Best & Worst States for Military Retirees

From Wallet Hub,  May 18, 2020

As military personnel retire this year, they will find themselves dropped into another war – the one the U.S. is waging against the coronavirus. COVID-19 has killed more Americans than the Vietnam War did, and has led to government measures similar to that of wartime, such as restrictions on going out and the conversion of factories to make essential supplies. Many of our military retirees will need emotional support as they transition back to civilian life in the midst of the pandemic, but may find opportunities for that support sharply cut back by social distancing. The skyrocketing unemployment rate caused by COVID-19 and the resulting lockdowns will also stand as an obstacle to any former military personnel looking to get civilian jobs

Even without a pandemic, retirement from the military is always difficult, with many retirees facing major struggles including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, disability and homelessness. These veterans must also consider how state tax policies on military benefits vary, along with the relative friendliness of different job markets and other socioeconomic factors, when choosing a state in which to settle down.

In order to help ease the burden on our nation’s military community, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on their ability to provide a comfortable military retirement. Their analysis uses a data set of 29 key metrics, ranging from veterans per capita to number of VA health facilities to job opportunities for veterans….

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HAWAII

• 47 -- Overall Rank (1=Best)
• 42.24 --Total Score
• 49 -- ‘Economic Environment’ Rank
• 29 -- ‘Quality of Life’ Rank
• 26 -- ‘Health Care’ Rank
• 48 (tie) – Percentage of Homeless Veterans (tied for highest)
• 50 – Affordable Housing (2nd least affordable)