New Hampshire Vietnam Veterans’ Bonus

This is a small benefit that is easy to miss because everyone assumes a war bonus has expired. RSA 115-A still authorises it, the chapter's stated purpose in RSA 115-A:1 includes "to continue, when required, bonuses previously paid from the Vietnam veterans' bonus fund", and no application deadline appears anywhere in the chapter. Who qualifies, from RSA 115-A:3: each person who "actively served for a total period of 90 days or more in any capacity as a member of the uniformed forces of the United States between August 5, 1964, and August 15, 1973, or who served in the Vietnam area at any time between July 1, 1958, and August 5, 1964, and earned the Vietnam service medal or the armed forces expeditionary medal; and who was discharged, released or has a certificate of service therefrom, under honorable conditions, or who is missing in action; and who at the time he entered such active military service was a bona fide resident of New Hampshire". Four conditions, each worth reading. Ninety days total, "in any capacity". Service anywhere in the world inside the date range counts on the first route. A veteran who spent the Vietnam era at a post in Germany is within RSA 115-A:3 on its words. Only the earlier 1958 to 1964 route requires service in the Vietnam area plus a medal. The dates are the state's own. August 5, 1964 to August 15, 1973 is narrower at the front end than the RSA 72:28 Vietnam period, which runs from December 22, 1961, and narrower at the back end than the federal period ending May 7, 1975. A veteran who served only in 1974 is inside the property tax credit and outside the bonus. "Discharged, released or has a certificate of service therefrom, under honorable conditions, or who is missing in action." That is yet another discharge formula, and it is not the RSA 21:50 standard. "Under honorable conditions" is generally read to include a general discharge under honorable conditions. Residency is measured at entry into service, not now. "At the time he entered such active military service was a bona fide resident of New Hampshire." A veteran who enlisted from New Hampshire in 1968 and has lived in Florida for forty years still qualifies. Conversely a veteran who moved to New Hampshire after service does not, however long they have lived here. "Uniformed forces of the United States" is defined in RSA 115-A:2, II as the army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard and any women's auxiliary services to those forces whose members are subject to military law. The amount, in RSA 115-A:5, is $100, paid by the state treasurer on application once the adjutant general has certified the name. RSA 115-A:4 makes the adjutant general responsible for preparing the roster and the manifest authorising payment "from funds not otherwise appropriated", with the governor authorised to draw a warrant. So the payment does not depend on a standing appropriation. If the veteran has died, the bonus does not lapse. RSA 115-A:6: payment goes to the surviving spouse, or if none to the child or children in equal shares, or if neither to the surviving parents in equal shares, with no more than two parents paid. Preference among parents goes to the parent who actually exercised parental control at or nearest before the veteran's entry into service. A relationship in loco parentis is proved by the applicant's sworn statement plus supporting affidavits of two disinterested persons, and RSA 115-A:2, IV defines parent to include a person who stood in loco parentis. Two limits in RSA 115-A:7. No application is certified for payment unless written evidence shows that any person with a prior right to the benefit has died. And where benefits were paid to a veteran's father or mother before August 22, 1975 and the veteran had children, the children do not also accrue rights. A hundred dollars will not change anyone's finances. It is in the catalog because it is a live statutory entitlement that is missing from most New Hampshire benefit summaries, it costs one form to claim, and a veteran or a surviving spouse who qualifies has no reason not to. Start with the adjutant general's office, since RSA 115-A:4 makes that office the certifying authority.