Ohio State Veterans Benefits

The State of Ohio offers educational, financial, and job-related benefits for veterans and military service members, in addition to what the VA provides.

Financial Assistance

Certain veterans are eligible for a bonus or financial assistance through various Ohio state programs.

Ohio Veterans Bonus

Veterans and military service members who have served more than 90 days' active duty in the Persian Gulf, Iraq, or Afghanistan wars and haven't received an other than honorable discharge may receive a cash bonus. Applicants must have been Ohio residents at the time of entry into service and at the time of application. Those who are eligible can receive $100 for each month on active duty, up to a maximum of $1,000. Visit veteransbonus.ohio.gov/odvs_web/ for more information.

Military Injury Relief Fund

Ohio's Military Injury Relief Fund provides injured service members one-time financial payments. To be eligible, you must have been injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation New Dawn. Covered injuries include physical injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Apply for financial assistance at your county's Veterans Service Office. Find out more at jfs.ohio.gov/veterans/new/mirf.stm.

County Veterans Service Offices

Each veterans service office provides short-term financial assistance to veterans and their spouses and children and their families. They may also be able to provide you with transportation to VA medical appointments. Contact your local Veterans Service Office for more information by visiting www.ohiovet.gov.

Educational Benefits

Ohio veterans' dependents are eligible for tuition assistance under the following two programs.

Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund

The children and spouses of military service members who were killed during active duty during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom are eligible for a tuition waiver at a participating Ohio college or school. To be eligible, you must live in Ohio and not be eligible for the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship. For more information, visit www.ohiohighered.org/safety-officers-college-fund.

Ohio War Orphans Scholarship

The children of severely disabled or deceased veterans who served during declared war or conflict are eligible for tuition assistance at an eligible Ohio college or University through the Ohio War Orphans Scholarship program. Only those who live in Ohio are and under 25 qualify for this scholarship. For more information, visit www.ohiohighered.org/ohio-war-orphans.

Help Finding Employment

Veteran employment services are provided at OhioMeansJobs Workforce Centers throughout Ohio counties. OhioMeansJobs also provides job listings and training workshops. OhioMeansVeteranJobs is a component of OhioMeansJobs that allows employers to search veterans' resumes. You can contact OhioMeansJob at 888-2WORK-41, or go to www.ohiomeansveteranjobs.com.

The Ohio Veterans Career Assistance Network is job search service that provides veterans with information about employers who are friendly to veterans and the military. Visit www.ohiovetscan.com for more information.

Veterans representatives at county workforce centers can advise veterans on additional employment rights; visit jfs.ohio.gov/veterans/locate/index.stm for a list of veterans representatives in your county.

Home Loans

These state programs in Ohio help veterans buy homes and keep the homes they already own.

Ohio Heroes Program

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency has a first-time home buyer program that offers a lower interest rate for veterans and active service members. To qualify, your income and the sales price of the house must be below a certain amount.

Mortgage Assistance

The Ohio Hardest-Hit Fund (HHF) Program helps Ohio veterans and others with their monthly mortgage payments. Visit www.savethedream.ohio.gov for more information.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

Ohio's Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans with low incomes to pay their utility bills. Veterans must have income at 175% of the federal poverty level or less. To find out more, visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov.

Other Ohio Veterans Benefits

Other benefits include eligible for the Ohio veterans home, burial benefits, specially designated license plates, free hunting licenses, behavioral health services, free legal services, and more. Here are two helpful programs.

Ohio Cares

Ohio Cares supplements VA health care by providing alcohol, drug, and mental health services to returning Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom veterans. Visit www.ohiocares.ohio.gov for more information.

Patriot Program

The Patriot Program provides fee legal services active duty military service members and their families. Legal help is available for powers of attorney, living wills, wills, and issues under the Service Members Civil Relief Act and the Uniform Services Employment and Re-employment Act. Visit www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/ServicesforVeterans.aspx for more information.

Also, visit Nolo's section on VA benefits to learn about benefits from the federal government.