Veterans of the Iraq war have until Dec. 31, 2014 to apply for the bonus, and a deadline has not been announced for veterans of the Afghanistan wars.
The bonus pays between $100 to $1,000 a month to veterans who served in the Persian Gulf, or the countries of Afghanistan or Iraq. For veterans who served elsewhere during those times, the payment is between $50 to $500 monthly. Families members of those killed in action can receive up to a total of $6,500.
The bonus is also open to the next of kin of those who were killed in action or died of a disease as a result of their service. The Ohio Veteran Bonus, which is not taxed under federal or state taxes, can be used for any purpose.
As of Tuesday, $60 million worth of bonuses had been paid to roughly 72,000 veterans and family members, according to a press release from the Ohio Department of Veteran Services.
For more information or to apply for your bonus, call 1-877-OHIO-VET or, visit www.veteransbonus.ohio.gov. You can also apply for your benefits by visiting any county veteran service office. To find your office, visit www.ohiovet.org. Offices in Butler County are located at 315 High Street in Hamilton and 1500 Central Ave., Suite D, in Middletown. In Warren County, the veteran service office is located at 320 E.Silver St., Lebanon.
About the Author