: Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protect civilian job rights and benefits for Veterans and members of Reserve components. USERRA also makes major improvements in protecting service member rights and benefits by clarifying the law, improving enforcement mechanisms, and adding Federal Government employees to those employees already eligible to receive the Department of Labor assistance in processing claims.
Paid leave for Oregon State Employees for Military Training: Oregon State employees receive 15 calendar days of military leave each training year. National Guard or Reserve Service members are eligible for paid leave for military training.
Oregon Military Family Leave Act (OMFLA): OMFLA provides 14 days of unpaid leave per deployment due to a Spouse or same-sex domestic partner being called to or on leave from active military duty. OMFLA requires covered employers to grant leave to employees who have worked an average of at least 20 hours per week. Any employer already covered by the Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA) is covered by the Oregon Military Family Leave Act. Generally speaking, any employer with 25 or more employees in Oregon is covered.
Please note that your preference regarding burial in a national cemetery and use of a headstone provided by VA should be documented and kept with your paperwork and medical records. Eligibility for interment in the State Veterans Cemetery follows National Cemetery Administration eligibility requirements.
National Cemeteries include:
Oregon provides Veterans with a Regional Benefits Office and VA Medical Centers.
Oregon VA Regional Benefits Office
Oregon VA Medical Centers
Important information for Oregon Veteran Benefits
For Veterans applying for VA benefits for the first time, you must submit a copy of your DD 214 (discharge paperwork). This will provide your discharge status, along with your full name, social security number, branch of service, and dates for which you served. Honorable and general discharges qualify a Veteran for most VA benefits.
You should always keep your paperwork, along with your medical records, in a safe place where you and your family can have access to them. It is imperative to have it in a location where it cannot be destroyed or tampered with, which includes a safe.
Your eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Any Veteran discharged from the military under the conditions of “Dishonorable” due to bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees may be eligible for certain VA benefits. VA regional offices can clarify the eligibility of prisoners, parolees, and individuals with multiple discharges issued under differing conditions.
State veteran benefit programs and eligibility requirements change regularly due to federal and state government updates. This information serves as general guidance. Contact us for current program details and personalized benefits assistance.