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Oklahoma State Veterans Benefits
http://www.ok.gov/odva/Oklahoma_Veterans_Benefits/Veterans_Preference/index.html
http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/state-veterans-benefits-directory

..The state of Oklahoma provides several veteran benefits. This section offers a brief description of each of the following benefits.

•Housing Benefits
•Financial Assistance Benefits
•Employment Benefits
•Other State Veteran Benefits
Oklahoma Veteran Housing Programs
State Veterans Center
The following are state nursing homes located in Oklahoma:

•Ardmore--175 nursing care beds
•Claremore--302 nursing care bgeds
•Clinton--148 nursing care beds--8 domiciliary beds
•Lawton--200 nursing care beds
•Norman--301 nursing care beds
•Sulphur--132 nursing care beds
•Talihina--175 nursing care beds
Visit the Oklahoma Dept. of Veterans Affairs website for contact information and benefits assistance.

Email Belinda White bwhite@odva.state.ok.us
Veterans Center Application Form
 (Effective 06-01-2009 Veterans 70% or greater service connected will receive full cost of care at any Oklahoma Veterans Center)
 
The Claims and Benefits Division
The Claims and Benefits Division provides many different services to the veterans and their dependents. The primary function is to assist veterans and their dependents with their claims before the U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs. Claims worked through the Muskogee Claims Office help claimants obtain compensation and pension benefits. Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Service Officers

and Claims Officers are accredited with a number of service organizations in order to better represent the claimant with their claims and appeals. The Claims Officers will assist in the appeals process,

and if necessary, represent the claimant at a personal hearing before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Hearing Officer. The Muskogee Claims Office handles lifetime hunting & fishing permits,

special veterans license plates, and the Financial Assistance Program.

Visit the Oklahoma Dept. of Veterans Affairs website for contact information and benefits assistance.

State Vets Hiring Preference:
In establishing employment lists of eligible persons for competitive and noncompetitive appointment, certain preferences shall be allowed for veterans honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the

United State[74:840-4.14(A)].
1.  Five points shall be added to the final grade of any person who has passed the examination and has submitted proof of having status as a:
      A. veteran [74:840-4.14(A)(1)]; or
      B. unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran [74:840-4.14(A)(1)]; or
      C. spouse of a veteran who is unemployable due to a service-connected disability as certified by the Veterans Administration or agency of the Defense Department within six (6) months of the date of

application [74:840-4.14(A)(2)].
2.  Ten points shall be added to the final grade of any war veteran as defined in Section 67.13a of  Title 72 of the Oklahoma Statutes who has passed the examination and has submitted proof of having a

service-connected disability as certified by the Veterans Administration or Agency of the Defense Department within six (6) months of date of application [74:840-4.14(A)(3)].
3.  In addition to the 10 points preference provided in (2) of this subsection, such eligible war veterans who are in receipt of benefits payable at the rate of 30% or more because of the service-connected

disability, shall be considered Absolute Preference Veterans. Their names shall be placed at the top of the register, ranked in order of their examination scores. Absolute Preference Veterans shall not be

denied employment and passed over for others without showing cause. [74:840-4.14(A)(3)]
Direct Hire Authority 530:10-9-111 and 10-9-112 [74:840-4.13(C)].  Applicants for LPN, RN, and Nurse Manager positions may apply directly to the veterans centers.
Special Disabled Veterans 530:10-9-100  Veterans with 30% or more service-connected disability may be hired directly at this agency, in accordance with the “Persons with Severe Disabilities Program”,

[74:840-1.15] and Senate Bill 200. This program provides exemption from entrance exams and other hiring procedures.  A one-year probationary period applies.
Noncompetitive Appointments 530:10-9-95  Appointing Authorities who have classes of positions of unskilled or semi-skilled labor, or similar classes designated by the Administrator as noncompetitive, may

appoint qualified veterans or non-veterans in accordance with 530:10-9-71 and 530:10-9-92.
All honorably discharged veterans who are currently Oklahoma residents shall be allowed free admission to all state-owned or state–operated parks and museums. A valid Oklahoma driver license or state

photo identification card and military discharge papers (DD Form 214) or similar evidence of an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces shall be required for free admission.
Free hunting and fishing permit for legal resident veterans having a disability of sixty percent (60%) or more exempt from the Wildlife Land Stamp requirements;
 Legal residents having proper certification from the USDVA or its successor certifying that the person is a disabled veteran may purchase a disability lifetime combination hunting/fishing license. The fees

for the license are:   
  $200.00 for veterans having a disability of LESS THAN 60%;
and $25.00 for veterans having a disability of 60% OR MORE.  (The $25.00 license provides some additional tags not included in the free permit for veterans with a 60% or more certified disability.)
Persons with proper certification from the USDVA or its successor, certifying that the person is a disabled veteran in receipt of compensation at the 100% rate are exempt from the fees for:
  the DEER GUN HUNTING License;
  the DEER ARCHERY HUNTING License;
  the PRIMITIVE FIREARMS License;
  BONUS, SPECIAL, OR SECOND DEER GUN HUNTING License
There shall be no exemptions except for residents sixty-four (64) years of age or older provided such residents have obtained a senior citizen’s license pursuant to the provisions of Section 4-133 of this

title.
Legal resident veterans having a disability of 60% or more are exempt from the Wildlife Land Stamp requirements

Property Tax
     The measure creates an exemption from property tax.  The exemption applies to certain injured veterans and surviving spouse of those veterans.  The exemption would be for the full fair cash value of

the homestead.
  Honorably discharge from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Oklahoma National Guard
  State resident
  100% permanent disabled-service connected
  Disability would have to have been sustained through military action or accident, or result from a disease contracted while in active service
  The disability would have to be certified by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Oklahoma Income Tax
    The first one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) received, as salary for service in the United States Armed Forces shall be deducted from taxable income.  The Oklahoma Tax Commission may,

according to the provisions set forth, grant an extension to any member of the United States Armed Forces when filing is impractical.
 
Exemption For Sales Tax
    Sales of tangible personal property or services to persons who are residents of Oklahoma and have been honorably discharged from active service in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United

States or Oklahoma National Guard and who have been certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or its successor to be in receipt of disability compensation at the one-hundred-percent

rate and the disability shall be permanent and have been sustained through military action or accident or resulting from disease contracted while in such active service.

 Exemption For Retirement Benefits
    Retirement benefits, for taxable years after December 31, 2005, received by an individual from any component of the Armed Forces of the U.S. shall be exempt from taxable income in an amount not to

exceed the greater of 75% of such benefits OR $10,000.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission is hereby authorized to design issue appropriate official special license plates as provided by this section.
 Special license plates shall not be transferred to any other person but shall be removed from the vehicle upon transfer of ownership and retained.  The special license plate may then be used on another

vehicle but only after such other vehicle has been registered for the current year with a motor license agent.
 The Commission shall take applications by October 1 of each year for the following calendar year for special license plates and shall issue such plates to each applicant.       

Prisoner of War License Plates – such plates shall be designed for honorably discharged or present members of the United States Armed Forces and civilians who were former prisoners of war held by

foreign country and who can provide proper certification of that status.  Such persons may apply for a prisoner of war license plate for no more than two vehicles with each vehicle having a rated carrying

capacity of one (1) ton or less.  The surviving spouse of any deceased former prisoner of war, if said spouse has not since remarried, may apply for a prisoner of war license plate for one vehicle with a

rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.
 
Disabled Veterans License Plates– such plates shall be designed for persons presenting proper certification from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Armed Forces of the United

States certifying such veteran has a service-connected disability rating of fifty percent (50%) or more, regardless which agency pays the disability benefits, or that such veteran has been awarded a

vehicle by the United States government or receives a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for the purchase of an automobile due to a service-connected disability rating or due to

the loss of use of a limb or an eye. Such persons may apply to the Tax Commission for a disabled veterans license plate or to a motor license agent for a regular license plate for no more than two vehicles

with each vehicle having a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less. The surviving spouse of any deceased disabled veteran, if the spouse has not since remarried, or if remarried, the remarriage is

terminated by death, divorce, or annulment, may apply for a disabled veterans license plate for one vehicle with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less. The fee provided by this section for the

special license plate authorized by this paragraph shall be in addition to all other registration fees provided by law, except the registration fees levied by Section 1132 of this title. Effective July 1, 2007, the

total expense of this license plate shall not exceed Five Dollars ($5.00).

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient License Plates – such plates shall be designed for any resident of this state who has been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Such persons may apply

for a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient license plate for each vehicle with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.
 
Missing In Action License Plates – such plates shall be designed to honor members of the United States Armed Forces who are missing in action.  The spouse of such missing person, if said spouse has

not since remarried, and each parent of the missing person may apply for a missing in action license plate upon presenting proper certification that such person is missing in action and that the person

making the application is the unremarried spouse or the parent of such missing person.  The spouse and each parent of such missing person may each apply for the missing in action license plate for

each vehicle with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.

Pearl Harbor Survivor License Plates – such plates shall be designed for any resident of this state who can be verified by the United States Veterans Administration or the Armed Forces of the United

States as being:
a. a member of the United States Armed Forces on December 7, 1941
b. stationed on December 7, 1941, during the hours of 7:55 a.m. and 9:45 a.m., Hawaii time, at Pearl Harbor, the island of Oahu or offshore at the distance not to exceed three (3) miles and,
c. a recipient of an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces.
Such person may apply for a Pearl Harbor license plate for each vehicle with a rated carrying of one (1) ton or less.
 The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall design and make available to any person who is issued a Pearl Harbor Survivor License Plate commemorative Pearl Harbor decal to commemorate the fiftieth

anniversary of Pearl Harbor.  Such decal shall include the language “Pearl Harbor 1941-1991” and shall be designed to easily be attached to a license plate.  This decal shall be free of charge to those

persons issued a Pearl Harbor Survivor License Plate.

United States Armed Forces – such plates shall be designed for active, retired or reserve members of the United States Armed Forces and shall identify which branch of service, and carry the emblem a

name of either the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard according to the branch of service to which the member belongs.
Persons applying for such license plate must show proof of present or past military service by presenting a valid Uniformed Service Identity Card or the United States Department of Defense Form (DD-

214)

Purple Heart Recipient License Plates – such plates shall be designed for any resident of this state who has been awarded the Purple Heart military decoration and upon the death of the recipient, the

spouse of the recipient.  Such persons may apply for a Purple Heart recipient license plate for vehicles with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.  The surviving spouse of any deceased

veteran who has been awarded the Purple Heart military decoration, if such spouse has not since remarried, or if remarried, the remarriage has been terminated by death, divorce or annulment, may

apply for such plate for one vehicle with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.

Killed in Action License Plates – such plates shall be designed to honor members of the United States Armed Forces who were killed in action.  The spouse of such deceased person, if the spouse has not

remarried, may apply for a killed in action license plate upon presenting proper certification that the person was killed in action and that said person making the application is the unremarried spouse of

such deceased person.  The spouse may apply for a killed in action plate for each vehicle with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.

Iwo Jima License Plates – such plates shall be designed for any resident of this state who can be verified by the United States Veterans Administration or the Armed Forces of the United States as being:
a. a member of the United States Armed Forces in February of 1945,
b. stationed in February of 1945 on or in the immediate vicinity of the island of Iwo Jima, and
c. a recipient of an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces
Such person may apply for an Iwo Jima license plate for each vehicle with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.            
Such license plate shall have the legend “Oklahoma OK” and shall contain three letters and three numbers.  Between the letters and numbers shall be a logo of the flag raising at Iwo Jima.  Below the

letters, logo and numbers, the plate shall contain the words “FEB.” at the left, “Iwo Jima” in the center and “1945” at the right.  Such plates shall not be subject to the design requirements of any other

license plates
prescribed by law other than the space for the placement of the yearly decals for each succeeding year of registration after the initial issue.

D-Day Survivor License Plates – such plates shall be designed for any resident of this state who can be verified by the United State Veterans Administration or the Armed Forces of the United States as

being:
a. a member of the United States Armed Forces on June 6, 1944,
b. a participant in the Allied invasion of the coast of Normandy on June 6, 1944; provided, if such participation cannot be verified by the United States Veterans Administration or the Armed Forces

of the United States, the Tax Commission may, in its discretion accept evidence of such participation from the person applying for the license plate, and
c. a recipient of an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces.
Such person may apply for a D-Day Survivor license plate for each vehicle with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.

Military Decoration License Plates – such plates shall be designed for any resident of this state who has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star

military decoration or the Silver Star military decoration.  Such person may apply for a military decoration license plate for each vehicle with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.
Vietnam Veteran License Plates – such plates shall be designed for honorably discharged or present members of the United States Armed Forces who served in the Vietnam Conflict.  Such persons may

apply for a Vietnam veteran license plate for each vehicle with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.
World War II Veteran License Plates – such plates shall be designed to honor honorably discharged former members of the United States Armed Forces who are residents of this state and who can be

verified by the Oklahoma Military Department, the Veterans Administration or the Armed Forces of the United States as having served on the federal active duty anytime during the period from September

16, 1940, to December 7, 1945.  The former members may apply for a World War II Veteran license plate for vehicles with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.
The license plate shall have the legend “Oklahoma” and shall contain, in the center of the plate, either the Thunderbird Insignia of the 45th Infantry Division in the prescribed red and gold coloring or the

emblem of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard according to the branch or service to which the member belonged.  For the purpose of license plate identification, the plate shall contain four

digits, two digits at the left and two digits at the right of the insignia or emblem.  Centered on the bottom of the license plate shall be the words “WORLD WAR II.”  However, the plates may be issued to any

person in any combination of numbers and letters with up to three on each side of the insignia or emblem as for personalized license plates.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission shall design and make available to any person who is issued a World War II Veteran License Plate a commemorative World War II decal to commemorate the fiftieth

anniversary of the end World War II.  The decal shall include the language “World War II 50th Anniversary” and shall be designed to be easily attached to a license plate.  This decal shall be free of

charge to those persons issued a World War II Veteran License Plate.

Korean War Veteran License Plate – such plates shall be designed to honor honorably discharged former members of the United States Armed Forces who are residents of this state and who can be

verified by the Oklahoma Military Department, the Veterans Administration or the Armed Forces of the United States as having served on federal active duty anytime during the period from June 27, 1950,

to January 31, 1955, both dates inclusive.  The former members may apply for a Korean Veteran license plate for vehicles with a rated  carrying capacity one (1) ton or less.
The license plate shall have the legend “OKLAHOMA” and shall contain, in the center of the plate, either the Thunderbird Insignia the 45th Infantry Division in the prescribed red and gold coloring the

emblem of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Coast Guard according to the branch of service to which the member belong for the purpose of license plate identification, the plate shall contain four

digits, two digits at the left and two digits at the right of the insignia or emblem.  Centered on the bottom of the license plate shall be the word “KOREA.” However, the plates may be issued to a person in

any combination of numbers and letters with up to three each side of the insignia or emblem as for personalized license plates.
Surviving Spouse License Plates – such plates shall be designed for any resident of this state who is the surviving spouse of an honorably discharged veteran who died due to or as a consequence of a

service-connected disability.  Such surviving spouse may, if not since remarried, or if remarried, the remarriage is terminated by death,  divorce or annulment, apply for a Surviving Spouse license plate

for one vehicle with a rated carrying capacity of one (1) ton or less.                       

Other license plates offered by the State of Oklahoma are:
     1. Air National Guard
    2. National Guard
    3. Oklahoma Military Alumni
Any person having the following qualifications is hereby authorized to apply for, receive, and display a certain badge or medal, to be known as "The Oklahoma Cross of Valor":
(1) Was a resident of Oklahoma at the time of entering the military service of the United States;
(2) The military service referred to in (1) above, was performed during either World War II, the Korean Conflict or the Republic of Vietnam Conflict, or during any period of time in which the United States

participated in a war, campaign or battle;
(3) Was made and officially listed as captive by the enemy during the service mentioned in (2) above; and
(4) Was honorably discharged from the military service.
To be eligible for admissionto any of the Centers, the Oklahoma veteran must have served in the active Armed Forces of the United States during wartime and discharged under conditions other than

dishonorable.
1.  Wartime dates are:
  WWI from 4/6/17 to 11/11/18
  WWII from 12/7/41 to 12/31/46
  Korean Conflict from 6/27/50 to 1/31/55
  Vietnam Era from 8/5/64 to 5/7/75 (2/28/61 for Veterans who served  "in country" before 8/5/64)
  Persian Gulf War from 08/02/90 through  future date to be set by law or presidential proclamation.
2.  Veterans must have served at least ninety (90) days, except where discharged due to or as a result of a service connected disability, with one or more days being during a wartime period as

prescribed in Item (1) above. (Oklahoma Statutes, Title 72.)

3.  A veteran must be disabled by age, disease or other reason as determined through physical examination by an Oklahoma Veterans Center physician to be eligible for admission. For domiciliary, the

veteran must be ambulant, be able to dress, and perform necessary bathroom needs. For nursing care, the veteran must be disabled or diseased to a degree that requires intermediate or skilled type

nursing care.

Oklahoma is among the top two states in the number of Veterans Centers providing intermediate to skilled nursing care and domiciliary care for its wartime veterans. All centers undergo annual inspections

by the U.S. Veterans Administration and follow the guidelines established by other health and safety agencies. Professional personnel provide diversified health services for every facet of complete health

care in the Veterans Centers. These health services include but are not limited to laboratory, x-ray, pharmaceutical, dietary, social, and recreational. Thus, a well-rounded state veterans program is created

to administer care not otherwise available to over 1,400 Oklahoma war veterans. The Veterans Centers operate much like private communities, situated on spacious, landscaped acreage. In addition to the

above, they include administrative offices, recreational halls, auditoriums, cafeterias, laundries, power plants, and maintenance shops. In recent years, the latest in Life Safety Code features have been

installed in all structures which accommodate patients. Expansion and growth are evident at the Centers as continual construction is underway building new additions, cafeterias, offices and other such

needed arrangements. A continual review of these facilities is made to ensure that each meets current safety and fire codes.

Email Belinda White bwhite@odva.state.ok.us
Veterans Center Application Form
 (Effective 06-01-2009 Veterans 70% or greater service connected will receive full cost of care at any Oklahoma Veterans Center)