New Jersey veterans are eligible for 9 state and federal benefit programs, including Healthcare, Housing, Employment, and more. Most state programs require state residency and a VA-issued disability rating; eligibility thresholds vary by program. This page lists every benefit with source URLs, application paths, and 2026 verification status.
New Jersey operates three state veterans memorial homes in Menlo Park, Paramus, and Vineland providing skilled nursing care and memory care for eligible veterans.
Note: Three facilities: Menlo Park, Paramus, Vineland. VA per diem offsets costs.
New Jersey provides transitional housing assistance for homeless veterans through the Veterans Haven program, with residential facilities in Glen Gardner (North) and Winslow Township (South).
Note: Two locations: Veterans Haven North (Glen Gardner) and South (Winslow Township). Provides housing, job training, and support services for homeless veterans.
New Jersey grants veterans an absolute preference in civil service hiring for state, county, and municipal positions. Disabled veterans receive additional absolute preference, ranking ahead of non-disabled veterans.
Note: NJ has one of the strongest veteran employment preferences — absolute preference, not just points. Disabled veterans rank above non-disabled veterans.
Provides a one-time cash bonus to New Jersey veterans who served during specific wartime periods (including the Persian Gulf War era). Bonus amounts vary based on service location: veterans who served in-theater (hostile fire zone) receive a higher bonus than those who served stateside during the qualifying period.
Note: One-time payment — check eligibility for your specific period of service. Must have been a NJ resident at time of entry into service or at time of application. Apply through DMAVA.
Veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating are fully exempt from property taxes on their primary residence in New Jersey.
Note: One of the most valuable state veteran benefits in the country given NJ's high property taxes. Must be 100% P&T. Surviving spouses retain exemption if they do not remarry and continue to reside in the home.
Veterans who served during a period of war and meet residency requirements may deduct $250 annually from their property tax bill. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans also qualify.
Note: Available to all wartime veterans regardless of disability rating. File with your municipal tax assessor. Surviving spouses and civil union partners also qualify if they meet residency requirements.
New Jersey provides free admission to all state parks, forests, recreation areas, and historic sites for all veterans and active-duty military.
Note: Free for all veterans and active duty. Covers all state parks, forests, and historic sites.
New Jersey veterans with a 100% service-connected disability receive free hunting and fishing licenses. Veterans with lesser disabilities receive discounted licenses.
Note: 100% disabled veterans get free licenses. Lower ratings may get discounts.
The Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown is the largest state veterans cemetery in the nation, providing burial at no cost for eligible veterans.
Note: Largest state veterans cemetery in the nation. Located in Arneytown, Burlington County.
“Two locations: Veterans Haven North (Glen Gardner) and South (Winslow Township). Provides housing, job training, and support services for homeless veterans.”
New Jersey offers 9 veteran benefit programs spanning Healthcare, Housing, Employment, Financial, Tax, Recreation, Other. Eligibility requirements vary by program — most require a VA-issued disability rating and state residency.
Many New Jersey benefit programs require a minimum VA disability rating — commonly 10%, 50%, or 100%. Some programs, such as education assistance or employment preference, have no rating requirement. Check each benefit listing on this page for the specific threshold.
Most New Jersey state benefits require current state residency. Some programs require continuous residency for one or more years. Federal VA benefits are available to all eligible veterans regardless of state of residence.
Yes — in most cases, state and federal veteran benefits are stackable. For example, a property tax exemption from New Jersey does not reduce your federal VA disability compensation. Some federal needs-based programs may offset certain state payments; review each program's terms.
Applications for New Jersey state benefits are typically submitted through the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs or the administering state agency. Application links are listed directly on each benefit card on this page. Federal VA benefits are applied for at VA.gov.
Yes — New Jersey has at least one property tax benefit listed for veterans. Eligibility typically requires a minimum disability rating and state residency. See the Tax section on this page for the current threshold and application link.
Most New Jersey state benefit programs and all federal VA benefit programs require an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge. Veterans with other-than-honorable discharges may still qualify for some programs; consult a VSO or accredited claims agent for individual eligibility.
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