NJ Veterans Memorial Homes
If you're responsible for the long-term care and well being of a New Jersey veteran, a New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home may be the right nursing home choice for your loved one.

If you are interested in applying to one of our veterans homes, please contact the homes directly.

Programs include ceramics, dinner parties, socials, bingo, shopping, movies, and games. Off-site events include day trips to places such as Atlantic City, the racetrack, and many sporting events. Other services provided at each home include barber and beauty shops, lounges and recreation rooms, outdoor patios, chapels, snack bars, transportation, and libraries.

Learn more about the NJ Veterans Memorial Homes

Stand Down Operations
Stand Down helps the New Jersey's homeless veterans "combat" life on the streets by providing a broad range of necessities, including food, clothing, medical, legal and mental health assistance, job counseling, and referrals, but most importantly, companionship and camaraderie.

Membership is open to Veterans and volunteers over the age of 18 who are willing and able to give of their time, efforts and resources in assisting programs for homeless veterans.

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Veterans Haven
The Transitional Housing Program for homeless veterans occupies one large building on state property in Winslow Township. The program is divided into three phases: treatment; self-reclamation; and community reintegration. Each phase lasts three to six months and is tailored to individual treatment needs and vocational interests.

Eligible veterans are referred from a VA Medical Center after receiving a medical evaluation. To be admitted into the program, the veteran must agree to a long-term program focusing on psychological, social and vocational rehabilitation. The program is drug and alcohol free, and has a staff comprised of professionals in the fields of mental health, addictions, social work, vocational rehabilitation and nursing.

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NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA)
The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) offers low interest rate HMFA mortgages that provide veterans and their families with increased buying power and a savings of thousands of dollars in interest over the life of the loan. HMFA offers residential mortgages to United States veterans through the Veterans Administration (VA) home buyer program. Most HMFA homeownership loans are originated by private lenders that are approved to participate in the programs.

Learn more about the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency

Veterans Preference and Pension Status
NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is the agency to determine veterans preference for hiring in New Jersey civil service and veterans status for New Jersey civil service pension plans.

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Veterans Preference for Hiring in New Jersey Civil Service
The NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is the agency that determines veterans preference for hiring in New Jersey civil service and veteran status for New Jersey civil service pension plans.

Veterans Preference for Hiring in New Jersey Civil Service: War period veterans who pass state civil service examinations are given absolute preference over non-veterans when applying for state, county and municipal employment. Absolute preference is not extended to promotions, but if a veteran ranks highest on a promotional certification, a non-veteran cannot be offered the appointment before the veteran. Veterans with service-connected disabilities (at least 10%) who pass civil service examinations are given preference over other veterans and non-veterans for state, county and municipal employment.

Learn more about Veterans Preference for Hiring in Civil Service

Veterans Status for Civil Service and Pension Plans
A pension is available to qualified veterans. To qualify, a veteran must apply for veterans status for civil service pension plans after employment and must be in active employment until the effective date of retirement. These benefits cannot be deferred. Veterans who continue in employment covered by Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) until they are at least age 60 with 20 or more years of service credit are entitled to an annual benefit equal to one-half of the salary on which pension contributions were made in any consecutive 12-month period which would provide the largest possible benefit to the member.

Veterans who are at least age 55 with 35 or more years of service credit are entitled to an annual allowance based on the following formula: Years of Service divided by 55, multiplied by the last 12 months salary, which yields the Maximum Annual Allowance. Veterans benefits cannot be deferred and members must meet all the requirements to qualify. Veteran members may retire on the same basis as non-veteran members if it would result in a higher benefit.

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Other Civil Service Benefits for Veterans Preference
The following are other civil service benefits for veterans preference:

    * Appointment of veterans
    * Application of statutes to promotions
    * Preference in appointment in noncompetitive division
    * Preference to veterans in layoffs
    * Hearing on dismissal of veterans
    * Veterans not to be discriminated against because of physical defects

Learn more about Other Civil Service Benefits for Veterans Preference

Employment or Promotion
Any individual who has served in the Army, Air Force, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States and who has been awarded the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, Air Force Cross or Navy Cross, while a resident of this State, and any individual who has served in the United States Coast Guard and who has been awarded the Medal of Honor or the Navy Cross while a resident of this State, shall be appointed or promoted without complying with the rules of the Merit System Board. The appointing authority to whom the individual applies for appointment or promotion shall, at its discretion, appoint or promote that person. Upon promotion or appointment, that person shall become subject to the rules of the Merit System Board. A person who qualifies under this section shall not be limited to only one appointment or promotion.

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Replacement of Medals
Veterans may request issuance or replacement of their medals and awards. Family members may only request medals and awards of living veterans by obtaining their signed authorizations. For deceased veterans, requests will be accepted from next-of-kin (unremarried widow or widower, son or daughter, father or mother, brother or sister of the deceased veteran.)

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Fishing and Hunting Licenses
The NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife will annually issue the following items FREE to each qualified disabled veteran: a fire arm, bow & arrow, fishing or all around hunting license, a pheasant and quail stamp, a state duck stamp and a trout stamp. In addition, disabled veterans may apply for free permits: one bow and arrow deer permit *; one firearm (muzzleloader or shotgun) deer permit *; one spring and one fall turkey permit * for use during applicable hunting season.

*Special deer and turkey permit applications will be available at the Division offices listed below or by mail from the Trenton office. All rules and regulations pertaining to the lottery system and laws for each season still apply. In other words, you will be allowed to enter the first lottery and fall lottery for free but will not be guaranteed a permit. Your odds of winning a permit depend upon what zone and/or time period you select. Additional permits for added hunting opportunities may be purchased at the current rate of $28.00.

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No Fee Automobile Registration
The veteran must be 100 percent disabled and:

    * also be eligible for the automobile financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

In addition, the veteran must have sustained the following injuries incurred or aggravated during active military service:

    * loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet
    * loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands
    * permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to a prescribed degree. Veterans with best-corrected vision no better than 20/200 or less or field defect of 20 degrees or less are considered eligible.

No Fee Automobile Registration for Medal of Honor Recipients:  Medal of Honor recipients are eligible for a no-fee registration and will receive special license plates noting their award. Contact - For information call 1-888-486-3339.

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State Parks Admission
The New Jersey Division of State Parks and Forestry does not charge an admission fee for entrance into a State park or forest by any resident of the State who is an active member of the New Jersey National Guard who has completed Initial Active Duty Training.

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Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery
Free interment and perpetual care, in the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, is available to veteran residents of New Jersey, their spouses and dependant children. The Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located at 350 Provinceline Road, Wrightstown, NJ 08562.

The BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, a state- operated cemetery dedicated to veterans, is located on 225 acres in a picturesque setting of partially wooded land in Arneytown, North Hanover Township, Burlington County. The cemetery features a modern, nondenominational chapel/administration building. The cemetery will accommodate 215,000 veterans and eligible family members. Areas are provided for the interment of those cremated and for those veterans whose remains have never been recovered.

Learn more about the William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery