Oregon Disabled Veteran Benefits

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If you are a disabled veteran living in Oregon, 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 break, state income tax treatment, vehicle plates and fees, parks and hunting/fishing, education for you and your family, the state Veterans' Homes, hiring preference, burial, and more. Every dollar figure, deadline, and form name below comes from an official Oregon 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 Oregon, your county or Tribal Veteran Service Officer does that work for free.

Two things to know up front, plainly stated. (1) Oregon does not have a full (100%) property tax exemption for disabled veterans the way some states do. Oregon's program reduces the taxable assessed value of your home by a set dollar amount; it does not zero out your tax bill, and the reduction does not get larger just because your rating is above the 40% threshold. (2) Two 2025 bills (HB 2050 and a Senate companion, SB 519) that would have exempted a disabled veteran's federal military retirement pay from Oregon income tax did not pass — both stalled in committee and never became law. So there is no new disabled-veteran military-retirement exemption in effect for 2026. Oregon's long-standing rule (a subtraction only for retired pay earned before October 1, 1991) is still the law — see the income tax section. Watch a future session for a successor bill; confirm current status with the Oregon Department of Revenue before relying on any "new exemption" claim.

Sources HB 2050's history · SB 519's history

Property tax exemption

What it is: Oregon exempts a set dollar amount of your homestead's assessed value from property tax. It is a reduction, not a full exemption — there is no "100% / Permanent & Total" tier that wipes out the bill. You file with your county assessor (not the state), and you file on or before April 1 before the tax year you are claiming.

Every way to qualify (the rule keys on a 40% disability):

• Service-connected route (higher tier, ~$32,512): a veteran certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (or a branch of the Armed Forces) as having a service-connected disability of 40% or more. No income limit applies to this route.
• Non-service-connected route (lower tier, ~$27,092): two doors into this tier. (a) certified by the VA or a branch of the Armed Forces as 40% or more disabled without regard to service connection — no income limit; or (b) certified annually by a licensed physician as 40% or more disabled — this physician-certified door has an income cap: your total gross income (including pensions, VA disability compensation, and retirement pay) for the prior calendar year cannot exceed 185% of the federal poverty guidelines.
• Surviving spouse / registered domestic partner: the surviving spouse or Oregon registered domestic partner of a qualifying veteran may claim the exemption if the veteran was discharged under honorable conditions and the survivor has not remarried or entered a new registered partnership. First-time survivor claims require the marriage/partnership certificate and the veteran's death certificate.

The amounts (confirm the current year with your assessor): the exemption comes in two tiers that Oregon indexes upward every year. For a recent tax year the state lists a higher tier of about $32,512 (generally the VA-certified service-connected route) and a lower tier of about $27,092 (generally the physician-certified route). Because these change annually, confirm the current-year figure and which tier applies to you with your county assessor or the Oregon DOR Property Tax Division (503-945-8293) before you rely on a number.

No full-exemption tier: unlike some states, Oregon does not convert to a full (100%) exemption at 100% schedular, Permanent & Total (P&T), Individual Unemployability (IU), or a specially adapted housing grant. The reduction is a fixed dollar amount at 40%+, period. (If that ever changes, this page will update; confirm with your assessor.)

2025 bills that did not pass: three bills — SB 387, HB 3287, and HB 2361 — would have significantly expanded this exemption (raising the dollar tiers, adding a new $150,000 tier for 100%-rated veterans, adding an Individual-Unemployability-specific relief provision, and lowering the rating threshold to 10%), but all three died in committee without a floor vote. None of these changes are in effect for 2026; watch a future session if this matters to you.

Separate deferral option you can stack: Oregon's Senior and Disabled Property Tax Deferral program lets qualifying homeowners have the state pay the county and place a lien repaid on sale/transfer (it defers rather than exempts, with annual interest and an income cap). A disabled veteran can use the exemption and the deferral together.

1. Get your documents: your discharge document (DD Form 214) and your current VA disability rating certificate (or, for the non-service-connected route, the physician certification of 40%+).
2. Get and file the claim form: Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse Exemption Claim (Form 150-303-086), and read the accompanying state exemption publication.
3. File with your county assessor on or before April 1 before the tax year you want the exemption. If you acquired the property between March 1 and July 1, a late claim is allowed into early May with a $10 late fee — confirm the exact late window with your assessor.
4. Confirm it posted by checking your next tax statement for the exemption line, or call the assessor a few weeks after filing.
5. Surviving spouses: ask the assessor how to elect continuation so you do not have to re-establish the claim from scratch each year.

Sources State Revenue Dept guidance · ODVA taxes page · the deferral program

State income tax

What it is: Oregon does not tax your VA disability compensation, and it gives a limited subtraction for older military retirement pay. It does not (as of 2026) fully exempt military retirement pay for disabled veterans.

• VA disability compensation is not taxed by Oregon. It is already excluded from your federal income, so it never carries onto the Oregon return.
• Military retirement pay — the pre-October 1, 1991 subtraction: you may subtract the portion of federal military retired pay earned for service before October 1, 1991. Pay earned for service on or after that date is generally taxed by Oregon. If your service spans that date, you prorate the subtraction (months of service before 10/1/1991 divided by total months of service).
• Military disability retirement pay received for a service-connected injury or sickness is generally excluded federally and so does not appear on the Oregon return either.
• No new 2026 disabled-veteran retirement exemption: as noted at the top, the 2025 bill did not pass. The pre-10/1/1991 subtraction above is still the current law. Re-check each filing season with the Oregon Department of Revenue in case a later bill changes this.
• Charitable refund checkoff: on your Oregon return you can direct part of your refund to the Oregon Veterans' Homes or Veterans Suicide Prevention programs.
• Severe-disability exemption credit (not veteran-specific, but many disabled veterans qualify): if you have a "severe disability" — permanent loss of use of one or both feet/legs, permanent loss of use of both hands, permanent blindness, or a permanent condition that limits your ability to work, keep house, or get around — and your federal adjusted gross income is $100,000 or less, you can claim a second personal exemption credit (doubling it) with a physician's letter. This credit is currently scheduled to expire after tax year 2027 unless the legislature renews it.

1. Confirm your VA disability compensation never appears as income on your Oregon return (it should not appear on your federal return either).
2. If you get military retired pay, calculate the pre-10/1/1991 subtraction (prorated if your service spans that date) using the current-year state veterans income-tax publication.
3. If a prior Oregon return over-reported military or VA income, fix it with a preparer familiar with military filings or by contacting the Oregon Department of Revenue — that is a filing mechanic, not claims work.

Sources veterans income-tax publication · State Revenue Dept — military · ODVA taxes page

Vehicles, plates & tolls

What it is: Oregon offers disabled-veteran registration and plates through the DMV (Driver and Motor Vehicle Services), with a one-time (rather than recurring) registration fee for those who qualify under state law.

• Disabled veteran registration & plates: a veteran with a service-connected disability qualifies as a "disabled veteran" under state law with no minimum rating percentage — any compensable service-connected disability counts. You can register a vehicle with a one-time permanent registration fee of $15 (set by statute, ORS 803.420(9)(b)) instead of paying it every renewal; you'll still pay the separate plate fee for whichever plate style you choose, so confirm that add-on fee with DMV.
• Application form: apply through Oregon DMV using the Application for Disabled Veteran Registration (DMV Form 735-6736). Your county Veteran Service Officer can help you complete it at no cost.
• Veterans' recognition plates (a separate commemorative plate program) carry their own surcharge — ask DMV if you want that style rather than, or in addition to, the disabled-veteran registration. As of January 1, 2026, this recognition-plate program also covers mopeds and motorcycles (SB 159, 2025; a $2.50/plate/year surcharge applies to that style). A DD-214 or a VA Summary of Benefits Letter both count as acceptable proof of veteran status for a recognition plate (HB 2559, 2025).
• No confirmed statewide toll waiver or vehicle sales-tax exemption: Oregon has no general state sales tax, so a "vehicle sales tax exemption" does not apply the way it does in other states, and no dedicated disabled-veteran DMV toll waiver was found in official Oregon sources. If you see such a claim, verify it directly with DMV or ODVA.

1. Gather your VA rating certification showing your service-connected disability and your vehicle title/registration information.
2. Complete DMV Form 735-6736 (a Veteran Service Officer can assist free of charge).
3. Submit it to Oregon DMV and confirm at the counter which fees are one-time versus recurring before you pay.

Sources the statute · ODVA licenses & plates

Recreation: parks, hunting & fishing

What it is: a free hunting/fishing/shellfish license for disabled veterans through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), an accommodations permit for more seriously disabled veterans, and a free-camping Special Access Pass through Oregon State Parks.

• Free combination hunting/fishing/shellfish license: a veteran with a service-connected disability of 25% or more (certified by any branch of the Armed Forces) who has physically resided in Oregon for at least 6 consecutive months before applying qualifies for a free resident combination license covering hunting, fishing, and shellfish, including the Columbia Basin and Ocean endorsements.
• Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit (accommodations): a veteran whose last VA certification shows 65% or more disability may also apply for this permit, which allows accommodations (such as help from another person) while hunting or fishing. It is not itself a license — you still obtain the underlying licenses/tags. Valid 5 calendar years.
• Reduced-price elk tag: a resident disabled veteran can buy a discounted elk tag for $29 through ODFW, on top of the free combination license above.
• State Parks Special Access Pass: for Oregon-resident veterans with any level of service-connected disability (no minimum rating). It provides free camping (tent, RV, or standard horse-camp site) for up to 4 nights at a time at one park, or 4 nights total per calendar month, plus free day-use parking. It excludes yurts/cabins, the reservation fee, extra-vehicle fees, and dump-station fees, and is valid 10 years. You must submit a VA letter confirming service-connected status and proof of Oregon residency (Oregon driver's license/ID or Oregon mailing address). Note: the pass is now limited to Oregon residents — if you are not an Oregon resident, verify current rules with State Parks before assuming eligibility.

1. For the free license, get your VA letter showing a 25%+ service-connected rating and confirm you have lived in Oregon 6+ consecutive months, then apply through ODFW (a licensed sales agent or ODFW office).
2. If your rating is 65%+ and you want accommodations, also file the Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit application through ODFW.
3. For camping, apply for the Special Access Pass online with your VA service-connected letter and Oregon residency proof.

Sources ODFW disabled-veteran license · ODFW disabilities permit · State Parks

Education for you & your family

What it is: Oregon-resident tuition rates for veterans regardless of actual residency, National Guard tuition funding, and an ODVA grant to help you finish — all administered alongside (not instead of) your federal GI Bill benefits.

• In-state tuition for nonresident veterans: under Oregon law, veterans (and dependents using transferred VA education benefits, and orphans of veterans who died on active duty) pursuing undergraduate study at Oregon public universities pay no more than the Oregon resident tuition rate, regardless of where they actually live. Graduate students receive a reduced nonresident rate after other aid is applied.
• Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance (ONGSTA): 100% of tuition (up to the state resident rate) at Oregon public universities and community colleges for eligible Oregon Army and Air National Guard members.
• Veterans Educational Bridge Grant: administered by ODVA, up to a $10,000 lifetime maximum (of which up to $5,000 may go toward student-account debt) for veterans facing financial hardship that could interrupt their education — including a required class being unavailable or a student-account debt blocking enrollment. The cap doubled from $5,000 to $10,000 effective July 1, 2026 (HB 4132, Oregon Laws 2026, ch. 117), which also broadened eligibility beyond those two original triggers.
• Dependents / survivors: the federal Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program supports dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from service, or who died on active duty; Oregon's education page directs eligible families to it.
• State-law dependents' tuition waiver (ORS 350.285): a separate Oregon statute waives tuition at Oregon's public universities and Oregon Health & Science University for the spouse, child, or unremarried surviving spouse of a service member who died on active duty, died of a service-connected disability, or is certified 100% disabled by the VA or a branch of the Armed Forces — and for the child of a Purple Heart recipient (awarded for combat wounds in 2001 or later). It covers up to 180 credits toward a bachelor's degree or six terms toward a master's; a child applicant generally must apply by age 23. This waiver is not reduced by federal DEA benefits, so the two can stack. A 2025 bill (SB 668) would have lowered the threshold to 80% and added community colleges; it did not pass, so 100% and public-universities-only remain current law. Apply through the specific school's registrar. Note: the statute is not explicit about IU/TDIU (a sub-100% schedular rating paid at the 100% rate) — confirm with the school if that applies to you.

1. Decide what fits: resident-rate tuition and/or the Bridge Grant for you as the veteran, ONGSTA if you are in the Oregon Guard, federal DEA and/or the ORS 350.285 state tuition waiver for a dependent.
2. Confirm current-year eligibility and the application steps with ODVA's education office (or the school's registrar for the ORS 350.285 waiver).
3. Coordinate with your school's financial-aid office (and your GI Bill certifying official) so state benefits apply against actual tuition owed.

Sources ODVA education · ODVA Educational Bridge Grant · HB 4132 (2026, ch. 117) · ORS 350.285 · UO dependents' tuition waiver (example) · VA survivor & dependent education

State Veterans' Homes & long-term care

What it is: Oregon runs two state Veterans' Homes providing skilled nursing, memory care, and rehabilitation — in The Dalles and in Lebanon (the Edward C. Allworth Veterans' Home). They serve veterans, their spouses, and Gold Star parents (a parent who had a child die serving in the U.S. Armed Forces).

• VA-paid cost of care for higher-rated veterans: per the Lebanon home's admissions page, "veterans who have a 70 percent or greater service-connected disability and are in need of skilled nursing care due to their disability may be eligible to have their cost of care covered by the USDVA." Others combine private pay, Medicare, and/or Medicaid. Confirm your specific situation with the home's admissions office.
• General eligibility: served as defined by the federal VA with an honorable discharge, and a need for the level of care provided. Spouses and Gold Star parents may also be admitted.

1. Pick the closer home (The Dalles or Lebanon) from ODVA's Veterans' Homes page.
2. Call that home's admissions office and ask for the application and physician's-statement packet, and confirm your cost given your VA rating (VA-paid for 70%+, as above).
3. Have your DD Form 214 and VA rating letter ready to submit.

Sources ODVA veterans' homes · Lebanon home admissions · The Dalles home admissions

State hiring & civil service

What it is: Oregon adds points to public-employment scoring for veterans, and more points for disabled veterans, and generally guarantees an interview if you meet the minimum qualifications.

• Veterans' preference points: a veteran who passes the initial application/screening/exam gets 5 percentage points added; a disabled veteran gets 10 percentage points added. Preference applies at each stage of the hiring process.
• Interview entitlement: a veteran or disabled veteran who meets the minimum and any special qualifications is generally entitled to an interview.
• Who it covers: public employers — state, county, and local government agencies (private employers may offer preference voluntarily but are not required to).
• 2026 change: beginning January 1, 2026, veterans' preference extends to current and former members of the Oregon National Guard (SB 808, Chapter 137, Oregon Laws 2025).

1. When you apply for a public-sector job or exam, claim veteran status and request your disabled-veteran preference (10 points), with your DD Form 214 and VA rating letter ready.
2. If you meet the minimum qualifications, ask the hiring agency to confirm your interview entitlement.
3. For the mechanics, read the state's veterans' preference guide.

Sources the statute · Bureau of Labor & Industries · State Admin Dept guide

Other: burial, home loan, veteran business

What it is: a handful of additional programs — burial in a national cemetery, Oregon's own veteran home-loan program, and a veteran-owned business certification.

• Burial: Oregon does not operate its own state veterans' cemeteries; burial for eligible Oregon veterans is at one of five federal VA National Cemeteries in the state — Willamette (near Portland), Eagle Point (near Medford), Roseburg and its annex, and Fort Stevens (Hammond) — which provide a gravesite, a government headstone or marker, a burial flag, and military funeral honors at no cost to eligible veterans (eligible spouses and dependents may also be buried there). Not every location is open for new interments (Fort Stevens is a small, historic post cemetery), so confirm current eligibility and available space with each cemetery.
• Oregon veteran home loan: Oregon is one of a few states with its own ODVA home-purchase loan (fixed-rate financing for an owner-occupied single-family home, purchase only, up to a maximum of 4 lifetime loans). Ask ODVA directly whether any disabled-veteran rate feature applies (contact 800-633-6826 or 503-373-2373).
• Veteran-owned business: Oregon's Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) offers a Service-Disabled Veteran business certification that opens state-contracting preference pathways and support programs.
• Emergency financial assistance: ODVA lists an emergency-assistance benefit for veterans in crisis; scope and dollar caps vary, so confirm current details on the ODVA benefits index.

1. For burial, a family member or you can pre-plan by checking eligibility and space at a VA National Cemetery in Oregon; a free Veteran Service Officer can help with the paperwork.
2. If you are buying a home, compare ODVA's loan against your federal VA home-loan guaranty before committing — ask ODVA to run both.
3. If you own or want to start a business, get the Service-Disabled Veteran COBID certification through ODVA.

Sources VA National Cemeteries · ODVA burial · ODVA home loans · ODVA veteran business · ODVA benefits index

Who to call

The Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs (ODVA) is your single front door for the state programs above, and your county or Tribal Veteran Service Officer is your free, accredited help for any VA claim, rating, or application.

• Website: oregon.gov/odva · Benefits index: Benefits & Programs
• Phone: (800) 692-9666 or (503) 373-2085
• Property tax questions: your county assessor (they administer it) and the Oregon DOR Property Tax Division at 503-945-8293.

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. Contact ODVA at (800) 692-9666 to reach your county/Tribal Veteran Service Officer, or find one at VA.gov. Never pay a private company for basic claims help — Oregon law (SB 150, Chapter 326, Oregon Laws 2025) restricts charging for veteran-benefits claims assistance.
2. State-program questions (property tax, plates, parks, education, homes, hiring) go to the specific office linked in that section, or start at oregon.gov/odva.

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