Delaware State Veterans Benefits
CCK Law: Our Vital Role in Veterans Law
The Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs claims there are 72,000 veterans residing in the First State, or about 7 percent of Delaware’s total population. To assist and support both these veterans and active service members, Delaware offers significant benefits regarding finance, education, employment, and housing.
If you are a Delaware veteran hoping to learn about the specific benefits offered by your state, this article will guide you through those benefits and where you can go to discover more about them.
Key points of this article include:
- Veterans who are Delaware residents gain access to substantial financial benefits, including income tax exemptions on certain kinds of pay and a Veterans Trust Fund to help them in times of need.
- Delaware offers prominent educational benefits to resident veterans, service members, and their dependents. These include scholarships, tuition assistance, and more.
- Discharged veterans looking to start a career in Delaware may take advantage of several different employment benefits the state offers, such as a hiring preference for government jobs and policies that facilitate easier professional licensing.
What Delaware State Veterans Benefits Are There for Housing?
Delaware offers several housing benefits to qualifying resident veterans, including a state-run home for sick or aging veterans and a tax waiver that veterans can apply to their primary residence.
Delaware Veterans Home in Milford
Delaware has a single veterans home located in Milford, reserved for Delaware veterans in need of a skilled nursing home level of care to attend to the activities of daily living.
This home provides multiple amenities for its residents, including:
- 24-hour professional nursing care
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapies
- A calendar of regular activities for residents to partake in
- Social services
- A library and computers with internet access
- Chapel services for several denominations
- And more
Delaware veterans can apply for admission through the Milford Veterans Home website, which also lists the requirements needed to be considered for acceptance.
Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit
Delaware’s Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit is a program first signed into law in 2021. This program allows for qualified veterans to receive a 100 percent tax credit against their school district property tax, as assessed on their primary residence.
To qualify for this tax credit, veterans must meet the following criteria:
- Be rated as 100 percent disabled by VA, either through a schedular rating, Permanent and Total rating, or Total Disability Based on Individual unemployability (TDIU); AND
- Be a legal resident of Delaware for the past three years.
What Financial Benefits Are Available to Delaware Veterans?
There are several financial benefits offered to resident veterans by the state of Delaware, including tax exemptions on certain military pay, relief funds for veterans facing economic hardship, and compensation for disabilities or injuries veterans may suffer in the line of duty.
Delaware Veteran Income Tax Exemptions
Veterans who are Delaware residents often qualify for tax exemptions on specific forms of military pay, including:
- Income Tax Exemptions for Military Retirement Pay – Up to $12,500 of military retirement pay (and Survivor Benefit Plan payments) is excluded from Delaware income tax.
- Income Tax Exemptions for Military Disability Retirement Pay – Delaware veterans receiving military disability retirement pay due to a service-connected condition should exclude these payments from their taxable income. This includes disability compensation, disability pension payments, and more.
- Income Tax Exemptions for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation – Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a monetary benefit paid to the survivors of a servicemember who was killed in service or died due to a service-connected condition. DIC is exempt from state income taxes.
Delaware Veterans Trust Fund
The state of Delaware also offers a Veterans Trust Fund to help support veterans facing financial hardship or who are otherwise in need of emergency funds. This fund can be used to pay for housing utilities, medical bills, car payments, rent or mortgage, and more.
To qualify for the Veterans Trust Fund, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident of Delaware
- Be a veteran who received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions
- Have a documented emergency financial need
- Show that funding will help overcome the emergency and promote future self-sufficiency
Veterans should note that, because the fund relies on donations to replenish itself, approval is not always guaranteed, and allocations can sometimes be limited by how much money is available in the fund when the veteran first applies.
Delaware Veteran Compensation for Injury, Disability, or Death
In addition to the financial benefits mentioned above, Delaware also offers compensation to veterans or their families if a veteran is injured, disabled, or killed during active service. Some of these payments include:
- Delaware National Guard Medical Coverage and Compensation for Illness, Injury, or Death – Per Delaware state law, service members in the Delaware National Guard who become injured, disabled, or die while on active state duty may be eligible for state-awarded medical coverage and compensation either for themselves or their survivors. The payment amount for this compensation will vary depending on the severity of the veteran’s disability.
- Delaware National Guard Line of Duty Death Benefit – Under a separate state regulation, service members in the Delaware National Guard who are killed in the line of duty may have their families qualify for additional compensation. This includes $200,000 paid in $40,000 annual installments, health insurance coverage for surviving children, and four-year college tuition payments so those children can attend a college or university.
- Delaware Pension Benefits for Paraplegic Veterans – Delaware also offers a $3,000 annual pension for resident veterans who can prove that they are paraplegic and completely disabled due to a service-connected condition. This $3,000 is paid out in equal monthly installments throughout the year.
Other Financial Benefits for Delaware Veterans
Besides each of the benefits listed above, Delaware also offers a few more minor benefits for resident veterans and active duty service members living in the state. These include:
- Free notary service – The headquarters for Delaware’s Office of Veterans Services provides free notary services for veterans, their dependents, or families.
- Car registration fee waiver for nonresident service members – Active duty service members stationed in Delaware—as well as their dependents—may be eligible for exemptions from car registration fees. This is the result of a Delaware policy to make transitioning into the state easier for service members.
- Car registration fee waiver for disabled veterans – Some disabled veterans are eligible for “adaptive equipment” benefits to modify their automobile to accommodate their disability. Under Delaware law, these veterans may be exempt from paying registration fees for that automobile.
What Delaware State Veterans Benefits Are There for Education?
Delaware offers substantial educational benefits to the dependents of veterans and to veterans serving in the Delaware National Guard. These benefits include tuition waivers for colleges, as well as programs designed to ease the transition of military children into and across Delaware schools.
Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others
One of the scholarships Delaware offers is called Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others. This scholarship pays for all tuition and fees so that the qualifying child of a veteran can attend college at a Delaware university for no cost.
For a student to qualify, they must be a resident of Delaware for three or more consecutive years prior to applying for the scholarship. They must also be the child of a veteran or service member who:
- Is or was declared missing in action
- Is or was held as a prisoner of war (POW)
- Is deceased, and whose cause of death was service related
Notably, while this scholarship is intended to pay for a student’s education at a public Delaware university, this does not need to be the case. If no public university in the state offers the student’s preferred program of study, then the scholarship can be applied to a private college instead. If no universities in the state offer the program of study, then the scholarship will even pay for the student to attend an out of state university.
Delaware National Guard Tuition Assistance
The Delaware National Guard offers tuition assistance for any of its members who are in good standing and who apply. This tuition assistance pays for up to 100 percent of a student’s tuition at public Delaware universities, making it much easier for members to earn associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, or a certificate of their choice.
To qualify for this tuition assistance, a member of the Delaware National Guard must:
- First, apply and utilize all other reasonably available tuition assistance programs.
- Agree to serve in a satisfactory manner for a period of six years in the Delaware National Guard.
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 GPA scale, or its equivalent.
- And more
Importantly, this assistance can also be applied to private schools within Delaware. However, in those cases, students may only be reimbursed up to the average in-state school per credit hour rate.
While this assistance can be used to obtain a master’s degree, graduate students will only be reimbursed if funding still exists after that year’s undergraduates have all been paid.
Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3)
The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) is an interstate organization dedicated to addressing some of the educational challenges encountered by children of military veterans.
Since military service often requires frequent relocation, many children of service members and veterans find themselves shuffled between several different school systems, each with their own requirements for enrollment, placement, and graduation.
To help these students successfully transition between state and local school systems, MIC3 performs the following functions:
- Helping ensure proper course placement at a student’s new school
- Facilitating the transfer of course records
- Waiving certain graduation requirements so that newly-transferred students can still graduate on time
- Working with school districts to allow newly transferred students to participate in extracurricular activities
- And more
What Delaware State Veterans Benefits Are There for Employment?
Delaware offers several prominent employment benefits for resident veterans, both to accelerate the professional licensing process in the state and to provide hiring preferences for positions in the state government.
Delaware Veterans Hiring Preference
Per Delaware state law, qualified veterans and military spouses who apply for positions in the state government are often eligible for hiring preferences. These preferences take the form of an additional 5 to 10 points being added to the applicant’s passing score on their state entrance exam.
Under this preference policy, the following veterans and spouses are eligible to have 5 points added to their passing exam score:
- Former active members of the U.S. Military, National Guard, or reserves who received an honorable discharge or other than dishonorable discharge.
- Active or honorably discharged members of the Delaware National Guard or a reserve unit located within Delaware who have given at least 20 years of service.
- Spouses of military veterans who:
- Would have qualified for the hiring preference by falling under one of the groups listed above, but have since died, and their spouse has not remarried; OR
- Would have qualified for the hiring preference based on the criteria listed above, but have a service-connected disability; OR
- At the time of application, they were declared missing in action, captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or otherwise forcibly detained by a foreign government or power for more than 90 days.
Notably, honorably discharged veterans or active reserve component members with at least 20 years of service and a service-connected disability may instead qualify for a 10-point addition to their passing exam score.
Delaware Veterans’ Opportunity Tax Credit
The Veterans’ Opportunity Tax Credit is a Delaware initiative intended to grant employers in the state more incentive to hire veterans. Under this policy, if a Delaware employer hires a veteran who has served in an overseas conflict since 2001, they will be eligible to receive a tax credit of 10 percent of that veteran’s wages, up to a maximum of $1,500.
This tax credit is able to be claimed for the first year the veteran has been hired, as well as an additional two years afterward.
Veteran Benefits for Occupational Licensing in Delaware
Delaware offers several means by which a veteran or their spouse can more easily obtain or maintain a professional license in the state. Some of these methods include:
- Provisional Licenses for Veterans and Spouses – For service members and their spouses who possess professional licenses in other states, Delaware permits them to apply for a temporary, six-month provisional license while their main license application is processed.
- Continuation of Professional License for Active Service members – For service members who are actively deployed, Delaware will allow their state professional license to remain valid for the duration of their deployment, so long as the service member continues to meet all license requirements and regulations.
- Military Education, Training, or Experience (METE) – Delaware also allows eligible service members and veterans to use their military education, training, and experience (METE) to potentially qualify for licensure before the state’s professional licensing boards.
- Heroes on the Highway – Under Delaware’s Heroes on the Highway program, eligible active and recently discharged veterans can qualify to have some of the requirements waived for obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in the state. The application for this program requires the veteran to have experience operating trucks or heavy-duty equipment in the military.
Delaware Veterans Employment Services
In addition to the benefits listed above, the state of Delaware also offers several programs and initiatives designed to assist veterans in gaining employment within the state. Some of these resources include:
- Delaware Bets on Vets – Delaware Bets on Vets is a program run by the state’s Office of Veterans’ Services. It aims to help veterans transition from the military to careers in the state government, for which they typically have 1,500+ openings.
- Delaware Joining Forces (DJF) – The Delaware Joining Forces (DJF) network is a community organization created to help improve the quality of life of veterans and their families throughout the state. It works with various other Delaware organizations and service providers to provide employment assistance, job training, and other services to resident veterans.
- Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) – Veteran Service Officers, or VSOs, are professionals within Delaware’s Office of Veterans Services trained to help veterans navigate the network of benefits and resources available to them on a state and federal level. VSOs can guide Delaware veterans in improving their employability and securing the education or training they need to enter the workforce.
What Delaware State Veterans Benefits Are There for Recreation?
There are several recreational benefits available to Delaware service members and veterans looking to hunt, fish, or visit state-run museums and parks.
Hunting and Fishing Discounts and Exemptions for Delaware Veterans
When it comes to hunting and fishing, Delaware offers several license discounts and exemptions to resident veterans and service members stationed in the state. These exemptions include:
- Discounted Hunting Licenses for Active Duty Personnel – Nonresident active duty military service members who are stationed in Delaware may be eligible to purchase state hunting and fishing licenses at the price of a state resident.
- One-Time License Exemption for Post-9/11 Veterans – Delaware residents who served 90 or more days during Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom may be eligible for a free one-time hunting license for 12 months following the date of their honorable discharge or removal from active service.
- License Exemption for Disabled Veterans – Veterans rated as 60 percent or more disabled by VA may be exempt from paying for a hunting or fishing license in the state of Delaware.
- Additional Exemptions for Veterans – Other veterans who may be exempt from paying for hunting or fishing licenses include:
- A current service member who is a patient in a military hospital and who submits a written statement signed by their commanding officer certifying their disability and place of station.
- A veteran who is a patient at any Veterans Administration facility in Delaware.
- A veteran who is being treated in a public hospital or sanatorium for tuberculosis.
- A veteran who is a patient at a rehabilitation hospital under the State Department of Health, provided they carry identification that verifies their status as a patient.
Free and Discounted Park Passes for Delaware Veterans
In addition to hunting and fishing licenses, Delaware also offers free and discounted state park passes for eligible veterans and servicemembers living in the state. These passes include:
- Discounted Park Pass for Resident Veterans – Eligible veterans who are residents of Delaware may qualify for the Delaware Military Pass, a state park pass that can be purchased at a 50 percent discount to the standard rate for nonveterans.
- Discounted Park Pass for Nonresident Servicemembers – Active duty military personnel stationed in Delaware may qualify for the Out-of-State Military Vehicle Pass, a state park pass available at half the cost of a civilian out-of-state pass.
- No-Cost Park Pass for Post-9/11 Veterans – Resident veterans who served during Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom may qualify for a no-cost park pass that can be issued for 12 months following the date of their honorable discharge or removal from active service.
What Delaware State Veterans Benefits Are There for Burial?
For resident veterans who have passed, Delaware offers several benefits to ensure they and their families are honored and have access to a dignified resting place. The burial benefits for Delaware veterans include:
- State Veterans Memorial Cemeteries – Delaware veterans who were honorably discharged are qualified for burial in one of the state’s two veterans memorial cemeteries: one in Bear, and the other in Millsboro. This burial comes with a government headstone or marker, grave opening/closing, and more, all at no cost. Eligible spouses and dependent children may also qualify for burial on memorial cemetery grounds.
- Military Funeral Honors and Burial Support – Delaware veterans who have passed away may be eligible for military honors to be conducted at their funeral. To request these honors, survivors of deceased veterans may have to reach out to veterans service officers (VSOs) working for Delaware’s Office of Veterans Services.
- Free Death Certificate for Next-of-Kin – Proof of a veteran’s death is often necessary to settle their affairs, apply for VA death benefits, and more. To help ease the burden of a veteran’s passing, Delaware offers one certified death certificate to the veteran’s next-of-kin at no cost. This certificate may need to be requested from the State Registrar’s office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are veterans exempt from taxes in Delaware?
Yes, in Delaware, qualifying resident veterans and survivors may be exempt from specific kinds of taxes, including:
- Income tax on military retirement pay
- Income tax on military disability retirement pay and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
- School district property tax for a veteran’s primary residence, provided they meet eligibility criteria
Does Delaware have hiring preferences for veterans?
Yes, Delaware does have hiring preferences for qualifying veterans and spouses who apply to positions in the state government. These preferences take the form of a bonus 5 to 10 points being added to the applicant’s passing score on their state entrance exam.
To qualify for a 5-point bonus to one’s passing exam score, applicants must be one of the following:
- Former active members of the U.S. Military, National Guard, or reserves who received an honorable discharge or other than dishonorable discharge.
- Active or honorably discharged members of the Delaware National Guard or a reserve unit located within Delaware who have given at least 20 years of service.
- Spouses of military veterans who:
- Would have qualified for the hiring preference by falling under one of the groups listed above, but have since died, and their spouse has not remarried; OR
- Would have qualified for the hiring preference based on the criteria listed above, but have a service-connected disability; OR
- At the time of application, were declared missing in action, captured in the line of duty by a hostile force, or otherwise forcibly detained by a foreign government or power for more than 90 days.
On the other hand, to qualify for the 10-point bonus, a veteran must be honorably discharged or an active reserve component member with at least 20 years of service and a service-connected disability.
Can I receive VA disability for toxins I was exposed to in Delaware?
Yes, you may be able to.
Service members stationed in Delaware at sites like Dover Air Force Base or Duncan Armory AASF may have been exposed to toxins like hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, or PFAS. These toxins have been linked to the development of a range of negative conditions, including:
- Cancer
- Liver damage
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Thyroid disease
- Respiratory issues
- And more
If you are a veteran who believes a toxic exposure you suffered during your military service may have led to your current disability, you may be eligible for compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Need Help Earning Your Benefits? Contact CCK Law
If you are a Delaware veteran who was denied disability benefits by VA, then the accredited representatives at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick may be able to help. Our team of attorneys has represented over 18,000 disabled veterans before VA and has secured favorable outcomes for 99 percent of these clients; we have also represented more than 18,000 veterans or dependents before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, with a 91 percent win rate. While we cannot legally promise similar outcomes, our deep experience and resources should improve your chances of getting all the benefits you have earned by law.
Call CCK Law today at (800) 544-9144 or contact us online for a free evaluation of your case.
