Maryland Disabled Veteran Benefits

If you are a disabled veteran living in Maryland, 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 exemption, state income tax breaks, license plates, parks and hunting/fishing, education for you and your family, the state veterans home, hiring preference, burial, and business certification. Every dollar figure, deadline, and form name below comes from an official Maryland 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.

Pending for 2026 — a bigger tax break on military retirement pay, but it is NOT yet law. A proposed “Keep Our Heroes Home Act” would raise the amount of military retirement income you can subtract from Maryland tax to $25,000 for tax year 2026 and $40,000 for tax year 2027 and after, at any age. As of this writing it is still stuck in committee (it got a hearing on February 19, 2026) and has not passed either chamber or been signed by the Governor, so it is not in effect. Until it becomes law, the current subtraction below ($12,500 / $20,000) is what applies. Confirm the current status with the Comptroller of Maryland before you count on the higher figure. Sources the pending bill · Comptroller of Maryland

Property tax exemption

What it is: Maryland gives a full (100%) exemption from state and local real property tax on the home of a qualifying disabled veteran — not a credit or a partial reduction. It covers the dwelling that is your principal residence, including the lot and structures needed to use it as a home (for example a garage or utility shed). The state pages reviewed list no dollar or assessed-value cap on the exempt dwelling; if you own an unusually high-value home, confirm that with your local assessment office. The disability cannot result from the veteran's own misconduct.

The ways to qualify (any one of these routes):

• Route 1 — 100% permanent and total rating. The core route: the VA has determined your disability is 100% service-connected, permanently, and totally disabling.
• Route 2 — Individual Unemployability (IU) / permanently unemployable. The state has said, based on an Attorney General's opinion, that the exemption may be granted for a rating below 100% as long as the VA finds the veteran is permanently unemployable. In plain terms, if the VA pays you at the 100% rate because you are Individually Unemployable (Permanent & Total), you can qualify even without a schedular 100% rating. Bring your VA letter that shows this and confirm with your assessment office.
• Route 3 — disabled active-duty service member. An active-duty service member with a qualifying disability may apply on a separate form (see below).
• Route 4 — surviving spouse. An unremarried surviving spouse can qualify if the disabled veteran had the 100% service-connected status, owned the dwelling at death, and the spouse now owns and lives there. The exemption also carries to a subsequently acquired dwelling, in an amount equal to the exemption allowed on the prior home. Remarriage ends the exemption; if that marriage is later annulled, it can be reinstated. A separate route covers the surviving spouse of a service member killed in the line of duty.

Which form: there are four separate applications, one per route. File the one that matches your situation with your local SDAT assessment office. Veterans and surviving spouses may apply any time — the usual September 1 exemption deadline does not apply here.

• 100 Percent Disabled Veteran Exemption Application (PDF)
• Disabled Active-Duty Service Member Exemption Application (PDF)
• Surviving Spouse of a 100 Percent Disabled Veteran Exemption Application (PDF)
• Surviving Spouse of Military Casualty Exemption Application (PDF)

1. Gather your documents: your VA certification or final rating decision letter showing the 100% service-connected permanent and total status (or the IU / permanently-unemployable determination), with the rating decision date and effective date; your discharge document (DD Form 214); and proof of Maryland residency (a Maryland driver's license or your prior-year Maryland tax return).
2. Pick and complete the correct application above for your route.
3. File it with your local SDAT assessment office. You can file any time of year.
4. If you want help matching your VA paperwork to the form, call DVMF at 800-446-4926, ext. 6450.
5. Confirm it posted by checking your next property tax bill for the exemption, or call the assessment office a few weeks after filing.

Sources Veterans Dept · State Assessments (SDAT)

State income tax

What it is: Maryland does not tax your VA disability compensation, and it lets you subtract part of your military retirement pay.

• VA disability compensation is federally tax-free, and Maryland starts from your federal income, so it is not subject to Maryland state income tax either. (This is the general federal rule — confirm the specifics with a tax professional or the Comptroller.)
• Military retirement pay subtraction: Maryland lets you subtract military retirement income on your return — up to $12,500 if you are under age 55, and up to $20,000 if you are age 55 or older (as of the last day of the tax year). Claim it on Maryland Form 502 (line 13). This covers active-duty, reserve, Maryland National Guard, and certain federal uniformed-service retirement pay.
• General pension exclusion: separately, taxpayers who are age 65 or older, or who are totally disabled (or whose spouse is totally disabled), may qualify for Maryland's general pension exclusion on eligible employer-plan retirement income (not IRAs, SEP, or Keogh plans). You cannot use both provisions to exclude more than the pension you actually received.
• Pending (not yet law): the proposed Keep Our Heroes Home Act would raise the military-retirement subtraction to $25,000 for 2026 and $40,000 for 2027+ at any age, but it is still in committee — do not rely on it until it is enacted. Confirm status with the Comptroller.

1. Confirm your VA disability compensation is not listed as income on your Maryland return (it should not be on your federal return either, and Maryland starts from your federal figures).
2. If you receive military retirement pay, take the subtraction on Form 502, line 13, using the amount for your age band ($12,500 under 55, $20,000 at 55+). Check the current-year Maryland resident tax booklet for the exact line, since layouts change.
3. Questions? Call the Comptroller at 410-260-7980 (Central Maryland) or 1-800-MD-TAXES.

Sources IRS · Veterans Dept · resident tax booklet · Comptroller of Maryland

Vehicles, plates & tolls

What it is: the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) issues free disabled-veteran license plates. The registration fees are handled differently depending on your rating.

• Disabled-veteran license plate: veterans with a service-connected disability rating — whether 100% (including the 100% rate through Individual Unemployability) or 50–99% — can get the disabled-veteran plate free of charge. Per the MVA page reviewed, the annual registration fees and surcharge are still owed in both cases (the waiver is on the plate itself). If a counter or a DVMF benefits advisor tells you registration fees are also waived at the 100% level, get that in writing — treat the fee waiver as something to confirm for your rating.
• Application: use Form VR-120, Application for Military Related License Plates. Apply in person at an MVA full-service branch, by mail to the MVA Organizational Plates Unit in Glen Burnie, or through a licensed tag-and-title service. Bring your DD-214, proof of the disability percentage (VA documentation or DVMF letter), and military ID. Form VR-120 (PDF).
• Tolls: the official sources reviewed did not show a Maryland E-ZPass or toll discount specific to disabled veterans. If tolls matter to you, confirm current programs with the Maryland Transportation Authority.

1. Get your VA rating documentation (or a DVMF letter) that states your service-connected disability percentage.
2. Complete Form VR-120 and attach your DD-214 and the disability documentation.
3. Submit it in person, by mail to the Glen Burnie plates unit, or through a tag-and-title service; ask at the counter which fees are waived for your rating before you pay.

Sources MVA · Transportation Authority

Recreation: parks, hunting & fishing

What it is: free state-park entry for all veterans, and free lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for the most seriously disabled veterans, run through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

• State park day-use entry: all day-use entrance charges are waived year-round for all veterans, resident and out-of-state alike — no disability rating is required for this base waiver. Active-duty military and Maryland National Guard also enter free with a military ID.
• Free lifetime hunting license: available to Maryland residents who are 100% service-connected disabled veterans, former prisoners of war, or are deemed unemployable (IU) by the VA. It bundles the bow stamp, muzzleloader stamp, sika deer stamp, and furbearer permit. You must furnish VA disability documentation, and it is issued only in person at a DNR Licensing and Registration Service Center (not online). Confirm any renewal requirement when you apply.
• Free lifetime fishing license: same eligibility group (100% service-connected disabled, former POW, or VA-deemed unemployable). It bundles the non-tidal angler's license, trout stamp, Chesapeake Bay sport fishing license, and recreational oyster license. Same in-person, VA-documentation requirement.
• Purple Heart recipients: a 50% discount on Maryland hunting and fishing licenses (no 100% rating needed).
• Universal Disability Pass: hunters with mobility impairments can get a permit to hunt from a vehicle under the ADA / Section 504 program.

1. For free park entry, just show up — bring proof of veteran status (for example your DD-214, a VA ID card, or a veteran-designated driver's license) if the gate attendant asks.
2. For the free lifetime hunting or fishing license, gather your VA documentation showing 100% service-connected disability, POW status, or an unemployability (IU) determination.
3. Take it in person to a DNR Licensing and Registration Service Center — these licenses are not issued online.

Sources DNR

Education for you & your family

What it is: Maryland scholarships run through the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) — and notably, one of them can help you, the disabled veteran, directly, not just your family.

• Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship: covers up to the annual in-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at eligible Maryland institutions (maximum award $13,689 for 2025–2026; confirm the current-year cap with MHEC). Eligible groups include: a veteran with a 25%-or-greater VA service-connected disability who has exhausted or is no longer eligible for federal veterans' education benefits; the child or unremarried surviving spouse of a service member who died or is 100% disabled as a result of military service; and children/spouses of certain public-safety employees and 9/11 victims.
• Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship: administered alongside Conroy, for the child or unremarried surviving spouse of a school employee killed or left 100% disabled by an act of violence in the line of duty (not veteran-specific).
• Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts (VAIC) Scholarship: provides up to 50% of annual tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board (benchmarked to the highest-cost University System of Maryland institution, excluding University of Maryland Global Campus and University of Maryland, Baltimore). Open to Maryland-resident service members and veterans who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflicts (generally 60+ days of qualifying service), and to their son, daughter, stepchild, or spouse. Full- or part-time undergraduates.

1. Figure out which program fits: Conroy (you as a 25%+ disabled veteran who has used up federal education benefits, or your child/surviving spouse), VAIC (Afghanistan/Iraq service, you or your family), or Cryor (school-employee families).
2. For Conroy/Cryor, contact your school's financial aid office by July 15 and submit the required documentation to the school — not directly to MHEC. For VAIC, apply during the MHEC application window (the 2025–2026 window ran April 15, 2025 to April 1, 2026; check current dates).
3. Have your VA rating letter, DD-214, and proof of Maryland residency ready. Questions: MHEC Office of Student Financial Assistance, 410-767-3300.

Sources MHEC — Conroy scholarship · MHEC — VAIC scholarship

State Veterans' Homes & long-term care

What it is: Maryland runs one state veterans home, plus federal VA medical centers serve the state.

• Charlotte Hall Veterans Home (St. Mary's County, on 126 acres, operating since 1985) offers a continuum of care: a 126-bed assisted living program, a 318-bed skilled nursing program (including a 16-bed women's unit), and secure memory-care units. To be admitted you generally must be a Maryland veteran with an honorable discharge from full-time active duty (certain reservists and non-veteran spouses of eligible veterans may qualify for assisted living), and be at least 62 or deemed disabled by the Social Security Administration or the VA. The VA pays a per-diem subsidy that reduces the cost of care.
• Federal VA health care: the Perry Point VA Medical Center (Cecil County) and other VA Maryland Health Care sites provide nursing home care, mental-health and substance-use treatment, primary and specialty care, and rehabilitation.

1. To apply to Charlotte Hall, start with a Veterans Service Officer at the home: 301-884-8171, ext. 5112.
2. Complete the application packet and submit it to the home's admissions office; confirm your specific out-of-pocket cost given your VA rating and the VA per-diem subsidy.
3. Have your DD-214 and VA rating letter ready to submit. Main line: 301-884-8171.

Sources Veterans Dept · VA Maryland Health Care

State hiring & civil service

What it is: Maryland gives veterans a hiring credit for state jobs, an added credit for disability and former-POW status, and a non-competitive path for some disabled veterans.

• State employment veterans' credit: eligible veterans receive a veterans' preference credit added to a passing selection score, with an additional credit for former prisoners of war and for a qualifying disability. Spouses of veterans with a service-connected disability and certain surviving spouses can also be eligible. The exact point values are set by the Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM) — confirm the current point amounts on the DBM eligibility pages. Bring your DD-214, and (for the disability credit) proof of disability.
• Non-competitive appointment: qualified disabled veterans may be hired into certain state positions without the competitive selection process, provided they meet the job's minimum qualifications. Ask DBM which roles this covers.
• Private-employer preference: Maryland law permits (does not require) private employers to grant a hiring or promotion preference to an eligible veteran, the spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability, or a deceased eligible veteran's surviving spouse.

1. When you apply for a Maryland state job, claim your veterans' credit and request the added disability/POW credit if it applies, with your DD-214 and VA rating letter ready.
2. Confirm the exact credit amounts and whether a non-competitive appointment fits your situation through DBM.
3. Browse and apply for roles at the State of Maryland job seekers page.

Sources Budget & Management (DBM) · Dept of Labor · state jobs portal

Other: burial & veteran business

What it is: a no-cost state burial benefit, plus a free business certification that opens state contracts.

• Burial in a Maryland State Veterans Cemetery: eligible veterans, National Guard, Reservists, and their eligible dependents receive a burial plot, grave liner, headstone, and interment services at no cost (the family covers funeral-home costs and transporting the remains). Eligibility follows VA National Cemetery Administration criteria. Maryland has five state veterans cemeteries: Cheltenham (Prince George's Co.), Eastern Shore at Hurlock (Dorchester Co.), Rocky Gap at Flintstone (Allegany Co.), Crownsville (Anne Arundel Co.), and Garrison Forest at Owings Mills (Baltimore Co.). Burial program: 410-923-6981.
• Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise (VSBE) certification: free to obtain, and it makes your firm eligible for a state procurement preference (state agencies target at least 3% of contract dollars to certified VSBE firms). You must be a verified veteran, meet Small Business Administration size standards, and own and control at least 51% of the business (no service-connected disability is required). Certification is renewed every 3 years. Apply through eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA).
• Maryland Veterans Trust Fund: DVMF administers a fund that provides one-time financial help to Maryland veterans and military families facing unexpected hardship. Application availability has changed over time, so confirm current status with DVMF before relying on it.

1. For burial pre-planning or scheduling, call the DVMF cemetery program at 410-923-6981; DVMF can help with grave assignment and military funeral honors.
2. To certify a veteran-owned business, register on eMMA, verify your veteran status through DVMF or the SBA, then complete the VSBE application. Help line: 410-697-9600.

Sources Veterans Dept — burial · state cemeteries · VSBE program · Veterans Dept

Who to call

The Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families (DVMF) (formerly the Department of Veterans Affairs) 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: veterans.maryland.gov
• Benefits & tax-exemption documentation help: 800-446-4926, ext. 6450
• Main office (Annapolis): 410-260-3838; burial program: 410-923-6981
• Property tax questions: your local SDAT assessment office

1. Anything tied to your actual VA rating — filing a new claim, appealing, or arguing for a higher percentage — goes to a free accredited VSO. Reach one through DVMF or find one 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, burial, business) go to the specific office linked in that section, or start at DVMF.

Sources Veterans Dept · State Assessments (SDAT) · VA.gov

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