New Jersey Blind, Paraplegic and Hemiplegic Veterans Allowance

New Jersey pays two small state pensions to its most severely injured wartime veterans, on top of anything VA pays. The amount. N.J.S.A. 38:18-2 (blindness) and 38:18A-2 (paralysis and amputation) each pay $1,800 a year in monthly payments. P.L.2022, c.105 raised them to that figure. Payments run from the date of discharge if the application is made within a year of it, otherwise from the date of application, and back payments are made in a lump sum. On the veteran's death the surviving spouse, or under 38:18A-2 the domestic partner or civil union partner, receives the same amount for life. The fiscal 2027 budget carries $57,000 for the blind allowance and $298,000 for the paraplegic and hemiplegic allowance. The injuries. Total loss of sight from wartime service; or paraplegia with permanent paralysis of both legs and the lower body; osteochondritis with permanent loss of use of both legs; hemiplegia with permanent paralysis of one leg and one arm; amputation of both hands, both feet, or a hand and a foot; or loss of use of both feet or both legs from multiple sclerosis, "sustained through enemy action, or accident, or resulting from disease contracted while in active military or naval service". Conditions from syphilis, alcohol use disorder or the veteran's own misconduct are excluded. The statute speaks of the condition, not a VA rating; the department's guide says a permanent service-connected rating is needed. The service and residence tests are old and narrow. For the paraplegic allowance, N.J.S.A. 38:18A-1 requires that the veteran "took part in any war" or served in a "time of emergency", defined as Korea (June 23, 1950 to July 27, 1953) and Vietnam (December 31, 1960 to August 1, 1974), was a New Jersey resident when he or she entered service, was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, and still lives in New Jersey. The blind allowance in N.J.S.A. 38:18-1 names wars and Korea to January 31, 1955, and requires an honorable or ordinary discharge and residence at entry. Neither names the Gulf War or any post-9/11 conflict by date; whether "any war in which the United States was engaged" reaches them is for the department. A veteran who moved to New Jersey after service is outside both. Moving away. N.J.S.A. 38:18A-4 lets a recipient who must leave New Jersey for health or work keep the paraplegic allowance, unless he or she starts receiving a similar payment from the new state. The department's guide, dated January 2026, also lists quadriplegia, which is covered because it includes paralysis of both legs. Apply to the Veterans Benefits Bureau on the Catastrophic Entitlement application.