The state of Louisiana provides several veteran benefits. This page explains them. Visit the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information about any of these programs.

Louisiana War Veterans Homes

Louisiana operates five veterans homes located in Bossier City, Jackson, Jennings, Monroe and Reserve.

For admission to a Louisiana State Veterans Home, a veteran must be a resident of the state of Louisiana, with an other-than-dishonorable discharge.  Applicants who have income will be expected to pay for their care.

Spouses and Gold Star parents are eligible if they meet basic qualifying criteria. 

Louisiana Veteran Financial Benefits

Income Tax

Up to $30,000 active-duty pay is tax-free if stationed out-of-state for 120 consecutive days or more.

Retired pay and SBP payments are tax-free.

Property Tax Exemptions

Veterans rated with 100% disability are exempt from ad valorem tax on their homes. Surviving spouses are also eligible for this exemption.

Military Family Assistance Fund

This benefit can provide financial support to Louisiana veterans and their families when they experience financial hardships. The MFA can pay up to $10,000 for one claim per active-duty order in a 12-month period. Applicants must submit a completed application to Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and include all required supporting documentation, as certain criteria applies. The MFA is funded 100% by private donations from individuals and corporations.

National Guard Death & Disability Benefit

Louisiana National guardsmen suffering a permanent and total disability while on federal or state active duty on or after Sep. 11, 2001, or the beneficiary of record of those killed in action may qualify for a $250,000 death or $100,000 disability benefit from the State of Louisiana. Certain restrictions apply.

Louisiana Veteran Employment Benefits

State Employment

Louisiana state and city civil service departments award a 5 point preference to honorably discharged veterans and 10 point preference to honorably discharged service-connected disabled veterans.

Spouses of veterans who are rated VA unemployable as well as un-remarried widows of deceased veterans and Gold Star parents are also eligible for this preference.

Some restrictions apply for eligibility.

Transfer of Military Skills to Civilian Employment

Individuals with military training and experience can get a corresponding professional license or certification if they had a military occupational specialty that qualified them for that license.

Louisiana Educational Benefits

Louisiana Title 29 Dependents Educational Assistance

Louisiana offers education assistance to surviving spouses of deceased veterans as well as children of 90% or greater disabled veterans  and children of 100% disabled and unemployable veterans.

The deceased veteran must have been a resident of Louisiana for at least 12 months immediately preceding entry into service. The living veteran must have lived in the state for at least 24 months prior to the child being admitted into the program.

The surviving spouse has 10 years to use the benefit, the child must be between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five to be eligible.

National Guard Tuition Waiver

Members are exempt from tuition at any state-funded college, university, or vocational/technical school for five years or a bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first.

Louisiana Veteran Recreation Benefits

Free Hunting/Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans

Disabled veterans classified with a service connected permanent disability, rated 50% or higher and who are Louisiana residents can get hunting and fishing licenses free of charge.

Active Duty Military Hunting & Fishing Licenses

Active duty members and their dependents may buy hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.

Free and Discounted Admission to State Parks

Disabled veterans, as well as everyone in the same vehicle as them, are exempt from paying the day-use entrance fee to any Louisiana state park.

Active duty members plus one additional family member get half off admission to state parks.

Louisiana Veterans Cemeteries

The state of Louisiana has 4 cemeteries located in Keithville, Leesville, Rayville, and Slidell. The cemeteries are available for qualifying veterans, their spouses and dependent children, there is no charge for veterans and only a small fee for spouses and dependent children

Visit the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information about any of these programs.