Louisiana Veteran Financial Benefits
Exemption of Military Retirement Pay from State Tax:
Louisiana does not tax military retirement pay. While Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions are subject to state tax, no state or local taxes are withheld when funds are withdrawn. TSP distributions are reported yearly on IRS Form 1099-R, and early withdrawals may result in increased tax liabilities.
Tax Break on Active Duty Military Pay:
Louisiana residents in active-duty service with the U.S. Armed Forces stationed outside the state for 120 consecutive days or more may qualify for a state income tax exemption of up to $50,000 of their military earnings.
Combat and Hazardous Duty Pay Exclusions:
Military income excluded from federal tax—such as combat or hazardous duty pay—is also not taxed at the state level in Louisiana.
Disability Retirement Pay from the VA:
Income received through Military Disability Retirement Pay—such as pensions or similar allowances for injuries or illnesses tied to active service—is exempt from Louisiana state income tax. Eligible payments include:
- VA disability compensation or pension to Veterans or their dependents
- Grants for specially adapted housing
- Financial assistance for adapted vehicles (e.g., for Veterans who lost limbs or sight)
- Dependent-care program benefits
Tax Exemption for VA DIC Payments:
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), a benefit awarded to survivors of fallen Service members or Veterans who passed away due to service-connected conditions, is exempt from Louisiana income tax.
State Tax Exclusion for Survivor Benefit Programs:
Annuities from the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component SBP (RCSBP), and Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) are all tax-free under Louisiana state law.
Property Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans and Their Spouses:
In addition to the standard $7,500 homestead exemption, disabled Veterans may qualify for further property tax relief based on their VA disability rating:
- 100% service-connected disability or total unemployability: Fully exempt from all ad valorem taxes
- 70–99% disability rating: Additional $4,500 exemption
- 50–69% disability rating: Additional $2,500 exemption
Surviving spouses of eligible Veterans may also qualify for the exemption, provided they live on and own the property.
Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Fallen Service Members:
Unremarried spouses of Service members (including Louisiana National Guard) who died while on active duty may be exempt from all ad valorem taxes. If they relocate, the exemption applies to the new property but only up to the amount of the original exemption.
Veterans or spouses should contact their Parish Tax Assessor for details on how to apply.
Special Assessment Level for Eligible Veterans and Spouses:
This provision allows qualifying individuals to freeze the assessed value of their home (not the actual tax bill), helping limit increases in property tax due to rising property value. Taxes could still change based on local rates or home modifications. To be eligible, the applicant must have an adjusted gross income below the parish-defined limit and fall under one of the following:
- A Veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or higher
- A surviving spouse who is either 45+ years old or has minor children
- A spouse of a Service member missing in action or held as a POW for over 90 days
- A surviving spouse of a Service member killed in action
Louisiana Sales Tax Overview:
- Statewide Base Rate: 4.45%
- Local (Parish) Taxes: Up to an additional 7.00%
- Combined Average Rate: Approximately 9.55%
Recreation
Louisiana Hunting, Fishing, and State Park Benefits for Veterans and Service Members
Free Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Louisiana Disabled Veterans:
Louisiana residents who are Veterans with a permanent service-connected disability rating of 50% or greater from the VA are entitled to free recreational hunting and fishing licenses. These licenses cover both Basic and Saltwater Fishing, along with Basic, Deer, Waterfowl, and Turkey Hunting, plus access to Wildlife Management Areas.
Resident-Rate Licenses for Nonresident Active Duty and Their Families:
Active duty Service members stationed in Louisiana — along with their dependents — who are not residents may obtain hunting and fishing licenses at the same cost as residents. A valid military ID is required when purchasing these licenses. While hunting or fishing, both the license and military/dependent ID must be carried. These privileges apply only during the Service member’s active duty period.
Resident License Pricing for Purple Heart Recipients:
Nonresident individuals who have received the Purple Heart are eligible to buy hunting and fishing licenses at resident prices. Applicants must provide documentation such as a DD214 or any official proof of their Purple Heart award.
Discounted Licenses for Louisiana Retired Service Members:
Louisiana residents or those born in the state who are retired from active duty or reserve military service can purchase a combined hunting and fishing license for only $20. Applicants must submit the following:
- For residents: A Louisiana driver’s license or state ID issued at least six months before applying, along with a retired military ID.
- For nonresidents: A certified Louisiana birth certificate, a valid driver’s license, and their retired military ID card.
Special License for Surviving Spouses:
Surviving spouses of Service members who were killed in action or died while serving in a combat zone may qualify for a discounted “Resident Disabled/Special Needs License” priced at $4. This license includes all basic hunting and fishing privileges plus access to Wildlife Management Areas. To apply, the spouse must have resided in Louisiana continuously for at least six months and provide the following:
- DD1300 (Report of Casualty)
- Death certificate
- Valid Louisiana ID or driver’s license
Louisiana State Parks Veteran Benefits:
Free Entry for Disabled Veterans:
Veterans with qualifying disabilities can receive a free State Parks Permit, allowing them and their vehicle occupants to enter Louisiana State Parks at no cost. Applications are handled through local parish Veterans Service Offices.
50% Entry Discount for Active Duty and One Family Member:
Service members on active duty can enjoy half-off admission to any Louisiana state park, historic site, or world heritage site, including one accompanying immediate family member. Military ID is required.
15% Discount on Rentals for Service Members and Retirees:
Active duty, reserve, and retired members of the U.S. military receive 15% off all rentable facilities in Louisiana’s state parks. A valid military ID must be shown to receive this benefit.
Louisiana Military & Veteran Miscellaneous Benefits
Military Family Assistance Fund (MFA):
The MFA offers financial assistance to Louisiana-based Service members, Veterans, and their families facing economic hardship. Support can be applied to critical needs such as housing, utilities, healthcare, and other essential living expenses. Eligible applicants may receive up to $10,000 within a 12-month period.
Who Can Qualify?
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a resident of Louisiana
- Be either:
- An active member in good standing of the Louisiana National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserves, or
- A U.S. Armed Forces Veteran with an Honorable or Under Honorable Conditions discharge (DD214 and/or NGB22 required)
AND meet one of the following:- Completed 24 consecutive months of active duty (excluding training)
- Served a minimum of 90 days on active duty and received an Early or Hardship discharge under Title 10 U.S.C. 1171 or 1173
- Has a service-connected disability and is receiving VA compensation
- Was discharged before completing 90 days of service due to a service-connected disability
Free Recording of Military Discharges:
Louisiana Clerks of Court offer complimentary recording of honorable discharge documents. Once filed, these records remain confidential and can only be accessed by the Veteran or a designated representative. After the Veteran’s passing, the records may be released to the estate executor, surviving spouse, or a family member with proper proof of death.
Toll and Parking Waivers for National Guard and Disabled Veterans:
Service members in the Louisiana National Guard wearing uniform and traveling under official orders are exempt from tolls and parking fees on ferries and bridges while conducting official duties.
Similarly, disabled Veterans operating personal vehicles are exempt from tolls and parking charges for ferries, bridges, and state-operated parking facilities. Note: These exemptions do not apply to Crescent City Connection bridges.
Education Programs
Louisiana Education Benefits for Dependents and Spouses of Veterans
Louisiana offers financial educational support to eligible children and surviving spouses of qualifying Veterans who are residents of the state. Those who meet the criteria can attend a Louisiana public college, university, vocational, or technical school without paying tuition or school-mandated fees. However, student-imposed fees must still be paid. The benefit covers four years of education, which must be completed within a five-year timeframe.
Eligibility Requirements:
To qualify, the Veteran must meet one of the following conditions:
- Died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces
- Passed away due to a service-connected disability during wartime
- Listed as missing in action or held as a prisoner of war
- Be a living Veteran with a VA disability rating of 90% or greater or considered unemployable (only children qualify in this case)
Additional residency requirements apply:
- Deceased Veterans must have resided in Louisiana for at least 12 months before entering military service
- Living Veterans must have been Louisiana residents for at least 24 months prior to the child’s enrollment in the educational institution
Surviving spouses must use this benefit within 10 years from the date they became eligible. Children must be between 16 and 25 years old and enrolled full-time.
Louisiana State Tuition Exemption Program (STEP)
This program waives all tuition costs at state-supported colleges and universities in Louisiana for eligible members of the Louisiana National Guard. Service members may use this benefit for up to five academic years or until they earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or professional degree, whichever comes first.
Tuition Residency Status for Service Members, Dependents, and Veterans
Active duty military personnel stationed in Louisiana, along with their dependents, are considered residents for tuition purposes at public institutions in the state. Dependents of Service members who are reassigned out of Louisiana retain residency status if they continue their education in the state.
Additionally, Veterans using VA education benefits—or dependents using transferred VA benefits—are also granted in-state tuition as long as they maintain continuous enrollment and live in Louisiana.
Military Interstate Children’s Compact (MIC3)
Louisiana participates in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children, designed to minimize the educational challenges faced by children in military families due to frequent relocations and deployments. The compact ensures:
- Quick enrollment despite delays in transferring school records or differing age/entrance requirements
- Fair placement in courses and programs, avoiding disruptions caused by varying academic standards
- Participation in extracurricular and academic activities
- Timely graduation despite moves
- Consistent data sharing among states, schools, and families
- Coordination with other programs supporting military-connected students
- A collaborative approach between schools, families, and students to support academic success
Louisiana Purple Star School Recognition Program for Military-Connected Schools:
Under a newly approved Senate Resolution, Louisiana has established the Purple Star School Award program to honor schools that go above and beyond in supporting students and families with military ties. This initiative celebrates schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to meeting the needs of children from U.S. Armed Forces families.
To earn the Purple Star designation, a school must designate a trained liaison who understands and addresses the distinct challenges military families face. This liaison also helps inform fellow educators about best practices and available supports for military-connected students. Additionally, qualifying schools are required to maintain a dedicated section on their website that provides resources tailored for military families.
Housing: Below are the locations of Veterans Homes available for eligible individuals.
Louisiana State Veterans Home at Bossier City
Louisiana State Veterans Home at Jackson
Louisiana State Veterans Home at Jennings
Louisiana State Veterans Home at Monroe
Louisiana State Veterans Home at Reserve
Admission Eligibility:
To qualify for care at a Louisiana State Veterans Home, applicants must be Veterans who served at least 90 days of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and received an honorable discharge from their most recent period of service. Veterans who served fewer than 90 days may still qualify if their discharge was due to a service-connected disability. Residency in Louisiana is generally required unless the individual is referred by a Louisiana-based VA Medical Center or an LDVA Counselor.
Additionally, eligible Veterans’ spouses, surviving spouses, and Gold Star Parents may also be considered for admission.
Employment and Job Training Benefits for Louisiana Veterans
Military Leave for State Employees:
Louisiana state employees serving in the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserves are eligible for up to 15 days of paid military leave each calendar year for training or active duty. Upon return, employees are reinstated to their previous roles with no loss of pay, leave, or employment status.
Veterans Employment Services:
Through the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Veterans and eligible spouses can access job search assistance, training referrals, and placement services. They receive priority of service for all workforce programs, meaning they are served before or instead of non-eligible applicants when resources are limited.
DVOP Services for At-Risk Veterans:
Veterans facing significant barriers to employment—such as homelessness, lack of a high school diploma, recent incarceration, or a service-connected disability—may receive specialized assistance from a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialist.
Veterans and Spouse Eligibility for Priority Services:
You qualify for priority service if you are:
- A Veteran with 180+ days of active duty and an other-than-dishonorable discharge
- Discharged for a service-connected disability
- A Reservist called to active duty during a war or campaign
Spouses may qualify if they are: - Surviving spouses of Veterans who died from a service-connected condition
- Spouses of 100% disabled Veterans
- Spouses of Service members MIA, captured, or detained for 90+ days
LAVETBIZ Certification Program:
The Louisiana Veterans Initiative (LAVETBIZ) helps Veteran-owned and service-disabled Veteran-owned small businesses compete for state contracts. Benefits include:
- Visibility to purchasing agents
- Exemption from competitive quotes for purchases under $30,000
- Additional points on state RFP bids (12%)
Eligibility includes: - 51% Veteran ownership
- Louisiana residency
- Fewer than 50 full-time employees
- U.S. citizenship or legal residency
Louisiana Veterans First Business Initiative:
This program highlights businesses that are majority-owned (51%+) by Veterans, active-duty Service members, or surviving spouses. Businesses must be based in Louisiana and owned by Louisiana residents.
State Civil Service Preference:
Veterans and eligible family members may receive 5 or 10 points added to their scores on civil service exams. This applies only to new hires, not promotions.
- 5 Points: Honorably discharged Veterans who served in certain wartime periods
- 10 Points:
- Veterans with service-connected disabilities
- Spouses of disabled Veterans
- Un-remarried surviving spouses or parents of fallen Service members
Civil Service Exam Waiver:
Veterans meeting job qualifications may be appointed to state positions without taking the civil service exam.
Reemployment Rights:
Louisiana state employees called to military service are guaranteed reemployment upon return, with the same seniority, pay, and benefits, provided they received an honorable discharge.
Professional Licensing Support:
Louisiana licensing boards may:
- Count military training toward licensure
- Grant licenses to Veterans and military spouses with valid out-of-state licenses
- Issue temporary licenses for faster employment
Federal Veterans Hiring Preference:
Veterans may be eligible for additional points in the federal hiring process:
- 5 Points for qualifying active-duty service
- 10 Points for service-connected disabilities or Purple Heart recipients
- 10 Points Derived Preference for certain spouses, surviving spouses, and parents of disabled or deceased Veterans
USERRA Protections:
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects Service members’ civilian job rights:
- Up to 5 years of job-protected leave for military duty
- Reemployment with same seniority and benefits
- Reasonable accommodations for service-connected disabilities
- Health and pension coverage continuation
- Eligibility applies to Reservists, National Guard members, and Veterans returning from active duty
- The Department of Labor (VETS) assists with USERRA claims, including for federal employees
Burials and Memorials
It’s important to have your wishes regarding burial in a national cemetery and the use of a VA-provided headstone clearly documented and stored alongside your essential records and medical documents. The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) honors eligible Veterans and their families by offering a dignified final resting place and a lasting tribute in recognition of their service to the nation.
Veteran burial benefits include a gravesite in a VA national cemetery (subject to availability), opening and closing of the grave, ongoing site maintenance, a government-issued headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate—all provided at no cost to the family. Certain Veterans may also qualify for a burial allowance. Whether cremated or casketed, remains receive equal respect and honor during interment or inurnment.
Eligible spouses and dependents may also receive burial benefits, including placement with the Veteran and perpetual gravesite care. Their names and dates of birth and death are engraved on the Veteran’s headstone at no charge. Notably, spouses and dependents may be laid to rest even if they pass before the Veteran, and interment does not have to occur in the same cemetery as the Veteran.
National Cemeteries include:
Baton Rouge: Baton Rouge National Cemetery
Pineville: Alexandria National Cemetery
Zachary: Louisiana National Cemetery
Zachary: Port Hudson National Cemetery
Louisiana Veteran Benefit Resources
Veterans in Louisiana have access to a Regional VA Benefits Office as well as VA Medical Centers across the state.
Louisiana VA Regional Benefits Office
- New Orleans: New Orleans Regional Office
Louisiana VA Medical Centers
- New Orleans: Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
- Pineville: Alexandria VA Health Care System
- Shreveport: Overton Brooks VA Medical Center
- Shreveport: Shreveport
Key Information on Louisiana Veteran Benefits
Veterans applying for VA benefits in Louisiana for the first time are required to submit a copy of their DD 214 (discharge document), which outlines essential details such as discharge classification, full name, Social Security number, branch of service, and service dates. Most VA benefits are available to those who received an honorable or general discharge.
It’s crucial to store your discharge paperwork and medical records in a secure, accessible location for both you and your family. Using a safe or similarly protected area is highly recommended to prevent damage or loss.
Eligibility for the majority of VA benefits depends on separation from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable. Active duty includes full-time service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer in agencies such as the Public Health Service, Environmental Services Administration, or NOAA.
Veterans discharged with a “Dishonorable” status due to a general court-martial conviction may be disqualified from receiving VA benefits. However, incarcerated Veterans and those on parole may still be eligible for select benefits. Local VA offices can help determine eligibility in cases involving incarceration or multiple discharges with varied conditions.
Information current as of November 2023.
Louisiana Benefits for Veterans
Disabled Veterans in Louisiana with a VA disability rating of 90% or lower may be entitled to further benefits. Reach out to Vital Veterans Consultants for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation. Our team can assess your claim to see if you’re eligible for more support.
