South Dakota Veterans Bonus

South Dakota still pays a veterans bonus and is still taking applications. That is unusual enough to say first: most state bonus chapters in this catalog are historical, with filing windows that shut years ago and statutes left in the code looking live. North Dakota's last window closed on June 30, 2021. South Dakota's qualifying period runs from September 11, 2001 "to a date to be determined by the South Dakota Legislature", and that date has not been set. Who qualifies. Section 33A-2-13 asks for a legal resident of South Dakota for at least six months immediately preceding entry into the armed forces, who is still serving or was separated or discharged honorably or under honorable conditions, and who either served at least thirty days on active duty and received or is eligible to receive a campaign or expeditionary medal for combat operations outside the United States, or served at least thirty days on active duty a portion of which fell after September 11, 2001. The residency rule has a carve-out that is easy to miss and is exactly the one that catches people. Being stationed in South Dakota does not make you a resident for bonus purposes. But a veteran who fails the six-month residency test and would otherwise qualify is still eligible if the service was in a South Dakota National Guard unit or a South Dakota-based reserve unit, and the veteran is not eligible for a similar benefit from any other state. The amounts, which the department's own page rounds off. For service on or after September 11, 2001, the rate is one hundred dollars for the first month and twenty dollars for each subsequent month, to a maximum of two hundred forty dollars. The five hundred dollar figure everyone quotes is the medal rate: a veteran who received or is eligible to receive a campaign or service medal for combat operations outside the United States is paid one hundred fifty dollars for the first month and fifty dollars for each subsequent month of that service, to a combined maximum of five hundred dollars. A veteran who did thirty months on active duty after 2001 without an expeditionary medal collects $240, not $500. Any period of service within a calendar month counts as a full month. Two flat five hundred dollar rates override the schedule. Section 33A-2-18 pays five hundred dollars to any qualifying veteran rated ten percent or more disabled for a service-connected disability incurred on active duty in the qualifying periods, regardless of length of service, and 33A-2-19 lets a veteran who already filed or was paid amend the claim or start a new one for the difference. Section 33A-2-17 pays five hundred dollars to the dependents of a member who died as a result of wounds, injuries or illness incurred in qualifying service, regardless of length of service or whether it was inside or outside the continental United States. Two bonuses are possible. Section 33A-2-33 allows a veteran eligible for service before December 31, 1992 and for service after January 1, 1993 to receive two separate bonuses, with no single bonus over five hundred dollars. The department describes the two windows as Desert Storm and everything since. What disqualifies. Active duty for training does not count, unless the department has made a rule that the training involved direct participation in or direct support of combat operations. A discharge under conditions other than honorable that has not been officially restored disqualifies, as does a refusal on conscientious, political or other grounds to submit to military discipline. And 33A-2-20 bars anyone eligible to receive a similar bonus or gratuity from another state. Two protective provisions. Section 33A-2-30 puts the right of payment beyond money and credit taxation, creditors' claims, garnishment and assignment, and keeps it out of the estate of a deceased veteran. Section 33A-2-28 makes a false application a Class 1 misdemeanour. Payment is not automatic on eligibility. Section 33A-2-21 says the bonus "shall be paid as soon as this state has adequate and sufficient funds to do so", with appropriations by subsequent sessions. Applications go to the Department of Veterans Affairs in Pierre, and applicants living outside the state can request the form by email or post.