Source: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2012/rpt/2012-R-0380.htm
Timestamp: 2017-01-17 08:51:04
Document Index: 440758895

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 12', '§ 12', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 10', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§ 7', '§ 5', '§ 7', '§14', '§ 14', '§ 14', '§ 14', '§ 14', '§ 14', '§ 1', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 27', '§ 20', '§ 20', '§ 21', '§ 21', '§ 45', '§ 7', '§ 27', '§ 8', '§ 23']

SUMMARY OF VETERANS' BENEFITS
Location:STATE AID; VETERANS; Scope:Connecticut laws/regulations; Program Description; August 21, 2012
2012-R-0380
This report summarizes benefits available to veterans under state law. Not all provisions of the pertinent laws are included. For further information on programs and eligibility requirements, veterans may contact the state Veterans' Department Office of Advocacy and Assistance at 1-800-447-0961 and visit the Veterans' Department website: www.state.ct.us/ctva/.
Veterans honorably discharged or released from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for a range of benefits under state law. These include admission to the state Veterans' Home and burial in the state veterans' cemetery. Veterans who served during wartime, as defined in law, are eligible for additional benefits. These include local property tax exemptions, tuition waivers at the state's public colleges and universities, and financial aid from the Soldiers,' Sailors' and Marines' Fund. Benefits are not given automatically. The veteran or his or her qualified dependent (usually surviving spouse or dependent child or children) must claim them. To make a claim, the veteran must document eligibility by submitting appropriate documentation such as a Department of Defense document (DD 214), Report of Separation, or Certificate of Service. To be eligible for war service benefits, a veteran must have at least 90 days of service during or in statutorily specified wars, operations, or conflicts unless he or she (1) was separated from service earlier because of a Veterans' Administration (VA)- service-connected disability or (2) served for the duration of a military operation that lasted less than 90 days. Table 1 shows the post-1940 qualifying war periods for purposes of state veterans' benefits. Table 2 summarizes the benefits.
Table 1: Post-1940 “Service in Time of War” Operation
**Ending dates specified in CGS § 12-86 for property tax exemptions. TABLE 2: STATE VETERANS' BENEFITS
Minimum $1,500 property tax exemption; additional amounts depend on income, disability, and other factors CGS § 12-81(19)). (For details of the property tax exemption program, see the Office of Policy and Management Q&A Booklet). War service and residency
Tuition waiver at the state public colleges and universities (CGS §§ 10a-77(d), -99(d), and -105(e)). (For more information on the tuition waiver program and waiver conditions and coverage, visit http://www.ctohe.org/edinfo/pdfs/VeteransTuitionWaiver.pdf.).
War service and residency when accepted for admission at institution
Local or regional school boards may award high school diplomas to certain honorably discharged veterans who did not receive their diplomas because they left high school for military service (CGS § 10-221a(i)).
World War II or Korea service Education Assistance
Up to $400 per year in need-based aid for 16- to 23-year-old veteran's child at state college, vocational school or technical institute, or accredited military preparatory school for tuition, matriculation fees, room and board, and supplies (CGS § 10a-166). Veteran (1) was killed in action or died from an illness or accident while on active duty or (2) is totally and permanently disabled; need; and residency HEALTH
Veterans' Home Admission
Admission to state Veterans' Home (CGS §§ 27-108 & 27-103(b)).
Honorable discharge or release
Depleted Uranium Exposure Tests
The adjutant general and veterans' affairs commissioner must help veterans get federal treatment services, including a best practice health screening test for exposure to depleted uranium (DU), if they (1) are assigned a risk level I, II, or III for depleted uranium exposure by their branch of service; (2) are referred by a military physician; or (3) have reason to believe they were exposed to DU during military service (CGS § 27-140ii).
Service in Persian Gulf War or combat zone during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom
Soldiers,' Sailors' and Marines' Fund Aid
Food, clothing, medical aid, general care and relief, and burial expenses (CGS § 27-138, et. seq.). (For more information, contact the Soldiers', Sailors' and Marines' Fund.) War service, need, and residency Commissioner's Aid Temporary assistance for an amount and time the veterans' affairs commissioner determines (CGS § 27-125).
War service, need, and state citizenship EMPLOYMENT
Civil Service Examination Bonus Points
Bonus points on state and municipal civil service examinations. A wartime veteran eligible for or receiving VA disability compensation or pension, and unable to pursue gainful employment because of the disability, receives 10 bonus points; wartime veteran ineligible for VA disability compensation or pension is eligible for five bonus points (CGS §§ 5-224 and 7-415).
An honorably discharged or released veteran who received or is entitled to receive a campaign badge or expeditionary medal and is not otherwise eligible to receive bonus points is also eligible for five bonus points (CGS § 5-224).
War service and passing examination score
Members of the Municipal Employees' Retirement System who leave employment to enter the armed forces while the United States is at war or engaged in hostilities, or during national emergencies, and are reemployed by the municipality within six months of discharge, are credited with the period of service as though they had been continuously employed. The six months may be extended in cases of a service-related disability (CGS § 7-434).
Wartime veterans who become members of the State Employees' Retirement System or Teachers' Retirement System may purchase retirement credit for time of service. Veterans purchasing teachers' retirement credit may not be receiving or eligible to receive retirement credit for service from any other government source (CGS §§ 5-180 & 10-183e(b)(3) and (11)).
War service or service during war national emergencies
War or peace service
Municipal employers must reinstate an employee who left service of a political subdivision to enter the armed forces to his or her former position if he or she applies within 90 days after receiving a certificate confirming satisfactory military service (CGS § 7-462).
Discharge from satisfactory military service
The Department of Transportation must set aside at least 30% of air traffic noise mitigation projects or contracts for war service veterans. It can award the contracts to eligible veterans or to businesses that employ them (PA 12-138).
War service and appropriate certification in weatherization and insulation techniques
Vehicle registration fee exemptions for up to three vehicles in the (1) passenger; (2) camper; or (3) combination passenger and commercial registration categories, whether owned or leased (CGS §§14-49(o). Former prisoners of war (POWs) and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients are eligible for registration fee exemptions for up to two vehicles. Surviving spouses may keep the exemption for life or until they remarry (CGS § 14-21d).
War service and certain certified, VA-rated service-connected disabilities War service (see Benefit Detail)
Free Special Disabled Veteran License Plate
Free special license plates for disabled veterans; vehicle displaying such plates may park in the same spot for up 24 hours without incurring a penalty (CGS § 14-254).
War service and certain certified, VA-rated service-connected disability Fee Exemption for Motor Vehicle Registration
A veteran who applies within two years of discharge from active service is exempt from paying motor vehicle operator's license or registration fees, including renewal fees, for one licensing period (CGS § 14-50 (c)).
Honorable discharge or release and residency
Waiver of License Examination
DMV commissioner may waive motor vehicle license examination for veteran who, while in the service, held a military operator's license for vehicle of same class for which he or she is applying for a license and applies within two years of separation from service (CGS § 14-36(e)).
Special Veterans' License Plate
Any type of motor vehicle owned or leased by a veteran or his or her surviving spouse for one year or longer qualifies for special veterans' license plates. The fee is set by the commissioner and is in addition to the registration fee (CGS § 14-20b).
Honorable discharge or release State Identification Card Waiver Fee For Blind Veterans
DMV commissioner may waive the $22.50 non-driver identification card fee for blind veterans (CGS § 1-1h, as amended by PA 11-197).
Veteran and one spouse eligible for burial in state veterans' cemetery (CGS § 27-122b).
Veteran entitled to honor guard detail at funeral (CGS § 27-76).
Wartime Service Medal or Ribbons
Veteran entitled to service medal or ribbon issued by the VA commissioner (CGS § 27-73e).
War service and resident when called to active duty or domiciled in the state on the date of the award OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE
Free License Reinstatement
Waiver of reinstatement fee for hairdressing or cosmetology license that expired while veteran was in service (CGS § 20-256).
Funeral Director License Examination Fee Waiver
Waiver of examination required for reinstating embalmer or funeral director's license or registration that expired while veteran was in service, provided the (1) veteran applies upon separation from active duty or within one year after separation or discharge and (2) Department of Public Health approves the veteran's professional qualifications (CGS § 20-228).
Honorable discharge or release Hawker and Peddler Fee Exemptions
Free town hawker and peddler permit (CGS § 21-37).
War service and residency
Itinerant Vendor Permit Fee Exemptions
Free local itinerant vendor's license (CGS § 21-30).
War service and residency SERVICES
Free certified copy of probate record to determine a veteran's eligibility for VA benefits (CGS § 45a-12).
Death Certificate Fee Waiver
One free certified copy of a veteran's death certificate when the deceased veteran's spouse, child, or parent requests a copy (CGS § 7-74, as amended by PA 11-49). Honorable discharge or release
Indigent veterans are eligible for $1,800 from VA commissioner for funeral expenses or cremation (CGS § 27-118).
Veterans get preference in Department of Economic and Community Development-funded low- or moderate-income rental housing project when their housing needs are substantially equal to other applicants' needs (CGS § 8-75).
Free lifetime pass to state parks, forests, and recreational facilities for disabled wartime veterans who live in Connecticut. The pass allows free parking, admission, and boat access parking (CGS § 23-26, as amended by PA 11-68). Honorable discharge or release; residency; and disability, as defined by state or federal law