This is the whole map in one place. Find your state below and you will jump straight to the benefits you may qualify for, the exact steps to claim them, and a checklist you can print. Numbers that change (dollar limits, deadlines) link to the official source; everything else is here on the page.
Education only. Not the VA, not a government agency, and not financial, tax, or legal advice. Help with a VA claim or rating is always free through a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer.
Not sure where to start? Tap your state below. It jumps you straight to the benefits you may qualify for, the exact steps to claim them, and a checklist you can print. More states are on the way.
If you're a disabled veteran living in Arizona, or thinking about moving here, this page walks you through every state and local benefit tied to your U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability rating: property tax, state income tax, your vehicle registration, hunting and fishing licenses, education for you or your dependents, and emergency financial help. I'll give you the exact office, the exact form, and the exact link so you can actually go do this today, not just read about it. Nothing here requires you to hire anyone or pay a fee. If a step ever asks you to pay someone to "help" you file a state benefit form, that's a red flag, not a requirement.
This is the single biggest dollar benefit on this page. If you're rated 100% service-connected disabled, Arizona now exempts your entire primary residence from property tax starting with tax year 2026 (first showing up on bills due October 2026). If you're rated below 100%, you still get a smaller dollar-amount reduction to your home's taxable value. Both programs are run by your County Assessor, not a state agency, and both require you to file an affidavit. Being rated is not enough by itself; you have to file.
Step 1. Get your VA rating proof. Sign in at va.gov/records/download-va-letters and download your Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter. Before it generates, check the boxes for your combined disability rating and, if you have it, permanent and total (P&T) status. Save the PDF. This is the document every county assessor will ask for.
Step 2. Find your County Assessor's office. Property tax exemptions are filed at the county level, not the state. Use your county's assessor site: Maricopa County Assessor (Phoenix area), Pima County Assessor (Tucson area), Cochise County Assessor exemptions page, or Mohave County Assessor exemptions page. If your county isn't listed here, search "[your county name] Arizona assessor" and look for "Personal Exemptions" or "Valuation Relief" on the .gov site. Every one of Arizona's 15 counties runs this same program.
Step 3. Get the right form. In Maricopa County the form is the Personal Exemption Application (Form FOR-136), downloadable directly at mcassessor.maricopa.gov/file/valuation_relief/forms/Personal-Exemption.pdf. Other counties use the state's standard personal exemption affidavit (Arizona Department of Revenue Form 82514). Your county assessor's exemptions page (Step 2 link) will have the county-specific version to download or complete online.
Step 4. Know which tier you're filing for. If you're rated 100% service-connected, you're applying for the full exemption of your primary residence's value (new for tax year 2026). This tier still has an income test: household income from the prior calendar year generally cannot exceed roughly $39,865 (or about $47,826 if a dependent under 18 lives with you). Social Security, military pensions, and VA disability compensation don't count against this limit. If you're rated below 100%, you qualify for the older Veteran Disability exemption, which reduces your home's taxable ("Limited Property") value by up to roughly $4,873, multiplied by your disability percentage. Confirm the exact current-year dollar figures on your county assessor's page (Step 2 link), since these are indexed and change slightly each year.
Step 5. Gather your documents. Bring or attach: (1) your VA Benefit Summary letter from Step 1, (2) your DD-214, (3) proof the home is your primary residence (driver's license or voter registration at that address), (4) the deed or a recent tax bill showing you own it, and (5) proof of prior-year household income if you're applying for the full 100% exemption.
Step 6. File before the deadline. The standard filing window for a first-time affidavit runs from the first Monday in January through late February (Maricopa County's cutoff is February 28). A late-filing waiver is generally available through September 1 if you miss the early deadline, so file anyway if you're late this year. File by mail, in person, or online per your county's instructions.
Step 7. Confirm and recheck annually. Watch your property tax statement (bills go out in the fall, due October) for the exemption line. Most counties require you to reconfirm income eligibility every year and to notify the assessor in writing if anything changes (you move, remarry as a surviving spouse, and so on). If you're a surviving spouse of a veteran who had the 100% exemption, you can generally keep the full exemption as long as you don't remarry and the property stays your primary residence. Confirm the portability details for your situation directly with your county assessor.
Arizona is one of the more veteran-friendly states on income tax, and most of what you'd worry about is already handled automatically or through a simple subtraction on your return.
Step 1. Know that your VA disability compensation is already tax-free. It's excluded from your federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), which is the number Arizona starts from, so it flows through untaxed automatically. You don't file anything extra for this.
Step 2. Know that military retirement pay is fully exempt too. Since tax year 2021 (income earned 2020 forward), Arizona does not tax any amount of military retirement or retainer pay, with no dollar cap. Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity payments are exempt the same way.
Step 3. If you're still on active duty, your active-duty pay (including combat-zone pay) is not taxed by Arizona either, and hasn't been since 2006.
Step 4. Claim the subtraction on the right form. The military retirement and active-duty pay subtraction is taken on Arizona Form 140 (full-year resident) or Form 140PY (part-year resident). It is not available on the short forms 140A or 140EZ. Get current-year forms directly from the Arizona Department of Revenue individual forms page, and see the Arizona Department of Revenue Military Tax Filing guidance for the exact subtraction line.
Step 5. If you use tax software or a preparer, tell them explicitly that you have military retirement or VA compensation so the subtraction isn't missed. It's not always prompted automatically.
Arizona's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is officially the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), part of the Arizona Department of Transportation. The MVD waives the annual vehicle license tax (VLT) and registration fee on one vehicle for a veteran certified 100% disabled by the VA.
Step 1. Confirm you qualify. You qualify if the VA certifies you as 100% disabled (this includes a veteran rated 60% or more but paid at the 100% rate due to Individual Unemployability), or if you're a Purple Heart recipient with an honorable discharge. A surviving spouse can continue the exemption until remarriage, with annual re-certification.
Step 2. Find your local MVD or Authorized Third Party office. Use the ADOT MVD office locator to find the nearest location. Many routine MVD transactions can also be started at an Authorized Third Party provider, also searchable from that same locator page. Program details are on the ADOT MVD resident exemptions page.
Step 3. Get your VA certification ready. Bring your VA benefit letter or disability certification showing the 100% rating (or Purple Heart award documentation), plus your DD-214 and your current vehicle title or registration. There isn't a separate ADOT exemption form for this program. MVD staff process the exemption directly off your VA paperwork at the counter or through the mail-in renewal process.
Step 4. Apply at renewal or in person. Visit the MVD office in person, or if you're renewing by mail, include your VA certification with the renewal notice. The exemption covers one vehicle you own or co-own, and it transfers to a replacement vehicle when you re-register.
Step 5. Add the Veteran designation to your driver's license (optional, no fee). Bring your DD-214, DD-215, NGB-22, or a statement of honorable service from the VA or Arizona's Department of Veterans' Services to any MVD office and ask for the Veteran Designation on your license or ID. This must be done in person and requires a new photo. Full details: ADOT Veteran Designation.
Step 6. Order a disabled veteran or standard Veteran specialty plate if you want one. Complete Special Plate Application Form 96-0143 (available at azdot.gov) and attach your DD-214 (or equivalent) as proof of status. Standard Veteran plates run about $25 to start plus a $25 annual renewal, though the personalization and renewal fee is waived by statute for the veteran plate. Confirm the current fee at the ADOT Veteran license plate page. This plate fee is separate from the VLT and registration exemption above.
Two agencies run these: Arizona State Parks for day-use entry, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) for hunting and fishing licenses.
Step 1. Get your free Arizona State Parks pass if you're rated 100%. You need a Disabled Veterans Annual Arizona State Parks Pass, which gets you free day-use entry (you plus up to three additional adults at per-vehicle-fee parks). You must be an Arizona resident for at least 12 months. Apply in person at any state park visitor center with your VA certification of the 100% rating. See Arizona State Parks Veteran and Military Discounts for the current park list and any exclusions (camping and cavern or mansion tours are not covered by the free pass).
Step 2. If you're a veteran or retiree rated below 100%, or active duty, you still get 50% off day-use entry at Arizona State Parks just by showing valid military ID or discharge proof at the gate. No advance application needed.
Step 3. Apply for your free hunting and fishing license if rated 100%. Complete the Disabled Veteran License Application (AZGFD Form 2729). You can either bring it, plus a copy of your VA benefit letter stating "100% disabled, permanent and total," to any local AZGFD office, or mail both to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Front Counter, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. You need at least one full year of Arizona residency immediately before applying. The paper license is free; an optional plastic card version costs $4. Details and the form: AZGFD Disabled Veteran License.
Step 4. If you're rated below 100%, ask AZGFD about the reduced-fee combination license instead (a discounted flat fee below the standard combo license price). Apply the same way as Step 3, at a local office or by mail with your VA rating letter attached.
Step 5. If you're a Purple Heart recipient, you qualify for a 50%-off combination hunting and fishing license the same way, with proof of your Purple Heart award and one year of Arizona residency.
Step 6. If you were honorably discharged within the last two years, ask AZGFD about the separate recently-discharged license fee waiver, which applies regardless of disability rating.
Arizona runs a state tuition waiver through the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS) that can stack on top of federal GI Bill benefits, rather than replace them.
Step 1. Check which eligibility door you fit through. The waiver is generally aimed at (a) a Purple Heart recipient who is an Arizona resident (or was stationed in Arizona when awarded the Purple Heart) with a VA disability rating of 50% or more, or (b) the surviving spouse (unremarried) or child (up to age 30) of an Arizona National Guard member or U.S. Armed Forces member who was an Arizona resident, or stationed in Arizona, and died in the line of duty or of line-of-duty injuries, or (c) an Arizona National Guard member awarded the Purple Heart after September 11, 2001. The exact eligibility tiers are written with some overlap and change over time, so if you're a disabled veteran without a Purple Heart, don't assume you're in or out. Confirm your specific situation directly with ADVS using the contact in Step 3 before you rule yourself out.
Step 2. Get the form. Download the Tuition Waiver and Verification Form directly at dvs.az.gov/services/education/tuition-waiver-and-verification-form.
Step 3. Gather your documents. You'll need proof of your VA disability rating (your Benefit Summary letter) or Purple Heart award documentation, your DD-214, and proof of Arizona residency (or Arizona National Guard or stationing record, depending on your eligibility path). Email the completed form and documents to ADVS or mail them to Arizona Department of Veterans' Services, 3839 N 3rd St, Suite 209, Phoenix, AZ 85012. Contact ADVS at (602) 255-3373 for the current submission email address and to confirm your documents are complete before sending.
Step 4. Have ADVS verify eligibility, then take the approved waiver to your school's veterans or registrar office. The waiver covers tuition and fees toward an undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree at any Arizona public university or community college. It does not cover books, parking, course fees, or room and board. If you're attending Arizona State University, ASU publishes its own walkthrough for how the state waiver applies at enrollment: ASU Veterans Arizona Tuition Waiver. Ask your school's veterans services office for the equivalent page if you're elsewhere (University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, or a community college).
Step 5. If you're not sure which door you qualify under, call ADVS at (602) 255-3373 and ask for a Veteran Benefits Counselor. This counseling is free, and they will tell you exactly which form and documents apply to your situation before you submit anything.
If you're facing a sudden financial hardship tied to your military service, Arizona runs a state-funded emergency grant separate from any VA process.
Step 1. Know what the Military Family Relief Fund (MFRF) covers. It's a one-time emergency grant for basic living expenses caused by an unforeseen hardship connected to military service, things like rental assistance, a vehicle payment, or a utility bill that's past due. The one-time award is capped, and it is not a loan. Confirm the current per-request and lifetime caps on the official page in Step 2, since these are set by the program.
Step 2. Start the application online. Go to dvs.az.gov/services/financial-assistance/military-family-relief-fund and follow the online application link on that page.
Step 3. Gather your documents before you start (this is the part that trips people up). You'll need your DD-214, your VA decision letter and current rating, two months of bank statements, two months of pay stubs, and the specific past-due bill or bills you're requesting help with. Incomplete applications sit until the missing document arrives, so gather everything first.
Step 4. Submit and wait for committee review. Applications go to an MFRF Emergency Committee for a vote. Ask about the current turnaround time when you submit, since review timelines can shift with volume.
Step 5. If you need to talk to a person first, call ADVS at (602) 255-3373, or visit in person at 3839 N 3rd St, Suite 209, Phoenix, AZ 85012 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and ask for help with the Military Family Relief Fund application.
Everything above is a state benefit you can file yourself with the links given. If instead you want to file a new VA disability claim or get your rating increased, do not pay anyone for that. Use a free VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) through DAV, VFW, American Legion, your county veteran services office, or find one at va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative. In Arizona, ADVS also staffs its own free Veteran Benefits Counselors (VBCs), accredited the same way, at offices including Phoenix (3839 N 3rd St, Suite 209, (602) 255-3373), Tucson (1661 N Swan Rd, Suite 128, (520) 207-4960), Flagstaff (1016 W University Ave, Suite 210, (928) 779-4166), and Yuma (1450 E 16th St, (928) 726-2851). Call (602) 535-1215 to schedule an appointment at any of them, or see dvs.az.gov/contact-us/find-advs-offices for the current full office list.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ VA Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter, downloaded from va.gov, with combined rating and P&T status checked
☐ DD-214 (or DD-215, NGB-22, or statement of honorable service)
☐ Deed or most recent property tax bill for your home
☐ Proof of primary residence (driver's license or voter registration at that address)
☐ Prior-year household income documentation (for the 100% property tax exemption income test)
☐ County Assessor's Personal Exemption Application (Form FOR-136 in Maricopa County, or your county's equivalent) filed by February 28, or the late-filing waiver by September 1
☐ Arizona Form 140 or 140PY, with the military retirement or active-duty pay subtraction claimed, at tax filing time
☐ VA certification of 100% disability (or Purple Heart proof) brought to your local MVD office for the vehicle license tax and registration fee exemption
☐ Special Plate Application Form 96-0143, if you want a Veteran or disabled-veteran specialty plate
☐ Disabled Veterans Annual Arizona State Parks Pass, applied for in person at a park visitor center (100% rating), or military ID at the gate (below 100% or active duty)
☐ AZGFD Form 2729 (Disabled Veteran License Application) plus your VA benefit letter, filed in person or mailed to the Phoenix AZGFD office
☐ ADVS Tuition Waiver and Verification Form, with supporting documents, for you or an eligible dependent
☐ Military Family Relief Fund documents ready if you need emergency help: DD-214, VA decision letter, 2 months of bank statements, 2 months of pay stubs, past-due bill(s)
☐ ADVS Veteran Benefits Counselor appointment scheduled at (602) 535-1215, if you want free help with any of the above
☐ Free accredited VSO contacted via va.gov if this involves your VA rating itself, not a state filing
This page is education only. It is not affiliated with the VA, the State of Arizona, or any government agency, and it is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Benefit amounts, income limits, forms, and deadlines change and can vary by county, so verify current figures and requirements at the official links above before you rely on them, especially the property tax exemption, which Arizona's Legislature was still refining implementation details on as of mid-2026. If any step here touches your VA disability rating or a new claim, only use a free VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VA.gov), never a paid claims agent. And if anyone approaches you offering to move your VA compensation into an annuity, a trust, or a "benefits planning" product for a fee, walk away. That is not a state benefit, and it is a common target for predatory sales tactics aimed at disabled veterans.
If you are a service-connected disabled veteran living in California, this page walks you through the benefits you can actually claim here, in the order to do them, with the exact office, form, and link for each one. My goal is that you read this once and get it done from your kitchen table. Print the checklist at the bottom and work the list.
A few ground rules so we both know where we stand. This is education, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and I am not the VA or any government agency and have no affiliation with them. Benefits change and county rules vary, so I link you to the official California source for anything with a live number on it. And one hard line: if you need to file a VA disability claim or raise your rating, do not pay anyone and do not try to freelance it. Use a free accredited Veterans Service Officer (from the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, or your County Veterans Service Office). You can find an accredited one through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at VA.gov accredited representative search. They do the claim for free. The state benefits below (property tax, vehicle plates, parks, tuition, hiring) you can handle yourself, and I show you how.
California's Disabled Veterans' Exemption lowers the assessed value the county taxes on your principal residence, which lowers your bill. It comes in two tiers: a basic exemption with no income limit, and a larger low-income exemption for households under an annual income cap. Both dollar amounts rise a little each year with a state inflation factor, so I am not going to type a number that will be stale by the time you read this. Get the current-year figures from the official source below or your county assessor.
Who qualifies: a veteran rated 100 percent service-connected by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or compensated at the 100 percent rate because of Individual Unemployability. An unmarried surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran can also claim it, but remarriage at any age ends it.
Step 1. Confirm you are rated 100 percent (or paid at the 100 percent rate for Individual Unemployability) and that the home is your principal residence, owned and occupied as of the January 1 lien date. Read the rule and the current-year dollar amounts on the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) Disabled Veterans' Exemption overview.
Step 2. Get the claim form. It is form BOE-261-G, Claim for Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption. Your county assessor supplies its version; here is a sample BOE-261-G form so you know exactly what it looks like before you go.
Step 3. Find your county assessor, since this is filed with the county and not the state. The Board of Equalization keeps the official assessor listing linked from its BOE property tax page. Call your assessor and ask for the Disabled Veterans' Exemption unit.
Step 4. File form BOE-261-G with your county assessor and bring your VA award letter showing the 100 percent (or Individual Unemployability) rating and proof you live there. If you are going for the low-income tier, ask what income proof they require, because that tier is income-tested and must be re-filed each year (generally between January 1 and February 15). Ask the clerk to confirm which tier you are approved for and when it takes effect.
You can also read CalVet's plain-language summary on the CalVet Property Tax Exemptions page.
Your VA disability compensation is not taxable income, at the federal level or on your California return. You never report it. That is the big one and it is automatic.
California does generally tax military retirement pay, but for tax years 2025 through 2029 the state allows a Uniformed Services and Survivor Benefit Plan income exclusion, subject to a federal adjusted gross income limit that differs for single versus joint filers. I am not quoting the exclusion or the income caps here because they are set in statute and you want the current figure at filing time. Get it straight from the California Franchise Tax Board military page, and claim it on your California Form 540 or 540NR, not on your federal return.
Step 1. If you receive military retirement pay, open the Franchise Tax Board military page above and read the current exclusion amount and the income limits for your filing status. Step 2. When you (or your preparer) do your California return, apply the exclusion on Form 540/540NR. Step 3. Keep your VA award letter and retirement statement with your tax file in case the state asks.
California's motor-vehicle agency is the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates get you a waiver of the registration and license fees on one qualifying vehicle, plus disabled-parking privileges (accessible spaces, blue curbs, and free metered parking statewide).
Who qualifies: a veteran with a single service-connected disability rated 100 percent by the VA, or rated for Individual Unemployability, or who meets specific mobility or blindness criteria (loss of limb, inability to move without an assistive device, or legal blindness). Note the trap: a combined rating that adds up to 100 percent from several conditions does not by itself qualify for DV plates; the underlying medical certification controls. Read it on the California DMV Disabled Veteran (DV) License Plates page.
Step 1. Confirm you meet the medical criteria above. Step 2. Get form REG 256V, Miscellaneous Certifications, which includes the disabled-veteran certification, from the DMV DV plates page linked above. Step 3. Have a licensed physician complete the medical certification portion. Step 4. Submit REG 256V with your application in person at a DMV field office (use the official DMV office locator) or by mail. Step 5. Ask the DMV to confirm your one fee-exempt vehicle and that the DV plate waiver is applied to your registration and license fees (duplicate plate or sticker fees still apply).
Toll note: many California toll bridges and roads offer free or discounted travel to DV plate holders with an active FasTrak account, but the rules differ by toll agency and often exclude express (high-occupancy toll) lanes. Confirm with the specific operator, for example FasTrak discounts or the SANDAG Veterans Toll Exemption Program. Do not assume free travel until the operator confirms it for your account.
The Distinguished Veteran Pass from California State Parks is a free lifetime pass covering day-use, camping, and boating basic fees at participating state parks. Eligible: an honorably discharged California-resident veteran with an overall service-connected rating of 50 percent or greater incurred during a qualifying wartime or operations period (the exact date ranges are on the official page), plus former prisoners of war and Medal of Honor recipients. A 50 percent rating from a non-qualifying peacetime period does not by itself qualify.
Step 1. Check the qualifying periods and get the application on the California State Parks Distinguished Veteran Pass page and the application requirements page. Step 2. Gather your discharge document (DD-214) and VA rating letter. Step 3. Mail the completed application with your proof to the address on the form and ask them to confirm receipt and the pass validity period.
For fishing and hunting, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) offers a reduced-fee sport fishing and hunting license to honorably discharged veterans rated 50 percent or greater, once your VA disability letter is prequalified and on file. Fully free licenses exist for veterans who are visually, mobility, or developmentally impaired and prequalified. I am not quoting the fee here because the schedule changes yearly; get the current figure and the prequalification steps from the CDFW Reduced-Fee License page. Step 1. Send CDFW your VA disability letter to prequalify. Step 2. After prequalification, buy the reduced-fee license through CDFW and confirm the veteran rate applied.
The CalVet College Fee Waiver waives mandatory systemwide tuition and fees at any California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus for the dependents (children and, in some plans, spouses) of a service-connected disabled veteran. Under Plan A, the unmarried child of a veteran rated 100 percent service-connected qualifies, generally between ages 14 and 27, with no income test. Other plans cover lower ratings but add an income test. It does not cover books, parking, or room and board.
Step 1. Read which plan fits your family on the CalVet College Fee Waiver Program page and the College Fee Waiver fact sheet (PDF). Step 2. Gather the veteran's VA rating letter and the dependent's birth or marriage certificate. Step 3. Apply through your County Veterans Service Office or the college's admissions/veterans office. Find your local County Veterans Service Office through the CalVet veteran services hub. Step 4. Ask them to confirm the plan, the covered campus, and the term it starts.
For California state jobs, a qualifying veteran gets Veterans' Preference as rank placement (Rank 1 on the eligibility list) after passing the relevant civil-service exam, rather than bonus points. For this preference, a disabled veteran means anyone currently rated by the VA at 10 percent or more. Once granted, it applies automatically to future qualifying state exams.
Step 1. Read the rules on the CalCareers Veterans' Information page. Step 2. Complete the veterans' preference request (California Department of Human Resources form CalHR 1093), available as the CalHR 1093 form (PDF). Step 3. Submit it with your DD-214 and VA rating letter as directed on the CalCareers page. Step 4. Confirm your preference is on file with the California Department of Human Resources so it applies to future exams.
State Veterans Homes: California runs CalVet Veterans Homes in several cities, offering levels of care from independent living to skilled nursing. Veterans rated 70 percent or greater, former prisoners of war, Medal of Honor recipients, and homeless veterans get priority admission, and the usual age minimum is waived for disabled veterans needing long-term care. Start at the CalVet Veterans Homes page and the applying for a CalVet home page.
Business license and peddler fee waiver: a disabled veteran who is physically unable to earn a livelihood by manual labor and was honorably discharged is exempt from state, county, and municipal business license taxes and fees to sell goods (alcohol excluded). It is administered locally, so apply through your city or county licensing authority with your honorable discharge and VA disability documentation. Details are on the CalVet Business License, Tax and Fee Waiver page.
Burial: California operates state veterans cemeteries, and burial for an eligible veteran is free. See the CalVet State Veterans Cemeteries page.
California's state veterans agency is the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), at calvet.ca.gov, with its services hub at the CalVet veteran services page. Your County Veterans Service Office is the free local help desk for the state benefits above; find yours through that CalVet hub. And again, for anything to do with filing or increasing a VA disability claim or rating, use a free accredited Veterans Service Officer through the VA.gov accredited representative search. It costs nothing.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ Gather your VA award/rating letter showing your service-connected percentage
☐ Gather your discharge document (DD-214)
☐ Gather proof you live at your home (utility bill, ID) for the property tax filing
☐ Property tax: complete form BOE-261-G and file it with your county assessor; ask which tier and effective date
☐ Property tax: if going for the low-income tier, get income proof ready and note the January 1 to February 15 annual re-file window
☐ Income tax: if you draw military retirement pay, check the current exclusion and income limits on the Franchise Tax Board military page and claim it on Form 540/540NR
☐ Vehicle: have a physician complete form REG 256V, then file it at a DMV field office for Disabled Veteran plates and the fee waiver
☐ Vehicle (optional): confirm toll discounts with your specific toll agency and FasTrak account
☐ Parks: mail the Distinguished Veteran Pass application to California State Parks with your rating letter and DD-214
☐ Fishing/hunting: send your VA disability letter to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to prequalify, then buy the reduced-fee license
☐ Education (dependents): apply for the CalVet College Fee Waiver through your County Veterans Service Office or the college's veterans office
☐ State jobs: submit form CalHR 1093 with your DD-214 and rating letter, and confirm your preference is on file
☐ Find your County Veterans Service Office through the CalVet hub for free, in-person help on any of the above
☐ For a VA claim or rating increase only: contact a free accredited Veterans Service Officer through VA.gov (never pay for this)
Rated, Now What is education only and is not affiliated with the VA or any government agency. Benefits, dollar amounts, income limits, and forms change and vary by county, so confirm the current figure with the official California source linked above before you rely on it. Help with filing or increasing a VA disability claim or rating is always free through an accredited Veterans Service Officer; never pay anyone to file. Be wary of anyone who pressures you to buy an annuity, move your money, or 'restructure' your finances to qualify for a benefit. That pension-poaching pitch usually helps them, not you. Talk to a fee-only fiduciary before moving a dollar.
If you are a disabled veteran living in Florida (or moving here), this page walks you through every state and local benefit tied to your VA disability rating: property tax breaks, vehicle and driver's license perks, hunting and fishing licenses, state park access, education benefits for you and your family, and where to go if you hit a financial emergency. Every step below names the actual form, the actual office, and the actual link so you can do this yourself, today, without bouncing around the internet looking for the right page. This is educational information only. I am not the VA and not affiliated with any Florida state agency.
Florida offers three separate, stackable-by-situation property tax breaks tied to your VA disability rating, ranging from a $5,000 exemption at 10%+ to a full $0 property tax bill at 100% Permanent and Total (P&T). All three are filed with your county Property Appraiser, not the state Department of Revenue directly.
What it is: (1) a 100% exemption on your homestead if you are 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) service-connected disabled (Florida Statute 196.081); (2) a $5,000 assessed-value exemption if you have a 10% or greater service-connected disability rating (Florida Statute 196.24); and (3) an age-65+ combat-related discount equal to your VA disability percentage if your disability is combat-related and you are 65 or older (Florida Statute 196.082). Unremarried surviving spouses can continue or inherit these benefits.
Step 1 - Confirm you meet the base requirement for all three: the property must be your permanent Florida residence (homestead), you must hold legal or beneficial title, and you must be honorably discharged. If you have not yet filed your basic Florida homestead exemption, you will file that at the same time as the veteran exemption.
Step 2 - Get your VA disability letter. Request your official VA benefit letter showing your percentage rating (and, for the 65+ discount, a letter that states the disability is combat-related) at va.gov/records/download-va-letters or through a free County Veteran Service Officer (covered in the last two sections of this page). For the 100% P&T exemption you need the letter to state total and permanent disability.
Step 3 - Get the right form. Florida Department of Revenue forms: Form DR-501, "Original Application for Homestead and Related Tax Exemptions" covers the basic homestead exemption plus the 100% P&T exemption and the $5,000 10%-or-greater exemption. Form DR-501DV, "Application and Return for Homestead Tax Discount, Veterans Age 65 and Older with a Combat-Related Disability" is the separate form for the age-65+ combat-related discount. Download both here: DR-501 and DR-501DV.
Step 4 - Find your county Property Appraiser's office (this is a county office, not a state one; Florida has 67 counties, each with its own appraiser). Use the Florida Department of Revenue's official directory to find your county's office, address, phone, and website: Florida Dept. of Revenue, Local Property Appraisers.
Step 5 - Bring these documents to your county Property Appraiser (in person, by mail, or online if your county offers e-filing): your VA disability letter, a copy of your DD-214 showing honorable discharge, proof of Florida residency (driver's license or state ID showing your homestead address), and your deed or proof of title to the property. For the 65+ discount, also bring proof of age and the VA letter identifying the disability as combat-related.
Step 6 - File by March 1 of the tax year you want the exemption applied to. Florida allows late filing up to the certification of the county tax roll (generally September) if you can show good cause; if you are approved after paying, you can get a refund for up to the prior 4 years of overpaid tax on the 10%+ exemption if you apply for the first time after already being eligible in prior years.
Step 7 - Ask specifically for: which exemption(s) you qualify for, whether the 100% exemption and the $5,000 exemption can both apply (the appraiser's office will tell you the correct one for your rating), and whether your county participates in a portability/surviving-spouse transfer if you plan to move within Florida later.
Official statutes for reference: Fla. Stat. §196.081 (100% P&T exemption), Fla. Stat. §196.24 ($5,000 exemption), Fla. Stat. §196.082 (65+ combat-related discount).
Florida has no state personal income tax at all, for anyone. There is no separate veteran carve-out to file for because there is no state income tax return to file in the first place.
Step 1 - Know this applies automatically: your VA disability compensation is already federally tax-free (38 U.S.C. §5301), and Florida does not add any state income tax on top of any income source, veteran or not.
Step 2 - There is nothing to file with the state on this point. If you want the primary source, see Florida Dept. of Revenue, General Tax Information.
Step 3 - If you still file a federal return and want to understand how VA disability compensation and combat-related special compensation interact with federal taxes, see IRS Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons With Disabilities.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), which is Florida's version of a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), sets these rules statewide, but for most of these transactions you file the paperwork in person at your county tax collector's office or an FLHSMV service center, not at a single statewide DMV counter.
What it is: a free "DV" (Disabled Veteran) license plate, a no-fee driver's license (or a free "Veteran" designation added to your existing license), and a no-fee state ID card for homeless veterans, all tied to a 100% service-connected disability rating.
Step 1 - Get the exact form: Form HSMV 83007, "Application for a Disabled, Disabled Veteran or Motorcycle License Plate." Download it here: HSMV 83007.
Step 2 - Gather your documents: a valid VA identification card or VA letter showing your 100% total and permanent service-connected disability rating, your DD-214, your current Florida vehicle registration or title, and your driver's license or state ID.
Step 3 - Find your local county tax collector's office (this is where you file, county by county). Use the statewide directory here: Florida Tax Collectors Association, Find Your Tax Collector, or FLHSMV's own locations page: FLHSMV Locations.
Step 4 - Submit Form HSMV 83007 with your documents at that office. The DV plate is issued at no charge to the applicant; ask at the same visit about the Disabled Veteran Wheelchair plate if applicable.
Step 5 - For the no-fee driver's license or ID card (under Fla. Stat. §322.21), bring the same VA documentation showing your 100% rating to any FLHSMV service center or county tax collector office that issues licenses. Ask them to also add the free "Veteran" designation to your license or ID card while you are there (you only need your DD-214 for that piece).
Step 6 - If you want other military-service license plates (Purple Heart, Combat Action Badge, POW, and dozens of others), the relevant application is Form HSMV 83034: HSMV 83034. Fees vary by plate type, so confirm cost for the specific plate with your county tax collector before applying.
Step 7 - There is no fixed statewide deadline for any of these; apply whenever you become eligible or when your registration/license is up for renewal. For the full official overview, see FLHSMV Military & Veterans Information.
Note: exact registration-fee relief beyond the free DV plate itself is handled county by county through local tax collector offices. Ask your county tax collector directly what additional registration-fee treatment applies to your specific plate and rating; do not assume a dollar figure without confirming locally.
Florida gives disabled veterans free, no-cost access to state parks for life, plus a free 5-year hunting and fishing license for veterans with a 50% or greater service-connected disability rating.
What it is: a free lifetime Florida State Parks military entrance pass for any honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected disability (admits up to 8 people at most parks), and a free 5-year hunting/saltwater/freshwater fishing license for veterans with a 50%+ rating.
Step 1 (state parks) - Gather your documents: valid photo ID (driver's license), your DD-214 showing honorable discharge, and documentation of your service-connected disability from the VA or the Department of Defense.
Step 2 (state parks) - Go in person to any Florida State Park ranger station or museum during regular business hours to have the pass issued (it cannot be done entirely online, though you can also apply through the reservation portal). Find any park's location and hours here: Florida State Parks, Find a Park. Full program details: Florida State Parks Appreciate Veterans.
Step 3 (hunting/fishing) - Confirm your VA rating letter shows 50% or greater service-connected disability. This license covers deer, wildlife management area, archery, muzzleloading, crossbow, turkey, waterfowl, snook, and lobster permits together in one free 5-year license (licenses issued after July 1, 2024 run 5 years, then must be reissued on request).
Step 4 (hunting/fishing) - Apply online at the state's official licensing portal, GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, using your Florida driver's license or ID number, or apply in person at your county tax collector's office (same locator as the vehicle section above: Florida Tax Collectors Association).
Step 5 - For full eligibility rules and any related permits, see the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's page: FWC Persons with Disabilities Resident Hunting/Fishing License. If you are organizing or attending a permitted hunting/fishing event and want a group exemption for disabled veteran participants, see FWC Military/Disabled Veteran Event License Exemption Permit.
There is no application deadline for either benefit; apply whenever you are ready.
Florida has two separate education benefits tied to a service-connected disability: a tuition waiver for veterans who received a Purple Heart or an equivalent-or-higher combat decoration, and a scholarship for the children and spouse of a veteran who is 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) disabled or who died of a service-connected disability.
Purple Heart / combat decoration tuition waiver, what it is: waives tuition (not books, housing, or fees) at Florida's state universities, Florida College System schools, and career/technical centers, up to 110% of the credit hours required for your program, under Fla. Stat. §1009.26(8).
Step 1 - Confirm you were awarded a Purple Heart or a combat decoration superior in precedence to it, and that you are (or were, at the time of the qualifying action) a Florida resident.
Step 2 - Get your DD-214 showing the decoration, and proof of current Florida residency (driver's license or lease).
Step 3 - Contact the financial aid or registrar's office at the specific Florida public college or university you plan to attend (each school administers its own waiver paperwork). Start with the statewide overview and FAQ here: Florida Dept. of Education, Military Tuition Waivers & Benefits and the Purple Heart Waiver FAQ.
Step 4 - Submit your DD-214 and residency proof to that school's registrar before or at enrollment for the term you want the waiver applied to; there is no single statewide deadline, each school sets its own submission timing, so ask when you enroll.
Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans, what it is: an award for the dependent child or un-remarried spouse of a Florida veteran who is 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) service-connected disabled, died of a service-connected condition, or is classified Missing in Action / Prisoner of War, under Fla. Stat. Chapter 295.
Step 1 - Confirm the veteran was a Florida resident for the year immediately before the disability determination, death, or Missing in Action / Prisoner of War classification, and that the veteran (or, for children, the veteran-parent) has a Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs certification of 100% P&T status.
Step 2 - Confirm the dependent's eligibility window: a child must apply between roughly ages 16 and 22 (must be initially eligible before turning 23); a surviving un-remarried spouse must apply within 5 years of the veteran's death if claiming on a death basis.
Step 3 - File the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA), available starting October 1 each year, through Florida's Office of Student Financial Assistance. Submit a complete, error-free FFAA by April 1 for priority consideration for the following fall term (applications after April 1 are considered first-come, first-served if funds remain).
Step 4 - Apply and get the fact sheet at Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance, or call (888) 827-2004 / email [email protected] with questions on required documents for your specific situation.
Step 5 - Background and program summary from the state veterans agency: Florida Dept. of Veterans' Affairs, Education.
If you are a disabled veteran facing an immediate financial crisis (eviction, utility shutoff, unexpected essential expense), Florida's state-chartered nonprofit veterans fund is the fastest in-state path, and your County Veteran Service Officer can point you to every other program you qualify for at the same time.
What it is: the Florida Veterans' Foundation, the state-authorized nonprofit fund for Florida veterans, partners with Project VetRelief to issue one-time emergency grants for rent, utilities, transportation, and other essential unexpected expenses to help prevent homelessness and financial instability.
Step 1 - Go to the Florida Veterans' Foundation's site to see the current program summary: Florida Veterans' Foundation.
Step 2 - Apply directly through the fund's application portal: Project VetRelief, Apply for Financial Assistance. Have your DD-214, a description of the hardship, and documentation of the bill or notice you need help with (lease, utility bill, eviction notice) ready to upload or describe.
Step 3 - At the same time, call your County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO), a free, VA-accredited advocate in every one of Florida's 67 counties, who can identify every emergency grant, rent/utility program, or hardship fund you are eligible for and help you apply correctly the first time. Call the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs State Veterans' Service Officer line at (727) 319-7440 (they return calls within 24 hours) to be connected to your county's CVSO, or look up your county directly on the department's locations page: Florida Dept. of Veterans' Affairs, Locations.
Step 4 - There is no fixed deadline; these are rolling, need-based programs, so apply as soon as the hardship arises rather than waiting.
This page covers Florida state and local benefits only. For anything about filing a new VA disability claim, appealing a decision, or trying to increase your rating, do not do it yourself and do not pay anyone. Florida's own County Veteran Service Officers, present in all 67 counties, are free, VA-accredited, and exist specifically for this. Find yours through Florida Dept. of Veterans' Affairs, Locations or by calling (727) 319-7440. You can also find a free accredited Veteran Service Organization (VSO) such as the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), or the American Legion through the VA's own accredited representative search at VA.gov, Get Help Filing a Claim.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ VA disability rating letter (download at va.gov/records/download-va-letters or get from your County Veteran Service Officer), showing your current percentage
☐ Copy of your DD-214 showing honorable discharge
☐ Florida driver's license or state ID showing your homestead address
☐ Deed or proof of title to your home
☐ Form DR-501 (homestead + veteran exemptions) and, if age 65+ with a combat-related disability, Form DR-501DV
☐ File the property tax exemption with your county Property Appraiser by March 1 (locate your county's office at floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/LocalOfficials.aspx)
☐ Form HSMV 83007 (Disabled Veteran / Disabled Veteran Wheelchair license plate application)
☐ Take VA documentation of your 100% rating + DD-214 to your county tax collector for the no-fee driver's license and free "Veteran" designation
☐ (Optional) Form HSMV 83034 if you want another military/combat-decoration specialty plate
☐ Photo ID + DD-214 + disability documentation, taken in person to any Florida State Park for your free lifetime entrance pass
☐ If your rating is 50% or greater: apply for your free 5-year hunting/fishing license at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or your county tax collector
☐ If you have a Purple Heart or superior combat decoration: DD-214 + Florida residency proof, taken to your college's financial aid/registrar office for the tuition waiver
☐ If you are 100% P&T (or a survivor of a veteran who died of a service-connected condition): file the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) by April 1 for the Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans, at floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org, or call (888) 827-2004
☐ If facing an emergency: apply at projectvetrelief.org/application and call your County Veteran Service Officer the same day
☐ Save your county Veteran Service Officer's phone number and address for anything claims-related (call (727) 319-7440 if you don't know your county's office yet)
This page is for education only. It is not the Department of Veterans Affairs, the State of Florida, or any county government, and it has no affiliation with any of them. Benefit amounts, forms, and rules change; always confirm current details at the official links above before relying on them. For filing, appealing, or increasing a VA disability rating, use a free VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (through your County Veteran Service Officer or organizations like the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, or the American Legion). Never pay anyone to prepare or coach a disability claim. Be careful of anyone who contacts you offering to help access these benefits in exchange for moving your money into an annuity, trust, or investment product, or who charges a fee to help you file a state exemption or a VA claim; these are red flags for pension-poaching and predatory sales tactics aimed at veterans. Legitimate state benefits and Veteran Service Officer help are free.
If you are a disabled veteran living in Georgia, the state gives you real money back on property taxes, vehicle taxes, hunting and fishing licenses, and education, plus a free path to your U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rating help. This guide walks you through every major state benefit step by step, with the actual forms, the actual offices, and the actual links, so you can do this yourself without hunting around. I am not the VA and not affiliated with any government agency. This is education, not legal or tax advice. For anything about filing or raising your VA disability rating, use a free VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), never a paid "claims consultant."
This is the biggest state benefit for most disabled veterans. Georgia's disabled veteran homestead exemption knocks a large, inflation-indexed dollar amount off the assessed value of your home before your county calculates property tax, on state, county, municipal, and school taxes. You qualify if you are an honorably discharged Georgia veteran who is (a) rated 100% totally and permanently service-connected disabled by the VA, or (b) rated less than 100% but paid at the 100% rate because of individual unemployability, or (c) entitled to a VA statutory award for loss of a hand or foot, loss of sight in one or both eyes, or a specified permanent visual impairment. Unremarried surviving spouses and minor children of a qualifying deceased veteran keep the same exemption as long as they live in the home.
Step 1 - Confirm your rating documentation. You need your VA disability rating decision letter (or VA Summary of Benefits letter) showing 100% service-connected, or individual unemployability, or the specific statutory award. Get a copy at VA.gov or through a VSO if you do not have one on hand.
Step 2 - Get the form. Download the LGS-Homestead, Application for Homestead Exemption from the Georgia Department of Revenue at dor.georgia.gov/property-tax-homestead-exemptions. This is the same form used to claim the disabled veteran exemption; you mark the disabled veteran category on it.
Step 3 - Find your county office. Homestead exemptions are filed with your county tax commissioner (or in some counties, the tax assessor's office, if that county delegates homestead filings there). Georgia has 159 counties and each runs its own office, so look up your specific county's tax commissioner through your county government's website, or call 1-800-GEORGIA (1-800-436-7442) to be routed to your county. The Department of Revenue's local government contact page is dor.georgia.gov/local-government-services.
Step 4 - File the application in person, by mail, or online if your county offers it, along with your VA rating letter, proof of Georgia residency, and proof you own and occupy the home as your primary residence (deed or closing statement, driver's license showing the home address).
Step 5 - Meet the deadline. The standard filing deadline is April 1 of the tax year for which you want the exemption, though Georgia now also allows you to apply up until the end of your county's 45-day window to appeal your annual assessment notice if you missed April 1. You must have owned the home as of January 1 of that tax year to get the exemption for that year. File as early in the year as possible; do not wait for a notice.
Step 6 - Ask specifically for the disabled veteran homestead exemption category when you file, not just the standard homestead exemption, since they are different amounts. The exemption is the greater of a statutory floor dollar amount or a federal index figure that adjusts annually under 38 U.S.C. section 2102; ask your county tax commissioner's office for this year's exact dollar figure, or check the current-year number at dor.georgia.gov/property-tax-homestead-exemptions, since it changes every year and I am not going to guess it here.
Step 7 - Once approved, this exemption typically renews automatically each year as long as you still own and occupy the home and your disability rating stays qualifying; you do not have to refile annually in most counties, but confirm that with your specific county tax commissioner.
Georgia does not tax your VA disability compensation at all (it is federally tax-exempt, and Georgia's income tax starts from your federal adjusted gross income, which already excludes VA disability pay, so there is nothing extra to file for this). Separately, Georgia now exempts a large chunk of military retirement pay for retirees of any age.
Step 1 - If you only receive VA disability compensation (no military retirement pay), there is nothing to file. It is already excluded from the federal income figure that flows into your Georgia return.
Step 2 - If you also receive military retirement pay, Georgia law (House Bill 266, signed 2025) lets military retirees exclude up to a set dollar cap of military retirement income from Georgia income tax, regardless of age, up from the old age-tiered exclusion. If you and your spouse both receive military retirement pay and file jointly, each of you can claim the exclusion separately.
Step 3 - Claim the exclusion on Georgia Form 500, Schedule 1 (Adjustments to Income) when you file your Georgia return. Use the current-year Form IT-511 Individual Income Tax Booklet instructions and the Retirement Income Exclusion Worksheet inside it to compute the exact amount; download both at Georgia Department of Revenue: Individual Income Tax.
Step 4 - Confirm this year's exact dollar cap, its effective tax year, and any age-tier detail before you file, since the law changed recently, at Georgia Department of Veterans Service: Military Retirement Income Tax Exemption or Georgia Department of Revenue: Individual Income Tax. Note this exclusion is separate from, and does not cover, Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments.
Step 5 - If a paid preparer handles your return, tell them specifically that you have military retirement pay so they apply the correct line items; if you file yourself, use Georgia's free e-file options listed on the same Department of Revenue individual income tax page.
Georgia's motor vehicle agency is the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) Motor Vehicle Division, which serves as the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV); it runs vehicle registration and titling through your local county tag office. Two separate benefits apply here: a free Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate, and an exemption from the ad valorem/title tax on one vehicle for qualifying veterans.
Step 1 - Confirm eligibility for the free DV plate. You qualify with a service-connected disability rating of at least 10% per your VA rating decision letter, plus Georgia residency. Eligible veterans can get free DV plates for up to two motorcycles or passenger vehicles for personal use, no registration fee, manufacturing fee, or annual fee.
Step 2 - Get the form. Complete Form MV-9W, Request for Manufacture of Special Veteran License Plate, available through the DOR Motor Vehicle Division at dor.georgia.gov/military-veteran-license-plates.
Step 3 - Gather documents: your VA rating decision or entitlement letter showing the specific disability, your DD Form 214, and proof of Georgia residency. If you do not have a VA letter in hand, you can instead get a certified statement from a physician and take it, with your discharge paperwork, to a Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) Veterans Field Service Office (see the Georgia Department of Veterans Service section below for the office locator).
Step 4 - Take the completed MV-9W and your documents to your county tag office. Find your county's tag office address, hours, and phone number at Georgia DOR: County Tag Offices. Alternatively, you can route the VA-letter path directly through the DOR Special Tag Unit at (404) 968-3880.
Step 5 - Separately, ask the tag office about the ad valorem/title tax exemption on one vehicle you own. This applies if you are certified 100% totally and permanently service-connected disabled (or receiving/entitled to statutory VA awards for loss of a foot, hand, or sight). Complete Form MV-30, Georgia Veteran's Affidavit for Relief of State and Local Title Ad Valorem Tax Fees, downloadable at dor.georgia.gov: MV-30. Fill it out before you go to save time.
Step 6 - If you are a Purple Heart or Medal of Honor recipient, ask about those specific plates too; they carry the same ad valorem/title tax exemption. Bring your DD Form 214 or other proof of the award.
Step 7 - There is no fixed annual deadline for either benefit; apply whenever you acquire the vehicle or become eligible. If you already own a vehicle and are newly rated, bring your new VA letter to the tag office to add the exemption or swap your plate at any time.
Georgia's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Division runs hunting and fishing licenses, and the state parks system gives disabled veterans a discount on entrance and activity fees.
Step 1 - For the state parks discount (25% off entrance fees, Annual Park Passes, Friends memberships, accommodations, recreation fees like mini-golf or boat rental, golf fees, and historic site admission): apply at a Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) Veterans Field Service Office with your DD Form 214, proof of your service-connected disability rating, and proof of Georgia residency. Find your nearest office at GDVS: Find a Veterans Field Service Office Near You. Once approved, GDVS mails you a state park discount card; show it when you pay.
Step 2 - For the One-Time Veterans Hunting/Fishing License (free, valid one year, issued only once per veteran): confirm you meet all of the requirements, which are Georgia residency, 90 or more days of active federal duty, and honorable discharge on or after July 1, 2005.
Step 3 - Get the application form and mailing address from Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division: Veterans Licenses.
Step 4 - Mail in the completed application with a photocopy of your DD Form 214 and a copy of your current Georgia driver's license or Georgia ID card. Include an email address if you want notice when the license is ready to print online. Allow 3 to 5 business days for processing.
Step 5 - If you have a qualifying disability (not limited to service-connected, but it covers disabled veterans), also check the separate discounted disability hunting/fishing licenses, including a discounted license specifically for veterans with a mental-impairment disability rating, at Georgia DNR: Disability Licenses.
Step 6 - Questions on either license: call Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division at (800) 366-2661, or use the contact info on georgiawildlife.com.
Georgia stacks several state-level education benefits on top of federal GI Bill benefits, aimed at combat-deployed Guard and Reserve members, dependents of totally disabled veterans, and veterans and families generally.
Step 1 - If you are (or your spouse/parent is) a Georgia National Guard member or U.S. military reservist who deployed to a combat zone after 9/11 while drawing hostile fire or imminent danger pay, look into the HERO Scholarship (Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring), which pays a set annual amount for up to 4 years for the service member, spouse, or children. Review eligibility and apply at Georgia Student Finance Commission: HERO Scholarship Eligibility, and confirm the current award amount there before you rely on a figure.
Step 2 - File the initial HERO application within 2 years of first becoming eligible, and renew annually if you continue to qualify. Children born before the end of the qualifying deployment earn one year of scholarship for every 181 days the service member served in the combat theater, up to 4 years.
Step 3 - If you are rated 100% permanently and totally service-connected disabled and have a child turning 18 during their senior year of high school, that child can start using federal Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits while still in high school, a Georgia-relevant timing detail most families miss. Confirm current eligibility and apply for Chapter 35 through the VA (not a Georgia agency); see GDVS: Educational Benefits for the Georgia-specific summary and links.
Step 4 - If you or your spouse/dependent child are attending a University System of Georgia (USG) school (like UGA, Georgia Tech, or a state college) and are not a Georgia resident, ask the registrar for veteran resident tuition classification, which qualifies eligible veterans, spouses, and dependent children for in-state tuition rates regardless of actual state residency. See University of Georgia Office of the Registrar: Veterans Tuition Classification for the process at UGA, or ask your specific school's registrar for its version of the same federal Choice Act policy.
Step 5 - For broader transition help, financial-aid navigation, or career counseling while pursuing any of the above, contact the state-funded Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource (VECTR) Center at gavectr.org/financial-aid.
Step 6 - General questions on any Georgia state scholarship or grant program: call the Georgia Student Finance Commission at (770) 724-9249 or (800) 505-4732.
If you are a Georgia veteran facing an immediate financial emergency, like a utility shutoff or eviction risk, there are two doors to walk through: the state's own Department of Veterans Service benefits counselors, and a dedicated Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) emergency fund that operates statewide in Georgia.
Step 1 - Start with a Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) Veterans Field Service Office. A benefits counselor there can screen you for federal VA hardship programs, state benefits you may be missing, and local resources, all for free. Find your nearest office at GDVS: Find a Veterans Field Service Office Near You, or see the general GDVS: Benefits Assistance page. Call the central office at (404) 656-2300 if you cannot immediately identify your local office.
Step 2 - Bring your DD Form 214 and a description of the emergency (past-due notice, eviction notice, etc.) to that appointment; call ahead, since walk-ins are accepted as time permits but appointments are preferred.
Step 3 - For a same-week cash emergency (utility disconnection or eviction risk specifically), contact your local VFW Post about the James "Randy" Coggins We Care Program, a Georgia VFW emergency fund created in 2004 specifically to help veterans and families with one-time, unforeseen financial shortfalls. It supplements local VFW Post relief funds. Find your nearest post and program details at Georgia VFW: We Care Program.
Step 4 - Because this is a donation-funded charitable program rather than a guaranteed government entitlement, call your local post first to ask what documentation they want (proof of the shortfall, veteran status, and residency are typical) before you go in, so you are not turned away for a missing document.
Step 5 - If you also receive VA health care or compensation and the hardship involves a VA bill specifically, separately contact the VA's own financial hardship line; that is a federal, not state, benefit, so ask a GDVS counselor to help you start that conversation at the same visit.
Every benefit above eventually routes back to this one agency for verification or help, so start here if you are unsure where to go.
Website: veterans.georgia.gov
Central Office: Floyd Veterans Memorial Building, 2 MLK Jr Drive SE, Suite E-970, Atlanta, GA 30334, (404) 656-2300 / (404) 656-2307
Find your nearest of over 50 statewide Veterans Field Service Offices (list shows areas served, address, and services offered per office): GDVS: Find a Veterans Field Service Office Near You. Most offices run Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern; appointments are preferred, walk-ins accepted as time permits.
Contact page: veterans.georgia.gov/contact-us-0
For help filing or increasing your VA disability rating, do not pay anyone. GDVS field offices provide free VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) help directly, or you can find any free accredited representative (a VSO from DAV, VFW, American Legion, or your county) through VA.gov's accredited representative search.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ VA disability rating decision letter or VA Summary of Benefits letter (get a copy at va.gov if you don't have one)
☐ DD Form 214 (discharge papers), at least two copies
☐ Proof of Georgia residency and proof of home ownership/occupancy (deed, closing statement, GA driver's license showing the home address)
☐ LGS-Homestead, Application for Homestead Exemption, filed with your county tax commissioner by April 1 (or within your county's 45-day assessment-appeal window if you missed April 1) - form at dor.georgia.gov/property-tax-homestead-exemptions
☐ Form MV-9W, Request for Manufacture of Special Veteran License Plate, filed at your county tag office - form at dor.georgia.gov/military-veteran-license-plates
☐ Form MV-30, Georgia Veteran's Affidavit for Relief of State and Local Title Ad Valorem Tax Fees, filed at your county tag office (for the one-vehicle ad valorem/title tax exemption)
☐ Georgia Form 500, Schedule 1, if you receive military retirement pay (claim the retirement income exclusion; use the current Form IT-511 booklet worksheet)
☐ Visit or call your nearest GDVS Veterans Field Service Office to apply for the 25% state parks discount card (bring DD Form 214, disability proof, residency proof)
☐ One-Time Veterans Hunting/Fishing License application mailed to Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, with a photocopy of DD Form 214 and current GA ID (georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes/veterans)
☐ HERO Scholarship application (if applicable - combat-deployed Guard/Reserve or their dependents), filed within 2 years of eligibility at gafutures.org
☐ Veteran resident tuition classification request at your dependent's University System of Georgia school registrar, if out-of-state residency would otherwise apply
☐ If facing an emergency: contact your local VFW Post about the We Care Program, and your GDVS field office for benefits screening, this week, not after the shutoff/eviction date
☐ For any VA rating question or new claim: schedule with a free VSO at your GDVS field office or via VA.gov's accredited representative search - never pay a claims consultant
This guide is for education only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the State of Georgia, or any government agency, and it is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Benefit amounts, forms, and rules change, and eligibility can depend on facts specific to you, so confirm current details at the official links above or with the named office before you rely on anything here. For help filing or increasing a VA disability rating, use a free VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer through your county, DAV, VFW, American Legion, or VA.gov, never a paid firm. Be careful of anyone who contacts you offering to help access these benefits in exchange for signing over a portion of your VA compensation, moving your money into an annuity, or paying an upfront fee. Legitimate state and county offices do not charge you to apply for these benefits, and no legitimate advisor needs you to restructure your VA compensation or retirement accounts to "unlock" a benefit. If something feels like a sales pitch wrapped in a benefits conversation, stop, hang up, and verify directly with the office named above.
If you're a disabled veteran living in Michigan, this page walks you through every state-level benefit tied to your VA disability rating: property tax, state income tax, your vehicle plate and registration, hunting and fishing licenses, tuition help for your kids, and emergency cash help if you're in a tight spot. I've pulled the actual forms, the actual offices, and the actual links so you can do this yourself without hunting around. This is education, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and I have no affiliation with the VA or the State of Michigan. If you're trying to file or increase a VA disability rating, don't pay anyone and don't go it alone: use a free, VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) through a group like DAV, VFW, or the American Legion, or find one at VA.gov's VSO locator. Everything below is about STATE benefits you can act on right now.
Under Michigan's Disabled Veterans Exemption (Public Act 161 of 2013, MCL 211.7b), a home you own and use as your homestead is 100% exempt from property tax if you qualify. There's no partial version and no home-value cap or income test. It also carries over to your un-remarried surviving spouse.
Step 1 - Confirm you meet the state's definition of "disabled veteran." You must be a Michigan resident, honorably discharged, and meet ONE of: (a) the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has rated you permanently and totally disabled and you're entitled to benefits at the 100% rate; (b) you hold a VA certificate of eligibility for pecuniary assistance for specially adapted housing; or (c) the VA has rated you Individually Unemployable (IU).
Step 2 - Get your two proof documents ready: your current VA disability rating decision letter (showing the 100% rate, the Individually Unemployable (IU) rating, or the specially-adapted-housing certificate) and your DD-214 discharge paperwork showing honorable discharge.
Step 3 - Download and fill out Michigan Department of Treasury Form 5107, "Affidavit for Disabled Veterans Exemption." Get the current fillable form directly from Treasury here: Form 5107 PDF. Fill in the property's parcel information and check the box matching which of the three eligibility categories above applies to you.
Step 4 - File the completed Form 5107 with the assessor for the city or township where the home is located (this is a local office, not a state one, so it varies by where you live). Most cities and townships post the form and a mailing or drop-off address on their own assessing-department page; if you can't find your local assessor's contact, call your county's Equalization Department or your township or city hall directly and ask for "the assessor's office." You can also start at Treasury's statewide assessor forms and instructions page: Michigan Treasury, Assessor resources.
Step 5 - Know the timing. There's no single fixed statewide deadline the way there is for income tax, but the exemption applies to the tax levied for the year you're approved, so file as soon as you're eligible and ideally before your local March Board of Review session so it's reflected before bills go out. Ask your assessor what cutoff they use locally, since Boards of Review also meet in July and December for corrections.
Step 6 - Once approved, you do NOT have to refile every year. As of tax years starting January 1, 2025, an approved exemption stays in effect automatically until you no longer qualify. If your eligibility ever ends (you sell the home, it's no longer your homestead, or you otherwise stop qualifying), you must file Form 6054, "Request to Rescind Disabled Veterans Exemption," with the assessor within 45 days of the date you no longer qualify. Get it here: Form 6054 PDF.
Step 7 - If your surviving spouse will need this later, know that the exemption continues for an un-remarried surviving spouse without a new eligibility determination, using the same Form 5107 process with the assessor.
Sources: Michigan Dept. of Treasury, Disabled Veterans Exemption, MCL 211.7b, Form 5107, Form 6054, State Tax Commission Bulletin 17 of 2024.
Michigan doesn't tax your VA disability compensation at all, and it gives a separate break on military retirement pay. There's no application here, just how you fill out your return.
Step 1 - Know that your VA disability compensation is not taxable income federally or in Michigan, so it never goes on your Michigan return in the first place.
Step 2 - If you also draw military retirement pay, know that Michigan exempts it from state income tax. Deduct it on Schedule 1 of your Michigan individual income tax return.
Step 3 - Still report the retirement pay on Schedule W (Withholding Schedule) even if no Michigan tax was withheld from it. This is how Treasury reconciles the exemption against any 1099-R showing state withholding.
Step 4 - If you draw Michigan National Guard state retirement pay, know that it's also exempt from Michigan income tax (it's still subject to federal income tax, so it still shows up on your federal return).
Step 5 - If you're claiming the military or National Guard retirement subtraction for tax years 2026 through 2028, be aware the Michigan standard deduction is reduced by the amount you deduct for that retirement pay, per Revenue Administrative Bulletin (RAB) 2026-1 and 2025 PA 24. Your tax software or preparer should apply this automatically, but check the math on the standard deduction line.
Step 6 - File your Michigan individual income tax return (Form MI-1040) by the normal Michigan filing deadline (Michigan follows the same due date as your federal return, typically April 15). Get the current-year forms and instructions at Michigan Dept. of Treasury, Individual Income Tax.
Source: Michigan Dept. of Treasury, Tax Information for Military Personnel, RAB 2026-1.
Michigan's motor-vehicle agency is the Secretary of State (SOS), not a separate "DMV." If you have a service-connected VA rating of 50% or higher, you qualify for a Disabled Veteran (DV) plate, and the higher your rating, the more fees get waived.
Step 1 - Check your tier. If the VA rated you 100% Permanent and Total (P&T) or at the 100% Individually Unemployable (IU) rate, your DV plate and your annual registration or renewal are both reported as fee-free. If you're rated 50% to 99% service-connected, the DV plate itself is issued free, but you still pay the standard annual registration fee.
Step 2 - Gather your documents: your current VA disability rating decision letter and your DD-214.
Step 3 - Get the application: Application for Veteran License Plate, Form BDVR-87, available directly from the SOS here: Form BDVR-87 (PDF).
Step 4 - Fill out Form BDVR-87 and bring it, your VA rating letter, and your DD-214 to any Michigan SOS branch office. Find your nearest branch and check hours and wait times at the official SOS Branch Office Locator: michigansos.state.mi.us/servicelocator. You can also mail the completed application in if you'd rather not go in person.
Step 5 - At the counter (or by mail), ask specifically for the Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate and reference your qualifying rating tier so the clerk applies the correct fee waiver.
Step 6 - There is no special deadline. You can apply anytime, though it's worth doing before your current registration renews so the waiver applies to the next renewal cycle.
Step 7 - On buying a vehicle: Michigan does not currently have a state sales or use tax exemption specifically for a disabled veteran buying a personal vehicle. A bill proposing one (HB 5274) was introduced but had not become law as of this writing, so don't count on it. If you use the federal VA Automobile Allowance or grant toward the purchase, ask the dealer how that portion is treated for sales tax, since VA-funded purchases can be treated similarly to a sale to the federal government on that portion.
Source: Michigan SOS, Military and veteran plate options, MCL 257.803f, Form BDVR-87, SOS Branch Office Locator.
Michigan waives park entry fees and hunting and fishing license costs for qualifying disabled veterans.
Step 1 - For free entry to state parks: this benefit rides on your license plate, so get your Disabled Veteran (DV) plate first (see the Vehicle section above; it requires a 100% VA rating or the 100% Individually Unemployable (IU) rate to qualify for the park fee waiver specifically).
Step 2 - Once you have the DV plate, you don't need a separate Recreation Passport purchase. The plate itself waives the vehicle entry fee at Michigan's 103 state parks and recreation areas, 140+ state forest campgrounds, and roughly 1,000 boating access sites. Questions: email [email protected] or call 517-284-7275. Details: Michigan DNR, Recreation Passport.
Step 3 - For free hunting and fishing licenses: you qualify if the VA has rated you totally and permanently disabled or Individually Unemployable (IU) and you're a Michigan resident.
Step 4 - Bring your VA rating decision letter (proof of disabled-veteran status) with you every time you apply for or use the license. You have to be able to show it.
Step 5 - Apply at any retail license agent (most sporting-goods and bait shops that sell licenses) or online at the state's official licensing portal: mdnr-elicense.michigan.gov. Ask for any resident hunting or fishing license that does not require a lottery or drawing at no charge. Drawing-based tags like bear or elk still require the normal application and drawing fee.
Step 6 - For licensing help, call the DNR licensing line at 517-284-6057.
Source: Michigan DNR, Recreation Passport, Michigan DNR, Fishing and hunting license information, MI DNR bulletin on free licenses for disabled veterans.
If you became totally and permanently disabled due to a service-connected condition (or died, or are missing in action), your natural or adopted children can get help paying for college through the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant (CVTG).
Step 1 - Check your child's eligibility: age 16 to 25, Michigan resident for the 12 months before applying, has a high school diploma or equivalent, enrolled at least half-time as an undergraduate, and maintains a cumulative 2.25 grade point average (GPA). You (the veteran) must have been a Michigan legal resident immediately before entering service, or established Michigan residency after entering service without living outside Michigan more than 2 years.
Step 2 - File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every year your child wants the grant. It's required annually even after the first approval.
Step 3 - Create a MiSSG Student Portal account at michigan.gov/missg (you'll need your child's Social Security number and a current-year FAFSA already on file) and complete the one-time initial Children of Veterans Tuition Grant application electronically through that portal.
Step 4 - Have your documentation of your service-connected total and permanent disability rating ready in case the program office requests it to verify eligibility.
Step 5 - Watch the deadline: the CVTG application deadline is July 15 each year. Submit everything well before that date since late applications are generally not accepted.
Step 6 - Know the grant amounts so you can budget: half-time enrollment gets up to $1,400 per academic year; three-quarter-time up to $2,100 per academic year; full-time up to $2,800 per academic year (or your actual tuition, whichever is less). There's a lifetime cap of $11,200 total (4 academic years or 8 semesters, not required to be consecutive), or until your child turns 26, whichever comes first.
Step 7 - For questions, call MI Student Aid at 888-447-2687 or email [email protected].
Source: Michigan Dept. of Treasury, Children of Veterans Tuition Grant, CVTG Fact Sheet, MiSSG Student Portal.
If you're pursuing a professional license (nursing, contracting, cosmetology, and 80+ other professions), Michigan's licensing agency must waive your initial fees.
Step 1 - Identify which professional license you're applying for through the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
Step 2 - Gather your DD-214, DD-215, or other discharge documentation LARA will accept as proof of veteran status (this also covers those still actively serving).
Step 3 - When you submit your initial license or registration application, include your discharge paperwork and request the veteran's fee waiver. LARA must waive both the initial license or registration fee and the initial application processing fee under the Occupational Code, Public Health Code, and other LARA-administered licensing acts.
Step 4 - Use Michigan's veterans licensing resource to see which of the 80+ covered professions applies to you and find the specific application: Michigan LARA, Waiver of fees for veterans.
If you're facing a short-term financial emergency, the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF) can provide a grant, administered locally through a county committee.
Step 1 - Check the service requirement: generally you need honorable discharge with 180 days of service during a period of war, 180 days of active duty with an Armed Forces, Marine Corps, or Navy Expeditionary Medal, or a service-incurred disability if you served fewer than 180 days, plus Michigan residency.
Step 2 - Be ready to show that the hardship is unforeseen and temporary, and that you can demonstrate an ability to meet your expenses going forward once the emergency passes (this isn't a long-term income-support program).
Step 3 - Contact your county's Michigan Veterans Trust Fund committee directly, or start with the Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center at 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838), who can connect you to your county committee within about 48 hours of intake.
Step 4 - Alternatively, submit the state's Resource Assistance Form online, which routes your information to the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund and other available resources: MVAA, Emergency Assistance.
Step 5 - You can also reach the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund directly by mail: MVTF, 3423 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Bldg 32, Lansing, MI 48906.
Step 6 - For burial or funeral cost help, contact your county Veterans Affairs or Veterans Services office directly, since burial assistance is administered county by county with no single statewide amount. Find your county's Veteran Service Officer through the state locator: MVAA, Find a Veteran Service Officer. If that tool is down, call 1-800-MICH-VET and they'll connect you to your county's office.
Source: MVAA, Emergency Assistance / Michigan Veterans Trust Fund.
Beyond VA medical centers, Michigan runs its own long-term care homes for veterans, and your VA rating affects your priority for VA healthcare.
Step 1 - If the VA rated you 100% disabled, you're placed in VA Health Care Priority Group 1, which means no co-payments for your VA healthcare (this is a federal VA rule, administered nationally, but worth knowing). Confirm your enrollment status by calling your VA medical center or through VA.gov.
Step 2 - For long-term or skilled nursing care, consider Michigan Veteran Homes (MVH), which has two locations: Grand Rapids (2950 Monroe Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505; admissions 616-345-6110) and Chesterfield Township (47901 Sugarbush Road, Chesterfield Township, MI 48047; admissions 586-210-7103).
Step 3 - Confirm eligibility before applying: you need to be an honorably discharged veteran eligible for VA healthcare or financial assistance for long-term nursing care, or an eligible dependent (widow or widower, spouse or former spouse, or Gold Star parent) of a veteran who was or would have been eligible. Michigan residency is not required to apply.
Step 4 - Call the admissions line for the home you want and ask for the current application packet. Admission order is based on when your completed application is received and whether the facility can meet your care needs. Details: Michigan Veteran Homes, Eligibility and Locations.
Source: MVAA, Benefits for 100 Percent Disabled Veterans, Michigan Veteran Homes.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ VA disability rating decision letter (current, showing your percentage or Individually Unemployable (IU) status)
☐ DD-214 (or DD-215) discharge paperwork, honorable discharge
☐ Proof of Michigan residency and proof this home is your homestead
☐ Form 5107, Affidavit for Disabled Veterans Exemption, filed with your city or township assessor for the 100% property tax exemption (and Form 6054 within 45 days if you ever stop qualifying)
☐ Form BDVR-87, Application for Veteran License Plate, filed at any Michigan SOS branch office (find yours at michigansos.state.mi.us/servicelocator) for your DV plate and fee waiver
☐ Schedule 1 (military retirement subtraction) and Schedule W filed with your Michigan MI-1040 if you draw military retirement pay
☐ VA rating letter (proof of disabled-veteran status) carried with you when using free hunting or fishing licenses (apply at mdnr-elicense.com or any retail license agent)
☐ FAFSA filed annually, plus a MiSSG Student Portal account (michigan.gov/missg) set up, if applying for the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant by July 15
☐ DD-214 or DD-215 attached to any LARA occupational license application to trigger the fee waiver
☐ Your county's Veteran Service Officer contact info (via michigan.gov/mvaa/county-filter-search-locations or 1-800-MICH-VET) saved, in case you need the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund emergency grant or burial assistance
☐ Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center number saved: 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838)
This page is for education only. I'm not the VA, not the State of Michigan, and not affiliated with either. Benefit rules, forms, and dollar amounts change, so confirm current details at the official links above before you rely on them. For anything involving your VA disability claim or rating itself, go to a free, VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (through DAV, VFW, American Legion, or your county veterans office via VA.gov) and never pay anyone for help filing or increasing a claim. Be careful of anyone offering to help you "unlock" your benefits for a fee, or pushing you toward an annuity or investment product tied to your VA compensation. That is not how these benefits work, and it is a common scam target for rated veterans. If someone asks you to pay upfront, sign over your benefits, or move your compensation into a financial product to "qualify" for something, walk away.
This is your one-stop guide to North Carolina's state-level benefits for service-connected disabled veterans. It covers property tax relief, state income tax treatment, vehicle registration, hunting and fishing licenses, state parks, education help for your kids, and where to turn for emergency financial help. Work through each section that applies to you. Every step below names the exact form, the office that handles it, and the official link, so you can do this without hunting around. This guide is education only. I am not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), not a government agency, and not affiliated with either. For anything involving your VA disability rating or a new or increased claim, skip the do-it-yourself route and go straight to a free VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer as described at the end of this guide.
North Carolina's Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exclusion removes the first $45,000 of assessed value of your permanent residence from county property tax. There is no income limit. You qualify if the VA has rated you 100% permanent and total, or if you received a federal certification for specially adapted housing benefits under 38 U.S.C. section 2101. A never-remarried surviving spouse can continue the exclusion in certain cases.
Step 1. Get your VA disability rating letter (or specially-adapted-housing certification) that shows your rating is 100% permanent and total as of January 1 of the tax year you're applying for. Pull your VA Summary of Benefits Letter from VA.gov or the VA: Health and Benefits app if you don't already have a copy.
Step 2. Get Form NCDVA-9 ("Certification of Disabled Veteran's Property Tax Exclusion"). Download it from NCDOR, NCDVA-9 form and instructions. Fill out the applicant sections (your identifying and residence information) yourself.
Step 3. Take the partially completed NCDVA-9, your VA rating letter, and your DD-214 to your County Veterans Service Office (or a State Veterans Service Center) to have the certification section completed and certified by an accredited Veteran Service Officer. Find your county office using NC DMVA's county veteran service office directory. This certification cannot be skipped; the county tax office will not accept an uncertified NCDVA-9.
Step 4. Get Form AV-9 ("Application for Property Tax Relief") from NCDOR, 2026 AV-9 form or from your county tax office directly.
Step 5. File the certified NCDVA-9 together with the completed AV-9 at your county tax assessor's office (not the state). Look up your county tax office's address and phone number through your county government's website, or ask your County Veterans Service Officer to point you to it while you're there in Step 3.
Step 6. Bring or attach: your VA rating letter/certification, your DD-214, proof you own and occupy the home as your permanent residence (deed or tax bill), and the certified NCDVA-9.
Step 7. File by June 1 of the tax year for timely filing. Some counties may accept a late application for good cause under state law; ask your county tax office directly if you miss June 1, don't assume you're out of luck.
Heads up: a bill called Senate Bill 660 ("Honoring Sacrifice: NC Veterans Relief Act") would raise this exclusion in stages and eventually exempt a 100%-disabled veteran's primary vehicle from property tax too. As of this writing it has not been enacted into law, it's still sitting in a Senate committee. Don't plan your budget around the higher numbers until it's signed. Track its status yourself at North Carolina General Assembly, Senate Bill 660.
Your VA disability compensation is not taxable income at all, federally or by North Carolina, so it never even shows up on your state return. If you also draw military retired pay, North Carolina fully exempts it from state income tax.
Step 1. When you file your NC individual income tax return (Form D-400), do not include your VA disability compensation anywhere as income. It's not reported.
Step 2. If you receive military retirement pay or Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity payments, claim the full exemption on your NC return (it's taken as a deduction on Form D-400 Schedule S). This applies whether you retired after 20+ years of service, were medically retired, or you're an SBP survivor-annuitant. Attach a copy of your Form 1099-R to your NC return. Details and the current instructions are at NCDOR, Military Retirement.
Step 3. Know that Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) withdrawals are NOT exempt. TSP distributions are ordinary taxable income to North Carolina even though your military retired pay is exempt. Plan your withholding accordingly.
Step 4. On any non-exempt income (wages, TSP, interest, and the like) you'll pay North Carolina's flat individual income tax rate, same as every other NC taxpayer. Confirm the current-year rate before you file at NCDOR, Tax Rate Schedules.
Step 5. File your NC return (Form D-400) through NCDOR's individual income tax filing page by the standard NC filing deadline (it mirrors the federal deadline in most years); confirm the exact date for the current tax year on that page before you file.
If you carry a 100% VA disability rating (a combined schedular rating of 100%, or Individual Unemployability paid at the 100% rate), you can get a free Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate through North Carolina's Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the state's motor-vehicle agency. This waives the plate fee and the standard annual registration fee for one vehicle. It does not waive county vehicle property tax or regional transportation taxes, those are billed separately.
Step 1. Download Form MVR-33A ("Military/Veteran's Registration Plate Application") from NCDOT DMV, MVR-33A (PDF). Complete the applicant portions of the form (your owner, vehicle, and plate-selection information) yourself.
Step 2. Gather your documents: your DD-214, a current VA award letter or Summary of Benefits Letter showing your combined 100% rating (or Individual Unemployability paid at the 100% rate) that is dated and no more than one year old, with your name on the same page as the rating, your valid NC driver's license, and proof of insurance.
Step 3. Take the form and documents to a County Veterans Service Office or a State Veterans Service Center to have Section 3 (the certification section) signed by an NC DMVA-accredited Veteran Service Officer. The DMV will not accept this form without that certification. Find your local office at NC DMVA's county veteran service office directory.
Step 4. Submit the fully certified MVR-33A to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), either at a local DMV license plate agency or by mail per the instructions on the form. Find your nearest DMV license plate agency through NCDOT DMV, Find a License Plate Agency.
Step 5. There's no fixed annual deadline for this plate; apply whenever you're ready, but renew your registration each year like normal (the fee waiver carries over automatically once the plate is issued).
If you're an honorably discharged veteran with a VA-certified service-connected disability, North Carolina State Parks will give you a free Annual Pass (normally sold at the standard annual-pass price posted on their site) under state Session Law 2024-45. This covers day-use fees at places like Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, and Kerr Lake, the Hammocks Beach ferry, boat launches at Carolina Beach and Hammocks Beach, and paddlecraft rentals at select parks. You must re-request it every calendar year, it does not auto-renew.
Step 1. Get a copy of your VA Summary of Benefits Letter showing your service-connected disability. Pull it from VA.gov or the VA: Health and Benefits app.
Step 2. Download and complete the NC State Parks, Free Annual Pass for Eligible Veterans with Disabilities Request Form. If you want four-wheel-drive beach access at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, check that box on the form (you'll get the pass tier that includes 4WD beach access instead of the standard pass).
Step 3. Submit the form with your VA Summary of Benefits Letter by email to [email protected], or bring both documents in person to any state park office to pick up your pass on the spot. Details at NC State Parks, Annual Passes.
Step 4. Mark your calendar to re-submit this request every January; the pass is not automatically renewed year to year.
If you're an NC resident with a 50% or greater combined VA disability rating, you qualify for the Lifetime Hunting & Fishing License for Resident Disabled Veterans through the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. It's a steep discount (a low double-digit-dollar one-time fee, not free) and it lasts your lifetime as long as you keep the 50%+ rating. Separately, since October 2021, veterans can fish for free with no license at all in NC's Mountain Heritage Trout Waters.
Step 1. Get your VA Benefit Verification Letter (or rating letter) showing a combined rating of 50% or greater, from VA.gov.
Step 2. Download the application from NC Wildlife Resources Commission, Disabled Licenses, specifically the Lifetime Hunting & Fishing License for Resident Disabled Veterans application (PDF).
Step 3. Fill in your full name, NC resident address, birth date, and NC driver's license number. Attach your VA certification letter. Select the license type you want (hunting, inland fishing, or the combination license) and complete any hunting-privilege sections that apply.
Step 4. Sign and date the application. This license can only be applied for by mail or in person, it cannot be done online because of the certification requirement. Mail the completed application, your VA certification, and the fee to the address listed on the form, or bring it in person to a Wildlife Resources Commission office.
Step 5. Questions on the process go to NC Wildlife Resources Commission customer service; contact info is on the Disabled Licenses page. No fixed annual deadline, apply whenever you're ready; the license is good for life as long as your rating stays at 50% or above.
Step 6. If you just want to fish without a license, you can fish for free (no license needed at all) in the state's Mountain Heritage Trout Waters as a veteran; no application required for that specific benefit.
The North Carolina Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans covers tuition and fees (and sometimes room and board) at eligible NC colleges for the children of qualifying NC wartime veterans. Eligibility is sorted into classes: Class I-B covers children of veterans rated 100% disabled from a service-connected condition, and Class II covers children of veterans rated 20% to 99% service-connected disabled who also received the Purple Heart. The benefit runs for 8 academic semesters, usable within 8 years of first use. This is for your child, not for you directly; the federal GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program (handled at the school level, not covered here) may separately apply to you.
Step 1. Confirm your child meets the basics: under age 25 at the time of application, an NC resident, and with the required NC ties (generally you the veteran parent were an NC resident when you entered service and entered from NC, or your child was born in NC and has lived here continuously since birth). Also confirm which class fits your situation: Class I-B is for a 100% service-connected rating; Class II requires a 20% to 99% service-connected rating AND the Purple Heart.
Step 2. Gather your VA disability rating documentation (Summary of Benefits Letter) showing your rating percentage and that your service qualifies as wartime service, your DD-214, and, if you're applying under Class II, proof of your Purple Heart.
Step 3. Create an account and apply through the official portal: NC Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans, application portal. For help with the portal, email [email protected] or see the DMVA Scholarships page.
Step 4. Watch the deadlines closely, they vary by class: Class II (20 to 99% plus Purple Heart) and Class III (combat-zone service) have a February 14 deadline. For Class I-A, Class I-B (100% disabled), and Class IV, submit by June 1 to be awarded around July 1, or by December 1 to be awarded around January 1. In recent years the main annual application window has also opened in the May to June timeframe, so check the portal early in the calendar year rather than waiting.
Step 5. If your County Veterans Service Officer can help verify your rating and service documentation for the application, use them, the same office you found in the property tax section above handles this too: NC DMVA county veteran service office directory.
For a real financial emergency (overdue bills, essential repairs, a gap while a VA claim is pending), the most direct path for an individual disabled veteran in North Carolina is the NC Heroes Fund, an established nonprofit (not a government agency) that has provided short-term financial grants to NC veterans and service members for years. Your County Veterans Service Officer is also a genuinely useful stop here, since they can point you to other current relief programs (including any state-run assistance) that may not be nationally advertised.
Step 1. Confirm you meet the two basic tests: you have an NC connection (NC-native veteran, veteran living in NC, tied to an NC National Guard or Reserve unit, or active duty stationed in NC), AND your financial hardship connects to your military service (for example, a service-connected injury, a pending VA disability decision, or a difficult transition out of service).
Step 2. Gather your documents before you start the application: your DD-214, a signed HIPAA medical release form (if your hardship involves a medical issue), your most recent bills showing what's overdue, and a basic breakdown of your monthly income and expenses.
Step 3. Apply online through the application at NC Heroes Fund, Apply for Assistance, or download the PDF version from that same page if you'd rather fill it out by hand. Grants are for a specific, immediate need, not ongoing income support, and the current grant cap is posted on that page (confirm it there before you apply).
Step 4. If you have questions or want to talk it through with a person first, call NC Heroes Fund at 1-888-777-0955 or email [email protected].
Step 5. In parallel, contact your County Veterans Service Officer (same locator as above: NC DMVA county veteran service office directory) and ask specifically what current state or local emergency assistance programs exist for veterans; these programs change and your county officer will know what's live right now.
Step 6. No fixed deadline, apply as soon as the need is real and documented; don't wait until you're further behind.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ VA Summary of Benefits Letter or rating letter (pull fresh from VA.gov or the VA: Health and Benefits app), showing your combined rating and date
☐ DD-214 (bring a copy to every office below)
☐ Form NCDVA-9, applicant sections filled out (NCDOR, NCDVA-9 form)
☐ Form AV-9, Application for Property Tax Relief (NCDOR, AV-9 form)
☐ Visit your County Veterans Service Office to certify the NCDVA-9 and MVR-33A (find your county office)
☐ File certified NCDVA-9 + AV-9 with your county tax office by June 1
☐ Proof of home ownership and occupancy (deed or tax bill)
☐ Form 1099-R (if you draw military retired pay or SBP annuity) to attach to your NC D-400 return
☐ Form MVR-33A, applicant portions filled out (NCDOT DMV, MVR-33A PDF), Section 3 certified by your County Veterans Service Officer, then submitted at an NC DMV license plate agency
☐ Valid NC driver's license and proof of insurance (for the DV plate)
☐ NC State Parks Free Annual Pass Request Form + Summary of Benefits Letter, emailed to [email protected] every January (form)
☐ Lifetime Hunting & Fishing License application (if 50%+ rated) + VA Benefit Verification Letter, mailed or delivered in person (NC Wildlife application)
☐ If you have kids: NC Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans application at scholarships.milvets.nc.gov; watch the February 14 deadline for Class II (20 to 99% plus Purple Heart) and Class III, versus the June 1 / December 1 deadlines for Class I-A, Class I-B (100% disabled), and Class IV
☐ If facing a financial emergency: NC Heroes Fund application at ncheroes.org/apply-for-assistance, with DD-214, bills, and income/expense breakdown ready
☐ Save the phone number for NC DMVA statewide: 844-624-8387, and for NC Heroes Fund: 1-888-777-0955
This guide is for general education only. I am not the VA, not a government agency, and not affiliated with either. Programs, forms, dollar amounts, and deadlines change, always confirm current details at the official links above before you rely on them. For anything involving your VA disability claim or rating, whether filing new, appealing, or seeking an increase, do not pay anyone and do not go it alone: use a free, VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer through a group like DAV, VFW, or the American Legion, or find one through your County Veterans Service Office or VA.gov. Be careful with anyone who cold-calls or pressures you about your VA benefits, back pay, or a lump-sum buyout of your compensation; that is a common setup for pension-poaching and predatory annuity or loan schemes aimed at veterans. If someone asks you to sign over your benefits, take a loan against them, or pay an upfront fee to "unlock" money, stop and get a second opinion from your Veteran Service Officer or a NC-licensed attorney first.
If you're a disabled veteran living in Ohio, the state gives you real money back on your property taxes, your income taxes, your vehicle registration, your hunting and fishing licenses, and more. None of it happens automatically. You have to file the right form with the right office. This guide walks you through every major benefit, step by step, with the actual forms and links so you can do this today without hunting around. If you ever need help filing or increasing a VA disability rating (your percentage from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA), skip to the note at the bottom about free help. Everything below this note is a state benefit you can act on yourself right now.
Ohio's Homestead Exemption for Disabled Veterans removes a chunk of your home's value from property taxation, no income test required. For tax year 2026 that amount is $58,000 of your home's market value shielded from local property tax (this figure is set by the state and adjusts periodically, so double-check the current number when you file). You qualify if you're a veteran who is 100% disabled from a service-connected condition, or rated 100% for compensation based on Individual Unemployability (a VA rating that pays you at the 100% rate because your service-connected conditions prevent you from holding a job, even if your combined schedular rating is below 100%), as of January 1 of the year you're applying for.
Step 1 - Get your paperwork together: your DD-214 (discharge paperwork showing honorable or under-honorable-conditions discharge) and your current VA award letter showing the 100% disability rating (or, if you're rated for Individual Unemployability, the award letter showing 100% compensation plus the document approving your Individual Unemployability determination).
Step 2 - Get the form: Form DTE 105I, "Homestead Exemption Application for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses." Download DTE 105I directly from the Ohio Department of Taxation. You can also get a paper copy from your county auditor's office.
Step 3 - Fill it out. Check "Current application," mark the type of home (single family, condo, manufactured home, etc.), confirm you were discharged under honorable conditions, and check the ownership box that fits you (named on the deed, life estate, land contract, trust, etc.). Then check the box for "A veteran with a total disability rating" (or the Individual Unemployability box if that's your path).
Step 4 - Find your county auditor. Ohio has 88 counties and each county auditor's office handles its own applications. Use the County Auditors' Association of Ohio (CAAO) auditor directory to find your county auditor's address, phone, and website.
Step 5 - File the completed DTE 105I with your county auditor, with the DD-214 and VA award letter attached. Deadline: December 31 of the year you're filing for (real property and manufactured/mobile homes both use this deadline). You can also file a late application for the prior year using the same form if you missed the deadline once.
Step 6 - Ask the auditor's office directly: "Does the disabled-veteran homestead exemption cover a second home or land beyond one acre?" (it does not - it's your primary residence plus up to one acre) and "What is this year's exact dollar exemption amount?" so you have the current, correct number in writing.
Note on surviving spouses: if the veteran was receiving this exemption when they died, the surviving spouse can keep claiming it as long as they occupied the home at the time of death, keep (or continue to occupy) the home, and haven't remarried.
Note on pending legislation: Ohio Senate Bill 92 would upgrade this from a value deduction to a full, 100% property tax exemption for totally disabled veterans. As of this writing it has not passed (it is in the Senate Ways and Means Committee). Track it yourself at the Ohio Legislature's SB 92 bill page before assuming a full exemption applies to you.
Ohio does not tax your VA disability compensation, and it does not tax your military retirement pay, no matter your age or how much you receive. This isn't a form you file to "apply" - it's how you fill out your return.
Step 1 - Know what's exempt: your VA disability compensation is not taxable income at the federal or Ohio level, period. Your military retirement pay (from Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, NOAA Corps, or Public Health Service) is 100% exempt from Ohio income tax, with no cap and no age requirement. Military disability retirement pay and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity payments get the same treatment.
Step 2 - When you file your Ohio IT 1040 (Ohio's individual income tax return), your military retirement pay is included in your federal adjusted gross income first, then subtracted out on Ohio's Schedule of Adjustments as a deduction. Your VA disability compensation was never in your federal adjusted gross income to begin with, so there's nothing to subtract for that piece.
Step 3 - Use the current-year Ohio IT 1040 instructions and Schedule of Adjustments at the Ohio Department of Taxation's individual tax page to find the exact line number for the military retirement deduction for the tax year you're filing (line numbers can shift year to year).
Step 4 - If you use a paid preparer or tax software, tell them directly: "My military retirement pay and VA disability compensation are both Ohio tax-exempt - make sure the subtraction is applied." This is a common miss.
Deadline: Ohio's individual income tax filing deadline generally matches the federal deadline (mid-April); confirm the exact date for the current year at tax.ohio.gov.
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), Ohio's version of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), issues a Veteran with Disabilities license plate and a Purple Heart plate. If you qualify for the Veteran with Disabilities plate, Ohio waives the registration fee, service fee, and local motor vehicle tax on that plate - not just a discount, a full waiver. Disabled veterans can receive up to two of these free plates.
Step 1 - Get your documents: a letter from the VA stating your service-connected disability is rated or compensated at 100%, dated within the past year, OR proof you've received a VA monetary allowance toward the purchase of a vehicle. Purple Heart applicants need a DD-214 or award certificate showing the Purple Heart.
Step 2 - Get the form: BMV 4507, "Registration Application for Gratis and Free Military License Plates." Download BMV 4507 from the Ohio Department of Public Safety, or ask for it at any BMV deputy registrar license agency.
Step 3 - Find your nearest deputy registrar (Ohio's version of a DMV branch) using the Ohio BMV's Veterans with Disabilities Plates page, which also lists current documentation requirements, or start from the Ohio BMV's Military & Veterans page to find the office nearest you.
Step 4 - Bring your current vehicle title or registration, your VA documentation, and your BMV 4507 to the deputy registrar in person. You can also mail the completed application and documents to Registration Support Services at the address on the form.
Step 5 - Allow 7 to 10 business days for plates issued in person, or 3 to 4 weeks if you mail your application. For questions, call Registration Support Services at (614) 752-7518.
Step 6 - Ask directly: "I understand disabled veterans can get up to two free plates - does that apply to my second vehicle too?" and "Do I need to redo this documentation every renewal, or does it carry forward?" - get the current answer in writing since this can change.
Governing law: Ohio Revised Code Section 4503.41 (disabled veteran and former POW license plates).
Ohio gives permanently and totally disabled veterans (100% P&T, meaning your VA rating is both 100% and permanent with no future reexamination scheduled) free camping at state parks and a free 5-year hunting and fishing license bundle.
Step 1 (camping) - Confirm you're an Ohio resident, honorably discharged, and rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the VA (or a former prisoner of war). Bring your VA award letter and a valid Ohio driver's license or state ID.
Step 2 (camping) - Apply for the disabled-veteran/former-POW camping pass and book your site through reserveohio.com, Ohio's official state park reservation system, or by calling the state park call center at 1-866-OhioParks (1-866-644-6727). The pass must be tied to your account before you book so the free-site benefit applies.
Step 3 (camping) - When you check in at the park, show your Ohio driver's license or state ID to prove residency. One free site per reservation period - you can't stack it across multiple sites at once. For full current details see the ODNR camping and lodging discounts page.
Step 4 (hunting/fishing) - Get the form: ODNR Division of Wildlife Form DNR 9032-B, the application for the free 5-year license for disabled veterans and former POWs. Download Form DNR 9032-B (PDF).
Step 5 (hunting/fishing) - Have the form certified: it requires certification by the Ohio Department of Veterans Services confirming your Ohio residency (6+ months), honorable discharge, and 100% permanent-and-total VA disability rating. Contact your County Veterans Service Office (see the Emergency financial help section below for how to find yours) for help getting this certified.
Step 6 (hunting/fishing) - Submit the certified form to ODNR's Division of Wildlife. Once approved, this single license bundle covers your fishing license, hunting license, fur taker permit, deer permit, wild turkey permit, and wetlands habitat stamp for 5 years, in any combination you need. Note the free licenses renew annually within that 5-year approval window, so plan to obtain the new year's licenses each license year.
Step 7 - If your mobility (not your overall rating) is the qualifying disability instead, ask about Form DNR 9032-A (the mobility-impairment fishing license application) as a separate track.
Questions on license status: call 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543), or see ODNR's fishing license page.
The Ohio War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship Program (WOS) pays tuition assistance to the children of Ohio veterans who died from a service-connected cause, or who are rated severely disabled, from a period of declared war or conflict. This is a benefit for your kids, not a tuition break for you directly.
Step 1 - Confirm your child qualifies: an Ohio resident, under age 25, enrolled full-time in an undergraduate associate's or bachelor's program at an eligible Ohio public or private college or university.
Step 2 - Get the application at the Ohio Department of Higher Education's WOS program page, which has the current-year application form and instructions.
Step 3 - Gather your documents: proof of your veteran status and disability rating or cause of death, your child's Ohio residency proof, and proof of full-time enrollment at the eligible institution.
Step 4 - Submit the completed application to the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Deadline: May 15 each year for the upcoming academic year - mark this on your calendar annually since it's easy to miss.
Step 5 - Once awarded, your child must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA to keep the scholarship. Maximum benefit duration is 15 quarters or 10 semesters.
For veteran-facing (not dependent) campus support and credit for military training, see Ohio's Education for Veterans initiative and check directly with your target university's veteran services office for any additional in-state tuition or fee consideration.
Every one of Ohio's 88 counties runs a County Veterans Service Office (CVSO) that can provide short-term emergency financial assistance for things like rent, mortgage, food, utilities, vehicle payments, and insurance. Amounts and rules are set locally, so what's available depends on your county.
Step 1 - Find your CVSO using the Ohio Department of Veterans Services' 'Find a CVSO' directory, or the Ohio State Association of County Veterans Service Officers (OSACVSO) county map - click your county to reach your local office.
Step 2 - Call ahead. Ask what documentation they require for emergency financial assistance (typically proof of the bill or notice you're behind on, proof of income, your DD-214, and proof of Ohio residency in that county).
Step 3 - Bring your DD-214, your VA award letter if the request relates to your disability, and the actual bill, notice, or eviction/shutoff warning you're trying to resolve.
Step 4 - Ask your CVSO officer directly whether they can also help you apply for any county-level utility, food, or housing assistance programs stacked on top of their direct emergency fund - many CVSOs coordinate with county job and family services.
For statewide-level questions, contact the Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS), 77 S. High St., 7th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215, phone (614) 644-0898 or toll-free 877-OHIO-VET (877-644-6838), dvs.ohio.gov.
Concealed Handgun License (CHL) fee waiver: under Ohio Senate Bill 81, active, reserve, or retired service members and honorably discharged veterans can get a new or renewal concealed handgun license at no cost (this waiver is capped statewide each year by the Ohio Attorney General's office; once the annual cap is hit, the waiver pauses until it resets). File at your county sheriff's office with your active-duty ID or a DD-214 showing an honorable discharge. Find your county sheriff through the Buckeye State Sheriffs' Association county directory, and see current rules at the Ohio Attorney General's Concealed Carry page.
State civil service exam preference: Ohio-resident veterans honorably discharged from active duty get 20 percentage points added to a passing score on an Ohio civil service exam; reservists who complete initial entry-level training can get 15 points added. Governed by Ohio Revised Code Section 5903.15.
Job placement help: OhioMeansJobs centers in every county have Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists for individualized employment help, plus priority of service for federally funded job-training programs. Find your nearest center and specialist through OhioMeansJobs or ask your CVSO for a warm referral.
Vocational rehabilitation: Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) offers job placement and career counseling specifically for veterans with service-connected disabilities.
State veterans homes: Ohio operates state veterans homes in Sandusky and Georgetown for eligible veterans needing nursing or domiciliary care. Eligibility requires at least one year of Ohio residency, an honorable or under-honorable-conditions discharge, wartime-era service (or the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or Vietnam Service Medal), and a disability that leaves you unable to earn a living. Start the Ohio Veterans Homes admission application (PDF) and mail it in with your discharge papers and a physician's statement.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ DD-214 (discharge paperwork) - photocopies for property tax, license plate, CHL, camping, and hunting/fishing applications
☐ Current VA award letter showing your disability rating (100%, or 100% with Individual Unemployability approval documentation if that's your path)
☐ Form DTE 105I (Homestead Exemption Application for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses) - file with your county auditor by December 31
☐ Look up your county auditor at the CAAO directory (caao.org/auditors-directory) before you file
☐ Ohio IT 1040 - confirm your military retirement pay and VA disability compensation are both subtracted out as Ohio-exempt income
☐ Form BMV 4507 (Registration Application for Gratis and Free Military License Plates) - file at a BMV deputy registrar with your vehicle title/registration
☐ ODNR Form DNR 9032-B (free 5-year hunting/fishing license) - get it certified by your County Veterans Service Office before submitting to ODNR
☐ Set up your reserveohio.com account and disabled-veteran camping pass before your next state park trip
☐ If you have school-age or college-age dependents, calendar the WOS scholarship deadline (May 15 each year) and get the application at highered.ohio.gov
☐ Find and call your County Veterans Service Office (dvs.ohio.gov/what-we-do/find-a-cvso or osacvso.org) - even if you don't need emergency help today, get on their radar
☐ If you carry or want to carry a concealed handgun, bring your DD-214 or active-duty ID to your county sheriff's office (find it at buckeyesheriffs.org) to apply for the fee-waived CHL
☐ Track Ohio Senate Bill 92 (full property tax exemption) at legislature.ohio.gov before assuming it's law
This guide is for education only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the State of Ohio, or any government agency, and it is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Benefit amounts, forms, and rules change; always confirm current details at the official links above before you rely on them. If you need help filing a VA disability claim or increasing your VA rating, do not pay anyone for that help and do not go it alone based on internet advice - use a free, VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (VSO) such as the DAV, VFW, or American Legion, or your County Veterans Service Office, found through VA.gov's accredited representative search. Be careful of anyone who contacts you offering to help with your VA rating, taxes, or savings in exchange for moving your money into an annuity, trust, or investment product - that is a common scam targeting disabled veterans, sometimes called pension poaching. Legitimate help with these state benefits is free through the offices listed in this guide.
If you're a disabled veteran living in Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth gives you real money back on property tax, vehicle registration, hunting and fishing licenses, and college costs for your kids, plus an emergency-cash program if you're in a tight spot. None of it happens automatically. Every one of these benefits requires you to file something with a specific office. This guide walks you through each one, step by step, with the actual forms and the actual links. I'm not the VA and I'm not the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I'm just laying out the path so you don't have to hunt for it.
One thing up front: if you're here because you want to file a new VA disability claim or get your rating increased, stop and go to a free, VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) first, through a group like DAV, VFW, or the American Legion, or your county's own Veterans Affairs office (covered below). Find one at VA.gov's accredited representative search. They do this for free and it's what they're trained for. Everything below is about what you can claim once your rating is in hand.
Pennsylvania's Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption Program can wipe out county, township or borough, and school district real estate tax entirely on your primary home. To qualify, you generally need an honorable or under-honorable-conditions discharge, service during a statutorily recognized wartime period (or an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal), and a 100% permanent and total (P&T) service-connected disability rating from the VA, or you qualify through blindness, paralysis, or the loss of two or more limbs from military service. As of August 16, 2024, the old blanket financial-need test was eliminated, but if your income exceeds the Commonwealth's published presumptive-need level ($114,637 as of January 1, 2025, confirm the current figure since it updates) you'll need to separately show financial need to the State Veterans Commission.
Step 1 - Find your County Director of Veterans Affairs. This is the office that runs the whole application for you, in every county. Look yours up on the official Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) directory: Find your County Director of Veterans Affairs. This office is free. If anyone tries to charge you for this application, walk away.
Step 2 - Ask the County Director for two forms: Form MA-VA 40 (Application for Determination of Need for Exemption from Certain Real Property Taxes, for veterans) or MA-VA 40ss (same form, for an unmarried surviving spouse), and Form MA-VA 41 (Information Needed by County Tax Assessment Office for Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption). County offices and the DMVA both keep copies. You can also request them by mail from the Bureau for Veterans Affairs, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003-5002, or by emailing [email protected].
Step 3 - Gather your documents: your DD-214 (Report of Separation), your current VA rating decision letter showing the 100% permanent and total (P&T) rating (or documentation of blindness/paralysis/loss of two or more limbs), proof this is your primary Pennsylvania residence, and your income documentation (your "entire tax package," per county veterans offices) in case the income test applies.
Step 4 - Complete Form MA-VA 41 and take or send it to your County Tax Assessment Office (the local office that assesses property values, separate from the Veterans Affairs office; your County Director can point you to it or you can find it through your county government's website). Submit it in three copies. The assessment office keeps one and returns two to you stamped with the date received.
Step 5 - Complete Form MA-VA 40 (or MA-VA 40ss), have it notarized, attach your receipted copy of MA-VA 41 and your DD-214, and mail the full package to the State Veterans Commission, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003-5002. Your County Director of Veterans Affairs will typically walk the whole packet through with you rather than have you mail it cold, so do this step in person at their office if you can.
Step 6 - Wait. Processing can take up to 90 days. You'll get a decision letter. If approved, it will tell you what to do next.
Step 7 - Once approved, take copies of your approval letter to your local township or borough tax collector and your school district tax collector so they each apply the exemption. The county assessment office alone does not automatically notify every taxing body; you have to close the loop with each one yourself.
Step 8 - Deadline: there's no single statewide calendar deadline to apply (you can apply once you're rated), but because it takes up to 90 days to process, apply as soon as your VA rating decision is in hand rather than waiting for a tax bill to force the issue. If you're denied on income grounds, ask your County Director about the appeal path through the State Veterans Commission.
Note: as of mid-2026 there is a pending Pennsylvania House bill that would drop the wartime-service-date requirement so any 100% permanent and total (P&T) veteran qualifies regardless of era served. It has not passed into law yet. Ask your County Director whether it has moved since you're reading this.
Pennsylvania taxes personal income at a flat 3.07% rate, and several things that matter to disabled veterans are simply not part of that tax base, so there's no special exemption form to file, it's just how the state's tax law is written.
Step 1 - Know what's already excluded before you file your PA-40 (Pennsylvania's personal income tax return): military retirement/pension pay is fully exempt from Pennsylvania income tax, with no age or income limit. VA disability compensation is not taxable federally and is likewise not part of Pennsylvania's taxable income classes, so it doesn't go on your PA-40 as income. Pennsylvania also does not tax Social Security benefits, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Step 2 - When you (or your preparer) fill out the PA-40, simply leave VA disability compensation, military retirement pay, and Social Security/SSDI off the return as nontaxable income; you don't need a special veteran exclusion form, that treatment is built into what counts as PA taxable income. Confirm current-year treatment and the current-year PA-40 instructions directly at PA Department of Revenue Personal Income Tax before you file, since forms and instructions are republished each tax year.
Step 3 - If you have Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions, don't assume the same treatment automatically applies; verify directly with the Department of Revenue's Personal Income Tax guidance or a PA-licensed tax preparer, since treatment can depend on the type of distribution and your retirement-plan status.
Step 4 - Deadline: Pennsylvania's PA-40 is due the same day as the federal return, typically April 15, unless that date is extended. There is no separate veteran-specific filing deadline.
Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation (PennDOT), the Commonwealth's version of a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), waives vehicle registration and title fees for qualifying disabled veterans on one vehicle. Two separate tracks exist depending on how you qualify, and they use different forms, so read carefully before you pick one.
Step 1 - Figure out which track fits you. Track A (free registration, general disabled-veteran category): you qualify if you lost a limb or eye or became partially paralyzed in service, were a prisoner of war in a conflict where the Department of Defense authorized a campaign medal, received the Congressional Medal of Honor, or received the Purple Heart. Track B (Severely Disabled Veteran plate): you qualify with a 100% service-connected disability certified by the VA Regional Office. Both waive registration and title fees on one passenger vehicle or truck of 9,000 lbs or less; plate fees still apply either way.
Step 2 - Download Form MV-145V, "Application for Disabled Veteran, Severely Disabled Veteran... Registration Plate," the main application PennDOT uses for both tracks: PennDOT Form MV-145V (PDF). If you're going the free-registration (non-plate-specific) route, also grab the companion Form MV-371DV referenced on PennDOT's free-registration page: PennDOT Form MV-371DV (PDF). The overview page with eligibility detail is here: Apply for Free Registration for Eligible Veterans.
Step 3 - Gather your documents: your VA Summary of Benefits letter (PennDOT specifically wants this document, not the VA decision letter, since they're different documents and PennDOT requires the Summary of Benefits version), your DD-214, and your vehicle title.
Step 4 - File the completed form(s) and documents at any PennDOT Driver License Center, or by mail per the instructions on the form. To find your nearest center, use PennDOT's official locator: Find a PennDOT Driver License Center. Enter your zip code, check the service(s) you need, and set a search radius; it will map the nearest centers.
Step 5 - Processing typically runs 2 to 4 weeks. There's no annual deadline to apply since this is tied to your registration renewal cycle, not a calendar date, but apply before your next renewal notice arrives so the waiver is in place when you'd otherwise owe the fee.
Step 6 - Pennsylvania also offers a "Veteran" designation on your PA driver's license or ID card, which is useful as quick proof of veteran status for other discounts. Ask for it the next time you renew your license at a PennDOT Driver License Center (same locator link as Step 4), or check current renewal instructions at PennDOT Military Personnel and Veterans.
Pennsylvania gives disabled veterans free or reduced-cost fishing and hunting licenses, and the state park system itself doesn't charge day-use admission to anyone.
Step 1 - For a fishing license: if you're a Pennsylvania resident certified by the VA as 100% service-connected disabled, you get a free license, including a free Trout/Lake Erie permit. If you're rated 60 to 99% service-connected disabled, you get a reduced-fee license (you'll still pay separately for any trout or Lake Erie permits you want). Confirm the current reduced-fee dollar amount, since it's periodically updated, at the official page: Apply for a Fishing License as a Disabled Veteran.
Step 2 - Documents needed: proof of Pennsylvania residency (driver's license is fine) and written certification from the VA of your qualifying service-connected disability rating.
Step 3 - Apply in person the first time at a County Treasurer's office, the PA Fish & Boat Commission's Harrisburg headquarters, or one of the Commission's six regional law-enforcement offices. After your first license, you can renew online at huntfish.pa.gov or through any license-issuing agent.
Step 4 - For a hunting or furtaker license: you qualify for a free license if you have a service-connected disability from the loss of one or more limbs, loss of use of one or more limbs, or you're medically certified as totally (100%) disabled, and your disability arose from service in a war or armed conflict. Veterans rated 60 to 99% service-connected disabled from a war or armed-conflict injury qualify for a reduced fee. The Pennsylvania Game Commission's official permits page does not post the exact current reduced-fee dollar figure, so confirm the live number before you pay: PA Game Commission Permits for Hunters with Disabilities.
Step 5 - Apply for the hunting/furtaker license at any County Treasurer's office or a PA Game Commission office, bringing your discharge papers (DD-214) and, if claiming the free total-disability tier, your VA disability certification showing total disability, plus a signed statement confirming your veteran status and that the disability is service-connected. Licenses need annual validation/renewal.
Step 6 - State parks: Pennsylvania state parks charge no general day-use admission fee to anyone, veteran or not. If you're planning to camp, ask the specific park directly about any camping-fee discount, since the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) does not post a standard disabled-veteran camping discount on its main page; verify at PA DCNR State Parks.
Pennsylvania has two separate education benefits worth knowing: in-state tuition protection for GI Bill users, and a state-funded gratuity specifically for the children of veterans with a 100% permanent and total disability.
Step 1 - In-state tuition: if you, your spouse, or your dependent child are using Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill), Chapter 35 (Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance), or Fry Scholarship benefits, federal law (38 U.S.C. §3679(c)) requires Pennsylvania's public colleges and universities to charge you the in-state tuition rate regardless of how long you've lived in the state. Bring your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA and your discharge paperwork to the school's veterans/military affairs office when you enroll; every PA public school has one. There's no separate state form, it's handled at your specific school's registrar or veterans-services office.
Step 2 - PA Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program: pays a set amount per term (up to 4 scholastic years) toward tuition and fees for a qualifying child of a veteran who has a 100% permanent and total (P&T) service-connected disability, or who died in service or of a service-connected cause during a period of war or armed conflict. The current per-term/semester dollar amount and any caps change over time; confirm the live figure before you rely on it, don't assume a number. The eligible child generally must be age 16 to 23, have lived in Pennsylvania for the 5 years before applying, and attend school in Pennsylvania. The blanket financial-need test was eliminated as of August 16, 2024.
Step 3 - Apply through your County Director of Veterans Affairs (same directory as the property tax section): Find your County Director of Veterans Affairs. Bring a copy of the veteran's DD-214 (or military death certificate, if applicable), proof of the child's age and Pennsylvania residency, and proof of current school enrollment in Pennsylvania. Program details are on the official DMVA page here: Pa. DMVA Educational Gratuity Program. For general program questions, DMVA lists the contact [email protected].
Step 4 - Payment is made directly to the school once the school itself confirms the student's enrollment/matriculation for the term, so there's no separate reimbursement step on your end; the school submits proof and the payment routes to your tuition account.
Step 5 - Deadline: apply each term/semester the eligible child is enrolled, ideally at the start of the school year, since this is a recurring per-term benefit rather than a one-time award.
If you're facing a genuine financial emergency, Pennsylvania runs a state grant specifically for veterans, separate from and in addition to anything the VA offers.
Step 1 - Veterans Temporary Assistance (VTA) provides up to $1,600 in a rolling 12-month period for necessities: food, shelter, fuel, and clothing. You qualify if you were discharged under honorable conditions (or died in service / were killed in action / suffered a service-connected disability), you're a bona fide Pennsylvania resident with no legal residence in any other state, and you can show a clear, immediate, direct need.
Step 2 - Contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs to start the application: Find your County Director of Veterans Affairs. Application forms are also available from DMVA field offices and from veterans' organizations named in the Military and Veterans Code.
Step 3 - Bring: your DD-214 (Report of Separation), proof of Pennsylvania residency, proof of job loss (if that's part of your situation), documentation of any other benefits you're receiving, proof you lack other income to cover the emergency, and proof of the specific expenses you need help with (a shutoff notice, an eviction notice, a heating bill, etc.).
Step 4 - For general program questions, DMVA lists [email protected], but do not send your completed application or personal information by email; file it through your County Director in person or by the mail/fax method your county office specifies.
Step 5 - There's no calendar deadline; this is an as-needed emergency grant, so apply as soon as the need arises. There is a cap of $1,600 total across any rolling 12-month window, so if you've already received VTA help this year, ask your County Director how much of that window remains.
Step 6 - Also ask your County Director about the Military Family Relief Assistance Program (MFRAP), a separate DMVA hardship grant for service members, veterans, and their families, and about any county-specific burial allowance if you're handling a veteran's final expenses; both are administered locally and your County Director will know current fund status and amounts. Background: Pa. DMVA Pennsylvania Veterans overview.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ Find and write down your County Director of Veterans Affairs' address and phone number: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmva/pennsylvania-veterans/county-director-of-veterans-affairs
☐ Pull your DD-214 (Report of Separation) and make several copies; nearly every benefit above needs one
☐ Pull your current VA disability rating decision letter AND your VA Summary of Benefits letter (they are different documents; PennDOT specifically wants the Summary of Benefits letter)
☐ Property tax exemption: get Form MA-VA 40 (or MA-VA 40ss for a surviving spouse) and Form MA-VA 41 from your County Director or by emailing [email protected]; notarize MA-VA 40; file MA-VA 41 (3 copies) with your County Tax Assessment Office; mail the notarized MA-VA 40 plus receipted MA-VA 41 to the State Veterans Commission, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003-5002; after approval, deliver copies to your township/borough AND school district tax collectors
☐ State income tax: confirm current-year PA-40 treatment of VA disability pay, military retirement, and Social Security at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue/resources/tax-types-and-information/personal-income-tax before filing
☐ Vehicle registration: download Form MV-145V (and MV-371DV if applying for the general free-registration track); bring VA Summary of Benefits letter, DD-214, and vehicle title to a PennDOT Driver License Center found at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dmv/find-a-location
☐ Ask PennDOT to add the "Veteran" designation to your driver's license/ID at the same visit
☐ Fishing license: bring proof of PA residency and VA disability certification to a County Treasurer, PA Fish & Boat Commission HQ (Harrisburg), or a regional PFBC law-enforcement office; renew at huntfish.pa.gov
☐ Hunting/furtaker license: bring DD-214 and VA disability certification to a County Treasurer or PA Game Commission office; renew annually
☐ Dependent in college on Chapter 33/35/Fry benefits: bring Certificate of Eligibility to the school's veterans-services office for in-state tuition
☐ Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program (if you're rated 100% permanent and total (P&T) and have a child age 16-23): apply through your County Director with DD-214 and proof of the child's PA residency/enrollment, each term
☐ Facing an emergency (food, shelter, fuel, clothing): apply for Veterans Temporary Assistance through your County Director with DD-214, proof of residency, and proof of the specific expense/need
☐ Ask your County Director about MFRAP hardship grants and any county burial allowance if relevant to your situation
This guide is for education only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or any government agency, and it is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Programs, forms, dollar figures, and income thresholds change; always confirm the current details at the official links above before you rely on them. For help filing a new VA disability claim or seeking a higher rating, use a free VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer, never a paid claims agent, and never sign anything for a company that charges you money or wants a cut of your VA benefits, promises a guaranteed rating increase, or pushes you toward an annuity or investment product tied to your disability payments. If someone approaches you about using your VA compensation to buy an annuity, restructure your benefits, or 'protect' your payments, treat it as a red flag and check with your County Director of Veterans Affairs or a VSO before signing anything.
If you are a disabled veteran living in Tennessee, this page is your whole checklist. I pulled together every state-level benefit you qualify for, in plain language, with the exact forms, the exact offices, and the exact links so you can go get what you earned without bouncing around ten different websites. Work through it top to bottom. None of this touches your U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability rating or claim itself, that part is handled separately at the bottom of the page.
Tennessee does not give you a true property tax exemption. Instead it runs a tax relief (reimbursement) program: you still get the full county tax bill and you still have to pay it, but the state reimburses you (through your county) for the tax on a set amount of your home's value. There is no income limit for the veteran category (unlike the separate elderly and disabled low-income program), and it can also pass to a surviving spouse.
Step 1 - Confirm you qualify under one of these categories, each verified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): paraplegia or permanent paralysis of both legs from a spinal cord or brain injury or disease; loss or loss of use of two or more limbs; legal blindness; a service-connected permanent and total disability rating; or a 100% permanent and total disability rating as a former prisoner of war (POW).
Step 2 - Get the paperwork the VA already has on you: your current VA disability rating decision letter (or a VA Summary of Benefits letter, which you can generate yourself for free at VA.gov Letters and Documents), showing your rating and that it is permanent and total, or showing your POW status.
Step 3 - Get the application form: Form F-16, Application for Property Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans (a surviving spouse uses Form F-16S instead). You can pick this up in person at your County Trustee's office, and many trustees post a fillable version on their own county site.
Step 4 - Find your local office using the statewide directory: Tennessee Trustee's Association county locator. Pick your county from the dropdown to get your County Trustee's address, phone, and hours (in Nashville and Davidson County, this is the Metro Trustee's Office instead).
Step 5 - Bring to the Trustee's office: your VA rating letter or Summary of Benefits letter showing permanent and total status, proof you own the home (deed or tax bill), and proof it is your primary residence. Ask specifically for the disabled veteran tax relief category, not the separate low-income elderly and disabled program (that one has an income test and is a different form).
Step 6 - Know the dollar cap: relief is calculated on the tax for a set amount of your home's full market value. Tennessee raised this cap to $200,000 of full market value under state law (SB 1798), up from the prior $175,000. Because the exact figure that applies can depend on your specific tax year, ask your trustee which number applies to the year you are filing for before you count on a dollar amount.
Step 7 - Watch the deadline: county trustee offices generally stop accepting new applications in early April each year. Apply as early in the year as you can, right after you get your tax bill, and confirm your county's exact cutoff date when you call, because it varies by county.
Step 8 - Re-apply every year. This is not a one-time filing, you (or your surviving spouse) must refile with the trustee annually to keep receiving the reimbursement.
Step 9 - If you are a surviving spouse: you can continue this benefit if you have not remarried, you solely or jointly own the home, and you live there as your home. The market value cap that applies to a surviving spouse can differ from the veteran's cap, so do not assume a number, confirm the current surviving-spouse figure with your trustee and on the state's own page: TN Department of Veterans Services — Property Tax Relief for Surviving Spouses.
For the state's own summary and any updates, see TN Department of Veterans Services — Property Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans and the TN Comptroller of the Treasury — Property Tax Relief (or call the state Tax Relief section directly at 615-747-8871 or 1-800-221-9927).
There is nothing to file for here, and that is the good news. Tennessee has no state tax on wages, salaries, retirement income, or military retirement pay, and it never taxes your VA disability compensation either (VA disability pay is also federally tax-free).
Step 1 - Do nothing. Tennessee's old Hall income tax (which only applied to interest and dividends) was fully repealed starting with tax year 2021, so there is no state income tax of any kind left in Tennessee.
Step 2 - Because there is no state income tax, there is also no separate veteran tax credit or military-retirement subtraction to apply for, the exemption is automatic and total.
Step 3 - If you want to confirm the current federal tax-free treatment of your VA disability compensation, check IRS.gov directly.
Tennessee's version of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is split between two agencies: the Department of Revenue handles vehicle titling, registration, and license plates through your County Clerk's office, while the Department of Safety and Homeland Security handles your driver license through Driver Services Centers. As a disabled veteran you have a specific exemption plus optional plates and a Veteran designation on your license.
Step 1 - County motor vehicle privilege tax (the "wheel tax") exemption: if you have a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating (VA-determined) or are a former prisoner of war (POW, VA-verified), you are exempt from your county's motor vehicle privilege tax under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 5-8-102. Get your VA Summary of Benefits letter or rating decision as proof.
Step 2 - Find your County Clerk (this is the office that collects the wheel tax and handles registration and plates), using the state's official locator: TN Department of Revenue — County Clerk Locations. Bring your VA disability evidence to that office when you register or renew and ask them to apply the privilege tax exemption; most counties require you to refile this proof every year.
Step 3 - Disabled veteran or disabled person license plate or placard: complete Form RV-F1310301, Application for Disabled Person License Plate, Placard, or Decal (fillable PDF). A licensed physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or Christian Science practitioner must certify the disability section. Submit it in person or by mail to your County Clerk (same locator as Step 2). Bring your driver license or ID and current vehicle registration, and ask about any additional county fees on top of the state fee.
Step 4 - Veteran designation on your driver license or ID: to have "VETERAN" printed on your Tennessee driver license or ID card, visit a Driver Services Center in person with your certified or original DD Form 214 (discharge papers). Find your nearest center at TN Department of Safety — Driver Service Locations and Appointments (statewide help line: 888-871-3171). A duplicate license with the designation added costs a small reissue fee.
Step 5 - Deadline: none of these are time-limited filings, but renew your privilege-tax exemption proof each year at registration renewal so you do not get billed for the wheel tax by mistake.
Full state summary: TN Department of Veterans Services — Motor Services and County Motor Vehicle Privilege Tax.
Tennessee gives resident veterans several standing discounts at state parks, plus a steep discount on hunting and fishing licenses if you carry a service-connected disability rating.
Step 1 - Veterans Day perks: any Tennessee resident veteran gets one free night of camping at any Tennessee State Park and one complimentary round of golf at a Tennessee State Park course. Bring proof of veteran status (DD Form 214 or Veteran ID) when you check in around Veterans Day.
Step 2 - Off-season camping discount: resident veterans get 50% off standard nightly base camping rates from December 1 through the end of February (premium sites excluded). Show proof of prior military service at check-in.
Step 3 - Veterans with a 100% total service-connected disability get a 50% year-round discount on cabin rentals and campsites at Tennessee State Parks. Bring your VA rating letter (showing the 100% service-connected disability) when you book or check in.
Step 4 - Book any of the above directly through Tennessee State Parks — Veterans Programs & Benefits, which lists every park and reservation link (you can also call the reservation line at 1-888-867-2757).
Step 5 - Lifetime hunting and fishing license: if you are either (a) 100% permanent and totally disabled from a service-connected cause, or (b) rated 30% or more disabled by reason of service, you qualify for a combination sport hunting and fishing license for a one-time $10 fee. This license is NOT sold online, at county clerks, or at sporting goods stores.
Step 6 - Get the TWRA Miscellaneous Licenses Application from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) at TWRA license sales. Fill it out, attach your VA disability rating certification, and mail, email, or fax it to the TWRA Licensing Division in Nashville (contact info is on the form). Processing is by mail only, there is no in-person office for this specific license.
Step 7 - Deadline: none, apply any time. Once issued, it functions as a lifetime license, so you only pay the $10 once.
State summary page: TN Department of Veterans Services — Hunting and Fishing Licenses.
Tennessee runs two separate education benefits worth knowing: a tuition waiver tied to a veteran's death, prisoner of war (POW), or missing in action (MIA) status (for dependents), and a cash grant available to living veterans and current service members regardless of disability rating.
Step 1 - Helping Heroes Grant (the one most disabled veterans will use): open to current service members and honorably discharged veterans who have been Tennessee residents for at least one year before applying and who were awarded certain qualifying medals on or after September 11, 2001. It pays a set amount per semester toward education costs, awarded first-come, first-served while funding lasts.
Step 2 - Apply for the Helping Heroes Grant through the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation; start at TN Department of Veterans Services — Scholarships, Grants & Waivers, which links the current-year application portal and deadline. Apply as early in the enrollment term as possible since funding is limited.
Step 3 - Dependents Tuition Waiver: if you died from service-connected injuries during a qualifying period of armed conflict, or are officially classified as a prisoner of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA), and you were a Tennessee resident at that time, your dependent child (generally under 23) or spouse can have tuition, maintenance fees, activity fees, and registration fees waived at Tennessee state-supported colleges and universities.
Step 4 - Apply for the Dependents Tuition Waiver through your dependent's college veterans or financial aid office, using the application and instructions at TN Department of Veterans Services — Dependents Tuition Waiver. Bring your DD Form 214, the death certificate or official prisoner of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA) determination, and proof of the dependent relationship (birth or marriage certificate).
Step 5 - Document deadlines are set by each individual campus admissions and financial-aid calendar, not a single statewide date, so contact your dependent's school's veterans affairs or financial aid office directly to confirm the cutoff for the term you want.
Step 6 - These are separate from and in addition to federal VA education benefits (the GI Bill or Chapter 33, Veteran Readiness and Employment, and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance or Chapter 35). Confirm your federal eligibility separately at VA.gov Education Benefits.
Full list of TN programs including Veterans Upward Bound and VETS Campus support: TN Department of Veterans Services — Veteran Education.
Beyond the big-ticket items above, Tennessee gives you a free burial benefit, hiring preference for state jobs, and a single statewide hub to find help fast if you are in crisis or just need a starting point.
Step 1 - If you are in a mental health crisis right now, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1, or call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, available 24/7, no paperwork needed first.
Step 2 - For general help navigating any Tennessee veteran benefit (including ones not listed on this page), start at Tennessee Veterans Connect, the state's newer one-stop resource hub, or call the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services (TDVS) directly at 615-741-2345 or email [email protected].
Step 3 - Find your nearest in-person Veterans Service Office: TDVS operates regional offices statewide with Veterans Resource Coordinators. Call the main TDVS line above or check the office list at tn.gov/veteran to get the address closest to you; walk-ins are typically welcome but calling ahead saves a trip.
Step 4 - Burial benefit: Tennessee operates State Veterans Cemeteries (in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Parkers Crossroads). Eligible veterans are buried at no charge (plot, opening and closing, government grave marker with installation, and perpetual care included); eligible dependents can be buried for a fee. To arrange this, have your family or funeral director contact TDVS or the specific cemetery directly, listed at TN Department of Veterans Services — Veteran Burial Benefits. Bring your DD Form 214 to establish eligibility, and confirm the current dependent fee with the cemetery.
Step 5 - State job hiring preference: if you are honorably discharged and applying for a Tennessee state government job, submit your DD Form 214 with your application to claim veterans' preference points on the civil-service exam score, and note that under the TEAM Act you are guaranteed an interview for open state "preferred service" positions if you meet the minimum qualifications. Details at TN Department of Human Resources — Veterans' Preference Policy 12-007.
Step 6 - State veterans homes: Tennessee operates state veterans homes (in Humboldt, Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Knoxville, and Cleveland) for long-term and skilled nursing care. Admission rules and cost vary by home, so call the specific home directly; the list and phone numbers are at TN Department of Veterans Services — State Veterans Homes.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ VA disability rating decision letter or VA Summary of Benefits letter (download at VA.gov) showing your percentage and permanent-and-total status if applicable
☐ DD Form 214 (discharge papers), certified or original copy
☐ Deed or property tax bill showing you own your home, plus proof it is your primary residence
☐ Form F-16 (Application for Property Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans), or Form F-16S if you are a surviving spouse, from your County Trustee
☐ Visit your County Trustee (find yours at tennesseetrustee.org) before the early-April deadline, and refile every year
☐ Visit your County Clerk (find yours at tn.gov/revenue county clerk locator) to file the motor vehicle privilege tax exemption and refile annually at renewal
☐ Form RV-F1310301 (disabled person license plate, placard, or decal application, PDF) with medical certification, filed at your County Clerk
☐ Visit a Driver Services Center (find yours at tn.gov/safety/driver-services/locations.html) with your DD Form 214 to add the Veteran designation to your license or ID
☐ TWRA Miscellaneous Licenses Application (from TWRA license sales) with VA disability certification attached, mailed to TWRA Licensing in Nashville, for your one-time $10 lifetime hunting and fishing license
☐ Helping Heroes Grant application (links at tn.gov/veteran education page) if you or a qualifying dependent is enrolling in school
☐ Dependents Tuition Waiver documents (death certificate or prisoner of war (POW) / missing in action (MIA) determination, proof of relationship) if applicable, filed with the college veterans affairs office
☐ Save the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services number, 615-741-2345, and Tennessee Veterans Connect as your go-to for anything not covered here
This page is education only. It is not the VA, not the state of Tennessee, and not affiliated with either. Figures like dollar caps and grant amounts change, so always confirm the current number at the official link before relying on it. If you are filing or appealing a VA disability claim or rating, do that for free through a VA-accredited Veterans Service Organization (DAV, VFW, American Legion, or your county Veterans Service Officer, find one at VA.gov), never pay anyone for claims help and never let anyone "coach" you through a do-it-yourself rating strategy. And please be careful with anyone who contacts you offering to help you "unlock" your VA benefits in exchange for moving your money into an annuity, trust, or investment product, that is a classic pension-poaching pitch aimed at veterans, not a real benefit.
If you are a disabled veteran living in Texas, this page walks you through every major state-level benefit you are entitled to, in plain language, with the exact forms, the exact office, and the exact link to find your local office. I'm not the government and I'm not a Veterans Affairs (VA) office. This is a practical how-to guide, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and there's no affiliation with the VA or the State of Texas. If you're filing or trying to increase a VA disability rating, skip straight to a free, VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer through DAV, VFW, the American Legion, or your county's Veteran Service Officer, found at VA.gov's accredited representative search. Never pay anyone to file or coach a disability claim for you. Everything below is a Texas state benefit, and I'll walk you through doing it yourself.
Texas gives disabled veterans a break on the local property taxes on their home, and if you're rated 100% (or have an Individual Unemployability determination, meaning the VA has determined you can't hold steady work because of your service-connected conditions even though your combined rating is under 100%), you can owe $0 in property tax on your residence homestead. This is administered by your county appraisal district, not by any state office in Austin.
Step 1 - Figure out which exemption applies to you. If your combined VA disability rating is 100%, or you have an Individual Unemployability determination, you qualify for the full exemption (Tax Code section 11.131): no property tax at all on your residence homestead (the home you actually live in). If your rating is 10% to 99%, you qualify for a tiered dollar exemption off your home's assessed value under Tax Code section 11.22: 10%-29% disabled = $5,000 off assessed value; 30%-49% = $7,500; 50%-69% = $10,000; 70%-99% = $12,000. You also qualify for the $12,000 tier regardless of exact percentage if you're 65+ with at least a 10% rating, totally blind in one or both eyes, or have lost use of one or more limbs. Confirm current dollar amounts at the Texas Comptroller's Disabled Veteran Exemptions FAQ and the 100 Percent Disabled Veteran FAQ.
Step 2 - Get your VA disability compensation award letter (or your Individual Unemployability determination letter) showing your current rating. Download it yourself at VA.gov - download your VA benefit letters or request one from your Veteran Service Officer. Texas law specifically says a driver's license or state ID is NOT acceptable proof of your rating, so you must have this VA letter.
Step 3 - Get the right form. Use Form 50-114, Application for Residence Homestead Exemption (this single form covers the general homestead exemption and the disabled-veteran homestead exemption, including the 100% total exemption) at comptroller.texas.gov/forms/50-114.pdf. If you're applying for the tiered exemption on a property that is NOT your homestead (or your surviving spouse is applying), use Form 50-135, Application for Disabled Veteran's or Survivor's Exemptions, available from your county appraisal district and referenced at the Comptroller's Disabled Veterans Exemptions overview.
Step 4 - Find your county appraisal district (this is the office that actually processes the application, not the Comptroller). Use the Texas Comptroller's directory of appraisal districts by county to look up your county's appraisal district name, address, and phone number.
Step 5 - Bring or mail: the completed Form 50-114 (or 50-135), your VA award/rating letter, and proof you live at the property as your homestead (your Texas driver's license or ID showing that address is normally what they ask for). File it directly with your county appraisal district office found in Step 4, not with the Comptroller's office in Austin.
Step 6 - Watch the deadline: the standard filing deadline is April 30 of the tax year, but disabled veterans specifically are allowed to file up to five years after the delinquency date for those taxes, so don't assume you've missed out if you're rated now and didn't apply in years past. Ask your appraisal district about a retroactive refund for prior years when you file.
Step 7 - If you're a surviving spouse: you keep the exemption if you haven't remarried and the home was your homestead when the veteran died (and remains your homestead now). If you move, your new exemption is capped at the dollar amount you had on the old home in the last year you received it, not automatically a fresh full exemption. Ask the appraisal district specifically about surviving-spouse continuation when you file. Source: Comptroller 100% FAQ.
Texas has no state personal income tax at all, for anyone, on any type of income. There's nothing to file and no veteran-specific credit to claim here because there's no state income tax structure to apply it against.
Step 1 - Know that this applies to everything: your wages, your military retirement pay, your VA disability compensation, and any investment income. Nothing to file, nothing to apply for. Confirmed at the Texas Comptroller's property tax exemptions overview, which explains Texas's tax structure.
Step 2 - Separately, remember your VA disability compensation is federally tax-free under federal law (38 U.S.C. section 5301), in every state, not just Texas. See IRS Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income for the federal rule, and verify the current-year version at IRS.gov before filing your federal return.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) issues a Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate for a low one-time fee, and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) can add a permanent "Veteran" designation to your driver's license for free. You handle both at different offices.
Step 1 - Check eligibility for DV plates: you need a service-connected disability rating of at least 50%, or at least 40% if the disability is from amputation of a lower extremity, and you must be currently receiving U.S. government compensation for that disability. Source: TxDMV - Disabled Parking, Placards & Plates.
Step 2 - Get the form: Form VTR-615, Application for Disabled Veteran License Plates and/or Parking Placard, available at txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/form_files/VTR-615.pdf.
Step 3 - Prove your rating: either have the VA-signed approval section on the form completed, or attach a current VA award letter confirming your disability rating and compensation. Get that letter at VA.gov - download your VA benefit letters if you don't already have one.
Step 4 - Find your county tax assessor-collector's office (this is where you file, not TxDMV headquarters and not DPS) at the TxDMV county tax office directory, searchable by county.
Step 5 - Submit the completed VTR-615, your proof of vehicle ownership/registration, your VA documentation, and payment. The first set of DV plates costs $3, with no separate registration fee for that plate; additional sets carry the standard annual registration fee. Confirm the current fee at your county tax office before you go, since fee schedules are revised each year. Source: TxDMV - For Our Troops.
Step 6 - If you also want to park in disabled spaces, you need the International Symbol of Access (the wheelchair symbol). A plain DV plate without the International Symbol of Access does NOT authorize disabled parking on its own. Ask for the International Symbol of Access option on the same VTR-615 form, or request up to two International Symbol of Access placards instead of, or in addition to, the plate. Source: TxDMV - Disabled Parking, Placards & Plates.
Step 7 - Add the free "Veteran" designation to your Texas driver's license (separate from the plate, handled by DPS not TxDMV). Bring your DD-214 (or DD-215, NGB-22, or a VA disability-status letter) to any Texas DPS driver license office; use their office locator to find the nearest one. It's free when done at your regular renewal; there's a small duplicate-license fee if you add it outside a renewal cycle.
Step 8 - Toll roads: your DV plate automatically waives tolls on roads operated directly by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT); no separate signup needed there. Source: TxDOT Veterans Discount Program. This does NOT cover privately or regionally managed toll roads like Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area's LBJ TEXpress, North Tarrant Express, or NTE 35W TEXpress, or others such as the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) or the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority's toll roads (183A, 290, 71, 45SW, 183 Toll); those run their OWN separate veteran discount enrollment. If you drive one of those regularly, contact that specific toll authority directly to enroll; look up the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Qualified Service Member Program as an example of how enrollment works, and search for your own regional authority's veteran program if you're elsewhere in the state.
Texas Parks & Wildlife gives disabled veterans free or steeply discounted access to state parks and hunting/fishing licenses. These are issued in person, not online.
Step 1 - Check which state park passport you qualify for. The Disabled Veterans Parklands Passport gives free entry for a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 60% or more, or loss of a lower extremity, AND covers one companion entering with you free. The plain Veterans Passport covers any honorably discharged veteran (no disability requirement) but only covers the veteran, not a companion. Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife - Texas Parklands Passports.
Step 2 - Bring proof: a Department of Defense (DoD)-issued veteran ID card, a Texas driver's license/ID with the veteran designation described above, your DD-214, or a VA-issued veteran health identification card.
Step 3 - Get the passport in person at any Texas State Park office (there is no mail-in or online option). Find your nearest park at the Texas State Parks locator.
Step 4 - For hunting and fishing, check the Disabled Veteran Super Combo Package: a FREE combination hunting and all-water fishing license with five state endorsements (everything except the Reptile and Amphibian endorsement), for a veteran with loss of use of a foot or leg, OR a disability rating of 50% or more, who is receiving compensation for it. Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife - Disabled Veteran Super Combo.
Step 5 - Bring VA-issued proof of your disability rating in effect at the time of purchase, and buy the license in person at a licensed retailer (sporting goods stores, some Walmarts, and other Texas Parks & Wildlife license agents carry it; it is not sold online). Find a nearby retailer through the Texas Parks & Wildlife license retailer search. Note the Federal Duck Stamp is separate and still required if you hunt waterfowl.
The Hazlewood Act gives an honorably discharged Texas veteran up to 150 credit hours of tuition exemption (and most fees, though not living expenses, books, or supply fees) at Texas public colleges and universities. If you're rated 100% total and permanent by the VA (or died of a service-connected cause, or were killed/went missing in action), you can transfer any unused hours to a dependent child under the Hazlewood Legacy Act.
Step 1 - Confirm basic eligibility: honorable discharge, and you either lived in Texas when you entered active duty or entered service from Texas. If your first Hazlewood exemption was fall 2011 or later, you must also reside in Texas during each term you use the benefit.
Step 2 - Register in the Hazlewood database, which is the required starting point for both veterans and dependents, at hazlewood.tvc.texas.gov/students. This is a Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) system separate from your school's own financial aid portal.
Step 3 - Complete Form TVC-ED-1, Hazlewood Act Exemption Application, with supporting documentation (there's a companion instructions packet, Form TVC-ED-1a, that walks through exactly what to attach). Both are at the TVC Hazlewood application and instructions packet.
Step 4 - Gather your DD-214 and proof of Texas residency, then submit the completed application and documents to the veterans/financial aid office at the specific college or university you're attending (not to TVC directly); every school with a Hazlewood program has one. If you don't know who that is at your school, call the TVC Hazlewood help line in Step 6 and they'll point you to the right campus office.
Step 5 - Re-file every semester or term you want to use the benefit; it is not automatically renewed. If you're transferring hours to a dependent under the Legacy Act, your dependent must be your biological, step, or adopted child, or your claimed tax dependent, generally 25 or younger on the first day of the term, and must also file their own application each term at their school, plus register in the same database in Step 2.
Step 6 - For questions on eligibility, transfer mechanics, or which office at your school to use, call the TVC Hazlewood team directly at 1-877-898-3833 or 512-463-3168, or email [email protected].
If you're facing an urgent need like rent, utilities, or a funeral bill, Texas veterans have two direct paths: your county's Veteran Service Officer, and the Texas Veterans Commission's grant-funded network of local nonprofits that specifically serve veterans.
Step 1 - Call 2-1-1 (or 877-541-7905) or search 211texas.org by your need (rent, utilities, food) and your county. This is the state's official Texas Health and Human Services Commission helpline and it routes you to local emergency-assistance providers, including veteran-specific ones, faster than searching on your own.
Step 2 - In parallel, contact your county Veteran Service Officer, a county government employee whose job is specifically to help local veterans access benefits and emergency aid, including grants funded through TVC's Fund for Veterans' Assistance. Find your county's Veteran Service Officer contact through your county government's website, or call the Texas Veterans Commission main line at (512) 463-6564 or toll-free 1-800-252-8387 and ask to be connected to your county's Veteran Service Officer.
Step 3 - You can also look at the Fund for Veterans' Assistance grantee directory at tvc.texas.gov/fund, which lists the specific nonprofits and local agencies in your area currently funded to provide direct emergency assistance (rent, mortgage, utilities, funeral, transportation) to veterans, their dependents, and surviving spouses.
Step 4 - Have ready when you call: your DD-214 or other proof of service, a copy of the bill or notice you need help with (rent ledger, shutoff notice, funeral invoice), and your VA award letter if the request relates to your disability.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ VA disability compensation award letter (or Individual Unemployability determination letter) - download at VA.gov benefit letters
☐ DD-214 (or DD-215/NGB-22) - multiple copies, needed for the driver's license veteran designation, Hazlewood, and often the Veteran Service Officer
☐ Property tax: Form 50-114 (Residence Homestead Exemption, covers the 100% total exemption) or Form 50-135 (tiered/non-homestead exemption) - file with your county appraisal district found at the Comptroller's appraisal district directory; deadline April 30 (disabled veterans may file up to 5 years late)
☐ Vehicle: Form VTR-615 (DV plate/placard application) - file with your county tax assessor-collector found at the TxDMV county tax office directory; bring $3 for the first plate
☐ Driver's license veteran designation - bring DD-214 to a Texas DPS driver license office; free at renewal
☐ State park passport - bring veteran ID/DD-214/VA card in person to any Texas State Park
☐ Hunting/fishing Disabled Veteran Super Combo - bring VA rating proof to a TPWD license retailer in person
☐ Hazlewood Act - register at hazlewood.tvc.texas.gov/students, file Form TVC-ED-1 with your school's veterans/financial aid office every term
☐ Emergency help - call 2-1-1 or 211texas.org, and contact your county Veteran Service Officer via Texas Veterans Commission at (512) 463-6564 or 1-800-252-8387
☐ If you need help with a VA disability claim or rating increase itself, contact a free accredited Veteran Service Officer through VA.gov's accredited representative search - never pay for this
This guide is for education only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the State of Texas, or any government agency, and it is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Benefit amounts, forms, and rules change; always confirm the current figures and requirements at the official links above before relying on them. For help filing or appealing a VA disability claim or rating, use a free VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer through DAV, VFW, the American Legion, or your county Veteran Service Officer via VA.gov, never a paid claims consultant. Be careful of anyone who contacts you uninvited offering to help access your VA benefits, convert your compensation into an annuity or investment product, or move your money in exchange for a fee, especially around large lump-sum payments or estate planning; these are common pension-poaching and annuity-sales schemes that target disabled veterans, and no legitimate state or federal office will cold-call you for your benefit or bank information.
This guide walks you through every major Virginia state and local benefit tied to a service-connected disability rating: the real property tax exemption (the big one), how VA disability compensation is treated on your Virginia income tax return, vehicle tax and registration breaks through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), state park and hunting/fishing benefits, education benefits for your spouse and kids, and emergency options if you hit a rough patch. I'll give you the actual office, the actual form, and the actual link at every step so you can do this without hunting around. I'm not the VA or the Commonwealth of Virginia and I'm not affiliated with either. This is education, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and none of this is a substitute for a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) helping you with your actual disability rating or claim.
If you are rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total (P&T), you are exempt from all real property tax on your primary residence in Virginia, including up to one acre of land it sits on. This is a full exemption with no income or asset limit, authorized by the Virginia Constitution and Virginia Code Section 58.1-3219.5. It applies to jointly owned property of married couples, and it can apply to certain trust arrangements if the veteran (alone or with a spouse) holds a life estate, right of use, or power of revocation. A qualifying surviving spouse keeps the exemption for life (even if they move to a new home) as long as the veteran died on or after January 1, 2011, and the spouse does not remarry. If you own a manufactured home but not the land under it, the home itself still qualifies even though the land does not.
Step 1 - Get your VA rating documentation in hand. You need written proof from the VA that you are rated 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total. This is usually your VA disability rating decision letter or a VA benefit summary letter. If you don't have a current copy, request one at VA.gov — Get Your VA Benefit Summary Letter or work with a free accredited VSO (see the Fences section below) to pull it.
Step 2 - Identify the office that handles this: it is NOT the state. This exemption is administered locally by your city's or county's Commissioner of the Revenue (in a few localities called the Director of Finance or similar). Find your local office through the Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia office directory at vacomrev.com — Office Contacts, or search "[Your City/County] Commissioner of the Revenue" directly. If you're in a larger locality, examples of the local landing page you're looking for are Fairfax County — Tax Exemption for Disabled Veteran or Alexandria — Real Property Tax Relief for Veterans.
Step 3 - Get the application form from that office. Virginia Code lets each city, county, and town design its own affidavit/application form for this exemption (there is no single statewide PDF), so you request or download the form directly from your locality's Commissioner of the Revenue. The form will ask for your name, your spouse's name if applicable, whether the property is jointly owned, and a certification that this is your principal residence.
Step 4 - Gather your documents before you go: (1) your VA 100 percent P&T rating letter or benefit summary letter, (2) proof this is your principal residence (deed, utility bill, or driver's license showing the address), (3) if the property is in a trust, bring the trust document showing you hold a life estate, right of use, or revocation power, and (4) if you co-own with someone who doesn't independently qualify, be ready to discuss the ownership split since the exemption is prorated to your share in that case.
Step 5 - File the affidavit/application with your Commissioner of the Revenue. There is no statewide deadline set by the Code; most localities want the application filed as early in the tax year as possible so the exemption applies to that year's bill, and some localities set their own local filing deadline, so ask your local office directly what their cutoff is for the current tax year.
Step 6 - If your locality denies the application, you can appeal. Appeals from a Commissioner of the Revenue's denial go to the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS). Start that appeal by contacting DVS at dvs.virginia.gov or (804) 786-0286.
Step 7 - Rated below 100 percent? You won't qualify for this statewide exemption, but many Virginia localities run their own means-tested "Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled" programs that disabled veterans under 100 percent can sometimes use. Ask your Commissioner of the Revenue about local relief programs when you call.
Your VA disability compensation (and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, paid to some survivors) is never included in your federal taxable income, and because Virginia's income tax return starts from your federal adjusted gross income, that compensation is automatically not taxed by Virginia either. There's no separate state form or election needed for this part; you don't add it to your Virginia return because it was never in your federal income to begin with.
Step 1 - If you also receive military retirement pay (separate from VA disability compensation) or Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments, look at Virginia's Military Benefits Subtraction, an income-tax subtraction claimed on your Virginia individual income tax return (Form 760). This subtraction has been phasing in with a rising cap through tax year 2025; confirm the current-year cap before you file, since Virginia Tax's own guidance is the only reliable source for a specific dollar figure. Check Virginia Tax — Military Benefits Subtraction FAQ and Virginia Tax — Subtractions.
Step 2 - Remember the subtraction only applies to income that was actually included in your federal taxable income. Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) or other retirement-account distributions do not qualify for this particular subtraction, only qualifying military retirement pay and SBP payments do.
Step 3 - If you're 65 or older, ask your tax preparer (or Virginia Tax directly) about stacking the separate Age Deduction on top of the Military Benefits Subtraction if you qualify for both.
Step 4 - File your Virginia return (Form 760) by the state's usual individual income tax deadline. If you have questions on how to apply either treatment to your specific numbers, call Virginia Tax directly through the contact options at tax.virginia.gov rather than guessing, since this is a tax filing question, not a claims question.
Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is where you handle three separate but related benefits: a personal property tax exemption on one vehicle, a registration fee waiver, and Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates. The personal property tax exemption is administered by your local Commissioner of the Revenue (same office as the property tax exemption above); the plates and registration waiver go through the state DMV.
Step 1 - Vehicle personal property tax exemption: if you are rated 100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total (or rated below 100 percent but paid at the 100 percent rate due to Individual Unemployability (IU)), one vehicle you own and use personally (a car, pickup, or panel truck; motorcycles do not qualify) is exempt from local personal property tax, effective for tax periods on or after January 1, 2021. This exemption ends at the veteran's death and does not pass to a surviving spouse. File for it with the same Commissioner of the Revenue office you used for the property tax exemption above, bringing your VA rating letter and vehicle title/registration. Ask that office for their personal property tax exemption application (for example, see Loudoun County — Personal Property Tax Exemption: Disabled Veterans as a sample of what the local form looks like).
Step 2 - Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates: go to the Virginia DMV's Disabled Veteran plate page at DMV — Disabled Veteran License Plates. You'll need Form VSA 54, Veteran Certification of Disability (fillable PDF at DMV — Form VSA 54), OR a VA benefit letter showing your service-connected disability, in place of that form.
Step 3 - Form VSA 54 needs a signature from a Veterans Service Officer (a VSO, the same free accredited helpers mentioned in the Fences section) or from a medical professional (a Veteran Affairs physician, your own physician, physician's assistant, or nurse practitioner), certifying your disability. If you go this route, you can have your VSO at a Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) office sign it for you while you're there getting other help, or bring it to your own doctor.
Step 4 - You get one set of DV plates at no charge if VA documentation shows you (1) lost, or lost the use of, a leg, arm, or hand, (2) are blind, or (3) are certified permanently and totally disabled. Un-remarried surviving spouses of veterans who qualified also get this free set. Other service-connected disabled veterans can still get DV plates, but pay the standard registration fee plus a special plate fee (and an added fee if you personalize them); ask DMV for the current plate fees when you apply.
Step 5 - Registration fee waiver: recent Virginia law expanded the no-registration-fee benefit to standard passenger plates too, so you no longer need DV plates specifically just to get the fee waived on one vehicle. Apply for the waiver the same way, through DMV, using Form VSA 54 or your VA benefit letter as proof.
Step 6 - If your disability limits your mobility (not just the categories above), ask DMV about the separate Disabled Parking (Section B) plate, which requires certification from a licensed physician or other qualifying medical provider and is the only version that lets you park in reserved disabled-parking spaces. Apply at DMV — Apply for a Disabled Parking Placard or License Plate.
Step 7 - You can apply for DV plates and the registration waiver online through your DMV account, by mail, or in person at any Virginia DMV Customer Service Center; find your nearest one at DMV — Locations. Bring your driver's license, current vehicle title or registration, and either Form VSA 54 (completed and signed) or your VA disability letter.
Step 1 - Virginia State Parks Disabled Veteran's Passport: if you're rated 100 percent service-connected disabled, this pass gets you free entry (no parking/admission fee) into every Virginia state park plus a 50 percent discount on camping, swimming fees, picnic shelter rentals, and equipment rentals run by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
Step 2 - Apply by downloading the DCR Veteran Disability Pass Application (PDF), filling it out, and emailing it with your supporting VA documentation to [email protected]. See Virginia State Parks — Passes for current program details.
Step 3 - Lifetime hunting and fishing licenses through the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR): Virginia resident veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or higher can buy a lifetime hunting, freshwater fishing, or combined license for a one-time cost (not an annual fee) that scales down as your rating goes up. At 100 percent the lifetime license is free; the fee increases as the rating decreases, and the lowest tier (a 30 to 49 percent rating) is the most expensive. Rather than trust a number that changes, confirm the exact current fee for your rating tier on the official application itself (linked in Step 4) before you send payment.
Step 4 - Get the application: DWR's veterans page is at DWR — Veterans & Military, which links the Virginia Resident Disabled Veteran's Lifetime License Application PDF and lists the current fee for each rating tier. You'll attach a VA Benefit Summary Letter or a Veterans' Certificate of Disability as your proof of rating. If you're not a Virginia resident, DWR also offers a Special Annual Basic Freshwater Fishing & Hunting License for Non-Resident Disabled Veterans, referenced on the same page.
Step 5 - Mail or submit the completed application and documentation per the instructions on the PDF itself; DWR license and permit questions can be directed through the contact info on dwr.virginia.gov.
Step 6 - Separately, any veteran with a service-connected disability (any percentage) also qualifies for the free federal lifetime "America the Beautiful" National Park Service Access Pass, a federal benefit covering national parks and other federal recreation lands, not a Virginia-specific one. Ask about it at any National Park Service or federal recreation site entrance, or see VA News — Free lifetime pass to national parks.
The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) is a state tuition benefit for your family, not for you personally. If you are rated 90 to 100 percent service-connected, permanently and totally disabled (or you died from a service-connected condition, or are/were a prisoner of war or missing in action), your spouse or your children (ages 16 to 29) can get a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees for up to 8 semesters (or the equivalent) at a Virginia public two- or four-year college. Virginia must have been your home of record (or you must meet an alternate residency test) for at least 5 years before the application.
Step 1 - Confirm your rating letter shows 90 to 100 percent permanent and total, or gather documentation of a service-connected death, POW, or MIA status if that's the qualifying category instead.
Step 2 - The office that certifies eligibility is the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS). Applications go through the DVS-managed online portal at vmsdep.dvs.virginia.gov. Set up an account there for your spouse or child.
Step 3 - Have these documents ready to upload: proof of the veteran's military service (DD Form 214, or DD Form 1300 for a death-in-service case), the VA rating letter or documentation of the qualifying condition, and proof of Virginia residency (tax records, utility bills, or a mortgage statement in the veteran's or family's name covering the required years).
Step 4 - Apply for each term (semester) the student wants to use the benefit; this is not a one-time application covering all future semesters.
Step 5 - Once DVS certifies eligibility, the individual public college or university (through its financial aid or veterans-certifying office) applies the tuition and fee waiver, and Virginia's State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) coordinates the program at the state level.
Step 6 - Questions on your application status or documentation go straight to the VMSDEP program office: call 844-VDVS-VET (844-838-7838), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or email [email protected].
Step 7 - This program does not cover your own tuition as the veteran. Your personal education benefits run through federal programs (the GI Bill or Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment). A free accredited VSO or your target school's Veteran Certifying Official can help you sort out those federal benefits.
Step 1 - Start with your local Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) office. DVS runs offices across the Commonwealth staffed by free, accredited Veteran Services Representatives who can help with benefits questions, claims, and pointing you to emergency resources. Find the nearest one by entering your zip code at DVS — Find a DVS Office Near You.
Step 2 - DVS headquarters (Richmond) is at 101 North 14th Street, 17th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, phone (804) 786-0286. Use this if you can't immediately find or reach a local office.
Step 3 - If you're in crisis right now, call the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 then pressing 1, texting 838255, or chatting at VeteransCrisisLine.net. This is a federal 24/7 resource, not state-specific, but it's the fastest path if you need help today.
Step 4 - For a place to live if you need skilled nursing, memory care, or short-term rehab, Virginia operates state Veterans Care Centers, including Sitter & Barfoot (Richmond), Davis & McDaniel (Roanoke), Jones & Cabacoy (Virginia Beach), and Puller (Fauquier County). Eligibility and cost can depend on both VA and facility criteria, so call DVS Healthcare directly or the specific care center through DVS — Veteran Skilled Nursing Facilities to ask what applies to your situation.
Step 5 - If burial planning is the immediate need, Virginia's state veterans cemeteries (Amelia, Suffolk, and Dublin) provide a grave or cremation site, opening and closing, a memorial headstone, burial receptacle, use of the committal shelter or chapel, perpetual care, and a U.S. burial flag, at no cost to eligible veterans and eligible spouses/dependents. Start at DVS — Veteran Cemeteries.
Step 6 - Looking for work? Virginia gives disabled veterans additional consideration in local government hiring (Virginia Code Section 15.2-1509) and Commonwealth (state) agencies apply a veteran-preference policy; check current openings and veteran-specific hiring resources at Virginia Jobs — Veterans Hiring Resources, or call the Department of Human Resource Management at (804) 225-2131 with questions. If you own or are starting a business, Virginia's Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD) offers a free Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certification that can unlock state contracting preference; apply at SBSD — Service Disabled Veterans.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ Get a current copy of your VA disability rating letter or VA benefit summary letter (download at VA.gov or ask your VSO)
☐ Look up your local Commissioner of the Revenue office (vacomrev.com office directory or search "[your city/county] Commissioner of the Revenue")
☐ Request/download that office's real property tax exemption application (your local affidavit form; no statewide PDF exists) and file it with your VA rating letter, proof of principal residence, and (if applicable) trust documents
☐ Ask your Commissioner of the Revenue for their personal property (vehicle) tax exemption application, and file it with your VA rating letter and vehicle title/registration for one qualifying vehicle
☐ Confirm your local exemption filing deadline (localities set their own cutoff for the current tax year)
☐ Download DMV Form VSA 54 (Veteran Certification of Disability) and get it signed by a VSO or medical provider, or gather your VA benefit letter as an alternative
☐ Apply through DMV for Disabled Veteran (DV) plates and/or the registration fee waiver (online, by mail, or at a DMV Customer Service Center)
☐ If mobility-limited, ask DMV about the separate Disabled Parking (Section B) plate/placard
☐ Check the current Virginia Military Benefits Subtraction cap at tax.virginia.gov before filing Form 760 if you receive military retirement pay or SBP income
☐ Email the DCR Veteran Disability Pass Application (PDF) with VA documentation to [email protected] for the free State Parks pass
☐ Download the Virginia Resident Disabled Veteran's Lifetime License Application from dwr.virginia.gov/veterans, check the current fee for your rating tier on it, and submit it with your VA Benefit Summary Letter for a discounted or free lifetime hunting/fishing license
☐ If rated 90 to 100 percent P&T, set up your spouse's or child's account at vmsdep.dvs.virginia.gov and gather DD Form 214, the VA rating letter, and proof of Virginia residency for VMSDEP
☐ Find your nearest DVS office at dvs.virginia.gov/benefits-services/find-a-dvs-office-near-you for free, in-person help with any of the above
☐ Save DVS headquarters contact: (804) 786-0286, 101 North 14th Street, 17th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219
☐ Save the Veterans Crisis Line: 988, press 1 (or text 838255) for immediate help
This guide is for education only. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a substitute for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or any government agency, and it is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Benefits, forms, and figures change; verify current details at the official links above before relying on them. For anything involving your VA disability rating or filing or increasing a disability claim, work with a free VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) through DAV, VFW, the American Legion, your county veteran services office, or the locator at VA.gov. Never pay anyone to file or prepare a VA disability claim. Be careful of anyone who approaches you about moving your VA compensation or retirement pay into an annuity, trust, or investment product in exchange for a lump sum or fee. That is a pension-poaching or predatory-annuity tactic, not a benefit, and you should walk away and talk to a trusted, licensed, fee-only fiduciary or your VSO first.
If you are a service-connected disabled veteran living in Washington, the state gives you real money back through a handful of programs: a property tax exemption that can be worth thousands a year, a free vehicle plate that waives license fees for life, a lifetime state parks pass, discounted hunting and fishing licenses, and (if you are rated 100 percent) fully waived college tuition for your kids. Washington has no state income tax at all, so that piece is already simple. Below is every major state-level benefit, in order, with the exact form, the exact office, and how to find your local office. This is educational information only. I have no affiliation with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the State of Washington. For anything involving your VA disability claim or rating, skip the do-it-yourself route and use a free, VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO), which I explain in the property tax section below and again at the end.
This is Washington's flagship benefit for disabled veterans, and it is run by your county assessor, not the state. If you have a combined VA service-connected disability rating of 80% or higher, OR you receive VA compensation at the 100% rate (including Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability), you can apply to have part of your home's assessed value exempted from property tax, or apply for a related tax deferral. You must own and live in the home as your primary residence in Washington, and your household's combined disposable income must fall under your county's published income threshold (this varies by county and changes periodically, so I link the live number below instead of guessing it).
Step 1 - Confirm your rating letter. You need your current VA disability rating decision letter showing 80% or higher, or showing the 100% compensation rate (schedular or Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability). If you don't have a copy, you can pull it yourself at VA.gov - view your VA letters (choose the "Benefit summary letter"). If you need help getting your rating corrected or increased first, do NOT hire a paid company. Go to a free, VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) through VA.gov - find a Veterans Service Organization or through Washington's own county VSO network (see Step 2). This filing/rating step is the one thing in this whole guide you should route to a VSO, not do yourself.
Step 2 - Find your county assessor. Washington's property tax exemption is administered locally, one office per county. Look up your county's assessor contact and website at the Washington Department of Revenue - County assessor and treasurer websites directory. This is the official statewide directory for all 39 counties; click your county to get your assessor's phone number, address, and online portal.
Step 3 - Get and complete the two required forms. You need (1) the "Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities Exemption from Real Property Taxes" application, Form 64-0002, and (2) the "Combined Disposable Income Worksheet," Form 63-0036. Both are posted at the Washington Department of Revenue - Property tax forms page. Some counties post their own localized version of the same forms on their assessor website (found in Step 2) - if your county has its own version, use theirs.
Step 4 - Attach your proof of disability. Include a copy of your VA rating letter showing the 80%+ combined rating or the 100% compensation rate. If your assessor's packet includes a "Proof of Disability Statement," Form 64-0095, use that instead of a doctor's statement (veterans don't need a physician sign-off - the VA letter is your proof).
Step 5 - Confirm your county's current income threshold before you file. Because thresholds are set per county and were revised for tax years 2027-2029 under a 2026 state law (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6162), check your county's current dollar figure directly at the Washington Department of Revenue - Income thresholds page or by calling the Department of Revenue Property Tax Division at 360-534-1400. Remember: your VA disability compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation do NOT count toward this income limit. Military retirement pay DOES count.
Step 6 - File both completed forms with your county assessor's office (address from Step 2), by mail, in person, or online if your county offers e-filing. Ask the assessor's office directly for that county's exact filing deadline for the current assessment year - deadlines and any late-filing allowances are set locally, so get it in writing or by email from your assessor rather than assuming a date.
Step 7 - If you cannot fully qualify for the exemption because of income, ask the same assessor's office about the property tax deferral program instead (Form 64-0011, "Deferral Application for Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities"), which lets you defer paying a portion of your property tax as a lien rather than losing the benefit entirely.
Step 8 - If your status changes (you move, your income changes, or your rating changes), file the "Change in Status" Form 64-0018 with your county assessor so the exemption stays accurate and you avoid a clawback.
Step 9 - If you are the surviving spouse or domestic partner of a veteran who had this exemption, you can generally continue it once you turn 57, and Washington runs a separate Property Tax Assistance Program for Surviving Spouses of Veterans grant. Ask your county assessor's office about both, or call the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) at 1-800-562-2308.
Deadline: set by your county assessor for each assessment year; confirm directly with the office found in Step 2 - do not rely on a single statewide date.
Washington has no state personal income tax at all - for veterans or anyone else. There is nothing to file and no state form for this.
Step 1 - Do nothing. Because Washington has no state income tax, your VA disability compensation, your military retirement pay, and every other dollar of your income is already free of state income tax, and there is no Washington income tax return to file. Washington Department of Revenue - homepage
Step 2 - Remember your VA disability compensation is also tax-free at the federal level nationwide (this is a federal rule, not a Washington-specific one), confirmed in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 525 - Taxable and Nontaxable Income, Veterans' Benefits section.
Washington's Department of Licensing (DOL), the state's version of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), issues a Disabled American Veteran (DAV) plate that comes with a lifetime license-fee exemption on one vehicle, plus separate parking permits and adaptive-equipment tax breaks.
Step 1 - Check eligibility. You qualify for DAV plates if you have: loss of use of both hands or one foot; blindness in both eyes from military service; OR a 100% VA or military disability rating with service-connected compensation expected to last more than one year. WDVA - Disabled Veteran License Plate & Parking Permits
Step 2 - Get your VA letter of eligibility showing your rating (same source as the property tax step: VA.gov - view your VA letters).
Step 3 - Get the correct form. Use the "Military Services and Veterans License Plate Application," DOL form 420-496, available at Washington DOL - Military Services and Veterans License Plate Application (PDF). On the form, check the box for Disabled American Veteran plates or tabs, and sign and date it.
Step 4 - Mail (do not walk into a local office for this one) your signed application and your VA letter of eligibility to: Special Plate Unit, Department of Licensing, PO Box 9909, Olympia, WA 98507-8500. If you have questions, the Special Plate Unit can be reached at 360-902-3770. WDVA - Disabled Veteran License Plate & Parking Permits
Step 5 - Once issued, your DAV plate exempts one vehicle from license fees for the rest of your life - this covers motorcycles, motor homes, passenger vehicles, and personal-use trucks regardless of weight.
Step 6 - If you need a disabled parking permit and use a service animal, and your rating is 70% or higher, apply using the same VA rating letter through the same DOL channel; for general disability parking placards not tied to the veteran-specific 70% rule, use your local DOL office, findable at Washington DOL - Appointments and locations.
Step 7 - Ask about the sales/use tax exemption for VA-reimbursed adaptive equipment (home modifications or vehicle adaptive equipment) if you've had accessibility modifications done. Confirm the current exemption and any cap directly with the Washington Department of Revenue before you rely on a specific dollar figure.
Step 8 - Optional: add a "Veteran" designation to your standard Washington driver's license or ID card at any DOL office found through the same Washington DOL - Appointments and locations locator; bring your DD Form 214 as proof of service.
Deadline: none - apply any time after you have your VA rating letter. Processing is by mail through the DOL Special Plate Unit.
Washington gives disabled veterans a free lifetime State Parks pass and reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses, run by two different state agencies.
Step 1 (Parks pass) - If your combined VA disability rating is 30% or greater, you qualify for the Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass, which gets you free day-use parking (no Discover Pass needed), free camping and moorage, free boat launch/trailer dump at State Parks, and free day-use parking at Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Natural Resources sites.
Step 2 (Parks pass) - Download and complete the "Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass Application," form A-072-V, at Washington State Parks - Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass Application (PDF). Attach your Washington residency proof (a valid WA voter registration card is one accepted option) and your VA award letter showing 30% or higher.
Step 3 (Parks pass) - Mail it to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Attn: Information Center, PO Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504, or hand-deliver it to any state park or region office. To have a paper application mailed to you instead, call (360) 902-8844 (Washington Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388). Allow up to 30 days for processing. Washington State Parks - Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass
Step 4 (Parks pass) - Note: camping itself is free with this pass, but Washington State Parks now charges a reservation/change fee of $8 for online bookings (or $10 by phone) when you reserve a specific campsite - budget for that small fee separately from the pass, and confirm the current amount on the reservations fee page before you book.
Step 5 (Hunting/fishing) - If you are a Washington resident, honorably discharged veteran with at least a 30% service-connected disability, or a veteran 65 or older with any service-connected disability rating, you qualify for reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
Step 6 (Hunting/fishing) - Get your one-page VA Disability Percentage Rating letter (log into VA.gov if you don't have a copy on hand). Download the "Hunter/Fisher Veterans Reduced Fee Application" at WDFW - Veterans reduced fee application (PDF).
Step 7 (Hunting/fishing) - Mail the completed application and your VA rating letter together to WDFW Licensing Division, PO Box 43154, Olympia, WA 98504. Details and full eligibility rules are at WDFW - Eligibility requirements for veterans' reduced fees.
Step 8 - The federal America the Beautiful Access Pass (free lifetime pass for veterans with a permanent disability) is separate from these state passes but works at Washington's federal sites like Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades National Parks - apply through the National Park Service if you want that pass too, since it is a federal (not state) program and outside the scope of this guide.
Deadline: none for either program - apply any time; allow processing time before your next trip.
If you are rated 100% permanently and totally disabled (or died from your military service), Washington law requires every public community college, technical college, college, and university in the state to waive all undergraduate tuition and fees for your eligible dependents, for up to 200 quarter credits (or the semester equivalent), plus a book stipend when funded by the legislature. Because the credit cap and stipend amount are set in statute and by annual funding, confirm the current figures with your school before you rely on them.
Step 1 - Confirm your dependent's eligibility: your child generally must be between 17 and 26 years old, and your child or surviving spouse/domestic partner must be a Washington domiciliary (state resident).
Step 2 - Gather your VA rating letter showing the 100% permanent and total rating (or documentation of a service-connected death), plus your dependent's proof of relationship (birth certificate or marriage certificate) and proof of Washington residency.
Step 3 - Pick the school. Because each Washington public college and university runs its own version of this waiver, contact that specific school's Veterans Services office or Financial Aid office directly to get their application. Find which schools participate at the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) - Colleges and Institutions list, and read the program rules at WSAC - Tuition Waiver for Dependents of Veterans.
Step 4 - If you get stuck figuring out eligibility before you contact a school, call WDVA at 1-800-562-2308 or email [email protected], and read the overview at WDVA - Washington Tuition Waiver.
Step 5 - Separately, if you as the veteran want to use your own state tuition waiver (not your dependent's), Washington law (RCW 28B.15.621) also lets schools waive tuition for eligible veterans and National Guard members directly - again, apply through that specific school's veterans office, since terms vary by institution. WDVA - Education and Training
Step 6 - Remember your federal education benefits (GI Bill, Veteran Readiness and Employment, and federal student loan discharge for total and permanent disability) run in parallel to this state waiver and are handled by the VA, not the state - ask your school's veterans office to help you layer both.
Deadline: set by each individual school's normal financial aid/registration deadlines - contact your chosen school's veterans office as early as possible, ideally before you register for your first term.
If you are a veteran in need, Washington's county veteran service offices (funded through County Veterans Assistance Funds) can provide emergency help with things like food, rent, utilities, transportation, medical costs, burial and cremation costs, and home, appliance, or auto repair. Exact dollar caps are set county by county, so you apply locally.
Step 1 - Find your county's Veterans Assistance Fund office in the full 39-county directory at WDVA - County Services. Counties with their own dedicated website are shown as blue links on that page; every county has a listed phone number even if it doesn't have its own site.
Step 2 - Call that county office directly and ask specifically for "emergency financial assistance" or "veterans relief funds." Ask what documentation they require (typical asks: DD Form 214, proof of Washington residency, proof of the specific need such as a shutoff notice or eviction notice, and your VA award letter if the request relates to your disability).
Step 3 - If your county office cannot help or you want a second avenue, call the state office directly: Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), 1-800-562-2308, or email [email protected]. WDVA - Financial Assistance
Step 4 - If the need is burial or cremation related, ask the same county office about burial assistance and separately ask WDVA about the Washington State Veterans Cemetery and the federal VA burial allowance; a federal VA burial allowance is also available through VA.gov - Veterans burial allowance and transportation benefits regardless of what the state can offer.
Deadline: none - these are need-based, ongoing programs; apply as soon as the need arises since funds and processing take time.
Print-and-take checklist
☐ VA disability rating decision letter (current, showing your percentage and/or 100% compensation rate) - pull a fresh copy at VA.gov - view your VA letters if needed
☐ DD Form 214 (discharge paperwork) showing honorable discharge
☐ Property tax exemption: Form 64-0002 ("Senior Citizens and People with Disabilities Exemption from Real Property Taxes") and Form 63-0036 ("Combined Disposable Income Worksheet"), from Washington Department of Revenue - Property tax forms
☐ Your county assessor's contact info, from Washington Department of Revenue - County assessor and treasurer websites
☐ Current county income threshold confirmed at Washington Department of Revenue - Income thresholds page or by calling 360-534-1400
☐ Vehicle plate: Form 420-496 ("Military Services and Veterans License Plate Application"), from Washington DOL (PDF), mailed to Special Plate Unit, Dept. of Licensing, PO Box 9909, Olympia, WA 98507-8500
☐ State Parks pass: Form A-072-V ("Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass Application"), from Washington State Parks (PDF), plus proof of WA residency
☐ Hunting/fishing license: "Hunter/Fisher Veterans Reduced Fee Application" from WDFW (PDF), mailed to WDFW Licensing Division, PO Box 43154, Olympia, WA 98504
☐ Education waiver (if rated 100%): dependent's proof of relationship + residency, contact chosen school's Veterans Services office; find schools at WSAC - Colleges and Institutions
☐ Your county Veterans Assistance Fund office contact, from WDVA - County Services, for any emergency financial assistance need
☐ Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) general contact for anything unclear: 1-800-562-2308, [email protected], dva.wa.gov
☐ If you need help with your VA claim or rating itself, contact a free VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) through VA.gov - Get help from an accredited representative - never pay a company to file or increase a claim
This guide is for education only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency, and it is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Program rules, forms, income thresholds, and dollar amounts change; always confirm current details at the official links above before you rely on them. For anything involving filing or increasing a VA disability claim or rating, use a free, VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) found through VA.gov, DAV, VFW, or the American Legion, and never pay anyone to prepare or file that claim for you. Be careful of anyone who contacts you offering to help you "unlock" your VA benefits in exchange for buying an annuity, insurance product, or other investment - that is a known scam pattern targeting disabled veterans (pension and benefits poaching), and no legitimate state or federal veteran benefit ever requires you to purchase a financial product to qualify.
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