State and Federal

For Utah Veterans

BENEFITS

INFORMATION

SERVICE

RESOURCES

550 Foothill Drive

Suite 105

Salt Lake City, UT 84113

2021 - P2

Accelerated Credentialing

to Employment (ACE) Program ........................8

America the Beautiful Pass ..............................10

American Legion...............................................15

Armed Forces Property Tax Exemption.............4

Armories, free use of ...........................................9

Bus / TRAX Reduced Fare Cards .......................8

Cemetery / Memorial Park ................................3

Central Utah Veterans Home — Payson ..........2

Community Based Outpatient Clinics ............14

DD-214 (Recover)..........................................3, 16

Department of Workforce Services (DWS).......7

Disabled American Veterans (DAV)...............15

Disabled License Plates .....................................6

Disabled Veterans Outreach Program.............7

Disabled Veteran Property Tax

Abatement..........................................................4

Disability Compensation ..................................11

Discharge Data ...............................................3, 9

Driver License Privileges .....................................6

Driver License, Veteran Status on......................6

Educational Benets..........................................11

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

(ESGR).................................................................15

Employment Representatives ...........................7

Fishing License Privilege .....................................9

George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home ....2

GI Bill....................................................................11

Health Care........................................................12

High School Diplomas, Honorary.......................5

Hiring Priority ........................................................7

Homeless Veterans Fellowship ..........................9

Homes, Veterans.................................................2

In-State Tuition ....................................................5

Job Preference....................................................6

Leave, Military......................................................8

Legal Clinic ........................................................15

License Plates, Disabled .....................................6

License Plates, Veterans ......................................5

Memorial Park (and Cemetery)..........................3

National Guard.....................................................9

National Personnel Records Center ................16

Outreach Programs .............................................3

Property Tax Abatement, Disabled Veteran.....4

Property Tax Exemption, Armed Forces.............5

Purple Heart Fee Exemption ...............................5

Purple Heart Tuition Waiver .................................4

Record of Separation, National Guard .............9

Reemployment Rights.........................................10

Scott B. Lundell Tuition Waiver ............................5

Southern Utah Veterans Home — Ivins...............2

State Approving Agency for Veterans

Education (SAA)....................................................3

State Parks Pass ………………………………..…...9

Support Organizations .......................................18

Tuition Gap Program ............................................5

U.S. Department of Labor ..................................10

Uniformed Services Employment and

Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)................15

Utah Department of Veterans and Military

Affairs (UDVMA) ................................................2-3

Utah@Ease ..........................................................13

VA Medical Center ............................................13

VA Regional (Benets) Ofce (VARO)..............15

VA Salt Lake City Health Care System..............13

Valor House .........................................................15

Vet Centers .........................................................14

Veterans Information System (VIS)......................3

Veteran Service Organizations (VSO)...............15

Veteran Status on Driver License ........................6

Veterans Homes ...................................................2

Veterans License Plates .......................................5

Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) .......................15

Veterans Upward Bound .....................................5

William E. Christoffersen Salt Lake

Veterans Home.....................................................2

Contents

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

UTAH DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AND MILITARY AFFAIRS (UDVMA)

Mission

The Utah Department of Veterans and

Military Affairs serves Veterans and their

families by opening doors to benets,

education, and jobs, while advocating for

Utah’s military bases and service members.

Vision

Utah will be the best place in the nation to

perform military missions and be recognized

as a premier location for Veterans, Military,

Reservists, and their families to live and

succeed.

Serving Utah’s Veterans

The UDVMA offers a variety of services to

assist Veterans in obtaining the benets they

may be eligible for because of their military

service. We also provide counseling and

assistance to Veterans and their dependents

with the VA claims process, establishing

Veterans’ rights to state and federal benets,

and providing other information and advisory

services.

This publication is produced by the:

State of Utah

Department of Veterans and Military

Affairs

550 Foothill Drive, Suite 105

Salt Lake City, Utah 84113

Phone: (801) 326-2372

Toll Free: (800) 894-9497

Fax: (801) 326-2369

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: http://veterans.utah.gov

Gary R. Harter, Executive Director

OUR COMMISSIONS

Utah State Veterans Homes

Quality nursing and health care services are

provided for Utah Veterans with U.S. military

service during peacetime or wartime. While

wartime service is not a requirement for

admission to the homes, wartime Veterans

with one day or more of wartime service, as

recognized by state and federal laws, do

have a priority. A Veteran’s spouse or

surviving spouse may also be eligible for

admission to the Utah State Veterans Homes

provided that the marriage to the Veteran

occurred no less than one year before the

application. There are currently four (4)

Veterans Homes in Utah for eligible Veterans,

spouses, and Gold Star parents.

The following are the Veterans Homes:

William E. Christoffersen Salt Lake Veterans

Home

700 Foothill Drive

Salt Lake City, UT 84113-1104

Phone: (801) 584-1900

(81 beds)

George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home

1102 North 1200 West

Ogden, UT 84404

Phone: (801) 334-4300

(120 beds)

Mervyn Sharp Bennion Central Utah Veterans

Home — Payson

1551 North Main Street

Payson, UT 84651

Phone: (801) 465-5400

(108 beds)

Southern Utah Veterans Home — Ivins

160 North 200 East

Ivins, UT 84738

Phone: (435) 634-5220

(108 beds)

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

Military Affairs Component

The new Military Affairs function has

demonstrated positive synergies as Veteran

issues and military issues are often mutually

supportive if they can be identied and

managed collaboratively, which we can

now do with both responsibilities in one

ofce.

The Military Affairs director coordinates and

leads the UDVMA efforts in regard to the

state’s military installations, units, leaders,

organizations, and defense businesses.

Utah State Veterans Memorial Park

17111 South Camp Williams Road

Bluffdale, Utah 84065

Phone: (801) 254-9036

The Utah State Veterans Memorial Park and

Cemetery generally follows the eligibility

requirements of the VA National Cemetery

System for interment. This includes any U.S.

Armed Forces active personnel or Veterans

who were discharged under condition other

than dishonorable. Reservist and National

Guard retired personnel with 20 years

of service and surviving spouses and

dependent children are also eligible for

burial. (UT Code 71-7-3)

State Approving Agency for Veterans

Education (SAA)

700 Foothill Drive

Salt Lake City, UT 84113

Phone: (801) 584-1973

Education and / or vocational training for our

Veterans are a key element in helping them

achieve success after their military service.

The State Approving Agency (in conjunction

with the VA) performs all duties necessary for

the inspection, approval, supervision, and

compliance of those programs offered by

qualied educational institutions or training

establishments in order for Veterans to use

their GI Bill and other VA education benets.

Veteran Services Coordination

and Resources

Outreach Programs

The UDVMA outreach program has a two-

fold approach — to local communities and

special events.

For local communities, the UDVMA has VSOs

(Veteran Service Ofcers) and other

Outreach Representatives traveling across

the state to assist Veterans and their families

with ling VA claims.

The UDVMA special events outreach

program consists mainly of sponsoring a

variety of Benet and Job Fairs, Workshops,

and other events to make known the

essential services and resources available to

assist Veterans.

Utah Veterans Information System

In 2012 the UDVMA launched the Veterans

Information System (VIS). This was designed

in cooperation with the Utah Department of

Technology Services (DTS) to create a tool

that would improve the ability to provide

information and services to Utah Veterans.

To be included in the VIS, which enhances

our ability to serve you, complete the online

application at: http://veterans.utah.gov/

vtsreg/public/Register

Discharge Data

The UDVMA maintains a storage database of

discharge documents, including many form

DD-214s and Notice of Separation forms, for

Veterans whose state home of record was

Utah.

The majority of these documents are from

service dates after 1980. (For Utah National

Guard separation documents — NGB 22

Forms — see page 9.)

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

DISABLED VETERAN PROPERTY TAX

ABATEMENT

A Utah permanent place-of-residence

property tax abatement that uses the VA’s

percentage-rating for a service-connected

disability is available for disabled Veterans

or for their un-remarried widows or minor

orphans. The Veteran’s disability rating must

be at least 10% in order to qualify for this

abatement.

• The percentage cap is subject to change,

but here is the formula:

• The maximum property tax abatement

is $275,699 (rated at 100% service-

connected disability),

• Multiply your percentage of disability by

275,699

• Example: a 10% disability X 275,699 =

$27,569.90 tax abatement

• This amount is then subtracted from the

taxable value of the property and taxes

are paid on the remaining amount.

To apply for this Property Tax Abatement,

request a Summary of Benets Letter from

the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Submit the letter and complete a Property

Tax Abatement application at the

applicable County Treasurer, Tax Assessor,

or Clerk/ recorder located in the county

government building of the county in which

the property is located on or before 1

September. All property must be on record

as of 1 January of the year you le. However,

a recent change allows an exemption to

that rule to qualied widows and orphans.

Disabled Veterans only have to le for the

abatement one time; after which it will

automatically renew each year. (Utah Code

59-2-1104 & 1105)

ARMED FORCES PROPERTY TAX

EXEMPTION

The State provides a property tax exemption

for members of active or reserve compo-

nents of the U.S. Armed Forces who perform

qualifying active-duty military service.

For the purposes of this tax exemption,

“Qualifying Active Duty Service” is dened as

a minimum of 200 days in a calendar year,

regardless of whether they were performed

consecutively, or 200 consecutive days of

active service that may cross over into a

second calendar year but has not been

applied toward the count for the previous

year’s taxes.

The amount of the tax exemption is equal to

the total taxable value of the claimant’s real

property. This tax exemption can be claimed

up to a year following the year the service

was completed.

The exemption may not be claimed by the

military person’s spouse, and the military

person may not claim the tax exemption for

property owned exclusively by the military

person’s spouse. (Utah Code 59-2-1104 &

1105)

PURPLE HEART TUITION WAIVER

Utah public institutions of higher learning are

required to waive the tuition of a Utah

resident admitted to an undergraduate or

graduate program leading to a degree, or a

vocational training that leads to a certicate

or diploma, if the student is a recipient of a

Purple Heart. (Utah Code 53B-8-101)

State Benets & Services

IN-STATE TUITION RATES

Armed Forces personnel pay in-state tuition

rates simply by providing proof from their

commander that they are indeed assigned

to an institution in Utah. (Utah Code 53B-8-

102 (8) (d) (i-iii)

VETERANS TUITION GAP PROGRAM

Effective 1 July 2014 the Veterans Tuition

Gap Program came into effect. This “fund-

ing” gap enables qualifying military Veter-

ans to receive tuition assistance for the last

school year at State institutions of higher

education. It is for tuition only and does not

include housing, books, etc. The qualica-

tions to receive this benet are as follows:

• Must be a Utah resident

• Admitted to a State school

• No previous degrees earned

• Eligible for Chapters 1606, 30, 31, 32 , 33

Post 9/11 GI Bill, but has exhausted

• The money is distributed one quarter or

semester at a time

• Make Satisfactory Academic Progress

(SAP)

• Three or less semesters left to complete

graduation

(Utah Code 53B-13b-104)

SCOTT B. LUNDELL TUITION WAIVER

FOR SURVIVING DEPENDENTS

This benet waives the undergraduate tuition

at state institutions of higher education for

the surviving dependents of a Utah resident

military member killed in the line of duty

after 9/11/2001. This waiver does not apply

to fees, books, or housing expenses. The

Utah Department of Veterans and Military

Affairs is the administering agency for this

benet. For more info contact our ofce at

(801) 326-2372. (Utah Code 53B-8-107)

HONORARY HIGH SCHOOL

DIPLOMAS

Veterans from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam

who left high school for military service during

those conicts may be eligible to receive

Honorary High School Diplomas from the

particular school that they left. Contact the

local school district for information on how

to receive the diploma. (Utah Code 53A-3-

426)

VETERANS UPWARD BOUND

Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is funded by

the Department of Education and sponsored

by Weber State University. VUB provides an

invaluable service by assisting Veterans in

obtaining admission to the States

postsecondary schools. Veterans can receive

free instruction and free tutorial assistance in

Mathematics, English, and basic computer

applications. These services are provided to

Veterans in the counties of Salt Lake, Davis,

and Weber. For more information, contact

(801) 626-7173.

PURPLE HEART FEE EXEMPTION

A recipient of the Purple Heart with a Purple

Heart license plate, is exempt from paying

the fees related to motor vehicle license and

registration. This does not exempt one from

the property taxes or age-based fees which

are still applicable. (Utah Code 41-1a-1211)

VETERANS LICENSE PLATES

For an initial $25.00 contribution to the Utah

Department of Veterans and Military Affairs,

plus a $10.00 plate transfer fee and the

normal vehicle registration and property tax

fees, Utah Veterans license plates may be

purchased from any DMV facility. There will

also be a yearly $10.00 renewal fee. The

proceeds from these sales and/or renewals

assist in funding state Veterans programs.

The Utah Veterans license plates display

colored decal emblems of the U.S. military

branch in which served (as well as the

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

American Legion), and are inscribed with “

UTAH HONORS VETERANS.”

Utah special group license plates for Purple

Heart recipients, Pearl Harbor survivors or,

former POWs are exempt from application

and renewal fees. Regular registration fees

and property taxes, however, must still be

paid. The proper evidence to present for a

special group plate includes a Military Order

of the Purple Heart or Pearl Harbor Survivors

Association membership card, or DD-214/

Military Discharge certicate.

A “Disabled Veteran” license plate is

available for all Veterans having a service-

connected disability. This plate has a

one-time $15.00 fee and no additional

renewal fees. Military I.D. card or other

documentation, and a VA Summary of

Benets letter (SBL), must be presented

to prove eligibility for this plate. Note: This

Plate does not qualify for disabled parking

privileges. (Utah Code 41-1a-418 thru 422)

DISABLED LICENSE PLATES /

WINDSHIELD PLACARDS

Disabled license plates having the blue and

white international symbol of accessibility

decal may be obtained by submission of

Application Form TC 842, accompanied by a

certication from a duly licensed physician

stating: (1) the disability limits or impairs

one’s ability to walk as dened in the 1991

policy guide Federal Uniform System for

Handicapped Parking, and (2) the time

period the physician determines that the

disability will continue.

Disabled Veterans applying for the Utah

disability license plates should note that the

various Veteran disability letters from the VA

Regional Ofce are not acceptable

evidence to Motor Vehicle ofces. However,

licensed physician certications by VA

doctors are acceptable evidence, provided

they provide the same information as

indicated above.

Normal fees for plate transfer, registration,

and property taxes still must be paid upon

initial application and renewal of disability

license plates.

One additional disability windshield placard

may be issued, upon request, to a disabled

person applying for or already possessing a

disability special group license plate. For

more information, call the Division of Motor

Vehicles toll-free at (800) DMV-UTAH [368-

8824] (Utah Code 41-1a-420)

DRIVER LICENSE PRIVILEGES

Driver licenses possessed by persons on U.S.

military active duty shall be valid for 90 days

after active duty discharge unless the driver’s

license is suspended or revoked for cause by

a police department or other judicial entity.

(Utah Code 53-3-205)

VETERAN STATUS ON UTAH DRIVER

LICENSE AND UTAH ID CARDS

Veterans can now have “VETERAN” printed

on their state issued driver licenses or state ID

cards. In order to have this accomplished,

go to any state Driver License or ID ofce

and indicate on the application for these

cards that you are a Veteran. You must have

served on active duty and have an

Honorable or General Discharge. Veterans

must provide a DD-214 or a Report of

Separation to have their status veried. All

renewal fees are still applicable. (Utah Code

53-3-804)

VETERANS JOB PREFERENCE

Eligible Veterans, spouses, or un-remarried

widows/widowers are granted either 5 or 10

additional points for employment

preference. These points are added to

the results of any written and/or oral exam

or other related qualifying technique or

examinations by any Utah government

entity (i.e., state, county, local municipality,

etc.). The Department. of Labor protects the

Veteran’s right to Veterans Job Preference.

(Utah Code 71-10-2)

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

VETERANS HIRING PRIORITY

Any ofcers, agents or representatives of the

state, or any contractors performing work

for the Utah state government, who willfully

fail to give preference to a preference eligi-

ble Veteran shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Utah Code 71-10-3)

VETERANS EMPLOYMENT

REPRESENTATIVES

The Disabled Veterans Outreach Program

representatives (DVOPs), along with the Lo-

cal Veterans Employment Representatives

(LVERs) are located statewide in various

employment centers of the Utah Department

of Workforce Services (DWS).

They provide intensive employment-related

services and aid for targeted Veterans, such

as referrals to employment opportunities,

help with resume writing and referral letters,

ensuring that Veterans hiring preference is

adhered to, employment counseling, etc.

Following is a list of DWS Employment Center

sites with Veteran Representatives’ numbers:

Cleareld

1290 East 1450 South

Cleareld, UT 84015

(801) 776-7862

Lehi

557 West State Street

Lehi, UT 84043

(801) 616-0547

Logan

180 North 100 West

Logan, UT 84321

(801) 626-0338

Metro

720 South 200 East

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

(801) 536-7051

Midvale

7292 South State Street

Midvale, UT 84047

(801) 567-3976

Moab, Price, and Blanding

457 Kane Creek Drive

Moab, UT 84532

(435) 781-4124

Ogden

480 27th Street

Ogden, UT 84401

(385) 320-0366 / (801) 626-0338

Provo

1550 Freedom Boulevard

Provo, UT 84604

(385) 248-6355

Richeld

115 East 100 South

Richeld, UT 84701

(435) 893-0027

South County / Taylorsville

5735 South Redwood Road

Taylorsville, UT 84123

(801) 269-4837

Spanish Fork

1185 North Chapel Drive

Spanish Fork, UT 84660

(801) 921-3402

St. George / Cedar City

162 North 400 East, Building B

St. George, UT 84770

(435) 865-6536 / (435) 986-3525

Tooele

305 North Main Street, Suite 100

Tooele, UT 84074

(435) 833-7321

Vernal

1050 West Market Drive

Vernal, UT 84078

(435) 781-4124

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

ACCELERATED CREDENTIALING TO

EMPLOYMENT (ACE) PROGRAM

The ACE Program assists Utah Veterans, and

actively-drilling members of the Guard and

Reserve, and their respective spouses, in

overcoming most barriers to employment or

even better employment by assisting them in

attaining certicates and licenses using their

military training and/or experience, or by

assisting them with short-term training.

ACE Specialists by County

Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Morgan, Rich, and

Weber

801-452-5306

Davis (South), Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele

801-386-1220

Carbon, Emery, Daggett, Duchesne, Grand,

Juab, Millard, Sanpete, Uintah, Utah, and

Wasatch

801-834-5475

Beaver, Gareld, Iron, Kane, Sevier,

Washington, and Wayne

801-726-4912

Veterans Business

Resource Center

This program ensures that veteran

entrepreneurs and their family members

have the best resources available to start

or grow a business in Utah. The program

works closely with the Utah Veteran-Owned

Business Partnership to help serve the 17,000

veteran-owned business and veteran

entrepreneurs throughout the state. This

program and Small Business Development

Network offer the following free services

to the veterans, military personnel, and

their immediate families: Veterans Business

Advisor: 801-957-5288

MILITARY LEAVE

Utah state, county, city or other municipal

government employees, who are members

of the organized Reserve / National Guard,

are allowed full pay* for 15 days of military

leave per year for annual military encamp-

ments. This Military leave is in addition to and

distinguished from the (annual)) accrued

vacation leave with pay. (Uniformed Services

Employment & Reemployment Rights Act.

(Utah Code 39-3-2)

* Some exceptions apply; see your Human

Resources Representatives for details.

BUS / TRAX REDUCED FARE CARDS

Utah Transit Authority (UTA) offers Reduced

Fare Cards for riding UTA busses and TRAX

light-rail systems to Veterans meeting one of

the following criteria by having:

• A disability that causes difculty getting

on or off a system

• A difculty standing in a moving system

• A difculty reading system schedules and

understanding signs

• A difculty in hearing announcements by

system operators

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Reduced Fare, you must

provide one of the following documents

along with a completed application form:

• Proof of Age (65 or older) and Photo ID

(may be same item) e.g., a state driver’s

license, pictured VA Card, or passport.

• Medicare Card and Photo ID

• Healthcare Provider Statement Form from

one of the following approved providers:

Physician

Optometrist

Audiologist

Psychologist

Psychiatrist

Physician’s Assistant (PA)

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

(APRN)

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

The form must have been personally signed

and dated by the healthcare provider within

the last 45 days. (Note: no photocopies or

electronic submissions will be accepted.)

Take the application form and all proof of

qualication to one of the following ofces:

• Lost & Found (511 West 200 South, Salt

Lake City)

• Meadowbrook (3600 South 700 West, Salt

Lake City)

• Timpanogos Transit Center (1145 South

750 East, Orem)

• Ogden Transit Center (2393 Wall Ave,

Ogden)

Upon approval of your eligibility, the $2.00

card fee is due. FAREPAY cards are $2.00

plus a $5.00 load.

The Reduced Fare Card will entitle you to use

UTA’s xed route bus, light rail (TRAX) street

car, and the commuter rail (FrontRunner)

services at a reduced rate.

(FrontRunner connects Salt Lake, Davis, and

Weber counties, and has stations in Salt Lake

City, Woods Cross, Farmington, Cleareld,

Roy, Layton, and Ogden. Each station has

connections to UTA’s bus system and park

and ride lots. )

FISHING LICENSE PRIVILEGE

Veterans with 20% service connected

disability rating with the Federal VA can

purchase a Fishing License at a reduced cost

of $12.00 a year. Verication by Summary of

Benets Letter obtained from Veteran Affairs

(ebenets website or by calling 1-800-827-

1000, or by visiting regional VA Ofce in Salt

lake City Public Contact Ofce).

For Application and instructions visit: https://

wildlife.utah.gov/disabled/forms/veteran.pdf

Or call: Phone: 801-538-4700

FREE USE OF ARMORIES

Federally-chartered Veterans organizations

shall have the right to the free use of

armories owned or leased by the State of

Utah, provided that their use of the armories

does not interfere with their use by the

National Guard or organized militia of the

state. (Utah Code 71-3-1)

HOMELESS VETERANS

FELLOWSHIP

The Homeless Veterans Fellowship provides

transitional housing for up to 18 months for

Veterans. They also provide emergency food

bags and personal hygiene items, and cof-

fee and donuts are provided during open

hours.

The Fellowship address is:

Homeless Veterans Fellowship

541 23rd Street

Ogden, UT 84401

Phone: (801) 392-7662

UTAH NATIONAL GUARD RECORDS

OF SEPARATION

The Utah National Guard Headquarters in

Draper maintains copies of National Guard

Bureau record of separation certicates

(NGB 22 Forms). Certied copies of DD-214

documents are provided free of charge to

Guard personnel who have been deployed.

Have a photo ID when picking up the

requested document.

Contact:

Utah National Guard Headquarters

12953 Minuteman Drive

Draper, UT 84020

801-432-4400

VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES

PARK PASS

Veterans that are 50% service connected

disabled will need to provide a current

summary of benets letter issued by the

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

VETERANS REEMPLOYMENT

RIGHTS

Veterans and serving members of the Utah

National Guard and Reserve units may be

eligible for reemployment with their civilian

employers if they meet requirements under

the Uniformed Services Employment &

Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA

also offers protection against employment

discrimination due to military service.

U.S. Department of Labor

The Department of Labor offers assistance to

Veterans through their Veterans Employment

and Training Services (VETS). This program

serves both Veterans and separating service

members by preparing them for meaningful

careers, providing apt employment resourc-

es and expertise, and helps in protecting

their employment rights. The address for the

U.S. Department of Labor in Utah is:

U.S. Department of Labor

Veterans Employment and Training Service

140 East 300 South, Suite 209

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-2333

Phone: (801) 524-5703

(US Code Title 38, Chap. 43)

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PASS

This is a lifetime entrance pass to national

parks, monuments, historic sites, recreation

areas, and national wildlife refuges that

charge an entrance fee. The Passport admits

the holder and accompanying passengers in

a private vehicle. Where entry is not by

Federal Department of Veterans Affairs in

order to obtain the Honor Pass at select

locations across Utah. Go here for locations

near you: http://stateparks.utah.gov/re-

sources/contactour-regional-ofces/. Or call

801.538.7220

FEDERAL / NATIONAL

BENEFITS

private vehicle, the passport admits the pass

holder, spouse, and children. The Pass may

also provide a 50% discount on federal use

fees charged for facilities and services such

as parking, camping, swimming, and boat.

launching. It does not cover or reduce spe-

cial recreation permit fees or fees charged

by concessionaires.

A Pass must be obtained in person at any

federal area where an entrance fee is

charged or at one of the agencies admin-

istering the Pass. It is available to citizens

or permanent residents of the U.S. who are

determined, medically, to be either blind or

permanently disabled. Veterans may obtain

a passport by showing proof of a medically

determined permanent disability or eligibility

for the reception of benets under federal

law. A letter from the U.S. Department of Vet-

erans Affairs stating the Veteran’s disability

rating will sufce.

Agencies administering the Pass are Bureau

of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife

Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps

of Engineers, the National Park Service, and

the Forest Service.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS (VA)

The VA offers a multitude of benets and

services to the nation’s Veteran population.

The following is only a selective description

of some of the more commonly applied-for

benets.

To learn more about these benets, visit the

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website

at www.va.gov.

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

Disability Compensation

Veterans with a host of disabilities, medical

conditions, or injuries incurred or aggravated

during active military service — regardless of

when or where they served — may be

eligible to receive monthly benets that are

nontaxable.

Requirements

To support a claim for service connection,

the evidence must show:

• You have an existing physical or mental

disability

• You had an injury or disease or event in

service that either caused or aggravated

an injury or disease

• That a link exists between your current

disability and the event, injury, or disease

that occurred in military service

Veterans are advised to work with a Veterans

Service Ofcer (VSO) to assist you with your

claim.

Submit the following relevant items with your

claim:

• Discharge or separation papers (the DD-

214 or equivalent)

• Private medical provider records and

hospital reports

Online Application Process

The fastest and most efcient way to obtain

a VA decision on a compensation claim is to

submit all the supporting documents and

evidence together in a Fully Developed

Claim(FDC) online at www.eBenets.va.gov

or by mail.

Be sure to:

• Collect, scan, and upload all supporting

records

• Provide sound evidence for each claimed

disability

• Track the status of your claim

If you want to le an FDC but do not have all

your necessary evidence, do the following:

• Start an FDC at eBenets.va.gov

• Save your incomplete application

• Gather all your documentation and then

complete your claim up to one year later

Note.: This will preserve your effective date if

the claim is submitted within one year.

Education and Training

VA’s education and training benets are

provided through these key programs:

• Post-9/11 GI Bill

Yellow Ribbon Program to help pay tuition

costs for private or out-of-state schools,

or graduate school

• Montgomery GI Bill

• Reserve Educational Assistance Program

• Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational

Assistance

VA education benets may be used toward

traditional degrees, non-college degrees, on

-the-job training, apprenticeships and more.

VA also provides assistance to help Veterans

transition from military service to civilian

employment. Service-disabled Veterans may

be eligible for some one-on-one support,

counseling, and training to boost skills and

build careers.

Requirements

• Copies of your discharge or separation

papers (DD-214 or equivalent)

• Documentation of an enlistment incentive

or College Fund, sometimes referred to as

a “kicker” (this is an add on to the GI Bill

benet)

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

To qualify for a monthly housing allowance,

you must attend school more than half time

(e.g., seven out of 12 credit hours per term)

and not currently be on active duty in the

service

Application Process

The application process varies for different

types of applicants. So, before you apply,

determine the benet that is right for you.

You have up to 15 years after release from

active duty to use the Post-9/11 GI Bill; other

programs have different time limits.

If you are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill,

the Montgomery GI Bill, or the Reserve

Educational Assistance Program, you must

choose which benet you wish to receive.

This decision is irrevocable.

It takes about 30 minutes to apply for the

benet online. Consider the following:

• Plan ahead and apply early; VA

education benets can take a few weeks

to process.

• Depending upon where you live, your

application will be routed to one of four

Regional Processing Ofces (RPOs) in

Atlanta, GA; Buffalo, NY; Muskogee, OK;

and St. Louis, MO.

Health Care

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is

America’s largest integrated health care

system, with more than 1,700 sites of care,

and it is consistently ranked among the

nation’s top health care providers.

Many Veterans may be eligible for VA health

care. Enrollment in VA health care satises

your Affordable Care Act health coverage

requirement — no add-on insurance plan is

needed. VA encourages you to explore your

health care benets.

Requirements

Veterans must have served active military

service and been separated under any

conditions other than dishonorable.

Most Veterans who enlisted after 7

September 1980, or those who entered

active duty after 16 October 1981, must have

served 24 continuous months or the full

period for which they were called to active

duty. This includes current and former

members of the Reserve or National Guard

called to active duty by a federal order.

Benets Offered

• All enrolled Veterans have access to VA’s

comprehensive medical benets

package including preventive and

primary care, specialty care, home

health care, mental health care, geriatrics

and extended care, prescriptions, durable

medical equipment and prosthetics, and

more.

• Most Veterans qualify for cost-free health

care services, although some are required

to pay modest copays for health care or

prescriptions.

• Women Veterans can receive primary

care, prenatal care, maternity care,

breast and cervical cancer screenings,

along with other gender-specic services.

• Combat Veterans who were discharged

or released from active service on or after

28 January 2003 are eligible to enroll in the

VA healthcare system for ve years from

the date of their discharge or release,

regardless of their disability claim status.

Those who enroll under this authority will

continue to be enrolled even after their

enhanced eligibility period ends, although

their priority group may change. Many

combat Veterans applying after their

ve-year special enrollment period ends

are eligible for enrollment.

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

Documents Needed to Enroll

• Discharge papers such as DD-214

• Additional health insurance information,

including coverage through a spouse or

domestic partner

• Wage and nancial information, including

previous calendar-year gross income for

the Veteran, his or her spouse, and any

dependent children

Application Process

Applying is easy: Submit an application form

(10-10EZ) and VA will send you written

notication of your enrollment status.

Note: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was

designed to expand the access to health

coverage, control health care costs, improve

health care quality, and coordinate health

care.

Other VA Benets

Employment Services

Life Insurance

Home Loans

Memorial

Pension

Spouse, dependents, and survivors

Again, to learn more about these benets,

visit The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

website: www.va.gov.

Utah@EASE

Pro Bono Legal Assistance

This is a program led by the Ofce of the

Utah Attorney General in conjunction with

the Utah Department of Veterans and

Military Affairs and the Utah State Bar; a

public - private partnership offering pro

bono legal assistance and representation to

veterans and current service members for:

SCRA, Property, Landlord, Creditor / Debtor,

Consumer Fraud, USERRA, Predatory Lending,

Immigration, Wills, Power of Attorney.

Contact your JA or VSO for a referral.

Email Larry at [email protected]

VA Hospital

The George E. Wahlen Department of

Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a midsized,

afliated, tertiary care facility with 121

authorized beds. It is also a teaching facility,

and provides the full range of patient care

services, with state-of-the-art technology

and education and research. Comprehen-

sive health care is provided through primary

care, tertiary care, and long-term medical

care in the areas of surgery, psychiatry, neu-

rology, oncology, dentistry, physical medi-

cine and rehabilitation, and geriatrics.

Address:

George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center

500 Foothill Drive

Salt Lake City, UT 84113

Phone: (801) 582-1565 (800) 613-4012

VA Salt Lake City Health Care System offers a

variety of health services to meet the needs

of our nation's Veterans. Some services are

listed below, but more can be found on the

VA website:

www.saltlakecity.va.gov.

Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

590 Foothill Dr. (Bldg. 90)

801-582-1565 Ext. 4044

Chaplain and Religious Services

500 Foothill Drive (Bldg. 1)

801-582-1565 Ext. 1588

Dental

590 Foothill Drive (Bldg. 90)

801-584-1206 Ext. 1206

800-613-4012 Ext. 1206

Medical Foster Home Program

500 Foothill Drive (Bldg. 16)

801-582-1565 Ext. 2183

Mental Health

500 Foothill Drive (Bldg. 16)

801-582-1565 Ext. 1255

Patient Travel Benets

500 Foothill Drive

801-582-1565 Ext. 1420

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

Pharmacy

500 Foothill Drive (Bldg. 14)

801-584-2525

800-579-0540

Telehealth

500 Foothill Drive

801-582-1565 Ext. 4128

800-613-4012 Ext. 4128

Travel Benets

Bldg. 1, Ground Floor

801-582-1565 Ext. 1420

801-582-1565 Ext. 2474

Community Based Outpatient Clinics

(CBOCs)

There are 10 community based outpatient

clinics in the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare

System. The clinics in the VA system provide

primary care services to Veterans in outlying

communities and in some rural areas where

Veteran populations are concentrated.

http://www.saltlakecity.va.gov/locations/

index.asp

Ogden

982 Chambers Street

South Ogden, UT 84403

Phone: (801) 479-4105

Orem

1443 West 800 North, Suite 302

Orem, UT 84057

Phone: (801) 235-0953

Price

189 South 600 West, Suite B

Price, UT 84501

Phone: (435) 613-0342

Roosevelt

245 West 200 North

Roosevelt, UT 84066

Phone: (435) 725-1050

St. George

230 North 1680 East, Bldg. N

St. George, UT 84770

Phone: (435) 634-7608

West Valley City

2750 South 5600 West

West Valley City, UT 84120

Phone: (801) 417-5734

Vet Centers

The goal of the Vet Centers is to provide a

broad range of counseling, outreach, and

referral services to help eligible Veterans

make a satisfying readjustment to civilian

life. Family members are also eligible for the

services.

Vet Centers furnish bereavement counseling

to surviving parents, spouses, children, and

siblings of service members who die of any

cause while serving on active duty, to

include federally activated Reserve units and

National Guard personnel.

Salt Lake Vet Center

22 West Fireclay Ave.

Murray, UT 84107

Phone: (801) 266-1499 / (877) 927-8387

Fax: (801) 266-2577

Provo Vet Center

360 State Street

Orem, UT 84058

Phone: (801) 377-1117 / (877) 927-8387

Fax: (801) 377-0227

St. George Vet Center

1664 S Dixie Dr., Suite C-102

St. George, UT 84770-4494

Phone: (435) 673-4494 / (877) 927-8387

Ogden Vet Center

2357 N. Washington Blvd

N. Ogden, UT 84114

Phone: (801) 266-1499 / (877) 927-8387

Fax: (801) 266-2577

Benets ∙ Information ∙ Service ∙ Resource

Valor House

Located on the VA campus in Salt Lake City,

Valor House provides transitional housing for

up to two years for homeless Veterans.

There are a total of 60 beds available. For

more information regarding this program,

please contact Rich Landward at (801) 582-

1565 ext. 2703 or (800) 613-4012 ext.

2703.

VA REGIONAL (BENEFITS) OFFICE

The Veterans Administration Regional Ofce

(VARO) is responsible for the administration

of Veterans benets for the entire state of

Utah, as well as Montana and Alaska through

remote management of the Anchorage and

Fort Harrison Ofces. These benets include

compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and

employment.

The VARO Address:

550 Foothill Drive, Suite 200

PO Box 581900

Salt Lake City, UT 84158

Phone: (800) 827-1000

Fax: (844) 822-5246 (Claim Related Matter)

UTAH VETERANS LEGAL CLINIC

What: Talk to an attorney at no cost

When: On the second Thursday of each

month from 1730 to 1930 hrs.

Where: Salt Lake City VA Campus, Building

8 Multi-purpose Center