North Dakota veterans benefits

A homestead property tax credit for disabled veterans (or their qualifying surviving spouse) with a service-connected disability of 50% or greater. The credit reduces the taxable value of the homestead in proportion to the disability rating, applied to the first $9,000 of taxable value. A 100% disabled veteran (or one paid at the 100% rate via individual unemployability/extra-schedular rating) gets the full $9,000 reduction; a 50% veteran gets roughly $4,500. A surviving spouse receiving VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) receives 100% of the credit. Apply to the local assessor/county director of tax equalization by April 1 of the assessment year.

North Dakota exempts military pay from state income tax for active-duty, National Guard, and Reserve members (law signed 2023). Covers federal pay for training, education, mobilization and bonuses, plus state pay when called to state active duty. VA disability compensation is not taxable and is not subject to ND income tax.

For tax years 2019 and later, military retirement benefit payments received by retired U.S. Armed Forces, Reserve, and National Guard members, or their surviving spouses, may be subtracted in full from North Dakota taxable income. The deduction equals the taxable amount of the benefits reported on the federal return, making ND military retirement effectively state-tax-free. No disability rating required.

Dependents (children, stepchildren, spouses, widows/widowers) of a qualifying North Dakota resident veteran may attend a ND state institution of higher education free of tuition and fees toward a certificate or undergraduate/bachelor's degree (excludes aviation flight expenses). The veteran must have been killed in action, died of service-connected causes, been declared 100% totally service-connected disabled (including individual unemployability/extra-schedular 100%), declared MIA, or been a POW. The veteran must meet ND resident-veteran requirements.

Members in good standing of the North Dakota National Guard can receive up to 35% of tuition costs waived at participating ND institutions (Bismarck State College, UND, NDSU, Minot State, Dickinson State, Valley City State, Williston State, and others, including some private/tribal colleges). Based on Guard membership, not a disability rating.

North Dakota grants veterans hiring preference over other applicants in state/governmental recruitment and selection (veteran must be a U.S. citizen at time of application). In competitive systems, eligible veterans receive 5 points added to their exam score (on a 100-point scale), and disabled veterans receive 10 points. In non-competitive systems, qualified disabled veterans are hired before other veterans/spouses, who in turn are hired before non-veterans.

Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability (or extra-schedular rating including individual unemployability that brings the total disability rating to 100%) may display a DAV license plate. There is no annual license/registration fee for DAV plates, and the veteran is exempt from motor vehicle excise tax on up to two vehicles registered with the DAV plate. Plates cannot be used on vehicles with gross weight at/over 26,000 lbs. An unremarried surviving spouse receiving VA DIC retains the exemption for one vehicle.

A ND-resident veteran with a 50% or greater service-related disability qualifies for a reduced-fee fishing license at $10 (vs. the standard resident fishing license of $27), plus the $2 Fishing/Hunting/Furbearer Certificate. This discount applies to fishing; the Game and Fish resident page does not list a comparable reduced-rate disabled-veteran hunting license.

ND-resident veterans with a 50% or greater service-connected disability and former POWs are eligible for a free lifetime state park permit. All other ND-resident veterans with a service-connected disability may purchase a discounted annual permit for $28 (vs. standard rates). Proof required: VA Summary of Benefits letter, or a ND DAV/POW license plate. ND residents only.

The NDDVA IMPACT Hardship Assistance Grant provides financial support to ND veterans and their families facing urgent, unexpected need. Eligibility is based on veteran status, ND residency, income/asset limits, and documented hardship. Per the NDDVA, the grant provides up to $5,000 per calendar year with a $7,000 lifetime maximum. Apply through a County Veterans Service Officer.

State veterans home in Lisbon offering skilled nursing (52 beds) and basic care (98 beds) to honorably discharged veterans and their spouses. Applicant must be a bona fide ND resident before application (residency may be waived if the veteran served in a ND regiment or was accredited to the state). Veterans whose last service period ended under dishonorable conditions are ineligible; applicants with alcohol/substance abuse diagnosis need 9-12 months documented sobriety.