Oregon State Veterans Benefits

Many veterans are aware of the numerous benefits offered through the federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including disability compensation, mortgage assistance, and reimbursement for educational costs. But fewer vets are aware of the additional benefits provided by their state government that can help cover many of the expenses associated with returning to civilian life.

Veterans living in the state of Oregon should know about the extra benefits provided through the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA) which can help them buy houses, attend college, and find a job. Whether you've been out of the service for many years or you're recently discharged from active duty, it's important to know the full range of ODVA benefits afforded to you and your family so that you can make sure your needs are met well into the future.

What Oregon Veterans Benefits Can I Get From the ODVA?

According to 2023 statistics from the VA, almost 270,000 veterans live in Oregon. These veterans are entitled to a broad range of benefits from the state ODVA in addition to those provided by the national VA, such as dental insurance, scholarships, tax exemptions, specialty license plates, home loans, and recreational discounts. (For information about any resources that aren't addressed in this article, you can contact the ODVA weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.)

Oregon Veteran Dental Program

Proper oral hygiene is a key factor in veterans' well-being. Poor dental health can lead to serious medical issues, and people with visibly damaged or missing teeth often face social stigmas that can limit their job prospects. In order to address these issues, the state of Oregon established a Veteran Dental Program that expanded access to dental care for low-income vets who might not otherwise be able to afford treatment.

You're eligible for the Veteran Dental Program if you live in Oregon, aren't eligible for Medicaid, meet certain service requirements set out in Or. Rev. Stat. § 408.225, and have income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. (Veterans who weren't honorably discharged may still qualify for the program.) To apply, you can create an account at https://one.oregon.gov/ or request a paper application in multiple languages.

State Home Loans for Veterans

Oregon is one of only five states that has a home loan program for veterans. The state offers loans for owner-occupied, single-family primary residences of up to 95% of the purchase price or appraised value of the property (or the current Fannie Mae loan limit, whichever is lesser).

Veterans' eligibility for home loans depends in part on meeting at least one of several preliminary service requirements, outlined below:

• you served at least 178 days consecutive active duty (90 days if your service began on or before January 31, 1955)
• you served less than 178 days of active duty, but you were discharged because of a service-connected disability
• you served less than 178 days of active duty, but you have a disability rating from the VA
• you served one day or more of active duty in a combat zone
• you received a combat, campaign or expeditionary ribbon or medal for your service, or
• you're receiving a VA military pension.

Unless you're qualifying because you get pension from the VA, you'll also have to show that you were released from service under honorable conditions in order to qualify for a home loan. To apply, you'll need to complete the Home Loan Eligibility Form and upload it to ODVA using the agency's secure upload portal. (Remember to select "Secure, ODVA loans" when prompted.) If you'd prefer, you can either fax the application to 503-373-2393 or mail it to the following address:

ORVET Loan Eligibility
700 Summer St. NE
Salem, OR 97301-1285

Don't forget to include your military discharge documents (DD Form 214) along with your application. Once ODVA determines whether you're eligible for the home loan program, they'll send you a letter confirming your eligibility. Then you can work with a local broker or lender to use your home loan benefit for purchasing property.

ODVA Education Benefits

Oregon veterans can take advantage of several state-specific school discounts, tuition waivers, and apprenticeships in addition to more well-known educational VA benefits such as the G.I. Bill. Some major programs provided or funded by the state of Oregon include:

• Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance (ONGSTA), which provides 100% funding for tuition at the state residency rate to eligible Oregon Army and Air National Guard members at Oregon public universities and community colleges.
• Veterans Educational Bridge Grants that provide up to $5,000 to eligible veterans who need help completing their academic programs on time.
• Apprenticeship placement and training for veterans provided by the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI).

Major public institutions of higher education such as the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and Oregon Health and Sciences University offer tuition waivers for eligible dependents of veterans. Furthermore, veterans who were unable to finish their high school education because they enlisted in the military may request that their school district award them a diploma. Or. Rev. Stat. § 332.114.

Oregon Veteran License Plates

The Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers specialized license plates to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain veterans' relatives. You can request a plate that displays your branch of service, medals you've been awarded, whether you have a permanent disability, or organizations that support veterans like Gold Star Families.

You can view the catalog of license plates to see what your options are. When you're ready to apply, make sure you have all the required title documents and bring them with you to your local DMV office. If you just need to renew or replace your plates, you may be able to do this using the DMV's online service center. Check the special background fee chart so you'll know how much you'll have to pay.

Veterans Preference Points

Oregon law requires that state employers give veterans who meet minimum qualifications "preference points" when hiring positions for state, city, county and local governments. At each stage of the hiring process, veterans are entitled to 5 percentage points and disabled veterans are entitled to 10 percentage points. Here's an example of how hiring preference works:

For more information on preference points (or if you think your rights as a veteran have been violated during the hiring process), visit the BOLI page on veterans preference. Keep in mind that while preference points only apply to public employers, many private companies and nonprofit organizations encourage veterans to submit job applications.

Additional Information for Oregon Veterans

You can complete ODVA's online Veterans Services Outreach Form to request additional information about benefits or get connected with a representative from a nearby veterans service office. For an overview of the resources available from the VA, check out our catalog of articles on federal veterans benefits and assistance for disabled veterans.