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Six benefits Utah Veterans can take advantage of right now. Do you know other benefits Utah has to offer?
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Utah’s estimated 136,000 Veterans live amid stunning natural wonders — the Grand Staircase-Escalante, the Grand Canyon and the Wave at Coyote Buttes are just a few of the Beehive state’s picturesque delights. Utah also offers an impressive array of Veterans’ benefits, which may help you live life to the fullest after your military service:
1. Connect with a Utah Veteran service officer (VSO) or outreach representative. Start taking advantage of all that’s available to you by meeting with a VSO or outreach representative. They are trained and accredited to assist you in applying for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Work with a VSO to apply for compensation and pensions, the GI Bill, health care, home loans and more. Among other free services, they help you file appeals for denied claims, seek discharge upgrades and access state-offered benefits (see below).
Learn more: Find a VSO or outreach representative in your area at https://rly.pt/3nZtTQe.
2. Seek legal assistance. As a Utah Veteran or service member, you may receive a referral to free legal assistance or representation through Utah@Ease, a program run by the Office of the Utah Attorney General, the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs and the Utah State Bar. Legal matters covered include issues related to landlords, debt, consumer fraud, predatory lending, immigration, wills and powers of attorney. You must be referred by a VSO or judge advocate.
Learn more: https://rly.pt/39lN5E5.
3. Explore education benefits. Utah offers these education benefits in exchange for military service:
• In-state tuition rates: If you’re a service member assigned to a Utah institution or are a Veteran released from active service within 12 months of attending school, you are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at public degree- and certificate-granting institutions.
• Veterans’ tuition gap: If you’re a Utah resident and Veteran, this program pays for your last year of schooling at a Utah public institution of higher education.
• Purple Heart tuition waiver: If you earned this decoration, pay no tuition at any Utah public institution of higher education.
• Dependents’ tuition waiver: Surviving dependents of service members killed in action or after Sept. 11, 2001, are eligible for a tuition waiver under the Scott Lundell Military Survivors Tuition Waiver program.
• Honorary high school diploma: Veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam who left high school for military service may be eligible for an honorary diploma. Contact the applicable Utah school district for more information.
Learn more: https://rly.pt/3q3N1yo.
4. Look into licensing and recreation benefits. Utah also provides you with these licensing and recreation benefits:
• Accelerated credentialing to employment (ACE). As a Utah Veteran, actively drilling member of the National Guard or reserve or military or Veteran spouse, the ACE program may ease your path to employment through certification or licensure. The program assists you in translating military skills into civilian careers, connects you to programs and services offered by the state Department of Workforce Services and funds short-term training leading to licensure. Details: Learn more and find an ACE specialist near you at https://rly.pt/375vQnH.
• State park pass: If you are Utah resident rated by VA as having a service-connected disability of at least 50%, apply for an Honor Pass, which provides free day-use access to Utah state parks. Details: https://rly.pt/3l9mdcq.
• Recreational hunting and fishing licenses: If you’re a Utah Veteran rated by VA as having a service-connected disability of at least 20%, you may get a discounted hunting, fishing or combination license. Details: https://rly.pt/3pXRC5k.
5. Reduce your property taxes. Utah offers the following ways to reduce your tax burden:
• Property tax abatement: If you are rated by VA as having at least a 10% service-connected disability, you can qualify for a property tax abatement on a home or other personal property such as a motor vehicle. (The amount depends on your VA rating.) You only need to file for the abatement once, and it will renew annually. Surviving spouses who are not remarried and minor dependents may also qualify. Apply with your county treasurer, tax assessor or clerk/recorder. Details: https://rly.pt/39eFtD3.
• Military service tax exemption: In Utah, if you’re performing active duty military service, you are exempt from paying property taxes. Qualifying service is 200 days in a calendar year. Details: https://rly.pt/39eFtD3.
6. Start a business. After the military, you may choose a career in health care, high tech, public service, the service sector or another industry (https://rly.pt/3fGRaUs). Or you can become an entrepreneur. Here are a few resources to get your Veteran-owned business off the ground in Utah:
• Consult with a Utah Small Business Development Center (SBDC). This nationwide business assistance network is partly funded by Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The network (https://rly.pt/33Ldx5F) gives you access to free and at-cost training to start, grow and expand your small business. The Utah Lead Center SBDC (https://utahsbdc.org) and its 11 regional centers provide comprehensive small business outreach and assistance in the areas of business planning, cash-flow management, government contracting, start-up services, tax planning and more.
• Locate other trainings. Also check out SBA’s Boots to Business training offerings for transitioning service members, Veterans and military spouses at https://rly.pt/2ZBUTvp. In addition, find local, no-cost business advisers at https://rly.pt/2E3xICV, https://rly.pt/33A6Xi0 and https://rly.pt/3hy2eTc.
• Get verified as Veteran-owned. Once your Veteran business is set up, get help getting verified from VA’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (https://rly.pt/3kheSZ6) and start doing business directly with VA, the second largest federal agency.
More resources for Utah Veterans
• Download the Utah Veterans Resource Contact Directory: https://rly.pt/375a9nO.
• Get the State and Federal Benefits Information Service Resources for Utah Veterans guide: https://rly.pt/3m8g9lJ.
• Visit the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs: https://rly.pt/3o0tJbl.
1. Connect with a Utah Veteran service officer (VSO) or outreach representative. Start taking advantage of all that’s available to you by meeting with a VSO or outreach representative. They are trained and accredited to assist you in applying for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Work with a VSO to apply for compensation and pensions, the GI Bill, health care, home loans and more. Among other free services, they help you file appeals for denied claims, seek discharge upgrades and access state-offered benefits (see below).
Learn more: Find a VSO or outreach representative in your area at https://rly.pt/3nZtTQe.
2. Seek legal assistance. As a Utah Veteran or service member, you may receive a referral to free legal assistance or representation through Utah@Ease, a program run by the Office of the Utah Attorney General, the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs and the Utah State Bar. Legal matters covered include issues related to landlords, debt, consumer fraud, predatory lending, immigration, wills and powers of attorney. You must be referred by a VSO or judge advocate.
Learn more: https://rly.pt/39lN5E5.
3. Explore education benefits. Utah offers these education benefits in exchange for military service:
• In-state tuition rates: If you’re a service member assigned to a Utah institution or are a Veteran released from active service within 12 months of attending school, you are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at public degree- and certificate-granting institutions.
• Veterans’ tuition gap: If you’re a Utah resident and Veteran, this program pays for your last year of schooling at a Utah public institution of higher education.
• Purple Heart tuition waiver: If you earned this decoration, pay no tuition at any Utah public institution of higher education.
• Dependents’ tuition waiver: Surviving dependents of service members killed in action or after Sept. 11, 2001, are eligible for a tuition waiver under the Scott Lundell Military Survivors Tuition Waiver program.
• Honorary high school diploma: Veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam who left high school for military service may be eligible for an honorary diploma. Contact the applicable Utah school district for more information.
Learn more: https://rly.pt/3q3N1yo.
4. Look into licensing and recreation benefits. Utah also provides you with these licensing and recreation benefits:
• Accelerated credentialing to employment (ACE). As a Utah Veteran, actively drilling member of the National Guard or reserve or military or Veteran spouse, the ACE program may ease your path to employment through certification or licensure. The program assists you in translating military skills into civilian careers, connects you to programs and services offered by the state Department of Workforce Services and funds short-term training leading to licensure. Details: Learn more and find an ACE specialist near you at https://rly.pt/375vQnH.
• State park pass: If you are Utah resident rated by VA as having a service-connected disability of at least 50%, apply for an Honor Pass, which provides free day-use access to Utah state parks. Details: https://rly.pt/3l9mdcq.
• Recreational hunting and fishing licenses: If you’re a Utah Veteran rated by VA as having a service-connected disability of at least 20%, you may get a discounted hunting, fishing or combination license. Details: https://rly.pt/3pXRC5k.
5. Reduce your property taxes. Utah offers the following ways to reduce your tax burden:
• Property tax abatement: If you are rated by VA as having at least a 10% service-connected disability, you can qualify for a property tax abatement on a home or other personal property such as a motor vehicle. (The amount depends on your VA rating.) You only need to file for the abatement once, and it will renew annually. Surviving spouses who are not remarried and minor dependents may also qualify. Apply with your county treasurer, tax assessor or clerk/recorder. Details: https://rly.pt/39eFtD3.
• Military service tax exemption: In Utah, if you’re performing active duty military service, you are exempt from paying property taxes. Qualifying service is 200 days in a calendar year. Details: https://rly.pt/39eFtD3.
6. Start a business. After the military, you may choose a career in health care, high tech, public service, the service sector or another industry (https://rly.pt/3fGRaUs). Or you can become an entrepreneur. Here are a few resources to get your Veteran-owned business off the ground in Utah:
• Consult with a Utah Small Business Development Center (SBDC). This nationwide business assistance network is partly funded by Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The network (https://rly.pt/33Ldx5F) gives you access to free and at-cost training to start, grow and expand your small business. The Utah Lead Center SBDC (https://utahsbdc.org) and its 11 regional centers provide comprehensive small business outreach and assistance in the areas of business planning, cash-flow management, government contracting, start-up services, tax planning and more.
• Locate other trainings. Also check out SBA’s Boots to Business training offerings for transitioning service members, Veterans and military spouses at https://rly.pt/2ZBUTvp. In addition, find local, no-cost business advisers at https://rly.pt/2E3xICV, https://rly.pt/33A6Xi0 and https://rly.pt/3hy2eTc.
• Get verified as Veteran-owned. Once your Veteran business is set up, get help getting verified from VA’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (https://rly.pt/3kheSZ6) and start doing business directly with VA, the second largest federal agency.
More resources for Utah Veterans
• Download the Utah Veterans Resource Contact Directory: https://rly.pt/375a9nO.
• Get the State and Federal Benefits Information Service Resources for Utah Veterans guide: https://rly.pt/3m8g9lJ.
• Visit the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs: https://rly.pt/3o0tJbl.
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