The State of Maine offers quite a few types of veterans benefits in addition to what veterans can get from the VA.
Children and spouses of certain disabled or deceased veterans can receive a tuition waiver to attend a college or vocational school financed by the State of Maine, including the University of Maine, the Maine Maritime Academy, and Maine Community Colleges. The veteran must have lived in Maine when he or she entered service or lived in Maine for five years before the dependent applies for the tution waiver. In addition, the veteran must:
For more information, go to the Veterans Dependents Educational Benefits Program.
Disabled veterans or veterans over age 61 may be eligible to receive a tax exemption on up to $6,000 worth of property. The veteran must be a resident of Maine and must either be 100% disabled with a service-connection, be totally disabled and receiving VA pension, or be 62 or older. Veterans who are paraplegic can receive an exemption of up to $50,000 for a specially adapted housing unit. Surviving spouses and minor children are also eligible for the exemption.
In addition, the veteran must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions and must have:
For more information, go to the Maine Revenue Services website.
The Finance Authority of Maine provides loan insurance for veterans starting their own business; the veteran must obtain the loan from another source.
The State of Maine operates veterans homes in Augusta, Bangor, Scarborough, Caribou, Machias, and South Paris. The state pays veterans home residents a generous daily stipend to help mitigate long-term care costs, which can be used to pay for Medicare payments, cost-share for private insurance, and out-of-pocket expenses for private pay residents.
To be eligible, a veteran must have served at least one day of active duty and must have been discharged under honorable conditions. In addition, the veteran must live in Maine or have lived in Maine when he or she entered the service.
Maine has veterans cemeteries in Augusta, Springvale, and Caribou. Veterans and their spouses (and minor or disabled children) can be buried there free of charge. To be eligible, the veteran must have received an honorable discharge or a discharge under honorable conditions.
Veterans who live in Maine are eligible for special license plates designated with one of the following:
Veterans who live in Maine are also eligible for free state park passes as well as educational, health, and employment support from the VA.
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