Connecticut Disabled Veteran Benefits

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If you are a disabled veteran living in Connecticut, or thinking about moving here, this page puts every state-level benefit tied to your VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) disability rating in one place: the property tax exemptions, state income tax breaks, vehicle and plate perks, parks and hunting/fishing, education for you and your kids, the state veterans home, hiring preference, and more. Every dollar figure, deadline, and form name below comes from an official Connecticut source, and I link that source so you can check it yourself. Where the state's own pages leave a number unsettled, I tell you to confirm it rather than guess.

Plain-language promise: I keep the how-to steps here so you can act. The only thing I route out is filing or increasing a VA claim, because that is free claims work best handled by an accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO), never a paid company.

In effect now — a full property tax exemption for veterans rated 100% Permanent & Total. A 2024 state law fully exempts (100%) from local property tax either the primary home a qualifying veteran owns and lives in, or — if the veteran owns no home — one motor vehicle. Unlike a local-option benefit, this Connecticut exemption is mandatory: every town must grant it to an eligible applicant. The single disability standard is that the VA rates you 100% service-connected Permanent & Total (P&T). It took effect for the assessment year beginning October 1, 2024 (first showing up on tax bills in fiscal year 2026), and the legislature expanded it in 2025. Apply through your town assessor on the state's Form D-2 (PDF).

Sources the 100% P&T law explained · the Governor's signing announcement

Property tax exemption

What it is: Connecticut has several separate veterans property tax programs. Property tax is local here, so you file with your town assessor, not the state, and you generally use one program at a time. The law spells out three routes that can reach a full (100%) exemption; the others are partial reductions in your home's assessed value.

The routes to a full (100%) exemption, spelled out:

• Route 1 — the mandatory 100% P&T exemption. Every town must grant this. To qualify:
  • Disability standard (one test): the VA rates you 100% service-connected Permanent & Total (P&T). The law keys on that P&T determination, not on how you got to it.
  • Service: you served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, or Space Force, and you are a Connecticut resident.
  • What is exempt: either the dwelling (house, condo unit, unit in a common interest community, or mobile/manufactured home) you own and live in as your primary residence, or, if you own no dwelling, one motor vehicle you own and keep in Connecticut. It also reaches property held in trust for you, a home you hold as a life tenant (or for a term of years) where you owe the taxes, a primary dwelling on leased or subleased land if the lease is recorded and you pay the property taxes, and a leased motor vehicle. It does not cover any part of the dwelling used commercially or rented out.
  • If you own neither a home nor a vehicle: the exemption may apply to a dwelling or vehicle that belongs to (or is held in trust for) your spouse, if you live together.
  • Survivors: if you die, the exempt home or vehicle stays exempt for your surviving spouse while unmarried, or your child while still a minor, to the same extent you were entitled.
  • Local add-ons (assessment years on/after October 1, 2025): a town may vote to also exempt up to two acres of the lot, extend the benefit to certain surviving spouses of veterans who died before the law took effect, and/or cap the exemption at the town's median residential assessed value. Ask your assessor which of these your town adopted.
  • You must reapply every year: since the 2025 assessment year, this exemption is not a one-time filing — you must submit Form D-2 to your assessor annually, no later than January 1, with your current VA documentation and a signed statement that you have not filed for this exemption in any other town. The current D-2 form states this annual January 1 deadline directly.
  • File on: Form D-2 (PDF) with your town assessor, every year by January 1.
• Route 2 — the Individual Unemployability (TDIU) local option. If the VA has determined you have a service-connected Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) — that is, you are paid at the 100% rate but your schedular rating is below 100% — a town may choose to grant you a full exemption on the same property and terms as the Route 1 P&T exemption. This one is a local option, so it only applies if your town has adopted it. If you hold a TDIU rating, ask your assessor directly whether your town offers it.
• Route 3 — the Specially Adapted Housing local option. A town may completely exempt a veteran's house and house lot that was bought or modified under a federal specially adapted housing program (a home outfitted for someone who lost limbs or eyesight). This route is tied to a severe service-related disability and is a local option — confirm with your assessor. Towns may also grant a separate exemption for one specially equipped motor vehicle.

The partial programs (used when a full exemption doesn't apply):

• Disabled Veterans' exemption (state-mandated). Every town must give this to a veteran with a VA rating of 10% or more (or who receives federal compensation for loss of an arm, leg, or equivalent). It has three parts: (1) a base amount tied to your rating — the statutory base rises with your rating — $2,000 at 10–25%, $2,500 at 25–50%, $3,000 at 50–75%, and $3,500 above 75% (or once you turn 65) — of assessed value; (2) an added amount for a severe service-related injury such as loss of use of an arm or leg; and (3) an income-based amount. For a 100%-rated veteran, your total exemption — base plus income-based amount — is at least $10,500 if income is $18,000 or less ($21,000 or less if married), or at least $5,250 above that. Many towns pay more than these floors after a revaluation, so confirm your town's current figures with the assessor. Note: you cannot take this and the Route 1 P&T exemption at the same time — pick whichever nets you more.
• Additional Veterans' exemption (income-tested). A separate, income-tested reduction on top of the basic wartime exemption, reimbursed by the state Office of Policy and Management (OPM). File Form M-59a (PDF) with your assessor, generally between February 1 and October 1, every two years. For the 2026 grand list the OPM income thresholds are $46,300 (single) / $56,500 (married), based on 2025 income — this rises most years, so confirm the current figure with your assessor or OPM's annual Additional Veterans Q&A booklet. Other purely local options exist; your assessor can tell you what your town offers.
• Basic wartime exemption: a flat $1,000 reduction of assessed value (CGS §12-81(19)) for honorably discharged wartime veterans, regardless of disability; many towns pay more after a revaluation, so confirm your town's current figure with the assessor.

How to file, in order:

1. Find your town (or city) assessor's office (search “[your town] CT assessor veterans exemption”). They administer all of this, not the state.
2. Record your discharge document (DD Form 214) with your town clerk. Proof of qualifying military service is generally due by September 30 (before the October 1 assessment date).
3. Tell the assessor your VA rating and whether the VA has designated you Permanent & Total or TDIU, and how you financed the home. Ask which program nets you the most and get the right form: Form D-2 (100% P&T full exemption) or Form M-59a (additional income-tested exemption).
4. File your proof of the qualifying disability rating by the deadline. For the 100% P&T exemption (Form D-2), the law now requires you to file every year by January 1. For the disabled-veteran exemption (10%+ rating), initial proof is generally due by March 31 (later if your town's assessor has a filing extension) and does not need to be refiled each year unless your rating changes. Attach your VA rating letter either way.
5. If you missed the deadline, ask about late filing: the law lets you file proof of a P&T rating up to one year late and get a retroactive abatement or refund of up to three years of tax.
6. Confirm it posted by checking your next tax bill for the exemption line, or call the assessor a few weeks after filing.

Sources the 100% P&T law explained · veterans exemptions overview · disabled-veteran exemption details · OLR 2026-R-0027, mandatory property tax relief · Additional Veterans program (OPM) · 2026 Additional Veterans Q&A booklet

State income tax

What it is: Connecticut does not tax your already federally tax-free VA disability compensation, and it now fully exempts military retirement pay.

• VA disability compensation is federally tax-free, and Connecticut follows the federal treatment — amounts excluded from your federal gross income are not subject to Connecticut income tax, because the Connecticut return starts from your federal figures.
• Military retirement pay is 100% deductible from Connecticut income tax. A retired member of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard (and a beneficiary receiving survivor benefits under a deceased retiree's election) may deduct 100% of military retirement pay. This replaced an older 50% exemption.
• Military disability retirement pay follows the federal treatment — amounts you can exclude federally are not taxed by Connecticut. Confirm your own figures against the current-year state Revenue Services military guidance.
• No separate veteran-specific Connecticut income-tax credit beyond these exclusions was identified in official sources. Re-check the current Form CT-1040 and instructions each filing season in case new legislation adds one.

1. Confirm your VA disability compensation never appears as income on your Connecticut return (it should not appear on your federal return either, and Connecticut starts from your federal figures).
2. If you receive military retirement pay or survivor benefits, take the 100% subtraction on the current Connecticut return; check the current-year state Revenue Services military instructions for the exact line, since form layouts change.
3. If a prior return shows VA compensation or military retirement pay as taxable, fix it with a preparer familiar with military filings or by contacting the state Department of Revenue Services — this is a filing mechanic, not claims work.

Sources State Revenue Dept, income tax info for armed forces & veterans (IP 2019(5)) · retirement-income exemptions explained

Vehicles, plates & tolls

What it is: the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) waives registration fees for recently separated service members, issues Disabled Veteran plates, and towns can exempt an adapted vehicle from property tax. Connecticut has no statewide highway tolls, so there is no toll benefit to claim.

• Registration fee waiver (Form B-276): a Connecticut resident who was a Connecticut resident when inducted into the U.S. Armed Forces can have registration, temporary plate, safety plate, and clean-air-act fees waived for up to two years following an honorable discharge or a qualifying separation. File DMV Form B-276, Application for Waiver of Registration Fee (PDF) with a copy of your DD Form 214.
• Disabled Veteran (DV) plates: the DMV issues Disabled Veteran plates; ask the DMV for the current eligibility and any plate-production fee.
• Adapted-vehicle property tax exemption: a town may exempt one specially equipped motor vehicle owned by a veteran who qualifies on a disability rating, federal compensation, or the 100% P&T exemption. A veteran cannot get more than one motor-vehicle exemption at a time. Ask your town assessor.
• Sales tax: no stand-alone Connecticut sales-tax exemption is tied simply to a VA disability rating. If you use a federal VA Automobile/Adaptive Equipment grant to buy or adapt a vehicle, that transaction can be sales-tax exempt — confirm at the point of sale and with the DMV.

Clarify — coming October 1, 2026: a 2026 law (Public Act 26-35, the "Hero Act") requires the DMV to waive the $84 fee for an original driver's license and the $28 fee for a state identity card for any veteran the DMV verifies as a veteran. This is enacted but not in effect yet — today those normal fees still apply. It is open to any veteran and is not tied to a disability rating. Ask the DMV once the effective date passes.

1. Within two years of separation, take Form B-276 and your DD-214 to the DMV and ask for the fee waiver and, if you want it, a Disabled Veteran plate.
2. If your vehicle is specially equipped for your disability, ask your town assessor about the local motor-vehicle property tax exemption.

Sources DMV, military fee waiver · Public Act 26-35 (2026 Hero Act), Sections 8 & 9

Recreation: parks, hunting & fishing

What it is: free admission to select state-park attractions for veterans with a service-connected disability, and free hunting/fishing licenses for residents who have lost the use of a limb, all run through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

• Disabled Veteran state parks pass (lifetime, free): every Connecticut-registered vehicle already parks free at CT State Parks and Forests year-round (a statewide "Passport to the Parks" policy, not veteran-specific). What the Disabled Veteran Pass adds on top of that: a Connecticut resident with a service-connected disability (any rating) gets free admission to the ticketed exhibit centers/tours at Gillette Castle, Dinosaur, and Fort Trumbull state parks, which otherwise charge a separate fee even to Connecticut residents. It does not cover camping or special events and is non-transferable. Apply in person (proof of residency and service-connected disability required) at a DEEP district office or one of several state parks — including DEEP's Eastern District HQ in Marlborough and Western District HQ in Watertown, plus Dinosaur State Park, Fort Griswold, Fort Trumbull, the Kellogg Environmental Center, Hammonasset Beach, and Harkness Memorial — or mail photocopies of your Connecticut driver's license and your VA card or VA benefits letter showing a service-connected disability to: DEEP Disabled Veteran Pass, State Parks Division, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 (phone 860-424-3200).
• Free license — loss or loss of use of a limb: a Connecticut resident who has lost, or permanently lost the use of, one or more limbs qualifies for a free hunting or fishing license (stamps/permits not included) with a physician's certification of the disability.
• Group fishing licenses are available to nonprofit organizations that run fishing programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities — ask DEEP's Fisheries Division.

1. For the parks pass, gather a copy of your Connecticut driver's license and your VA card or benefits letter, and either mail them to the DEEP State Parks Division address above or bring them in person to a DEEP district office or one of the state parks listed above.
2. If you have lost, or lost the use of, a limb, get a physician's certification and ask DEEP (or a participating town clerk) for the free license.

Sources DEEP, state park passes · DEEP, fishing licenses · DEEP, hunting opportunities for persons with disabilities

Education for you & your family

What it is: a tuition waiver at Connecticut's public colleges and universities for eligible veterans, and a separate 100% tuition waiver for the children and surviving spouses of certain fallen or captured service members.

• Veterans' tuition waiver (public colleges & universities): waives tuition (the portion funded by the state General Fund) at the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) community colleges and state universities, and at the University of Connecticut. It does not cover books, student activity or course fees, parking, or room and board, and it does not cover summer/intersession or continuing-education courses. To qualify you must: (1) have an honorable discharge (or release under honorable conditions) from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, or National Guard activated under Title 10; (2) have served at least 90 days of active duty in wartime, OR have been separated earlier because of a VA-rated service-connected disability, OR served the full length of a campaign shorter than 90 days; (3) be accepted for admission; and (4) be domiciled in Connecticut when accepted. Active members of the Connecticut Army and Air National Guard (not just those activated under Title 10) also qualify for the same tuition waiver in their own right, separate from the veteran pathway above.
• Dependent / survivor 100% tuition waiver: Connecticut waives 100% of tuition (fall/spring only; no books, fees, or room/board) at its public colleges and universities for the dependent children or surviving spouses of Connecticut service members killed in action on or after September 11, 2001, and for the dependent children of service members declared missing in action or a prisoner of war while serving after January 1, 1960.
• Federal Chapter 35 (a separate federal benefit): if the VA has rated you permanently and totally disabled, your spouse and children may qualify for the federal VA Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program — up to 45 months of education benefits. This is federal, not a Connecticut program.

1. Decide which waiver fits: the veterans' tuition waiver for you, or the dependent/survivor waiver for your child or spouse.
2. Confirm current eligibility with CSCU (or the Office of Higher Education for the dependent waiver).
3. Work with your school's bursar or veterans certifying official to apply the waiver against tuition, and submit your VA and service documentation.

Sources CSCU, veteran tuition waiver · Office of Higher Education · VA, Chapter 35 benefits

State Veterans' Home & long-term care

What it is: Connecticut runs the Connecticut Veterans Home in Rocky Hill, which includes a residential facility and the Sgt. John L. Levitow Healthcare Center, a skilled nursing facility.

• Eligibility: you must meet Connecticut's definition of “veteran”: honorably discharged (or released under honorable conditions) from active service, and you must either be a current Connecticut resident or have been a Connecticut resident when you entered service. Skilled-nursing admission also requires a documented need for that level of care.
• What it offers: residential living plus Medicare/Medicaid-certified skilled nursing at the Levitow Center for veterans who need 24-hour care. Admission runs through an application and medical review.
• Patriots Landing (temporary supportive housing): a separate CT DVA program offering short-term, fully-furnished single-family housing for veterans, and their spouses and children, who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, along with supportive services to help them get back on their feet. This is not tied to a disability rating; contact CT DVA for eligibility, current fees, and to apply.

Clarify — coming 2027: a 2026 law (Public Act 26-35, the "Hero Act") creates a new Veterans Dental Care Access Program, run through the state's Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Fund, that will pay participating dentists up to $3,000 per year for dental care for an eligible veteran. To qualify you must be a Connecticut resident, have a VA service-connected disability rating below 100% and not already be getting dental care through the VA, and have household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. The program is enacted but not yet open — applications start January 1, 2027. Watch this page or ask CT DVA for the application once it opens.

1. Review the eligibility requirements and confirm you meet the discharge and residency requirements.
2. Call the Connecticut Veterans Home admissions office (287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067; 860-616-3600) and ask for the application and physician's-statement packet.
3. Have your DD-214 and VA rating letter ready to submit.

Sources CT DVA, residential services · CT DVA, admission eligibility · Public Act 26-35 (2026 Hero Act), Section 4

State hiring & civil service

What it is: Connecticut adds points to your passing score on state civil-service exams, with the biggest boost for disabled veterans.

• Civil-service exam preference: on an open-competitive state exam, a wartime veteran who is receiving or eligible for VA disability compensation gets 10 additional points added to a passing score; any other qualifying wartime veteran gets 5 points. Separately, an honorably discharged veteran who earned a campaign badge or expeditionary medal can get 5 points, and someone currently serving in the final year of an armed-forces enlistment contract can also get 5 points. Points are added only to a passing score.
• Employment help: the Connecticut Department of Labor gives veterans priority reemployment services from trained Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) staff at its American Job Centers statewide, plus dedicated Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) who work with employers to place veterans, including those with service-connected disabilities and significant barriers to employment.

1. When you apply for a Connecticut state exam, claim veteran status and request your preference points, with your DD-214 and VA rating letter ready.
2. For one-on-one job help, identify yourself as a veteran at any CT American Job Center for priority service, or contact the CT Department of Labor's Veterans Services staff directly.

Sources CGS § 5-224, exam preference points · DAS, military talent · Dept. of Labor, veterans services

Other: burial, emergency aid, advocacy

What it is: a state veterans cemetery, an emergency-aid fund for wartime veterans, and free benefits caseworkers.

• State Veterans Cemetery: Connecticut operates the Middletown State Veterans Cemetery (317 Bow Lane, Middletown) and the Colonel Raymond F. Gates Cemetery on the Rocky Hill campus. Burial is available to eligible veterans, their spouses, and eligible minor children at no cost for the plot, opening and closing, a government grave marker, and perpetual care. Open daily 7:30 a.m. to sunset; pre-certification is recommended in advance. Contact Cemetery & Memorial Services: 860-616-3688, [email protected].
• Soldiers, Sailors and Marines' Fund (SSMF): a state-affiliated fund that provides temporary financial assistance (rent, utilities, medical, food, and similar essentials) to Connecticut wartime veterans and their families in need. Confirm current eligibility with the fund or with CT DVA's advocacy office.
• Office of Advocacy and Assistance: CT DVA caseworkers help you and your family access federal, state, and local benefits — claims help, referrals, and emergency assistance — at no cost (287 West Street, Rocky Hill; 860-616-3685; [email protected]).
• Free bus pass: CT DVA provides veterans with a bus pass at no cost, funded via Public Act 26-68 (the FY2027 state budget act, signed 5/26/2026) — the Act directs DVA to buy passes for state-owned/-controlled public buses and distribute them free to Connecticut veterans, with $1 million appropriated to DVA for FY2027. Ask CT DVA how to get yours.

1. For burial, contact Cemetery & Memorial Services (860-616-3688) to pre-certify eligibility before it is needed.
2. If you are a wartime veteran facing a temporary financial emergency, ask CT DVA's Office of Advocacy and Assistance about the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines' Fund.
3. Contact CT DVA to ask about the free bus pass and how to get one issued.

Sources CT DVA, cemetery services · CT DVA, advocacy and assistance · CT DVA, bus pass program · Public Act 26-68 (SB1)

Who to call

The Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs (CT DVA) is your single front door for the programs above and for a free accredited VSO to help with a VA claim, a rating, or applying for these benefits.

• Website: portal.ct.gov/dva
• Main campus: 287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
• Office of Advocacy and Assistance (claims/benefits help): 860-616-3685, [email protected]
• Property tax questions: your local town or city assessor (they administer the exemptions), with forms from CT OPM municipal forms

1. Anything tied to your actual VA rating — filing a new claim, appealing, or arguing for a higher percentage, P&T, or TDIU — goes to a free accredited VSO. Reach CT DVA at 860-616-3685 or find a representative at VA.gov. Never pay a private company for basic claims help.
2. State-program questions (property tax, plates, parks, education, the veterans home, hiring) go to the specific office linked in that section, or start at portal.ct.gov/dva.

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