An estimated 54,717 veterans live in South Dakota, making up 7.8% of the state's adult population or the seventh-highest per capita of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
South Dakota Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
No state income tax.
Active-Duty Income Tax
No state income tax.
South Dakota Veteran Property Taxes
Permanently and totally disabled veterans as well as veterans with the loss, or loss of use, of both lower extremities are exempt from property tax on their home. Their unremarried surviving spouses are also eligible.
South Dakota Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
Resident veterans with a disability rating of at least 10% may receive one month of free tuition for each month of qualifying wartime service, for a maximum benefit of four academic years.
Veterans receive in-state tuition but must apply for residency within the first three years of attending a state institution.
Recipients of the Iraq Campaign Medal or Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal may receive a $1,000 Helping Heroes Grant, available to up to 375 veterans per year on a first-come, first-served basis to students completing at least 12 semester hours.
State National Guard members may receive a 100% reduction in tuition charges at a state institution or in-state, nonprofit post-secondary university for undergraduate programs up to 128 credits and graduate programs up to 32 credits.
Veterans of certain wars may receive an honorary high school diploma.
Military Dependent Education
The children under age 25 of resident veterans who died in action or while on active duty or were POWs or MIA, or state Guard members who died or became disabled in the line of duty, may attend a state institution tuition-free, provided they are not eligible for equal or greater federal benefits.
South Dakota Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Veterans receive preference for all state, county, local government and school district jobs. Veterans with at least the minimum qualifications for the job will get an interview.
Military Spouse Employment
The unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died in service, or died from a service-connected cause, is entitled to the same preference as an eligible veteran, provided the spouse has the necessary skills and qualifications for the job.
If a disabled eligible veteran is unable to use their preference due to disability, the spouse may use it.
South Dakota Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
The South Dakota Veterans Home is in Hot Springs. Honorably discharged state resident veterans, or the spouse or widow of such a veteran, may apply. Applicants must be ambulatory and be able to care for themselves and their living areas.
In the case of a married couple, the spouse of the veteran must be admitted with the veteran, unless the veteran is institutionalized. The costs are based on income.
Homeless Veterans
No veteran-specific benefits.
Adapted Housing
No state benefits.
South Dakota Veteran Financial Assistance
South Dakota provides a bonus of up to $500 to current or former military members who were legal residents of the state for no less than six months immediately preceding their period of active duty and who meet certain criteria during one or more of the following periods:
- Aug. 2, 1990, to March 3, 1991: All active service counts for payment.
- March 4, 1991, to Dec. 31, 1992: Only service in a hostile area qualifying for the Southwest Asia Service Medal counts for payment.
- Jan. 1, 1993, to Sept. 10, 2001: Only service in a hostile area qualifying for campaign or service medals counts for payment.
- Sept. 11, 2001, to a date to be determined (OIF/OEF): All active service counts for payment.
South Dakota Veteran Legal Assistance
No state-funded legal services.
South Dakota Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Resident veterans who are entitled to the federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s Special Monthly Compensation, are former POWs, receive Social Security disability or have at least a 40% VA disability rating receive a four-year hunting and fishing license for a small administrative fee.
Residents on active duty outside the state and home on leave may hunt and fish without a license. Migratory bird stamps must still be purchased.
Parks/Camping
Resident veterans who are entitled to VA Special Monthly Compensation, are former POWs or are VA rated totally disabled receive free admission to state parks and half off any camping or electric hookup fee.
South Dakota Veteran Transportation Benefits
No state-funded transportation benefit. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) offers van rides to VA medical centers in many states and may be available in the states without a state-funded transportation benefit.
South Dakota Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
The South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery is in Sioux Falls. Veterans are buried for free. A fee applies to burials of spouses or other dependents.
Allowances
Burial allowance: A payment of up to $100 may be paid by the state to help defray the burial and funeral expenses of any honorably discharged veteran or the spouse or surviving spouse of a veteran when the estate, or immediate family of the deceased, lacks funds to pay the expenses.
Headstone setting fee: The state will pay $300 toward the cost of etching and setting a government headstone or marker at the grave of a veteran who was a resident for one year before entering into military service or one year preceding death.
More Information
Visit the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information on any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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