Military Veterans Bonuses By State

Table of Contents

1. Military Veterans Bonuses Listed By State
2. Illinois Military Veterans Bonus
1. Illinois Veterans Bonus – WWII Vets
2. Illinois Veterans Bonus – Korea, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Vets
3. How to Apply for the Illinois Military Veterans Bonus
3. Massachusetts Military Veterans Bonuses
1. Massachusetts Military Veterans Bonus Eligibility Requirements
2. How to Claim the Massachusetts Military Veterans Bonus
4. New Hampshire Military Veterans Bonus
1. New Hampshire Veterans Bonus Eligibility Requirements
2. How to Claim New Hampshire Military Veterans Bonus
5. Ohio Veterans Bonus Program Details
1. Who is Eligible for the Ohio Veterans Bonus Program?
2. How to Claim the Ohio Veterans Bonus
3. Please help spread the word
6. Pennsylvania Military Veterans Bonus
1. Pennsylvania Military Veterans Bonus Eligibility Requirements
2. How to Claim the Pennsylvania Military Veterans Bonus
7. South Dakota Veterans Bonus
8. West Virginia Veterans Bonus
1. West Virginia Veterans Bonus Eligibility Requirements
2. West Virginia Veterans Bonus Deadlines
3. How to Claim West Virginia Veterans Bonus

Did you know several states offer a military veterans bonus? Most of the state veterans bonuses are offered to military veterans who joined the military from that specific state and served during a time of war or a named military campaign.

Not all states offer a veterans bonus, and each state sets specific eligibility requirements.

For example, most states require the veteran was a legal state resident at the time they joined the military. Some states require the veteran was a resident for a certain amount of time before joining the military. Other requirements include serving during specific dates or during specific conflicts, or having a military discharge rating above a set level (for example, some states do not offer a bonus to a veteran with a dishonorable discharge).

Military Veterans Bonuses Listed By State

The following states have a military veterans bonus:

• Illinois
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota
• West Virginia

Illinois Military Veterans Bonus

The State of Illinois is offering bonuses to veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The state is offering several types of cash bonuses depending on the veteran’s dates of service.

Illinois Veterans Bonus – WWII Vets

For veterans of World War II, a bonus payment of $10 per month for those serving domestically and a $15 payment per month for service on foreign soil is payable to veterans that were residents of Illinois at the time of entering service, who have served at least 60 days on active duty between the dates of September 16, 1940, and September 3, 1945, and who received an honorable discharge.

Survivors of veterans are entitled to receive a one-time benefit of $1,000 if the veteran died as a result of service-related reasons during the specified time period.

Illinois Veterans Bonus – Korea, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Vets

For veterans serving during the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf conflicts, a cash bonus in the amount of $100 is payable to service members who served during any of the following time periods:

• Korea – June 27, 1950 – July 27, 1953
• Vietnam – January 1, 1961 – March 28, 1973
• Vietnam Frequent Wind – April 29 – April 30, 1975
• Persian Gulf – August 2, 1990 – November 30, 1995

Service members who are interested in claiming the bonus payments must have been a resident of Illinois for 12 months immediately prior to entering the service, having received an honorable discharge, and must have also received one or more of the following medals:

• Korean Service Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Era
• Southwest Asia Service Medal

Individuals that are currently serving in an active duty capacity who also served in the Persian Gulf are eligible to apply for the bonus before being discharged from service.

Survivors Compensation. Survivors of military members killed in battle or by terrorist activities while performing military duties are entitled to a payment of $1,000 if the veteran’s death occurred in the periods specified above. Residency of 1 year in Illinois prior to entering military service is required, as is a separate application.

POW Compensation. Persons on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or employed by the United States Government on, or after, January 1, 1961, who were residents of Illinois 12 months prior to entry, and who were taken and held prisoner by hostile forces in Southwest Asia, are entitled to $50 for each month or portion thereof while being held captive.

How to Apply for the Illinois Military Veterans Bonus

Applicants can download an application at the Illinois State website or contact the Illinois Department of Veteran’s Affairs, PO Box 19432, 833 South Spring Street, Springfield, IL 62794-9432. Applications should be completed in its entirety and mailed to the Illinois Department of Veteran’s Affairs along with a photocopy of the applicant’s separation or discharge documents.

See the official at the Illinois Department of Veteran’s Affairs website.

Massachusetts Military Veterans Bonuses

Veterans who lived in the state of Massachusetts immediately prior to entry in the armed forces or deployment may be eligible for a Massachusetts Military Veterans Bonus. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides these bonuses to veterans or in the case of a deceased veteran, their surviving spouse, children, parents, siblings or other dependents who would also be eligible to receive the bonus. Surviving family members would be granted the eligible bonus in the order which they appeared above.

The bonuses that veterans may be eligible for include the following bonuses: World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, and the Welcome Home Bonus. The following information applies to veterans who served in any of the above-mentioned wars or conflicts.

Massachusetts Military Veterans Bonus Eligibility Requirements

• World War II: Veterans who meet the definition of a Massachusetts Veteran (as amended by the Acts of 2005) may be eligible for three separate bonuses. A $100 bonus for veterans who served in active duty from one day to six months, $200 for veterans who performed stateside service for six or more months, and $300 for those who performed foreign service. More information.
• Korean War: Veterans who meet the definition of a Massachusetts Veteran (as amended by Acts of 2005) may be eligible for three separate bonuses. A $100 bonus for servicemembers who performed 90 days stateside, $200 for veterans who performed six months or more, and $300 for any servicemember serving one or more days outside the continental US. More information.
• Vietnam War: To receive the $200 Vietnam War Veterans Bonus, servicemembers must have performed active duty between July 1, 1958, and May 16, 1975. This bonus is rewarded to those who served for six months or more. Vietnam veterans who served on duty in Vietnam will receive a $300 bonus. More information.
• Persian Gulf War: Servicemembers who served between August 2, 1990, and April 10, 1991, for thirty or more days are eligible for the Persian Gulf War Veterans Bonus. Those called to duty in areas other than the Persian Gulf receive $300. Veterans who were called to duty and served in the Persian Gulf (war zone or surrounding waters) who have also received the Southwest Asia Service Medal will receive $500. More information.
• Welcome Home Bonus: To be eligible for the Welcome Home Bonus, veterans must have resided in the state of Massachusetts for at least six months prior to joining the armed forces beginning on September 11, 2001. Those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan will receive $1,000; those who served stateside or outside the continental limits of the US for six months or more of active duty will receive $500. More information.

Veterans who are not eligible: Veterans who have received a dishonorable discharge or those that do not meet the requirements above will not be eligible to receive the specified bonus. If the veteran is ineligible, surviving beneficiaries would also be ineligible.

How to Claim the Massachusetts Military Veterans Bonus

How To Claim the Veterans Bonus. For veterans or surviving relatives interested in claiming a Massachusetts Veterans Bonus, applications are available online at the Treasurer’s website. To contact the Treasurer, individuals may use the following address for all bonuses listed here:

Office of the Treasurer
One Ashburton Place, 12th Floor
Boston, MA 02108

The telephone number to call for the World War II Bonus is 617-367-3900, extension 308. For the Korean War Bonus or Vietnam War Bonus, call 617-367-3900, ext 208. Those calling in reference to the Welcome Home Bonus can call 617-367-9333, ext 350.

For Persian Gulf veterans only:
Veterans’ Bonus Division, Department of Veterans’ Services
600 Washington Street, Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 210-5927
www.mass.gov/veterans
Email: [email protected]

Applicants and their relatives may be required to provide proof of residency or next of kin documentation or certain service records to prove eligibility.

New Hampshire Military Veterans Bonus

New Hampshire offers veterans of the Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War and the Global War on Terrorism a $100 bonus if eligibility requirements are met.

The state previously offered veteran bonuses to those who served in World War II and the Korean Conflict, however, those programs have been expired for almost forty years now.

New Hampshire Veterans Bonus Eligibility Requirements

Here we will look at the eligibility requirements for those veterans still active or who served in recent conflicts. To qualify for the New Hampshire Veterans Bonuses, military members must have been a bona fide resident of the state at the time they began active duty.

New Hampshire Military Veterans Bonus – Vietnam Service. It appears Vietnam veterans who have not made a claim for the $100 bonus can still do so, however, claims made today must be approved by the Adjutant General, Governor, and Executive Council. To be eligible for the Vietnam Veterans Bonus, service members must have served between July 1, 1958, and August 5, 1964, receiving the Vietnam Service Medal or Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

New Hampshire Military Veterans Bonus – Persian Gulf. To qualify for the Persian Gulf War Bonus, service members must have actively served between the dates of August 2, 1990, and November 30, 1995, earning the Southwest Asia Service Medal. This program expired on August 31, 2002, however service members who did not claim this bonus from another state and are otherwise eligible may fall within provisions that allow acceptance after this date.

New Hampshire Military Veterans Bonus – GWOT. The Global War on Terrorism Operations Service Bonus is available to individuals who actively serviced on or after September 11, 2001, up until a date that has not yet been determined by the Secretary of Defense. Service members earning the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign, or Iraq Campaign Medal qualify for this bonus as long as they meet other conditions. This program expired on June 11, 2009, but like other War bonuses, there are provisions that allow service members to submit applications after this date.

To be eligible for any of the New Hampshire state Veteran Bonuses, service members must have been discharged from duty in an honorable condition and have been a resident of the state at the time they were called into active duty for a current or recent conflict listed above. You will need to provide a copy of your military discharge paperwork, DD Form 214.

How to Claim New Hampshire Military Veterans Bonus

For more information on the Veterans Bonuses available through the state of New Hampshire, living veterans, as well as surviving relatives of veterans KIA, are encouraged to contact the State Office of Veterans Services for the state of New Hampshire. You may do so on their website, via telephone at 603-624-9230, or by mail at 275 Chestnut Street, Room 517, Manchester, NH 03101.

Ohio Veterans Bonus Program Details

Ohio recently created a Veterans Bonus Program to thank Ohio Veterans who served during periods of conflict. Eligible veterans serving on active duty (except active duty for training) anywhere in the world during the specified dates may receive $50 a month up to a maximum bonus of $500.

Eligible veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, or Iraq during certain dates may receive a $100 bonus for each month they served in those locations, up to a maximum of $1,000.

An eligible veteran may combine their service bonuses for a maximum payment of $1,500.

Who is Eligible for the Ohio Veterans Bonus Program?

Ohio veterans may be eligible for the bonuses if they served on active duty in the US armed forces, including those who served in the Ohio National Guard, if they served in the specified locations during specific time periods for reasons other than training (information about eligible locations and dates is below).

To be eligible, applicants must have been legal residents in Ohio when they went on active duty and must be Ohio residents when they apply for the bonus.

To be eligible for the Ohio Veterans Program Bonus:

• The veteran must have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions.
• The veteran remains on active duty service.
• After active duty service, the veteran remains in any reserve component of the armed forces, including the Ohio National Guard.

Eligible Service Dates and Locations

Eligible veterans may receive $100 for each month of active duty service in the following locations during these specified dates:

• Persian Gulf: Between August 2, 1990, and March 3, 1991, the date when Iraq accepted the conditions for a permanent cease-fire. Eligible veterans can apply for a bonus until December 31, 2013.
• Afghanistan: Since October 7, 2001. Eligible veterans can apply for a bonus for up to three years after the President declares an end to U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.
• Iraq: Since March 19, 2003. Eligible veterans can apply for a bonus for up to three years after the president declares an end to U.S. involvement in Iraq.

The maximum benefit for service in those three areas is $1,000.

Eligible veterans may also apply for a $50 bonus per month they served during these time periods if they served anywhere else in the world. The maximum bonus under these provisions is $500 and the bonuses may be combined for a maximum of $1500.

How to Claim the Ohio Veterans Bonus

To apply for the bonus, applicants should go to veteransbonus.ohio.gov, and complete the online application. You may also visit a public library if you do not have internet access or visit your local Ohio County Veterans Service Office for assistance.

The application must be signed, notarized, and mailed. The final application must be printed, signed, and notarized or acknowledged before it will be accepted. Mail your application to Ohio Veterans Bonus, P.O. Box 373 Sandusky, Ohio 44871.

The estimated processing time for Ohio Veterans Bonus Program applications is approximately eight weeks, depending on the volume of applications initially received.

Applicants with specific questions can call 1 -877-OHIO-VET or go online at veteransbonus.ohio.gov.

Please help spread the word

Please forward this information to any Ohio veterans you may know. Those who have been separated from the military for several years may not be aware of this benefit.

Pennsylvania Military Veterans Bonus

Pennsylvania offers a military veterans bonus for state residents who served in the Persian Gulf during specified dates. This bonus was enacted on April 24, 2006, when Governor Edward Rendell signed the Persian Gulf Veterans’ Benefit Act into law.

The bond issue created a fund to pay compensation to eligible current and former members of the US Armed Forces, Pennsylvania National Guard, or members of the Reserves. The bonus is $75 per month of eligible service (or prorated basis for a fraction of a month).

Pennsylvania Military Veterans Bonus Eligibility Requirements

Pennsylvania residents who served in the Armed Forces, including active duty, Guard, and Reserves, in the Middle East in support of the Persian Gulf conflict may be eligible for the Persian Gulf Veteran’s Benefit Program. Eligible members must have served anytime from August 2, 1990, to August 31, 1991, and must have been awarded the Southwest Asia Service Medal. Veterans must either still be on active duty or have received an Honorable Discharge to be eligible for this award.

Veterans who are not eligible: Service members, veterans or their surviving beneficiaries may not be eligible for the Persian Gulf Veteran’s Benefit Program, if they have received a bonus, gratuity, or similar form of compensation from another state if the service member or veteran has renounced his or her US citizenship, or separated from the armed forces under less than honorable conditions.

Survivors claims. Surviving relatives may also be eligible for this bonus if the military veteran is deceased or is deemed incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction. Eligible beneficiaries of deceased veterans include, in the following in order of precedence:

• Surviving spouse.
• Surviving children.
• Surviving parents.

If declared incompetent, the order of precedence is Court-appointed guardian, spouse, children, parents, facility.

How to Claim the Pennsylvania Military Veterans Bonus

Veterans and military members must provide documentation to prove they received the Southwest Asia Service Medal and were Pennsylvania residents at the time they were awarded this medal.

Required information:

• Proof of Southwest Asia Medal: Member 4 copy of your DD Form 214 documenting your receipt of the Southwest Asia Service Medal during specified time periods and discharge under Honorable Conditions. If still active duty, must show official documentation proving receipt of Southwest Asia Service Medal.
• Proof of Pennsylvania Residency at Time of Award. Proof of residency can include listing Pennsylvania as the home of record on D Form 214, voter’s registration records, Leave and Earnings Statements, State tax return, driver’s license from the specified time period, or W2 Wage and tax statement from the time frame.
• Proof of relationship if claiming on behalf of another individual. Documents could include a marriage certificate (for spouse to make claim), birth certificate (for child to make claim), veteran’s birth certificate (for parents to make claim), or a Proof or authorization for a representative to make a claim.
• Other: Death certificate, if applicable, or DD 1300 or Veterans Affairs Rating Decision if applicable.

Application form: Applications for the Persian Gulf Veteran’s Benefit Program must be made on an official application form, PG-1. A short form (PG-1 Short) is available for veterans filing on their own behalf, of a long version (PG-1 Long) is available for persons filing on behalf of a veteran who is deceased or incapacitated. You can find these forms at the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs application page.

Deadline for claim: Applications for the Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans’ Benefit Program must be submitted by August 31, 2015.

Completed applications and supporting documents should be mailed to:

Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans’ Benefit Program
PO Box 1109
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1109

For more information: Please contact a representative during hours of operation: 9 am to 5 pm — Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans Benefit Program at 1-866-458-9182 (toll-free) or visit the Pennsylvania Persian Gulf Veterans Bonus Program website.

South Dakota Veterans Bonus

South Dakota has established a program for members of the military who are legal residents of the state.

South Dakota is paying a bonus of up to $500 for select active members an honorably discharged veterans of the Armed Forces who meet the membership criteria.

Military members must have been a resident of the state for no less than six months preceding their period of active service and who served during one or more of the following time periods:

• August 2, 1990 – March 3, 1991: all active service qualifies for payment
• March 4, 1991 – December 31, 1992: service must have been a hostile area that qualified for the Southwest Asia Service Medal qualifies for bonus payment.
• January 1, 1993 – September 10, 2001: service must have been in a hostile area which qualified for any US campaign or service medal awarded for combat operations against hostile forces qualifies for the bonus payment.
• September 11, 2001 – (end date to be determined) – all active service qualifies for the bonus payment.

Additionally, any Veteran with qualifying service before December 31, 1992, during Desert Storm and after January 1, 1993, during Operation Iraqi Freedom may be entitled to receive two separate $500 bonus payments. Veterans who have a service-related disability rated by the Veterans Administration as 10% or more disability will receive the maximum payment of $500. Verification of disability must be provided from the VA along with the application.

Any service member interested in applying for the South Dakota Veterans Bonus must provide the branch of the military along with dates of service on a completed application. Certification of the application must be completed by local County or Tribal Veteran Service Officer. For applicants in other states, a certification must be completed by a Post Service Officer from one of the recognized Veterans Service organizations. All applications must be accompanied by a copy of your DD Form 214, which shows proof of military service.

Interested applicants can obtain an application via email at [email protected], online at the State website. Additionally, applications may be requested by calling 605-773-7251 or via mail by corresponding to SD Veterans Bonus, 425 East Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501.

Applicants living in South Dakota may request an application through the nearest County or Tribal Veterans Service Officer. See the official South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs for more information.

West Virginia Veterans Bonus

The state of West Virginia has historically been a very patriotic state, sending many of their men and women into battle to defend this country.

In 2004, the governor of West Virginia signed into legislation the West Virginia Veterans Bonus Amendment which was approved by the state’s voters.

This made it possible to facilitate paid bonuses to veterans of the state who served in the most recent military conflicts including those in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The West Virginia Veterans Bonus bonuses include $600.00 paid to veterans who served in a combat zone and received a campaign badge or expeditionary medal; a $400.00 bonus for active duty service outside the combat zone for Afghanistan and Iraq during the specified time periods; or $2,000.00 for a surviving spouse or children of a veteran who was KIA during the specified time periods.

West Virginia Veterans Bonus Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for the West Virginia Veterans Bonus, military members must have been “bona fide” residents of the state at the time of and at least six months prior to the time they entered into active duty. Any veteran who was separated from service under dishonorable conditions will not be eligible for the West Virginia Veterans Bonus. Also, any member of the armed forces or reserves who were called to active duty by the President are eligible. For military members KIA, the surviving spouse or children may apply for the bonus.

West Virginia Veterans Bonus Deadlines

Veterans who were serving on active duty in Afghanistan between October 7, 2001, and a date that has yet to be determined can apply for this bonus. The dates for those serving in Iraq began on March 19, 2003, with an end date not yet determined. Veterans who served in Kosovo and received a campaign badge or expeditionary medal for Kosovo between November 20, 1995, and December 31, 2000, are eligible for the veteran’s bonus.

How to Claim West Virginia Veterans Bonus

A surviving spouse or children of a veteran KIA during these periods may request an application for the bonus by calling 1-888-838-2332 or via email at [email protected]. Applications can be mailed to the West Virginia Division of Veterans Affairs, 1321 Plaza East Suite 101, Charleston, WV 25301.

Living veterans of each conflict must fill out forms that vary based on the area in which you served. For more information on which forms must be completed as well as any other documentation required to receive the West Virginia Veterans Bonus, please visit the West Virginia Division of Veteran’s Affairs for more information.

Be sure to include a copy of your DD Form 214 with your application. This form shows proof of military service, campaign medals, and other important information to prove your claim.

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