Summary: Oregon offers special benefits for its military service members and veterans including, State Employment Preferences, Education and Tuition Assistance, Vehicle Tags, Special Access Pass for Veterans with disabilities and Active Military on Leave, as well as Hunting and Fishing License privileges. Eligibility for some benefits may depend on residency, military component and veteran disability status.
State Benefit Highlights and Eligibility
State Taxes:
State Tax Advantage: None
Retired Military Pay: Retired military personnel may be able to subtract some or all of their federal pension income. This includes benefits paid to the retiree or to the surviving spouse. For more information, contact the Oregon Department of Revenue.
Military Disability Retired Pay: Disability Portion depends on Length of Service Pay; Member on September 24, 1975 - No tax; Not Member on September 24, 1975 - Taxed, unless combat incurred. Retired Pay - Based solely on disability: Member on September 24, 1975 - No tax; Not Member on September 24, 1975 - Taxed, unless all pay based on disability and disability resulted from armed conflict, extra-hazardous service, simulated war, or an instrumentality of war.
VA Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: Not subject to federal or state taxes
Disabled War Veteran or Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption: Disabled war veterans or surviving spouses of a war veterans may be entitled to exempt $15,450 or $18,540 of the homestead property's assessed value from property taxes. The exemption amount increases by 3 percent each year. The exemption is first applied to the home and then to taxable personal property.
Eligibility: A disabled war veteran or the non-remarried surviving spouse of a war veteran who is officially certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the United States Armed Forces and must own and live on their homestead property.
Education Benefits:
Veterans Education Program: Educational benefits for Oregon veterans to pursue an approved course of study or professional training in or in connection with any accredited state or other public school or accredited private school or accredited college. Benefits are paid for as many months as the veteran spent in active service, up to a maximum of 36 months. Eligible veterans are entitled to receive up to $150 per month. Other educational programs available at http://www.oregon.gov/ODVA/Education.shtml
Eligibility: Active Duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for not less than 90 days and; released from military service under honorable conditions and; is a resident of Oregon when applying for State Educational Aid and; is a citizen of the U.S. and; served during the Korean War (June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955) or after June 30, 1958. .
Veterans Loan Repayment: Will repay student loans up to $10,000.
Eligibility: Army Reserves and National Guard Member.
Employment Benefits:
Oregon Veterans Preference Points on Civil Service Examinations: All State of Oregon agencies apply Veteran Preference Points in accordance with ORS 408.230 and 408.235. Veterans seeking employment should use the State of Oregon jobs homepage located at www.oregonjobs.org. Federal job opportunities are listed on www.usajobs.gov. An Oregon veteran must provide appropriate documentation to qualify for these additional preference points. Preference points are awarded to eligible veterans with additional preference for disabled veterans seeking employment with all state aagencies and are awarded as follows:
- A five (5) point preference for eligible Veterans.
Eligibility: Application is made within 15 years of discharge or release from service in the Armed Forces.
- A ten (10) point preference for Service-Connected Disabled Veterans. Elligibility: Application is made throughout the lifetime of the disabled veteran.
Oregon Veterans Employment Rights: Enforced by the United States Department of Labor, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA protects all members of the uniformed services from discrimination in employment regardless of whether their uniformed service was in the past, present or future.
Eligibility: Veterans who have been discharged from serving in any component of active military service.
HireVetsFirst: Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER) and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists (DVOP) assist Veterans in applying for federal, state and local government employment. The State of Oregon offers an array of services for employment assistance for eligible veterans, including: job search workshops, resume/application assistance, referrals to jobs, training, apprenticeships, vocational guidance, tax credit eligibility determination, job development and more.
Eligibility: Contact 503-947-1845 for elgibility questions and concerns.
Employment Assistance: State employees receive 15 calendar days of military leave each year.
Eligibility: National Guard service member.
Special Vehicle License Plates:
Oregon Veteran Recognition License Plates: Veterans may purchase a license plate set displaying the word VETERAN for a $10 surcharge in addition to normal fees from a local Oregon Division of Motor Vehicles office.
Eligibility: Proof of honorable military service is required. The $10 surcharge goes to the support of the Oregon Veterans´ Home Trust.
National Guard Plate: No additional fees other than regular plate fees.
Eligibility: National Guard service member and certificate of eligibility required when submitting DMV application.
Disabled Veteran: Issued to disabled veterans who have a service-connected disability. Does not, in itself, grant special parking privileges. No additional fees other than regular plate fees or replacement plate fees.
Eligibility: A disabled veteran whose disability results from causes connected with service in the Armed Forces of the United States and has been a member of and discharged or released under honorable conditions and whose service was for not less than 90 consecutive days or who was discharged or released on account of a service-connected injury or illness prior to the completion of the minimum period of service.
Ex-POW Plate Tag: Issued to persons qualifying as former Prisoners of War. Does not, in itself, grant special parking privileges. No additional fees other than regular plate fees or replacement plate fees (if applicable).
Eligibility: Must have been a Prisoner of War to be eligible for POW Tag. Proof of POW status must be provided before plates can be issued.
Purple Heart Tag: $10.00 per two-year period Purple Heart Tags for those wounded in action. Fee goes to Department of Oregon Military Order of Purple Heart.
Eligibility: Must be wounded-in-action to be eligible for Purple Heart plate. Proof of Purple Heart award must be provided before plates can be issued.
Gold Star Family: $10.00 per two-year period with additional fee going to Vietnam Veterans of America, Oregon State Council. Eligibility: Must be parent, spouse or dependent of a person who was killed in action during an armed conflict while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Congressional Medal of Honor: Custom plate fee of $50 per two year period which supports the Oregon passenger rail programs. Eligibility: Available only to veterans who have been awarded withe Congressional Medal of Honor. Proof of eligibility is letter from US Dept of Veterans' Affairs certifying award of the medal.
Non-Commission Officers Association: $10.00 fee per two year period with fees going to NCOA Oregon State Advisory Council Chapter 1300. Eligibility: No restrictions.
Vietnam Veterans of America: $10.00 fee per two-year period with fees going to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Oregon State Council. Eligibility: No restrictions.
Health and Insurance Benefits:
Injury and Death Benefits: State worker's compensation
Eligibility: National Guard State Active Duty and state military employee.
Injury: Worker's Compensation
Eligibility: National Guard State Active Duty and state military employee.
Hunting and Fishing Licenses:
Hunting and Fishing Privileges: A free lifetime Oregon hunting and angling license.
Eligibility: Adisabled veterans with a service connected disability of 25% or more and an Oregon resident of more than 6 months.
Disabilities Permit for Hunting and Fishing: The free and permanent disabilities permit is not a licence or a tag. Veterans must also obtain a Permanent Combination Licence.
Eligibility: Available to disabled veterans rated at 65% or more with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Application requires proof in the form of a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The letter must state the veterans service-connected disability percentage.
Miscellaneous Benefits:
Burial and End of Life: Veterans with a discharge other than dishonorable, their spouses and dependent children can be buried in a national cemetery.
Veteran Burial Benefits: Burial benefits include a gravesite in national cemeteries with available space, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a Government headstone or marker, a burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost to the family. Some veterans may also be eligible for Burial Allowances. Contact 1-800-452-7500 for additional questions.
Special Access Pass for Veterans with Disabilities and Active Military on Leave: The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department offers free camping and day-use to veterans with a service-connected disability, in honor of their sacrifice and service. You may camp for free in a tent or RV site for 5 days at a time in a single state park, and 10 days in all state parks in a month. If you stay longer than 5 days at a park, you will need to pay the going rate for the extra days. The fee waiver does not cover yurts, cabins or other special park features.
Eligibility: Apply for a pass with verification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stating the veteran has a service-connected disability. Leave papers issued to active duty personnel by the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard or National Guard. Personnel on leave should present a copy of DA Form 31 (for everyone but the Coast Guard), or CG-2519 (for Active Duty Coast Guard). State parks only, county, federal and state campgrounds operated by other agencies will still charge you a fee. The pass is valid for four years.
Oregon Veterans High School Diploma: A school district may issue diplomas under ORS 332.114 to veterans who did not graduate from a high school because they were serving in a war with the U.S. Armed Forces. Diplomas can also be issued to a representative of a deceased veteran.
Oregon's Veteran's Home: Known as "The place where honor lives." the Oregon Veterans' Home is a skilled nursing care facility for Oregon veterans, their spouses or surviving spouses, and parents all of whose children died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The 151-bed long term-care facility provides skilled nursing, Alzheimers and other dementia and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care. The Oregon Veterans' Home information number is 1-800-846-8460.
Eligibility: A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces as defined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) discharged under honorable conditions or the spouse, or surviving spouse as defined by the USDVA or a parent, all of whose children died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Oregon Conservatorship Program: Estate and financial management program for certain veterans, dependents and survivors. Managing the financial affairs of these protected persons helps meet their current and future needs. Most of the clients have disabilities such as schizophrenia, head injury and Alzheimer's disease that can negatively affect judgement and reasoning abilities. They are also easy targets for unscrupulous people who take advantage of them financially.
Home Loans: The Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs Home Loan Program provides low-interest home purchase and home improvement loans to eligible veterans, in accordance with Oregon's Constitution and other applicable laws. The maximum loan amount for veterans is presently $417,000 (effective January 2, 2006). In some cases we can loan up to 100 percent of the appraised property value. Interest rates generally run about one percent below market.
Eligibility: To be eligible, the veteran must be honorably discharged who served at least 210 consecutive days on active duty for purposes other than training, unless discharged due to a service-connected injury. If honorably discharged and has less than the above mentioned 210 consecutive days of active duty service, the veteran may still qualify if served in a theater of operations for which a campaign or expeditionary ribbon or medal is authorized by the United States.
Home Improvement Loans: Home improvement loans are available with no loan fee. Minimal costs include escrow closing and title fees.
Eligibility: To be eligible, the veteran must be honorably discharged and have served at least 210 consecutive days on active duty for purposes other than training, unless discharged due to a service-connected injury. If honorably discharged and has less than the above mentioned 210 consecutive days of active duty service, the veteran may still qualify if served in a theater of operations for which a campaign or expeditionary ribbon or medal is authorized by the United States. Terms, conditions, and eligible improvements relating to the Home Improvement Loan are contained in www.leg.ORS406 or us/ors.406.html
Veterans' Emergency Financial Assistance Program (OVEFAP): This program is for Oregon veterans and their immediate family (spouse, unremarried surviving spouse, child, or stepchild) who are in need of emergency financial assistance.
Oregon Public Records: A program to provide free certified copies of Oregon marriage, death, divorce, and birth records for VA claims purposes. County clerks will record a veterans´ discharge papers (DD Form 214) and provide copies of recorded documents free of charge.
Eligibility: Veterans who have been discharged from serving in any component.
Jury Duty: Exempt from jury duty.
Eligibility: National Guard service member.
Federal Credit Union: Membership in the Federal Credit Union.
Eligibility: National Guard service member.
Legislation: Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 408 and Administration rules are located in chapter 274.
Military Installations and Veterans Affairs Facilities in Oregon
Active Duty:
No active duty Army, Navy, Air Force or Marine Corps installations are located in Oregon.
U.S. Coast Guard Group/Air Station Astoria:
http://www.uscg.mil/d13/units/gruastoria/
Located in Warrenton, Oregon; Services available include ID cards and DEERS enrollment, medical and dental facility, a Coast Guard main exchange which includes a small commissary, gas station, and a morale locker that rents equipment.
National Guard:
Oregon Military Department: http://www.mil.state.or.us/
Oregon Army National Guard: http://www.orng-vet.org/
Oregon Air National Guard: http://www.orport.ang.af.mil/
Kingsley Field AGS: Air National Guard airport: http://www.orklam.ang.af.mil/index.asp
United States Army Reserve (USAR):
Regional Readiness Command (RRC) Headquarters, 70th RRC: http://www.armyreserve.army.mil/USARC/RRC/0070RRC
Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Facilities in Oregon:
VA Medical Centers
Portland: Portland VA Medical Center
Roseburg: VA Roseburg Healthcare System
Domiciliary
White City:VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center & Clinics
Community Based Outpatient Clinic
Bandon: Bandon Clinic
Bend: Bend Clinic
Brookings: Brookings Clinic
Eugene: Eugene Clinic
Klamath Falls: Klamath Falls
Ontario: Ontario Oregon CBOC
Portland: Portland West Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC)
Salem: Salem Clinic
Warrenton: Camp Rilea Clinic
VA NW Health Network VISN
Portland: VISN 20: Northwest Network
Resources
Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 408
http://education.military.com/money-for-school/state-veteran-benefits-pacific#Oregon
www.oregon.gov/ODVA/
http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/vehicle/platevet.shtml
http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/PERTAX/docs/101-657.pdf
http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/PERTAX/military-faq.shtml
http://www.retirementliving.com/RLstate3.html#OREGON
Document Review Date: 22 Jan 2008
