An estimated 318,287 veterans live in Indiana, making up 6% of the state's population or the 37th-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Indiana Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax free.
Active-Duty Income Tax
Active-duty pay is tax free, starting with 2024 taxes.
Indiana Veteran Property Taxes
Honorably discharged disabled resident veterans may receive a property tax deduction from their home's value for tax purposes.
Wartime veterans who have at least a 10% Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability rating may receive a $24,960 deduction.
Veterans who are at least 62 with at least a 10% VA disability rating or who have a VA total disability may receive up to a $14,000 deduction if the assessed value of their property is less than $240,000.
Wartime veterans who are at least 62 with a 10% service-connected disability rating and veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability at any age -- and whose home's assessed value is $240,000 or less -- may receive both property tax deductions for a total of $38,960.
Indiana Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
The National Guard Supplemental Grant pays for up to 100% of tuition at state institutions for state Guard members; or up to $5,000 toward tuition and fees at private, nonprofit institutions in the state.
Military Dependent Education
The children of wartime veterans with any disability rating or a Purple Heart may receive an exemption of 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for 124 semester hours of education at a state institution; or, if they graduated on Jan. 1, 2023 or later, up to $5,000 toward tuition and fees at private, nonprofit institutions in the state.
Indiana Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
State preference: Honorably discharged veterans receive preference in state government jobs.
Driving: Veterans with specific training who were truck drivers during their military service may receive a waiver of the required skills test when they apply for a commercial driver's license.
Vendor license: Honorably discharged veterans may receive a vending license for free.
Next Level Veterans: The state will help veterans apply for a job with dozens of corporations and if hired will pay the veterans $5,000 to relocate to Indiana.
Military Spouse Employment
No state benefits.
Indiana Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
The Indiana Veterans' Home in West Lafayette provides nursing and domiciliary care for any honorably discharged veteran who has resided in the state for at least 12 months prior to admission. The home is open to veterans and their spouses. There is a fee.
Homeless Veterans
The Indiana Veterans' Home includes a transitional domiciliary similar to a federal VA domiciliary.
The state helps fund the Indiana Legal Services' Military Assistance Project to address the prevention of homelessness among veterans. Also see "Legal Services."
Adapted Housing
No state benefits.
Indiana Veteran Financial Assistance
The Military Family Relief Fund's emergency grants of up to $2,500 may be used for food, housing, utilities, medical services, transportation and other essential family support expenses.
Indiana Veteran Legal Assistance
The Indiana Legal Services' Military Assistance Project provides free civil legal advice and representation to low-income military members, veterans and dependents, including free legal clinics and workshops; and collaborates with a range of legal service providers.
Indiana Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Resident veterans with a service-connected disability may buy a one-year license for $2.75 for fishing and the hunting of small game, excluding stamps.
Parks/Camping
Illinois veterans are exempt from admission and camping fees at Illinois state parks for a time period equal to their military service spent abroad or mobilized.
Indiana Veteran Transportation Benefits
No state-funded transportation benefits. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) offers van rides to VA medical centers in many states and may be available in the states without a state-funded transportation benefit.
Indiana Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
The Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery is in Madison. Any state veteran eligible for burial in a national cemetery qualifies. Spouses are also eligible.
Burial Allowance
Each county auditor may pay up to $100 for the burial of a veteran or the veteran's spouse; plus up to $100 for the setting of a federal headstone. Veterans must have received an honorable discharge.
More Information
Visit the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information on any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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