VA Blog and Nevada Veterans Benefits

We have received many questions about the recent VA blog post regarding Nevada veteran benefits published 7/22/2020. This blog was a VA initiative; they reached out to every state and asked a number of questions about benefits.   

NDVS gave them responses about many of our benefits—and most importantly the link to our website which has a comprehensive list. The VA Blog was not intended to showcase all of a State’s benefits, but rather to offer a “hook” to entice veterans to explore, through the offered link, those benefits of most interest. The information NDVS provided was derived from surveys, information gathered during the Nevada Veterans Legislative Symposia, and from input from our staff who receive constant feedback from Nevada’s veterans and their families regarding their needs. 

Just one of the questions asked was what do veterans consider to be the most important State benefit—not the most important veterans benefit, but the Nevada benefit that veterans found most valuable.  The benefit that consistently is mentioned by military and veterans in Nevada as being critical, and is often the reason they settle in Nevada, is our State tax structure. 

As to the rest of the benefits, the next in order of criticality (based on the results of the Nevada Veterans Legislative Symposia), is the tax exemption (property/vehicle).  After that, the “most important” is less clear.  If you are a student, the State tuition waivers may be the most valuable.  If you are an outdoors enthusiast, the hunting, fishing, and State Park fee reductions may be on the top of your list.  To someone looking for work, the veterans preference point program and dedicated veteran employment specialists may be of most importance to you.  For caregivers of veterans, the State respite programs may top your list.  For veteran-owned businesses, the contracting and purchasing preferences might be of significant importance. In short, what benefit is “most important” (other than the tax-based benefits) varies widely by veteran demographic. 

The bottom line:  NDVS would love to have provided a detailed report on all of our State benefits, but this was not what they asked.  The most important program we have for educating veterans and their families about benefits is the Nevada Veterans Advocate (NVA) Program.  We have almost 700 NVA’s across the State trained to answer questions about dozens of benefits and services.  If you are interested in learning more, please check out the program at this link:  https://veterans.nv.gov/community/veterans-advocacy/. 

For the full context of the information requested by the VA, here is what NDVS submitted: 

NDVS info: USDVA – State Benefits Blogs Formulation 

Part 1: Most popular state benefit.  

Nevada’s most popular State benefit is a State income tax exemption for all! Because Nevada does not have a state income tax, all residents including veterans are exempt. Veterans can learn more about the State of Nevada at http://nv.gov/ and the Nevada Department of Veterans Services at: https://veterans.nv.gov/. 

Part 2: Most underused state benefit.  

Nevada provides veterans preference for those who identify as a veteran owned business.  When completing the form from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), simply indicate Veteran-Owned Small Business (SB) (VOSB), Service-Disabled VOSB (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned (VO), or Service-Disabled VO.  Veterans can learn more about the program at:  https://www.diversifynevada.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Nevada-PTAC-POP-Client-Questionnaire-6-26-2020.pdf. 

Part 3: Most unique or newest state benefit.  

During the 2019 Nevada Legislative Session, AB429 was passed, allowing veteran graduate-school fee waivers in critical-need fields. The law allows for designation of critical-need occupations by a State agency, then authorized the Nevada System of Higher Education to grant a waiver of certain fees to veterans who enroll in the graduate-level degree programs supporting these critical-need fields, such as programs in science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics and health science. Veterans can learn more about the program at:  https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bill/6811/Text. 

Part 4: Largest or most successful state employer of veterans.  

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has a workforce of approximately 5,000 staff. Nearly six percent of the workforce is veterans. The Cosmopolitan has been recognized as a Patriot Employer by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services and received HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Program Demonstration Award. Veterans can learn more about the program at: https://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/careers/veterans. 

Part 5: Most popular state veteran monument.   

The award-winning Battle Born Memorial in Carson City has 895 brass plates punched out to create shadow effects with the names of Nevada’s fallen warriors from the Civil War to present day. The Nevada State Veterans Memorial in Las Vegas is a two-acre memorial and park featuring 18 larger-than-life statues, depicting soldiers from the Revolutionary War to the Global War on Terror, and a special statue honoring military families. Veterans can learn more about these memorials at: https://veterans.nv.gov/benefits-and-services/nevada-veteran-memorials/ 

Brochure – State Benefits for Veterans in Nevada (PDF)

NDVS – Benefits and Services page