Veterans eligible for a NJ veterans home are defined under N.J.A.C. § 5A:5-1.2 (the regulation governing veterans’ homes) as “A person who has been (other than dishonorably) discharged from the active military service of the United States (service must be 90 days’ total active duty service), unless discharged early for a service connected disability.”
National Guard members, according to the VA website “are not full-time active duty military personnel, although they can be deployed at any time should the need arise.” So the question to ask is if the National Guard member was ever deployed into active military service and if so, was it longer than 90 days or was there a service connected disability that prevented the member from serving more than 90 days. If so, the National Guard member is a veteran and eligible for the veterans’ home.
If you are looking for additional details on this topic or if you require advice about your situation, please contact Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq. toll-free at (855) 376-5291 or email him at fniemann@hnlawfirm.com. Please ask us about our video conferencing or telephone consultations if you are unable to come to our office.
By Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq. of Hanlon Niemann & Wright, a Freehold Township, Monmouth County, NJ Veterans Benefits Attorney