Louisiana Veteran Benefits

If you're a military servicemember stationed in Louisiana or a veteran living here, you might qualify for a variety of state benefits. These benefits include programs to help you with housing, employment, education, licensing, Louisiana veteran loans, and more.

Veteran Home Loans

Are you in the Marines, Navy, Army, or Air Force and stationed in the Pelican State? While you're here, you could buy your own home instead of living on base. You might even find your perfect home near where you're stationed.



You may be only a few steps from homeownership if you are eligible for VA loans in Louisiana. Both veterans and current military personnel can qualify. By getting quotes from several different lenders, you'll be able to compare and find the best veteran loan rates in Louisiana.

The VA gives special guidelines and guarantees to private lenders, which lets those lenders offer above-average mortgage features, such as:

  • No need for down payments on home purchases
  • Easy qualifications with no minimum credit score required
  • Some of the lowest interest rates of all mortgage types
  • No private mortgage insurance (PMI) payments ever

It's smart to get a few quotes from private lenders with good reputations. In order to find the best veteran loan rates in Louisiana, you'll need multiple offers so you can choose the right one for your needs.

At Low VA Rates, we've helped many veterans and servicemembers find VA loans that work for their situation. In your search for the best veteran loan rates in Louisiana, we hope you consider us by calling toll-free at 866-569-8272 or by getting a quote online.

Veteran Housing Benefits

Louisiana Veterans Homes

As of 2018, Louisiana has five veterans homes that are located in Bossier City, Jackson, Jennings, Monroe, and Reserve. Each home has state-of-the-art facilities and offers a variety of services, including:

  • Rehabilitation therapies
  • Long-term care
  • Short-term care
  • Skilled nursing care
  • Pharmacy services
  • Mental health care

And much more! However, to be eligible for admission, you must:

  • Be a resident of Louisiana OR be referred to the home from a VA medical center in Louisiana or a Veterans' Assistance Counselor with the Louisiana Department of Veterans' Affairs
  • Have served at least 90 days of active duty OR been discharged under honorable conditions because of a service-related disability
  • Have a medical exam confirming you aren't violent towards others, as well as a chest x-ray that shows you don't have a contagious disease

Gold Star parents, spouses of eligible veterans, and some veterans who only served during peacetime may also be eligible.

To apply for the home, you must print and fill out the application. When you submit it, you will need to include a copy of the Medical Information Sheet that's been completed by your doctor or nurse.

Homestead Exemption

While there's a standard homestead tax exemption for all qualified applicants in Louisiana, eligible veterans can get even more tax benefits from their homestead. Some of these benefits include additional tax exemptions for certain disabled veterans and for the survivors of servicemembers who died in the line of duty.

To find out if you qualify for homestead tax exemptions, you can talk to the staff at your Parish Assessor's Office.

Veteran Employment & Education Benefits

Employment Benefits

Transitioning into the civilian world can be difficult, especially when it comes to finding work. However, Louisiana offers a lot of different services and benefits to make sure you can stay on your feet after leaving the military.

Louisiana State Job Listings

Louisiana is a great place for a veteran to get a government job because the state recognizes that retired military personnel often have relevant skills and good work ethics.

You can use this chart to see examples of the type of work you might get based on your military occupational specialty. Many other jobs besides those may be available to you.

You can see the current job postings and other job-related resources on Louisiana's State Civil Service website.

Veterans Preference for State and Federal Civil Service Positions

Have you thought about applying for a city, state, or federal civil service job in Louisiana? If you have, you can qualify for Louisiana's veterans preference to help you during the application process.

Basically, whenever someone applies for a government job in Louisiana, he or she has to take an examination. As a veteran, you can get five or ten points added to your passing score. These additional points can put you higher up on the list of qualified candidates.

For more information about the qualifications needed to receive veterans' preference points, including qualifications for a veteran's spouse or parents, you check out the information page for veterans from Louisiana's State Civil Service website.

Additionally, a veteran's spouse may also qualify to use these preference points if the veteran would have qualified, but are unable to work or are deceased and the spouse has not remarried. However, in order to apply, they will need to submit extra documents, including a completed Claim Form for Veterans Preference for Spouse/Parent and, as applicable, a death or marriage certificate.

However, if the veteran is able and wishes to use their points themselves, they will need to submit a copy of their DD-214 form. To qualify for 10 preference points, they will also need to submit a recent letter from the VA documenting their disability.

Additionally, in some situations, a veteran may also qualify for a testing exemption. However, they must have been discharged within the last twelve months and have served 90 days or more of active duty that doesn't include training.

Veterans Corner

Veterans Corner is a program that can help you find work with various employers in the Acadiana/Lafayette area.

The program gets in touch with employers and helps them connect with qualified veteran candidates. As a veteran, you'll get a hiring preference for these jobs before non-veterans who apply for them.

You can start viewing their current job listings today.

Louisiana Business & Career Solution Centers

You can visit the website of the Louisiana Workforce Commission to see their general resources on finding jobs. Click on either "Louisiana Star Jobs" or HiRE to use job-search web pages.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission also has local offices all over Louisiana you can visit for one-on-one services.

LAVETBIZ

Do you have a small business in Louisiana? Is your business owned by a veteran or veterans? LAVETBIZ can help you and your business get a work contract with the state of Louisiana.

To be eligible, your business must:

  • Be at least 50% veteran-owned
  • Be owned and run independently
  • Not be the top business in its field
  • Be owned and run by Louisiana residents who are US citizens or legal residents
  • Be headquartered in Louisiana
  • Have 50 or fewer full-time workers
  • Have an average from the last three years of $5 million or less per year in gross receipts if you have a construction business OR an average of $3 million or less per year in gross receipts for other types of businesses

 

If it's requested, each veteran business owner must show a copy of his or her DD-214 form or discharge papers and a VA disability award letter, if applicable. You can see the whole process of getting certified as a veteran-owned business on pages 4 and 5 of the LAVETBIZ brochure.

You can search for open bids for state work at the Office of State Procurement web page. A veteran-owned business that's certified through LAVETBIZ can get up to 10% more evaluation points when bidding on work.

Education Benefits

A variety of educational opportunities are available in Louisiana for both veterans and their family members. These services and programs can help you create a more secure future. To learn more about each of these programs, your nearest Veterans Assistance Counselor (VAC) can help.

Military Training Applied to Licensure or Certification

Did you get training and experience in a profession during your time in the military? You may be able to get a civilian certification or license to practice that profession based on your military experience. To be eligible, you must:

  • Have earned a military occupational specialty (MOS)
  • Performed your MOS at or above the level required to earn a civilian license or certification

 

In addition, depending on your specific specialty, there may be other requirements.

Louisiana In-State Tuition Status

You can enjoy the Louisiana student tuition rate at public universities and colleges in Louisiana if you're a veteran or current military servicemember. The difference between the in-state and out-of-state tuition rates can be significant.

You can check if you're eligible for this benefit by speaking with a Louisiana Veterans Assistance Counselor (VAC).

Louisiana Title 29 Dependents' Educational Assistance

Louisiana's Title 29 gives education assistance to two types of students:

  1. Surviving spouses of veterans
  2. Children of disabled veterans

 

A disabled veteran must be rated by the VA with at least a 90% service-related disability or a 100% service-related disability that causes him or her to be unemployable.

You can apply for Title 29 assistance through a Louisiana Veterans Assistance Counselor (VAC) at a service office near you.

Other Veteran Benefits

Louisiana offers several other benefits for current military personnel and veterans, including tax exemptions, discounts, death and disability benefits, assistance funds, and more.

Tax Exemptions for Military Pay

If you're receiving any military pay that is exempt from federal taxes, that pay is exempt from Louisiana state taxes also. Examples include hazardous duty pay and combat pay. Your military retirement pay is also exempt.

Military Family Assistance (MFA) Fund

The Military Family Assistance Fund can grant up to $10,000 per year to veterans and their families in Louisiana who are having financial problems.

You can apply for these funds online or by printing and filling out a physical application. With either application method, you'll need to provide documentation of your the financial hardship.

Specialty Military Plates

You can see the available specialty military plates by using the special plates viewer on the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles website. Examples of these types of plates include the Military Honors license plate, which is for disabled veterans, and the Purple Heart license plate.

To learn more about how to get a specialty plate, contact your nearest Office of Motor Vehicles.

Veteran Designation & Discounts on Louisiana Driver's Licenses or ID Cards

You can get a VETERAN designation on your Louisiana state driver's license or identification card. This designation can help you easily prove your veteran status at businesses and in other situations.

To apply for the designation of your veteran status, you'll need to show documentation at your nearest Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.

Additionally, as a veteran, you may also be eligible for certain fee discounts or waivers when getting or renewing your driver's license or ID card.

Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal

The Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal is for any Louisiana veteran with an honorable discharge and for the families of veterans who were killed in action. It can have a blue ribbon to indicate honorable discharge, a purple ribbon if the veteran received a Purple Heart decoration, or a yellow ribbon if the veteran died in action.

If you want to apply for the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal, you can use the online application at the bottom of the previously linked page, or by filling out and submitting the printable application.

National Guard Death and Disability Benefit

The Louisiana National Guard Death and Disability benefit offers a $250,000 death benefit and a $100,000 disability benefit available for members of the Louisiana National Guard and their families.

You may be eligible for the disability benefit if you're a Guard member and have a complete, permanent disability caused by your active duty service that was on or after September 11, 2001. If you're the beneficiary of a Guard member who was killed in action, you may be eligible for the death benefit.

You can check if you qualify for this benefit and can apply for it by contacting Vanessa Melancon at the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs. She can be reached at 225-219-5008 or vanessa.melancon@la.gov.

Discounts for Hunting and Fishing Licenses and State Park Entrance Fees

Louisiana veteran residents can get discounts or waivers on the fees for hunting and fishing licenses and for entering Louisiana's state parks. To find out if you're eligible for this benefit and to apply for it, you can work with your Veterans Assistance Counselor (VAC) at the nearest service office.

Veterans Cemeteries

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA) offers free veteran interment at any of Louisiana's veterans cemeteries. Burial is also available for veterans' spouses and dependent children. Cemetery benefits may include:

  • Headstones and markers
  • Gravesites for cremated remains or caskets
  • The opening and closing of graves
  • Continued care of gravesites
  • Covered shelters for graveside services

 

You can find out if you're eligible by filling out the Request to Determine Eligibility for Interment form online or filling out and sending in the printable application.

You can also apply for interment online or through a printable application. Make sure to include any required fees or documentation that the application requests, if applicable.

Veteran Benefits Assistance

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA) exists to help Louisiana resident veterans to get the benefits they have earned and to serve veterans through state veterans homes. The LDVA can also help veterans' families and beneficiaries receive their benefits.

LDVA staff can help you through every step of applying for benefits, including:

  • Deciding what documentation you'll need to submit
  • Helping you understand the application procedures
  • Checking on the progress of a claim and intervening in any problems that come up
  • Helping to appeal claims that are denied, including representing you at hearings

 

Veterans Assistance Counselors (VACs) help veterans and their families for free. They can also help the surviving spouses and dependents of deceased veterans. Click the link to find your nearest LDVA office.

About Low VA Rates

Contact Low VA Rates to get a free quote for VA loans in Louisiana. We have served military personnel and veterans since we were founded as a company, and we'd be happy to help you during your search for the best veteran loan rates in Louisiana.

If you're interested in Louisiana veteran loans, you can get an online quote from Low VA Rates or call us toll-free at 866-569-8272. A professional, friendly loan officer will contact you quickly.

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