The state of Louisiana provides several veteran benefits. This page explains them.
Louisiana Veterans Homes
Louisiana operates five veterans homes located in Bossier City, Jackson, Jennings, Monroe and Reserve.
For admission to a Louisiana Veterans Home, a veteran must be a resident of the state of Louisiana, with an other-than-dishonorable discharge. Applicants who have income will be expected to pay for their care.
Spouses and Gold Star parents are eligible if they meet basic qualifying criteria.
Louisiana Veteran Financial Benefits
Income Tax
Up to $30,000 of active-duty pay is tax-free if stationed out of state for 120 consecutive days or more. Louisiana also exempts pays that are exempt from federal income taxes, including combat pay and hazardous duty pay.
Retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax-free.
Property Tax Exemptions
Voters approved property tax exemptions for disabled veterans in November 2022. Disability percentages determine the amount of the exemptions, up to a home's total assessed value for veterans who are 100% disabled or can't work at all.
Military Family Assistance Fund
This benefit can provide financial support to Louisiana veterans and their families when they experience financial hardships. The MFA can pay up to $10,000 for one claim per active-duty order in a 12-month period. Applicants must submit a completed application to Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and include all required supporting documentation, as certain criteria applies. The MFA is funded entirely by private donations from individuals and corporations.
National Guard Death & Disability Benefit
Louisiana National Guard members who received a permanent and total disability while on federal or state active duty on or after Sep. 11, 2001, or the beneficiary of record of those killed in action may qualify for a $250,000 death or $100,000 disability benefit from the state. Certain restrictions apply.
Louisiana Veteran Employment Benefits
State Employment
Louisiana state and city civil service departments award a 5-point preference to honorably discharged veterans and 10-point preference to honorably discharged service-connected disabled veterans.
Spouses of veterans who are rated unemployable by the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as un-remarried widows of deceased veterans and Gold Star parents are also eligible for this preference.
Some restrictions apply for eligibility.
Transfer of Military Skills to Civilian Employment
Individuals with military training and experience can get a corresponding professional license or certification if they had a military occupational specialty that qualified them for that license.
Louisiana Educational Benefits
Louisiana Title 29 Dependents Educational Assistance
Louisiana offers education assistance to surviving spouses of deceased veterans as well as children of 90% or greater disabled veterans and children of 100% disabled and unemployable veterans.
The deceased veteran must have been a resident of Louisiana for at least 12 months immediately preceding entry into service. The living veteran must have lived in the state for at least 24 months prior to the child being admitted into the program.
The surviving spouse has 10 years to use the benefit. The child must be between the ages of 16 and 25 to be eligible.
National Guard State Tuition Exemption Program (STEP)
Members are exempt from tuition at any state-funded college, university, or vocational/technical school for five years or a bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.
Louisiana Veteran Recreation Benefits
Free Hunting/Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans
Disabled veterans classified with a service-connected permanent disability, rated 50% or higher, can get hunting and fishing licenses free of charge. The free licenses are available to both residents and non-residents of the state.
'Veteran' Designation and Discounts on Driver's Licenses and IDs
Veterans may receive a special "Veteran" designation on Louisiana driver's licenses and IDs. They may also qualify for fee discounts or waivers.
Active-Duty Military Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Active-duty members and their dependents may buy hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Free and Discounted Admission to State Parks
Disabled veterans, as well as everyone in the same vehicle as them, are exempt from paying the day-use entrance fee to any Louisiana state park.
Active-duty members plus one additional family member get half off admission to state parks.
Louisiana Veterans Cemeteries
The state of Louisiana has four veterans cemeteries. They are located in Keithville, Leesville, Rayville, and Slidell. The cemeteries are available for qualifying veterans, their spouses and dependent children. There is no charge for veterans and only a small fee for spouses and dependent children
Visit the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs' website for more information about any of these programs.
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