{
 "meta": {
  "schema_version": 1,
  "last_updated": "2026-10-17",
  "categories": {
   "property_tax": "Property tax",
   "vehicle": "Vehicle, plates, and ID",
   "recreation": "Hunting, fishing, and parks",
   "education": "Education and tuition",
   "income_tax": "State income tax",
   "employment": "Employment and hiring",
   "other": "Other"
  },
  "rating_order": [
   "none",
   "any service-connected",
   "10%",
   "30%",
   "50%",
   "60%",
   "70%",
   "100%",
   "100% P&T or TDIU",
   "100% P&T",
   "varies"
  ]
 },
 "states": [
  {
   "code": "AL",
   "name": "Alabama",
   "slug": "alabama",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs",
    "url": "https://va.alabama.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Alabama's property tax break is all-or-nothing. You must be 'permanently and totally disabled.' There is no partial break for a 10% to 90% VA rating.",
    "The 2026 law (HB77) names the VA letter showing a '100 percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability' as the proof. No official Alabama source says whether TDIU alone counts. Ask your county Revenue Commissioner before you count on it.",
    "You must apply at your county office, not the state. File between October 1 and December 31 to get the break for the current year. Filing later gets you the following year. Nothing is automatic and nothing is refunded for past years.",
    "Starting October 1, 2026, P&T veterans no longer have to sign the yearly verification card (HB155). The release ends when the veteran dies or moves to a new home. Until then, keep mailing the card back.",
    "The homestead exemption does not pass to a surviving spouse unless the spouse qualifies on his or her own (age 65+ or P&T disabled). Only the Specially Adapted Housing home exemption (Code 40-9-20) continues for an unremarried widow or widower.",
    "Vehicle fee waivers do not erase the county ad valorem (property) tax on your car at any rating, even 100%. Only a vehicle paid for in whole or part with a VA grant is ad valorem exempt.",
    "You must claim the vehicle registration fee exemption at the counter when you register or renew. If you forget, the state will not refund it.",
    "The $5 extra-vehicle plate rate is for ratings above 50% (ALDOR says '51% and higher'; the ADVA guide calls it '60% or Higher'). Under 50% you get one fee-exempt vehicle only. You do not have to buy the Disabled Veteran plate to get the fee break.",
    "The G.I. Dependents' Scholarship is for your children, stepchildren, spouse, or unremarried widow(er), not for you. The veteran needs a 40% rating, Alabama residency before entering service (or 5 years of residency if 100% P&T), and the student must be an Alabama resident. Kids must start before age 26.",
    "Scholarship money is capped at $400 per semester hour for tuition and $1,000 per semester for books and fees combined. Other grants are applied first. Benefits are never retroactive.",
    "Hunting and fishing discounts are for Alabama residents only and are decided by your driver license. Fishing needs 20%, hunting needs 50% (cheaper at 100%), and lifetime licenses need 20% (fishing) or 40% (hunting). Bring your VA rating letter.",
    "Alabama taxes income, but military retirement pay, SBP survivor benefits, and all VA compensation are exempt. Active-duty base pay of Alabama residents is still taxed."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead exemption for permanently and totally disabled homeowners",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "A homeowner who is permanently and totally disabled pays no state, county, or city property tax on the primary home and up to 160 acres, with no income limit and no value cap. Alabama has no partial break for lower VA ratings; the test is permanent and total disability, and the 2026 act names the VA letter showing a 100% service-connected permanent and total rating as proof. Apply in person or by mail at your county Revenue Commissioner or Tax Assessor; file October 1 to December 31 for the current tax year (later filings apply to the next year). You must own and live in the home on October 1.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/property-tax/homestead-exemptions/",
     "source_title": "Alabama Department of Revenue - Homestead Exemptions (Code of Ala. 40-9-19, 40-9-21; Rule 810-4-1-.23)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Property tax exemption for homes bought with a VA Specially Adapted Housing grant",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "A home acquired under the VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant program is exempt from property tax regardless of its value for as long as the veteran, or the veteran's unremarried surviving spouse, owns and lives in it. Eligibility is tied to the SAH grant, not to a VA percentage. Claim it at your county Revenue Commissioner or Tax Assessor with proof of the SAH grant.",
     "source_url": "https://va.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AL-Laws-Affecting-Veterans-Act-2025-37-Draft.pdf",
     "source_title": "ADVA - Alabama Laws Affecting Veterans (May 2025), Homes of Veterans/Widows Acquired Under PL 702 (Code of Ala. 40-9-20)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "2026 changes: no annual re-verification for P&T veterans (HB155) and mortgage pre-approval certificate (HB77)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Effective October 1, 2026, a veteran the VA has found permanently and totally disabled who holds the homestead exemption no longer has to re-claim or re-verify it each year; the release ends at the veteran's death or when a new homestead is established. Also effective October 1, 2026, a veteran with a VA 100% service-connected P&T rating can get a tentative certificate of exemption from the county assessing official within 20 days, before buying a home, and lenders may not count homestead property tax in the debt-to-income ratio. Both bills passed the Legislature as enrolled; the act numbers and signing record were not confirmed on an official page.",
     "source_url": "https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB155-enr.pdf",
     "source_title": "Alabama Legislature - HB155 (2026 RS) Enrolled; see also HB77 (2026 RS) Enrolled, Disabled Veterans Property Tax Debt-To-Income Ratio Exemption Act",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Vehicle registration fee exemption and Disabled Veteran license plate",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "An Alabama resident with a service-connected rating of 10% or higher pays no state registration fee or plate issuance fee on one vehicle; ad valorem (property) tax on the vehicle is still owed. Veterans rated above 50% (ALDOR says 51% and higher) or who need special mechanical controls can register additional vehicles for a $5 annual fee each and may use any weight pleasure vehicle. Bring your VA rating letter plus a DD214, military ID, or ADVA affidavit to the county license office, and claim the exemption when you register or renew because it is not refunded later. You do not have to buy the Disabled Veteran plate to get the fee break, and the plate cannot pass to a surviving spouse.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/license-plates/disabled-veteran/",
     "source_title": "Alabama Department of Revenue - Disabled Veteran License Plate (Code of Ala. 40-12-244, 40-12-254, 32-6-130; Rule 810-5-1-.201)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No license fees or ad valorem tax on a vehicle paid for with a VA grant",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "A disabled veteran whose vehicle was paid for in whole or in part with VA funds (such as the VA automobile grant) owes no license or registration fees and no ad valorem tax on that vehicle, as long as it is kept for private use. This is limited to one plate. Eligibility is based on the VA grant, not a specific rating percentage. Show proof of the VA grant at your county license office when registering.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/license-plates/disabled-veteran/",
     "source_title": "Alabama Department of Revenue - Disabled Veteran License Plate, vehicle paid for by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Code of Ala. 40-12-254)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, and POW plates; Honored Veteran Parking Permit",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Purple Heart recipients get the first plate free of registration fees (ad valorem tax still applies); Medal of Honor, former POW, and Legion of Valor recipients get the first plate free of both registration fees and ad valorem tax. These plates are permanent, do not need yearly re-registration, and a surviving spouse may keep the plate (Purple Heart spouses pay the ad valorem tax). Apply at the county license office with a DD214 or VA certification. Anyone who qualifies for one of these plates can also get an Honored Veteran Parking Permit placard from an ADVA county veterans service office.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/license-plates/purple-heart/",
     "source_title": "Alabama Department of Revenue - Purple Heart License Plate (Code of Ala. 32-6-250, 32-6-254); ADVA Laws Affecting Veterans (May 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Military Veteran's Appreciation hunting licenses (50% and 100%) and lifetime hunting license (40%)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "Alabama residents rated 50% or more can buy the annual Military Veteran's Appreciation all-game hunting license at about half price ($15.65 on the 2022 form), and residents rated 100% pay a nominal fee ($3.30 on the 2022 form; the statute sets $2 plus issuance fee, subject to adjustment). Residents rated 40% or more may instead buy a lifetime disabled veteran hunting license, priced by whether you are under or over 50 and whether you are 100% P&T. Buy at your county Probate Office or License Commissioner, or by mail to DCNR, with your VA rating letter; licenses run September 1 to August 31. Residency follows your driver license, and nonresident disabled veterans get no discount.",
     "source_url": "https://www.outdooralabama.com/sites/default/files/Licenses/Recreational%20-%20Current/100Percent_Vet_Hunt.pdf",
     "source_title": "Alabama DCNR - 100% and 50% Disabled Military Veteran's Appreciation Hunting License forms (Code of Ala. 9-11-44, 9-11-65.3); DCNR License FAQs",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Military Veteran's Appreciation fishing licenses (20%), freshwater and saltwater, annual and lifetime",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Alabama residents with a VA rating of 20% or more can buy reduced-price annual freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses (the saltwater license is $3.15 on the current DCNR form) and may instead buy lifetime disabled veteran freshwater and/or saltwater licenses priced by whether you are under or over age 50. Show your VA rating letter at the county Probate Office or License Commissioner, a DCNR district office, or buy online. Licenses run September 1 to August 31. Nonresidents do not qualify.",
     "source_url": "https://www.outdooralabama.com/sites/default/files/MRD%20Disabled%20Military%20Veterans%20Saltwater%20License.pdf",
     "source_title": "Alabama DCNR Marine Resources - Disabled Military Veteran's Appreciation Annual Saltwater Fishing License (Code of Ala. 9-11-53.1, 9-11-65.3); DCNR License FAQs",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free state park admission for resident veterans and 15% lodging discount",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Honorably discharged veterans who live in Alabama get free day-use admission to state parks that charge entrance fees (Parks for Patriots), by showing a military or retiree ID, an Alabama driver license with the veteran designation, or a DD214. Veterans, active military, and people with ADA-defined disabilities also get a 15% daily discount on park-run overnight lodging, which cannot be combined with other discounts; ID is required at check-in. This is not based on a disability rating. Some parks limit free entry to the veteran only, not dependents.",
     "source_url": "https://www.alapark.com/ParksForPatriots",
     "source_title": "Alabama State Parks - Parks for Patriots (Code of Ala. 9-14-8); park discount pages",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Alabama G.I. Dependents' Scholarship Program (children, stepchildren, spouses, unremarried widow(er)s)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Dependents of a veteran rated 40% or more (or a POW, MIA, or veteran who died from service-connected causes or in the line of duty) get tuition up to $400 per semester hour plus up to $1,000 per semester for books and fees at Alabama public colleges and listed private colleges, after other grants are applied. Children and stepchildren get 10 semesters (must start before age 26); spouses and widow(er)s get 10 semesters if the veteran is 100% P&T, or 6 semesters at 40% to 90%. The veteran must have been an Alabama resident for a year before entering service plus meet a current-residency test, or if 100% P&T have lived in Alabama for 5 years; the student must be an Alabama resident and file the FAFSA each year. Apply through the ADVA scholarship portal; benefits are not retroactive and end on divorce or the widow(er)'s remarriage.",
     "source_url": "https://va.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GI-Bill-Pamphlet-2024-November-2024.pdf",
     "source_title": "ADVA - Alabama G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program pamphlet (November 2024) and Laws Affecting Veterans (May 2025) (Code of Ala. 31-6-1 to 31-6-17)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart recipient tuition and fee waiver (discretionary)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Alabama public two-year and four-year colleges may waive tuition and fees for undergraduate study by Purple Heart recipients. The law says 'may,' so each school decides whether and how to grant it. Contact the financial aid or veterans office at the public college you plan to attend. There is no other state tuition waiver for the disabled veteran personally.",
     "source_url": "https://va.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AL-Laws-Affecting-Veterans-Act-2025-37-Draft.pdf",
     "source_title": "ADVA - Alabama Laws Affecting Veterans (May 2025), Tuition Waiver - Purple Heart Medal Recipients (Code of Ala. 16-1-43)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay and VA benefits exempt from state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Alabama has a state income tax, but military retirement pay, survivor benefits derived from it, and disability and other benefits paid by the VA are fully exempt; combat-zone pay and military allowances are also exempt. You simply leave these amounts off your Alabama return. Active-duty base pay of Alabama residents is still taxable. No application is needed.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/individual-corporate/income-exempt-from-alabama-income-taxation/",
     "source_title": "Alabama Department of Revenue - Income Exempt from Alabama Income Taxation (Code of Ala. 40-18-20, 40-18-3)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State classified employment preference points (5 or 10 points)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Honorably discharged veterans get 5 points added to their passing score on State Personnel Department open-competitive exams; veterans with a current service-connected disability receiving VA compensation get 10 points, as do certain spouses and unremarried widows of disabled or deceased veterans. Attach your DD214 and, for the 10 points, a VA rating letter dated within the last 6 months (keep it updated until the register is set or you drop to 5 points). Points are not given on promotional exams. Apply through personnel.alabama.gov.",
     "source_url": "https://www.personnel.alabama.gov/Faq",
     "source_title": "State of Alabama Personnel Department - FAQ, Veteran Preference (Code of Ala. 36-26-15(b))",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Business and occupational license tax exemption for disabled veterans",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "An honorably discharged wartime-era veteran who is a permanent Alabama resident with a physical disability of 25% or more (service-connected or not) can get state, county, and city business or occupational licenses for no more than $25 total, if the business is run by the veteran personally with no more than one employee. The exemption is lost if the veteran's total real and personal property is worth $5,000 or more or net income is $2,500 or more, so very few veterans qualify today. Apply at the county Probate Judge or License Commissioner that issues the license.",
     "source_url": "https://va.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AL-Laws-Affecting-Veterans-Act-2025-37-Draft.pdf",
     "source_title": "ADVA - Alabama Laws Affecting Veterans (May 2025), Business and Occupational License Exemptions for Disabled Veterans (Code of Ala. 40-12-340 to 40-12-352)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State Veterans Homes (skilled nursing and assisted living) and State Veterans Memorial Cemetery",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "ADVA runs five State Veterans Homes (Alexander City, Pell City, Bay Minette, Huntsville, and a fifth home) offering skilled nursing and some assisted living care to eligible Alabama veterans, and the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort. Apply through your county veterans service officer or directly with the home of your choice. Current admission rules (service, discharge, residency) and daily co-pay amounts were not available on a current ADVA page and should be confirmed with ADVA at 334-242-5077.",
     "source_url": "https://va.alabama.gov/state-veterans-homes/",
     "source_title": "Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs - State Veterans Homes (Code of Ala. 31-5A-1 to 31-5A-11); Laws Affecting Veterans (May 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "AK",
   "name": "Alaska",
   "slug": "alaska",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Office of Veterans Affairs",
    "url": "https://veterans.alaska.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Alaska has no state income tax, so there is nothing to exempt: military retired pay and VA compensation are not taxed by the state. There is also no statewide sales tax, but many cities and boroughs charge their own local sales tax.",
    "The disabled veteran property tax exemption is run by your city or borough, not the state. Each one sets its own form and deadline. Anchorage is March 15. Fairbanks North Star Borough is February 14 and you must apply in person. Check with your local assessor. If you live outside a borough that levies property tax, there is no tax and no exemption.",
    "The state test for the property tax break is a rating of 50% or more from the VA or your branch of service. It does not ask whether you are P&T, TDIU, or 100% schedular. If your rating letter shows 50% or higher and the disability was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, you meet the state threshold. Some boroughs (for example Fairbanks North Star) require a new rating letter every year if the VA has not marked your rating permanent.",
    "The property tax break covers only the first $150,000 of assessed value, and only your primary home that you own and live in. A borough can go above $150,000 only if its voters approve an ordinance. A bill to raise the state floor to $250,000 (HB 169) was introduced in 2025 but had not passed as of October 2026.",
    "Surviving spouse rule: the widow or widower keeps the exemption only if they are at least 60 and have not remarried. A municipality may extend it to a younger surviving spouse by voter-approved ordinance, so ask locally.",
    "The free Alaska State Parks pass is for camping only. There is no disabled veteran day-use, parking, or boat launch pass. A bill to create a lifetime camping and parking permit (SB 30) was still in committee as of October 2026. The pass is not based on a percentage: you need proof of a service-connected disability.",
    "The free hunting, fishing, and trapping card requires a 50% or greater VA rating, an honorable discharge, and Alaska residency under Fish and Game rules. You must be physically in Alaska to apply, and the card is void the day you stop being an Alaska resident.",
    "The disabled veteran license plate (50% or more combined rating) gets you one free vehicle registration, but it does not come with disability parking privileges unless you also file DMV Form 861 signed by a health practitioner.",
    "The University of Alaska tuition waiver for spouses and children is only for families of Alaska residents who died in the line of duty or were listed as POW or MIA. It does not cover dependents of living 100% disabled veterans. A 2025 bill (HB 88) to add permanent total disability had not passed as of October 2026.",
    "The state job preference adds 10 points only when the state uses a numerically scored exam, which it rarely does. In practice a disabled veteran who meets minimum qualifications must be offered an interview for jobs open to all Alaska residents; it does not apply to jobs limited to current state employees.",
    "The veterans land discount is 25% under the statute, even though an older Office of Veterans Affairs page says 20%. You can use it once in your lifetime and you must have been an Alaska resident for one year before the sale.",
    "Permanent Fund Dividend: active duty service outside Alaska is an allowable absence only if you were an Alaska resident for at least six consecutive months before you left, and you must return to Alaska for at least 72 consecutive hours every two years."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled veteran property tax exemption (first $150,000)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "The first $150,000 of assessed value of the home you own and occupy as your primary residence is exempt from municipal property tax. You qualify if you were separated under conditions other than dishonorable, are an Alaska resident, and your disability was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty and is rated 50% or more by the VA or your branch of service. Apply in writing to your city or borough assessor with your VA rating letter; each municipality sets its own deadline (Anchorage March 15; Fairbanks North Star Borough February 14, in person). A widow or widower age 60 or older who has not remarried keeps the exemption.",
     "source_url": "https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#29.45.030",
     "source_title": "Alaska Statutes 2025, AS 29.45.030(e), (f), (i) Required exemptions",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Optional municipal exemption above $150,000",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "A borough or city may, by an ordinance approved by its voters, exempt the assessed value above $150,000 of a disabled veteran's primary residence. This is optional and most places have not adopted it. Ask your local assessor whether your municipality offers any exemption beyond the state-required $150,000, and whether it has extended the exemption to surviving spouses under 60.",
     "source_url": "https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#29.45.050",
     "source_title": "Alaska Statutes 2025, AS 29.45.050(i) Optional exemptions and exclusions",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled veteran license plate and one free vehicle registration",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "A veteran with a combined service-connected rating of 50% or more from the VA can register one vehicle free and get a Disabled Veteran plate at no charge ($0 initial, $0 renewal). The plate without parking privileges needs only your VA rating notice; the plate with parking privileges also requires DMV Form 861 signed by a health practitioner showing a permanent mobility disability. Apply online through the Alaska DMV. Additional vehicles with the plate pay normal fees.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.alaska.gov/vehicle-services/disability-parking-permits-plates/",
     "source_title": "Alaska DMV, Disability Parking Permits & Plates (implements AS 28.10.181(d))",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veteran designation on driver license or ID",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A retired veteran or a veteran discharged under honorable conditions can have a veteran designation printed on an Alaska driver license or state ID card. Apply with Form D1 and a DD-214, DD-215, NGB-22, a VA letter, or a military retiree ID. There is no extra fee beyond the normal license or duplicate fee.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.alaska.gov/credential-services/military-veteran-services/",
     "source_title": "Alaska DMV, Military & Veteran Services",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free permanent hunting, sport fishing, and trapping ID card",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "Alaska residents who were discharged under honorable conditions and are certified by the VA as 50% or more disabled receive a complimentary permanent identification card that takes the place of resident hunting, sport fishing, and trapping licenses. Apply through the ADF&G online store and send your VA disability certification letter to the ADF&G Licensing Section (adfg.license@alaska.gov, fax 907-465-2440, or P.O. Box 115525, Juneau, AK 99811-5525). You must be physically present in Alaska to apply, and the card is void if you stop being a resident. A free Sport Fishing Harvest Record Card is still required for fisheries with annual limits.",
     "source_url": "https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=license.military",
     "source_title": "ADF&G Military Licenses, Alaska Resident Disabled Veteran License (AS 16.05.400(b))",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Alaska State Parks disabled veteran camping pass",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Disabled veterans receive one free Alaska State Park camping pass good in all developed state park campgrounds (not group sites, day-use areas, or boat launches). Present proof of a service-connected disability (a VA card imprinted 'service connected' or a current-year VA letter) plus photo ID in person at the DNR Public Information Center in Anchorage (907-269-8400) or Fairbanks (907-451-2705); call if you cannot appear in person. The veteran must be present in the campsite each night and the decal is not transferable.",
     "source_url": "https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/asp/vetpass.htm",
     "source_title": "Alaska State Parks, Disabled Veteran's Annual Camping Pass (AS 41.21.026(d))",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Alaska Marine Highway half-fare disability pass",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Veterans with a service-connected disability can get a Disability Discount Pass worth 50% off the standard adult passenger fare on Alaska Marine Highway ferries between Alaska ports (not Bellingham or Prince Rupert, and not vehicles, cabins, or meals). An attendant may ride at the discount if a physician certifies the need. Submit the application with photo ID and a VA letter or VHIC marked 'service connected' to the AMHS Disability Pass Desk (dot.amhs.customer@alaska.gov, 907-465-3946). Passes last two years and must be renewed.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.alaska.gov/benefits/additional-benefits/recreational/",
     "source_title": "Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs, Recreational benefits; AMHS Disability Discount Pass Application",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "University of Alaska tuition and fee waiver for survivors",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The spouse or dependent child of an Alaska-resident member of the armed services, Alaska National Guard, or Naval Militia who died in the line of duty, died of line-of-duty injuries, or was listed by DoD as a POW or MIA is entitled to a waiver of undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of Alaska. The member must have lived in Alaska one year before service and listed Alaska as home of record. This does not cover dependents of living disabled veterans. Apply through the UA campus financial aid or veterans office.",
     "source_url": "https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#14.43.085",
     "source_title": "Alaska Statutes 2025, AS 14.43.085; UA Regents Policy P05.10.080",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No state income tax on military retired pay or VA compensation",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Alaska has no personal income tax. The state's Net Income Tax Act applies only to corporations and by statute 'does not apply to an individual,' so military retired pay, SBP, and VA disability compensation are not taxed by the state and no state return is filed. There is also no statewide sales tax; boroughs and cities may levy their own local sales taxes.",
     "source_url": "https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#43.20.012",
     "source_title": "Alaska Statutes 2025, AS 43.20.012(a)(1) Limitation on application of chapter; AS 29.45.650 Sales and use tax",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State employment preference (5 or 10 points / guaranteed interview)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "For State of Alaska jobs open to all Alaska residents or all applicants, a disabled veteran (one entitled to VA compensation or discharged for a service-connected disability) or former POW gets 10% of available points added on a numerically scored exam and, in the usual unscored process, must be offered an interview if minimally qualified. Other honorably discharged veterans, Guard members, and reservists get 5% of points or 'consideration'; spouses and certain survivors also receive consideration. Workplace Alaska flags the preference automatically; provide your DD-214 or VA letter if selected. The preference does not apply to recruitments limited to current state employees.",
     "source_url": "https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#39.25.159",
     "source_title": "Alaska Statutes 2025, AS 39.25.159 Employment preference for military, veterans, and their spouses and children",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans land discount (25%) and veterans preference land auction",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "An eligible veteran gets a 25% discount on the purchase price of state land classified for non-commercial, non-industrial use (residential or recreational), once in a lifetime. You must be 18 or older, an Alaska resident for one year before the sale, and have served 90 days on active duty (or in the Alaska Territorial Guard) with an honorable or general-under-honorable discharge; shortened service due to a service-connected disability still counts. Apply at the time of purchase through DNR Division of Mining, Land and Water (907-269-8400). A separate veterans preference sealed-bid auction exists for residential parcels of five acres or less; the two cannot be combined.",
     "source_url": "https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#38.05.940",
     "source_title": "Alaska Statutes 2025, AS 38.05.940 Land purchase price discount for veterans; DNR Fact Sheet: Veteran's Programs (Sept. 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "AHFC Veterans Mortgage Program and veterans interest rate preference",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Alaska Housing Finance Corporation offers a tax-exempt-bond-funded Veterans Mortgage Program with below-market fixed rates for owner-occupied homes (duplex to fourplex with restrictions). You must apply within 25 years of discharge from active duty, have completed your initial obligation if still serving, and have been separated under conditions other than dishonorable; a DD-214 and VA Certificate of Eligibility are required. A separate State Veteran's Interest Rate Preference gives a 1% rate reduction on the first $50,000 of the loan, subject to income limits, and cannot be combined with the Veterans Mortgage Program. Apply through an AHFC-approved lender.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ahfc.us/buy/loan-programs/vets",
     "source_title": "Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Veterans Programs",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Alaska Veterans and Pioneers Home (Palmer)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The state's veterans home in Palmer is an assisted living facility where 75% of its 79 beds are reserved for veterans. To apply you must be 60 or older, an Alaska resident under 7 AAC 74.035 who has lived in the state continuously for one year before applying, and (for the active waitlist) in need of the home's care. Veterans also submit a DD-214, VA Form 10-10EZ, and the Pioneer Homes Veterans' Addendum. Applications go to the Division of Alaska Pioneer Homes in Juneau (907-465-4416) or any Pioneer Home; admission is by original application date.",
     "source_url": "https://dfcs.alaska.gov/alaska-pioneer-homes/admissions/",
     "source_title": "Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, Alaska Pioneer Homes Admissions; Alaska Veterans & Pioneers Home page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Permanent Fund Dividend allowable absence for military service",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Alaska residents normally lose the yearly Permanent Fund Dividend if they are outside the state more than 180 days, but active duty service in the U.S. uniformed services (and accompanying spouses and dependents) is an allowable absence with no day limit. You must have been an Alaska resident for at least six consecutive months before leaving, keep Alaska as your state of legal residence (shown on your LES), return to Alaska for at least 72 consecutive hours every two years, and report all absences over 90 days on your application. Apply online with the PFD Division each January 1 to March 31.",
     "source_url": "https://pfd.alaska.gov/Eligibility/Absence-Guidelines",
     "source_title": "Alaska Department of Revenue, PFD Division, Absence Guidelines and Military Eligibility (AS 43.23.008(a)(3))",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "AZ",
   "name": "Arizona",
   "slug": "arizona",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Arizona Department of Veterans' Services",
    "url": "https://dvs.az.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Arizona's property tax law changed twice in 2026. For tax year 2026, only a veteran with a 100% service-connected VA rating gets the full exemption on a primary residence. TDIU (paid at the 100% rate but rated below 100%) does not count until tax year 2027, when Laws 2026, Chapter 140 takes effect.",
    "The 100% full exemption is based on your combined rating on the VA letter, not on how much the VA pays you. Maricopa County says this directly. P&T status is not required for the property tax exemption, but it is required for the free Game and Fish license.",
    "For tax year 2026 the household income limit still applies to every veteran exemption, including the 100% full exemption (ADOR FAQ and Maricopa County). Starting tax year 2027 the income limit is removed for veterans and their surviving spouses. Social Security, military pensions and VA disability pay are not counted as income.",
    "You must file an affidavit with your county assessor between the first Monday in January and March 1 (A.R.S. 42-11153). Maricopa County lists February 28, or September 1 with an Exemption Deadline Waiver. Miss the window and the exemption is waived for that year unless the county board of supervisors redeems it; taxes already due are not refunded. Check your own county's dates.",
    "Only one property tax exemption per person. You cannot stack the veteran exemption with the widow/widower or total-disability exemption, even if you qualify for more than one.",
    "The constitution limits the veteran property tax exemption to honorably discharged veterans who are Arizona residents. A general discharge may not qualify; ask the assessor.",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the 100% full exemption only while the home stays their primary residence and they do not remarry. Remarriage ends the vehicle license tax exemption too.",
    "The vehicle license tax exemption covers one vehicle only, and you must be rated 100% and drawing compensation on that basis. A veteran rated below 100% does not get it unless they are a Purple Heart recipient or received a VA grant for the vehicle.",
    "Arizona has no free annual state park pass for disabled veterans as of this review. The official benefit is a free day-use pass for 100% service-connected veterans and 50% off day use for other service-disabled or retired veterans. A 2026 bill (SB 1050) for a free lifetime pass passed the Legislature in March 2026, but we could not confirm on an official page that it was signed.",
    "Arizona Game and Fish requires one full year of Arizona residency before you apply, and the free license needs a VA letter showing 100% permanent and total. A 100% rating that will be re-evaluated gets a license that expires after three years.",
    "Military retirement pay has been fully exempt from Arizona income tax since tax year 2021. VA disability compensation is not in federal adjusted gross income, so it is not taxed by Arizona either, but ADOR's military page does not say this in so many words.",
    "The Purple Heart tuition waiver at state universities and community colleges requires a VA rating of 50% or more and that you were an Arizona resident or stationed in Arizona when injured. There is no general tuition waiver for 100% disabled veterans in Arizona."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Full property tax exemption on primary residence (100% service-connected)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Your primary residence is fully exempt from property tax if your VA service-connected disability rating is 100%. A home owned with your spouse is treated as owned by you alone, and a surviving spouse keeps the full exemption while living there and not remarried. For tax year 2026 the household income limit still applies (per ADOR and Maricopa County); it is removed for tax year 2027. File an affidavit (ADOR Form 82514 or the county form) with your county assessor between the first Monday in January and March 1; Maricopa lists Feb. 28, or Sept. 1 with a deadline waiver.",
     "source_url": "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/42/11111.htm",
     "source_title": "A.R.S. 42-11111 Exemption for property; widows and widowers; persons with a total and permanent disability; veterans with a disability",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Partial property tax exemption prorated by disability percentage",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "A veteran with a service-connected rating below 100%, or a nonservice-connected disability rated 100% or less, gets an exemption off assessed value of $4,188 (statute base; $4,873 for 2026 after inflation adjustment per Maricopa County) multiplied by the VA disability percentage. Example from Maricopa: $4,873 x 60% = $2,924 off assessed limited property value. Household income must be under the limit ($39,865 with no minor children, $47,826 with minor or disabled children for 2026); the assessed-value cap no longer applies to veterans. Honorable discharge and Arizona residency required. Apply with the county assessor in the January to March 1 window; a surviving spouse of this veteran gets the same prorated amount starting tax year 2027.",
     "source_url": "https://mcassessor.maricopa.gov/page/valuation_relief/",
     "source_title": "Maricopa County Assessor: Personal Exemptions and Senior Valuation Relief",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Full property tax exemption extended to TDIU and income limit removed (tax year 2027)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Laws 2026, Chapter 140 (HB 4168, approved June 13, 2026) adds veterans whose VA status is total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) to the full primary-residence exemption and removes the income limit for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. Section 34(B) says the amended statute applies to tax years beginning from and after December 31, 2026, so TDIU veterans first qualify for tax year 2027. Apply with your county assessor in the January to March 1, 2027 window with your VA letter showing TDIU. A veteran who moves must file an exemption transfer form within 60 days.",
     "source_url": "https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/2R/laws/0140.htm",
     "source_title": "Laws 2026, Chapter 140 (HB 4168) taxation; omnibus; 2026-2027",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Vehicle license tax and registration fee exemption (100% disabled)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "MVD will not collect the vehicle license tax or registration fee for one personally owned vehicle (or one you co-own) if the VA certifies you as 100% disabled and you are drawing compensation on that basis. The exemption continues for a surviving spouse until remarriage or death. Show a VA letter of eligibility, or a DoD/Uniformed Services ID with the 100% Disabled American Veteran affiliation, at an MVD office when you first register. A vehicle bought with a VA grant is also exempt.",
     "source_url": "https://azdot.gov/mvd/services/vehicle-services/vehicle-registration/vehicle-license-tax-exemptions",
     "source_title": "ADOT MVD: Vehicle License Tax Exemptions (VA Disability); A.R.S. 28-5802",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart vehicle license tax and registration fee exemption",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "An honorably discharged Purple Heart recipient pays no vehicle license tax or registration fee on one vehicle. Submit proof of honorable discharge and the Purple Heart award to MVD at initial registration. No disability rating is required.",
     "source_url": "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/05802.htm",
     "source_title": "A.R.S. 28-5802 Vehicle license tax exemption; veterans",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disability (International Symbol of Access) plates and placard for 100% disabled veterans",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "A veteran with a 100% VA disability can get international symbol of access special plates or a removable windshield placard by submitting a copy of the VA certificate of 100% disability instead of a medical certificate. The placard is issued at no additional charge, ISA plates are exempt from the $25 special plate fee and the transfer fee, and the plate can be combined with an honored military plate. These plates or placard allow parking in designated accessible spaces (A.R.S. 28-884). Apply through ADOT MVD.",
     "source_url": "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/02409.htm",
     "source_title": "A.R.S. 28-2409 International symbol of access special plates; placard",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free or reduced-fee hunting and fishing license (Arizona Game and Fish)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "A veteran who has lived in Arizona for at least one year and receives VA compensation for a permanent service-connected disability rated 100% gets a complimentary license (fee: none; a VA letter stating 100% permanent and total is required). Veterans with a service-connected rating under 100% and one year of residency get a reduced-fee license ($42), and Purple Heart recipients pay half price ($28). Apply in person at any Game and Fish office or by mail to the Phoenix office with the application form and your VA letter; a paper license is free, a plastic card is $4. If the VA says the 100% rating is permanent, no new certification is needed; if it will be re-evaluated, the license expires after three years.",
     "source_url": "https://www.azgfd.com/hunting/hunt-draw-and-licenses/special-licenses-2/disabled-veteran-license/",
     "source_title": "Arizona Game and Fish Department: Disabled Veteran License; A.R.S. 17-333(C)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Arizona State Parks free day-use pass (100%) and 50% day-use discount",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability get a free day-use pass; bring VA-certified proof of the 100% rating to a park visitor center. Retired military and service-disabled veterans rated below 100% get 50% off day-use entry, as do active duty, reserve and National Guard members. The discount covers the pass holder and up to three accompanying adults for day entry only, not camping, tours at Kartchner Caverns or Riordan Mansion, reservations or special events. There is no discounted veteran annual pass as of this review.",
     "source_url": "https://azstateparks.com/veteran-and-military-discounts",
     "source_title": "Arizona State Parks and Trails: Veteran and Military Discounts",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart tuition waiver at Arizona public universities and community colleges",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "A current or former service member who received the Purple Heart, was an Arizona resident or stationed in Arizona when injured, and has a VA disability rating of 50% or more gets a tuition waiver scholarship at any Arizona Board of Regents university (ASU, NAU, UA) or community college. The Arizona Department of Veterans' Services verifies eligibility; apply through the school's veterans office. A conviction for a class 1 through 5 felony disqualifies you. Arizona National Guard members with a post-9/11 Purple Heart or a medical discharge from state or training duty also qualify.",
     "source_url": "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/15/01808.htm",
     "source_title": "A.R.S. 15-1808 Tuition waiver scholarships; eligibility; definitions",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Tuition waiver for spouses and children of service members killed in the line of duty",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The child or spouse of a service member who was an Arizona resident or stationed in Arizona and was killed in the line of duty (or died from line-of-duty injuries) gets a tuition waiver at any ABOR university or Arizona community college. Children must be 30 or younger and a spouse must not have remarried; the waiver covers up to 64 community college credits and the credits required for a bachelor's degree. The same waiver covers the child or spouse of a veteran or service member who was an Arizona resident, suffered a post-traumatic stress injury in the line of duty and died by suicide. ADVS or the National Guard verifies eligibility.",
     "source_url": "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/15/01808.htm",
     "source_title": "A.R.S. 15-1808 Tuition waiver scholarships; eligibility; definitions",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Immediate in-state tuition for honorably discharged veterans",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "An honorably discharged or retired veteran is classified as an in-state student right away at ABOR universities and community colleges if they show objective evidence of intent to live in Arizona (such as an Arizona driver license, voter registration, job or lease). Veterans and others using GI Bill benefits (chapters 30, 31, 33 or 35) who enroll after a discharge from 90 or more days of active duty also get in-state status, and so do service members stationed in Arizona and their spouses and dependents. Ask the school's residency office when you apply.",
     "source_url": "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/15/01802.htm",
     "source_title": "A.R.S. 15-1802 In-state student status",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay and VA compensation exempt from state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Arizona has an income tax, but for tax year 2021 and later you subtract the full amount of retired or retainer pay of the uniformed services, so military retirement is not taxed (A.R.S. 43-1022, paragraph 26). Active duty pay has not been taxed since 2006 and National Guard and reserve pay is also subtracted. Arizona gross income starts from federal adjusted gross income (A.R.S. 43-1001), so VA disability compensation, which is excluded federally, is not taxed by Arizona. Claim the subtraction on Form 140.",
     "source_url": "https://azdor.gov/individuals/income-tax-filing-assistance/military-tax-filing",
     "source_title": "Arizona Department of Revenue: Military Tax Filing; A.R.S. 43-1022",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State and local government hiring preference points",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "On a merit-system exam for state or local government jobs, a veteran separated under honorable conditions after more than six months of active duty gets 5 points added to a passing score. A veteran with a service-connected disability, or who receives VA compensation or disability retirement, gets 10 points. Certain spouses and surviving spouses (for example of a veteran who died of a service-connected disability or had a total permanent service-connected disability) get 5 points. The maximum is 10 points, and where applicants are not scored the agency applies preference codes. For state jobs upload your DD214 and VA letter to your azstatejobs.gov profile.",
     "source_url": "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/38/00492.htm",
     "source_title": "A.R.S. 38-492 Preferences",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Arizona Military Family Relief Fund grants",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Military Family Relief Fund, run by the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services, gives financial hardship grants to service members, veterans and families with Arizona ties; the statute lets a subcommittee approve grants of up to $3,000 and the fund runs through December 31, 2031. ADVS materials describe deployment, Arizona residency and honorable-conditions discharge requirements and a $20,000 lifetime cap, but we could not open the ADVS program page to confirm current criteria. Apply online through ADVS (dvs.az.gov) with your DD214, bank statements, pay stubs and the bills you need help with.",
     "source_url": "https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00608-04.htm",
     "source_title": "A.R.S. 41-608.04 Military family relief fund; ADVS MFRF page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Arizona State Veteran Homes (Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, Flagstaff)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "ADVS operates skilled-nursing veteran homes in Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff for veterans, spouses and Gold Star family members who need skilled nursing care. ADVS material indicates the VA pays the full cost for veterans rated 70% or more service-connected. We could not open the ADVS admissions pages during this review, so confirm eligibility, cost and the application packet with ADVS admissions (dvs.az.gov).",
     "source_url": "https://dvs.az.gov/services/veteran-homes-mission/asvh-flagstaff",
     "source_title": "Arizona Department of Veterans' Services: Arizona State Veteran Homes",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "AR",
   "name": "Arkansas",
   "slug": "arkansas",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs",
    "url": "https://www.veterans.arkansas.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The property tax exemption needs a service-connected 100% rating that the VA calls total AND permanent, or VA special monthly compensation for losing a limb (or its use) or for blindness. A temporary 100% rating does not clearly qualify.",
    "TDIU (unemployability) is not named in the statute. One county says an unemployable veteran may qualify, but we found no statewide rule. Ask your county collector before you count on it.",
    "Since 2025 state law says you send the VA letter to the county collector only once, but some counties (for example Saline County) still ask for it every year with an October 15 deadline. Follow your county's instructions or you may lose a year, because counties do not refund past years.",
    "You must live in the home as your main residence. Rental property and land with no house do not qualify. Up to 160 acres next to the house counts if it is not used for business.",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the property tax exemption only while unmarried. Minor dependent children are also covered.",
    "You cannot stack the disabled veteran exemption with the Amendment 79 homestead credit or the over-65 assessment freeze, according to county collector pages.",
    "Homes owned by a revocable trust, an irrevocable trust you benefit from, or an LLC owned only by you (or you and your spouse) qualify starting with the 2026 assessment year, but you must file trust papers with the collector.",
    "The free Disabled Veteran plate is set by statute at 30% service-connected or totally and permanently disabled, but DFA's web page wording is confusing (it says '100% Non-Service Connected'). Bring your VA letter. Parking in disability spaces is allowed only when the vehicle is actually carrying the disabled veteran.",
    "The $1.50 lifetime hunting or fishing license requires a 100% total and permanent VA rating plus ONE YEAR of Arkansas residency. The 60-day residency rule applies to the 3-year disability licenses, not the lifetime veteran licenses. The 70% (or 50% with Purple Heart) lifetime combo license costs $52.50 and is sold only at the AGFC Little Rock office.",
    "We could not confirm the 50% state park camping discount on the current official parks website. Older official text said parks do NOT accept a DV plate or placard as proof; bring a VA letter dated within two years and call the park first.",
    "There is no state tuition waiver for the veteran. The scholarship (now listed as the Arkansas Heroes Scholarship) is for spouses and children of 100% P&T, POW, MIA or KIA veterans, requires applying for VA Chapter 35 first, and has a July 1 deadline. The 2024 rules also say the veteran must be receiving special monthly compensation.",
    "Arkansas has a state income tax. Military retirement pay and VA compensation are exempt, but if your military retirement exemption is over $6,000 you cannot also take the $6,000 exemption on other retirement income."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead and personal property tax exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Full exemption from state property taxes on the homestead (home plus up to 160 contiguous non-commercial acres) and personal property registered to the veteran. Qualifies: VA special monthly compensation for loss or loss of use of one or more limbs, total blindness in one or both eyes, or a service-connected 100% total and permanent rating; TDIU is not named in the statute. Surviving spouse (while unmarried) and minor dependent children keep it, including when the member is killed in the line of duty or MIA. Apply at the county collector with your VA letter; since Act 876 of 2025 the letter is required only once, but report any change in status or property and re-file if you move. Many counties still key the letter to the October 15 tax deadline.",
     "source_url": "https://www.veterans.arkansas.gov/guide-to-ar-property-taxes",
     "source_title": "ADVA Guide to AR Property Taxes (A.C.A. 26-3-306); Acts 407, 876 and 880 of 2025",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran license plate (free)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "First Disabled Veteran plate is free; one additional plate costs $4.00, and one plate can be reissued to a surviving spouse for $4.00. By statute (A.C.A. 27-24-203) a disabled veteran is an Arkansas resident rated at least 30% service-connected, or totally and permanently disabled, who owns a vehicle used by or for them (a 2023 bill to lower it to 10% died). DFA's page wording is inconsistent ('100% Non-Service Connected'), so bring your VA letter to the Specialty License Plate Office. Renewal fee not stated on the DFA page.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/specialty-plates/details/disabled-veteran-license-plate-free",
     "source_title": "DFA Disabled Veteran License Plate - Free; HB1101 (2023) reprint of A.C.A. 27-24-203",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disability-space parking with DV plate",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "A vehicle displaying an Arkansas Disabled Veteran special plate (or another state's DV plate) may park in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities, but only while the vehicle is actually transporting the disabled veteran (A.C.A. 27-15-316(b)). No separate application; the plate itself is the permit. Threshold follows the plate (30% or P&T).",
     "source_url": "https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2023/2023R/Bills/HB1086.pdf",
     "source_title": "HB1086 (2023) reprint of A.C.A. 27-15-316(b) (bill died; existing text unchanged)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Sales tax exemption on VA-financed vehicle and adaptive equipment",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Arkansas gross receipts tax rule GR-34 exempts a highway vehicle and adaptive equipment bought by a disabled veteran with VA financial aid under 38 U.S.C. 1901-1905 (the VA automobile grant), proven by a VA letter; a separate exemption covers one automobile every two years for a veteran blinded by service-connected injury. Claim it at the DFA revenue office when registering. We could not reach the official rule text on a DFA page.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/taxes/excise-tax-administration/sales-use-tax/",
     "source_title": "DFA Sales and Use Tax (Gross Receipts Tax Rule GR-34, A.C.A. 26-52-401)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Resident Disabled Military Veteran lifetime hunting/fishing licenses ($1.50-$3.00)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Lifetime Fishing (VLF) $1.50, Lifetime Hunting (VLH) $1.50, or Lifetime Combination (VLC2) $3.00. Veterans must be 100 percent totally and permanently disabled with certification from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and show proof of one year of Arkansas residency. Trout permit, HIP registration and waterfowl stamps are still required where applicable. Buy through AGFC (833-345-0325 or a regional office).",
     "source_url": "https://www.agfc.com/resources/licensing/disability-mobility-impaired-65-plus-military-retiree-lifetime-licenses/",
     "source_title": "AGFC Disability, Mobility-impaired, 65-Plus, Military Retiree, Lifetime Licenses",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran Lifetime Combination License and Permit (VLL2) $52.50",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "70%",
     "details": "One-time $52.50 lifetime license covering hunting, fishing, trout permit and state duck stamp. Open to resident veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher, or 50% or higher with a Purple Heart; requires a copy of your VA disability certification and one year of Arkansas residency. Created by Act 729 of 2019. Sold only at the AGFC Little Rock office.",
     "source_url": "https://www.agfc.com/resources/licensing/disability-mobility-impaired-65-plus-military-retiree-lifetime-licenses/",
     "source_title": "AGFC Disability, Mobility-impaired, 65-Plus, Military Retiree, Lifetime Licenses",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Resident 3-Year Disability hunting/fishing licenses",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Reduced-price 3-year licenses: Fishing (RDF) $10.50, Hunting (RDH) $25, Combination $35.50. Requires a 100 percent total and permanent disability certification dated within the last three years from the Social Security Administration, Veterans Affairs or Railroad Retirement, plus proof of 60 days of Arkansas residency. Must recertify at each 3-year renewal. Not veteran-specific, but a VA 100% P&T letter qualifies.",
     "source_url": "https://www.agfc.com/resources/licensing/disability-mobility-impaired-65-plus-military-retiree-lifetime-licenses/",
     "source_title": "AGFC Disability, Mobility-impaired, 65-Plus, Military Retiree, Lifetime Licenses",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Arkansas State Parks 50% campsite discount",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Older official parks text gave U.S. citizens with 100% total and permanent disability a 50% discount on campsite fees year-round (not on cabins, yurts or other rental facilities), with proof being a VA letter dated within the last two years; the parks FAQ said DV plates and placards are not accepted as proof. We could not find this language on the current arkansas.com/state-parks site, so call the park (888-287-2757) before relying on it. Arkansas state parks charge no general entrance fee.",
     "source_url": "https://www.arkansas.com/state-parks/accommodations/camping",
     "source_title": "Arkansas State Parks - Camping",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military Dependents' / Arkansas Heroes Scholarship (spouse and children)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Waives in-state tuition, mandatory fees and on-campus room and board at Arkansas public (and some private nonprofit) colleges for the spouse or dependent child of a veteran the VA has declared 100% totally and permanently disabled from service-connected conditions (the 2024 rules also require that the veteran be receiving special monthly compensation), or of a service member who was POW, MIA, KIA or killed on ordnance delivery after January 1, 1960. Veteran must have been an Arkansas resident at entry into service or be a current resident; student must be a current resident and must first apply for VA Chapter 35 (DEA), which pays first. Up to 8 semesters with a 2.0 GPA and 24 hours per year; children must be under 26; spouses lose it on remarriage. Apply through the ADHE SAMS portal; annual deadline July 1. The portal now lists it as the Arkansas Heroes Scholarship.",
     "source_url": "https://adhe.edu/File/Military%20Dependents%20Scholarship%20Rules%20Final_Effective%2010.31.24.pdf",
     "source_title": "ADHE Rules Governing the Military Dependents' Scholarship Program (eff. 10/31/2024); SAMS Arkansas Heroes Scholarship",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay exempt from state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Beginning with tax year 2018 (Act 141 of 2017, A.C.A. 26-51-307), retirement benefits received by a member of the uniformed services, including survivor benefits, are fully exempt from Arkansas income tax with no cap or age limit. Report it on line 17 of Form AR1000F/AR1000NR. Retirees cannot also claim the $6,000 exemption on other retirement income if their military retirement exemption exceeds $6,000; if it is less, the remainder may be used.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025_AR1000F_and_AR1000NR_Instructions.pdf",
     "source_title": "DFA 2025 AR1000F and AR1000NR Instructions - Military Retirement Exemption (Act 141 of 2017)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "VA disability compensation not taxed",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Arkansas has a state income tax, but DFA's instructions list VA benefits among exempt income: Social Security benefits, VA benefits, Workers' Compensation and Railroad Retirement benefits are exempt from tax. Military disability retirement pay for service-connected injury is also excluded, and Act 238 of 2009 extends the refund deadline when the VA retroactively reclassifies retired pay as disability pay. Nothing to apply for; simply do not report VA compensation as income.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025_AR1000F_and_AR1000NR_Instructions.pdf",
     "source_title": "DFA 2025 AR1000F and AR1000NR Instructions - Exempt Income",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State employment veterans preference (5 or 10 points)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "State agencies must apply veterans preference in hiring, promotion and retention. With numerical scoring, a qualifying veteran who passes gets 5 points added; a disabled veteran (disability established by VA records), a disabled veteran over 55 entitled to pension or compensation, or the spouse of a disabled veteran whose disability disqualifies them gets 10 points, and 10-point candidates go to the top of the interview list among equal scores. You must be a citizen and resident of Arkansas with substantially equal qualifications, and you must voluntarily submit official proof (DD214, VA letter). Unmarried surviving spouses also qualify. Policy 13 effective May 26, 2026.",
     "source_url": "https://sas.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/13-Veterans-Preference-and-Reemployment-5.26.2026.pdf",
     "source_title": "Arkansas OPM Policy 13: Veterans Preference and Reemployment (A.C.A. 21-3-301 et seq.)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Arkansas State Veterans Homes (skilled nursing)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "ADVA operates two State Veterans Homes, in Fayetteville (479-444-7001) and North Little Rock (501-683-1406), offering skilled nursing, therapy and hospice. Applicants need an honorable discharge and a medical need for nursing home placement; veterans, veterans' spouses and Gold Star parents may apply. Submit the Inquiry for Admission form by email to the home you choose. Costs are not listed on the page; ask the home about VA per-diem and private pay.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.arkansas.gov/veteran-homes-1",
     "source_title": "ADVA Veteran Homes",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Concealed handgun carry license fee waived for veterans",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Under A.C.A. 5-73-311(a)(2)(B) as amended by Act 888 of 2021, there is no license fee for a concealed handgun carry license if the applicant is a U.S. Armed Forces veteran or currently serving. Submit a copy of your DD214 or similar document or valid military ID with the Arkansas State Police application. Training and background-check requirements still apply.",
     "source_url": "https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2021R%2FPublic%2F&file=888.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2021%2F2021R",
     "source_title": "Act 888 of 2021 (A.C.A. 5-73-311)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veteran designation on driver's license or ID",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Arkansas residents with an honorable or general-under-honorable-conditions discharge can add a veteran designation to their driver's license or state ID at any Driver Services/revenue office. Bring a DD214, NGB 22, VA Veteran ID card, DD256/257 or DD2 (retired). The regular license or ID fee applies; no disabled veteran fee waiver was found.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/office/driver-services/licenses-ids-permits/military-veterans/",
     "source_title": "DFA Driver Services - Military & Veterans",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "CA",
   "name": "California",
   "slug": "california",
   "agency": {
    "name": "California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet)",
    "url": "https://www.calvet.ca.gov"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The property tax exemption needs a 100% rating OR pay at the 100% rate for unemployability (TDIU). P&T status is not required. You can also qualify with no rating at all if you are blind in both eyes or lost the use of two or more limbs.",
    "For property tax, the veteran must also have served in wartime or in a campaign with a Congressional medal, or been released in peacetime for a service-connected disability, and must be eligible for VA health care. A peacetime-only veteran with no campaign medal can be turned down.",
    "The low-income property tax exemption must be re-filed with the county assessor every year between January 1 and February 15. File late and you get 90% (through December 10) or 85% (after). The basic exemption is a one-time filing.",
    "Only an UNMARRIED surviving spouse keeps the property tax exemption. Remarrying ends it.",
    "A 100% rating alone does NOT get you Disabled Veteran license plates. The 100% rating must be for a condition that impairs mobility, or you must need an assistive device to move, have lost the use of a limb, or be permanently blind. TDIU is not listed. The fee waiver covers one vehicle only.",
    "California taxes military retirement pay. Starting with tax year 2025 you can exclude up to $20,000 if your federal AGI is $125,000 or less ($250,000 joint). The exclusion ends after tax year 2029 unless extended. VA disability pay is never taxed.",
    "State civil service no longer gives 10 or 15 preference points. Since 2014 any veteran who passes an open exam goes to the top rank. A disabled veteran gets the same preference as any other veteran; the spouse of a 100% disabled veteran also qualifies. It does not apply once you have permanent state civil service status.",
    "The free State Parks pass needs a 50%+ rating AND wartime or foreign-operations service, California residency, and a VA letter dated within one year. Peacetime-only veterans at 50% do not qualify unless they were a POW or Medal of Honor recipient.",
    "California has no free hunting or fishing license for disabled veterans, only a reduced-fee license (about $10) at 50% or higher. Tags and validations still cost extra.",
    "The College Fee Waiver is for dependents, not the veteran. Plan A needs a 100% (totally disabled) wartime veteran and cannot be used with VA Chapter 35. Plan B works with any service-connected rating but the child's own income must be under $22,941 (AY 2026-27). Re-apply every school year at a County Veterans Service Office.",
    "Business license and vendor fee waivers depend on your city or county. CalVet says eligibility differs by local jurisdiction.",
    "Commonly believed but NOT found on an official source: a free DMV disabled parking placard based on rating alone, a free fishing license at 100%, and a full state income tax exemption for military retirement pay. None of these exist in California."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Exempts part of the value of your primary home from property tax: $180,671 (basic) for the 2026 lien date, or $271,009 (low-income) if household income is $81,131 or less; 2027 amounts are $185,889 / $278,836 with an $83,474 income limit. You qualify if the VA rated you 100%, pays you at the 100% rate for unemployability (TDIU), or you are blind in both eyes or lost the use of two or more limbs; the home must be your principal residence and you must have wartime, campaign-medal, or disability-release service. File form BOE-261-G with the county assessor where the home is; first-year filing is due by the next January 1 or 90 days after you qualify, and the low-income level must be re-filed every year January 1 to February 15. Unmarried surviving spouses also qualify.",
     "source_url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=RTC&sectionNum=205.5",
     "source_title": "Revenue and Taxation Code 205.5; BOE Letter To Assessors 2026/019 (May 22, 2026); BOE Disabled Veterans' Exemption page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates and registration fee exemption",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "One vehicle (passenger car, motorcycle, or commercial vehicle 8,000 lbs or less, not for hire) is exempt from all DMV registration and license fees except duplicates, and gets DV plates with the wheelchair symbol that carry disabled-person parking privileges when the veteran is driving or riding. You must meet Vehicle Code 295.7: a 100% VA rating for a disease or disorder that substantially impairs mobility, OR being unable to move without an assistive device, OR loss or loss of use of one or more limbs, OR permanent blindness. Submit form REG 256A with a certification from a medical provider, County Veterans Service Officer, CalVet, or the VA, plus proof of identity, to DMV Special Processing Unit, P.O. Box 932345, Sacramento, CA 94232-0001. Plates renew every December 31 at no fee.",
     "source_url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=295.7",
     "source_title": "Vehicle Code 295.7 and 5007; DMV Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual 21.095; DMV form REG 256A",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Reduced-fee Disabled Veteran hunting license",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "Honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected rating of 50% or greater can buy the annual hunting license for $9.79 instead of the regular resident fee. Prequalify once by sending CDFW a VA benefit summary letter showing your discharge and rating, a copy of your driver license, and your GO ID (upload to your online customer record, mail to a CDFW license office, or fax 916-419-7585; do not email). After CDFW updates your record you can buy the license anywhere licenses are sold. Tags and validations are still full price.",
     "source_url": "https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Hunting/Reduced-Fee",
     "source_title": "CDFW Reduced-Fee Hunting License and Disabled Entitlements",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Reduced-fee Disabled Veteran sport fishing license",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "Honorably discharged veterans with a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability can buy an annual sport fishing license for $10.04 at CDFW offices or $10.54 from license agents (2026 fees); residents and nonresidents both qualify. Prequalify by submitting a VA letter showing discharge and rating with a copy of your driver license and GO ID to CDFW (upload, mail, or fax). The license is valid 365 days from purchase.",
     "source_url": "https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing/Reduced-Fee",
     "source_title": "CDFW Reduced-Fee Sport Fishing Licenses",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State Parks Distinguished Veteran Pass",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "A free lifetime pass for free vehicle day use, family camping, and boat use at state park units run by California State Parks. You must be a California resident with an honorable discharge and either a combined rating of 50% or more with service during wartime or operations against a foreign power, former POW status, or the Medal of Honor. Apply online at ReserveCalifornia.com or mail form DPR 619 with your DD-214, a California driver license or ID, and a VA letter dated within one year showing the rating; allow 8 to 10 weeks. The card must be renewed every five years.",
     "source_url": "https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30958",
     "source_title": "California State Parks - Distinguished Veteran Pass; DPR 619 application (Rev. 4/2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents - Plan A",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Waives mandatory systemwide tuition and fees at any California Community College, CSU, or UC campus for the unmarried child (age 14 to 27, or 30 if the child is a veteran), spouse, or unmarried surviving spouse of a wartime veteran who is totally (100%) service-connected disabled or who died of service-connected causes. The veteran must have served at least one day of active duty in a Congress-declared war or earned a campaign or expeditionary medal, and the qualifying event must have happened before the child turned 21. There is no income limit, but Plan A cannot be used at the same time as VA Chapter 35. Apply with form DVS-40 at a County Veterans Service Office each academic year; books, parking, and housing are not covered.",
     "source_url": "https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/College-Fee-Waiver.aspx",
     "source_title": "CalVet - College Fee Waiver",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents - Plan B",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Waives mandatory systemwide tuition and fees at CCC, CSU, and UC campuses for the child of a veteran who has any service-connected disability rating (or had one at death, or died of service-related causes). No wartime service or age limit is required, but the child's own income (adjusted gross income plus the value of parental support) for the prior calendar year may not exceed the state poverty level, which is $22,941 for academic year 2026-27. Only children qualify under Plan B, and it may be combined with VA Chapter 35. Apply with form DVS-40 at a County Veterans Service Office every academic year; the student must meet the school's California residency rules.",
     "source_url": "https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/College-Fee-Waiver.aspx",
     "source_title": "CalVet - College Fee Waiver",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Nonresident tuition exemption for veterans and GI Bill users",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Veterans and dependents who live in California and are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill, Veterans Readiness and Employment (Ch. 31), Post-9/11 GI Bill, or Chapter 35 DEA are exempt from nonresident tuition at California Community Colleges and CSU campuses, and keep the exemption while continuously enrolled. Separately, a veteran stationed in California on active duty for more than one year right before discharge is exempt from nonresident tuition for one year while establishing residency (must be used within two years of discharge). Apply through the campus admissions or residency office with your DD-214 and VA certificate of eligibility. The statute covers CCC and CSU; check UC campus policy separately.",
     "source_url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC&sectionNum=68075.7",
     "source_title": "Education Code 68075.7 and 68075.5",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay exclusion (up to $20,000)",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "California taxes military retirement pay, but for tax years 2025 through 2029 you can exclude up to $20,000 of federal uniformed services retirement pay from state income if your federal adjusted gross income is $125,000 or less ($250,000 for joint filers or surviving spouses). A separate exclusion of up to $20,000 applies to DoD Survivor Benefit Plan annuity payments under the same income limits. Claim it on Schedule CA (540 or 540NR) when you file. The law (SB 132, 2025) repeals itself December 1, 2030 unless extended.",
     "source_url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=RTC&sectionNum=17132.9",
     "source_title": "Revenue and Taxation Code 17132.9 and 17132.10; FTB Military page (updated 06/11/2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "VA disability compensation not taxed",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "California follows federal law: VA disability compensation and lump-sum retroactive VA payments are tax-exempt, not included in income, and not reported on a 1099-R. Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) is also exempt. Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) is taxable even if you have a VA rating. Nothing to file; just do not report VA compensation as income.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/personal/filing-situations/military.html",
     "source_title": "Franchise Tax Board - Military (Retirement and disability), last updated 06/11/2026",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State civil service Veterans' Preference (top rank)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Any veteran with an other-than-dishonorable discharge, the widow or widower of a veteran, or the spouse of a 100% disabled veteran who passes an open (entrance) state civil service exam with a score of 70 or higher is placed in rank 1 of the eligibility list regardless of score. It applies only to open exams, not promotional exams, and ends once you have permanent state civil service status. Apply by mailing form CalHR 1093 with your Member 4 DD-214 (spouses add marriage certificate and the VA 100% award letter) to CalHR Selection Division, 1515 S Street, North Building, Suite 500, Sacramento, CA 95811-7258. Service members within six months of separation can apply early with form CalHR 1094.",
     "source_url": "https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=18973.1",
     "source_title": "Government Code 18973.1 and 18973.5; CalHR form 1093 (Rev 07/2025); CalCareers Veterans' Information",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "CalVet Home Loans",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "State-run home loan program for buying an owner-occupied home in California; most loan products have no down payment requirement and you can use it more than once. You must have served at least 90 days of active duty (wartime or peacetime, not counting training), have a discharge under honorable conditions, and not currently hold a CalVet loan. There is no prior California residency rule and National Guard or reservists ordered to federal active duty qualify. Apply online at calvet.ca.gov/HomeLoans.",
     "source_url": "https://www.calvet.ca.gov/HomeLoans/Pages/New-Customer.aspx",
     "source_title": "CalVet Home Loans - New Customer (Am I eligible?)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans Homes of California (long-term care)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Eight state-run homes (Barstow, Chula Vista, Fresno, Lancaster, Redding, Ventura, West LA, Yountville) offer independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care at affordable cost. You must be 55 or older, homeless, or disabled; a veteran who served on active duty; a California resident; discharged under other than dishonorable conditions; and have medical insurance. Priority admission goes to Medal of Honor recipients, former POWs, homeless veterans, and veterans rated 70% or more service-connected. Apply online through myCalVet or mail the Veterans Home Admission Application (Sections A, B, and physician Section C) to the home you choose; waitlists vary by home.",
     "source_url": "https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetHomes/Pages/apply.aspx",
     "source_title": "CalVet - Applying for a CalVet Veterans Home",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Business license, tax and fee waiver for veteran vendors",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Honorably discharged veterans who hawk, peddle, or sell goods they own (not services, and not alcohol) can get municipal, county, and state business license fees and taxes waived, and the county or city must issue the license at no cost. CalVet notes eligibility criteria differ by local jurisdiction, so check with your city or county business license office and bring proof of honorable discharge.",
     "source_url": "https://www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/Business-License-Tax-and-Fee-Waiver.aspx",
     "source_title": "CalVet - Business License, Tax and Fee Waiver; Business and Professions Code 16102",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "CO",
   "name": "Colorado",
   "slug": "colorado",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs",
    "url": "https://vets.colorado.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Property tax: since Jan 1, 2024 you apply at your COUNTY ASSESSOR, not the Division of Veterans Affairs. The window is January 1 to July 1 each year (C.R.S. 39-3-205(1)(b)). Late applications are not held over; they are discarded.",
    "Property tax: TDIU veterans became eligible starting with tax year 2025 (taxes paid in 2026) after voters passed Amendment G on Nov 5, 2024. A 100% rating that is NOT marked permanent does not qualify; the constitution says '100 percent permanent' or 'individual unemployability status.'",
    "Property tax: the Division's FAQ says TDIU veterans must be 'rated at least 70%' and must have 'served on active duty for at least 24 months.' Neither statement appears in the constitution or statute. Needs verification; ask your assessor if it affects you.",
    "Property tax, surviving spouses: a surviving spouse keeps the exemption on the same home if the veteran already had it (C.R.S. 39-3-203(1.5)(a.5)). Gold Star spouses (DIC recipients or line-of-duty death gratuity) qualify in their own right since tax year 2023 (Amendment E). The state page is inconsistent on whether remarriage disqualifies; the constitution is silent.",
    "Property tax: you must own and occupy the home as your primary residence on January 1 of the application year. You cannot stack the senior and veteran exemptions on one home.",
    "C.R.S. 28-5-104 (effective Jan 1, 2025) requires every Colorado state veterans benefit to treat a VA individual unemployability (TDIU) finding the same as a 100% permanent rating.",
    "Vehicle: the 50% rule for DV plates and the ownership tax exemption reads '50% or more, service-connected, permanent disability' (C.R.S. 42-3-304(5)(a)) or loss of use of hands, feet, or vision. Only ONE vehicle per veteran is exempt, and sales tax is still owed. The plain DV plate does NOT allow accessible parking; you need the DV Handicap plate or a placard with a DR 2219 medical certification.",
    "Recreation: the lifetime small game and fishing license threshold dropped from 60% to 50% for applications on or after Jan 1, 2025 (SB 24-161). Some older state pages still say 60%. You must have lived in Colorado six months, and the license is valid only while you remain a resident. The $14 Columbine Pass is NOT the veteran pass; the free Independence Pass (50%+) is.",
    "Recreation: whether DV-plate vehicles are automatically exempt from the $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass at registration is not addressed on CPW pages. Needs verification; you can decline the pass at registration either way.",
    "Income tax: VA disability compensation is not in federal taxable income, and Colorado tax starts from federal taxable income (C.R.S. 39-22-104), so it is not taxed. No Colorado DOR page states this in so many words. Military retirement subtraction is capped at $15,000 for retirees under 55 through tax year 2028; at 55+ the general pension cap applies ($20,000 at 55 to 64, $24,000 at 65+). No 2026 change.",
    "Education: Colorado has NO general tuition waiver for dependents of 100% P&T veterans. SB26-067 (2026) was postponed indefinitely. The free-tuition law (C.R.S. 23-3.3-205) covers only dependents of Colorado National Guard members killed or permanently disabled on duty, plus police, fire, and search-and-rescue.",
    "Employment: 10 preference points require receiving VA compensation or disability retired pay for a line-of-duty disability (any rating); 5 points for wartime or campaign-badge service; 10 points maximum; no preference for promotions (Colo. Const. Art. XII Sec. 15).",
    "NOT found on any official Colorado source, so not listed: a disabled-veteran business license fee waiver; a free driver's license for 100% veterans; veteran-specific big-game preference points."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Veteran with a Disability property tax exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Half of the first $200,000 of your home's actual value is exempt from property tax. You need an honorable discharge and a VA rating of 100% permanent and total, OR a VA individual unemployability (TDIU) finding (TDIU counts starting tax year 2025 under Amendment G). You must own and live in the home as your primary residence on January 1. File the state application (DOLA form 15-DPT-AR) with your VA Benefit Summary Letter at your COUNTY ASSESSOR between January 1 and July 1. Once approved you do not reapply unless you move or your VA status changes.",
     "source_url": "https://vets.colorado.gov/property-tax-exemption",
     "source_title": "Property Tax Exemption, Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs (Colo. Const. Art. X Sec. 3.5; C.R.S. 39-3-203, 39-3-205)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Gold Star Spouse and surviving spouse property tax exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A surviving spouse can get the same 50%-of-the-first-$200,000 exemption on their primary home. Gold Star spouses qualify if the service member died in the line of duty (and the spouse received the DoD death gratuity) or the veteran died of a service-connected cause and the spouse receives VA DIC. A surviving spouse of a veteran who already had the disabled-veteran exemption keeps it on the same home. Apply at the county assessor between January 1 and July 1 with a VA letter or DD Form 1300.",
     "source_url": "https://vets.colorado.gov/property-tax-exemption",
     "source_title": "Property Tax Exemption, Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs (Colo. Const. Art. X Sec. 3.5(1)(d), (1.7); C.R.S. 39-3-203(1.5)(a.5))",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate with registration fee and ownership tax exemption",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "With an honorable discharge and a VA letter showing a 50% or greater service-connected disability (or loss of use of a hand or foot, or blindness) you get one set of D.V. plates free. That one vehicle is also exempt from Colorado's annual specific ownership tax and registration fees. Sales tax still applies, and extra DV sets cost $50 plus normal taxes and fees. Apply with Form DR 2002, your DD 214, VA letter, and title or registration at your county motor vehicle office. The plain DV plate does not give accessible parking rights, but it does give free entry to state parks.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.colorado.gov/license-plates-military",
     "source_title": "License Plates - Military, Colorado DMV (Form DR 2002 rev. 08/04/25; C.R.S. 42-3-213(5), 42-3-304(5))",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran Handicap plate or accessible parking placard",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "If you need accessible parking, get the Disabled Veteran Handicap plate (the same 50% VA letter plus Form DR 2219 signed by a licensed medical provider) or a standard placard. Three-year placards are for permanent impairments; temporary placards for short-term ones. Submit the DR 2219 to your county motor vehicle office or through myDMV. The regular DV plate alone does not allow parking in accessible spaces.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.colorado.gov/persons-disabilities",
     "source_title": "Persons with Disabilities, Colorado DMV (Form DR 2219)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart license plate",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Any Purple Heart recipient can get Purple Heart plates. The first set is exempt from fees (C.R.S. 42-3-213(1)(b)(II)(D)) and Form DR 2002 lists it as exempt from ownership taxes and registration fees for one vehicle; additional sets cost $50 plus taxes and fees. Apply with Form DR 2002 and a DD 214 or orders showing the award. Purple Heart plates also give free entry to Colorado state parks.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.colorado.gov/license-plates-military",
     "source_title": "License Plates - Military, Colorado DMV",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "VETERAN indicator and military identifier on driver license or ID",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "You can have the word VETERAN and/or your branch's military identifier printed on your Colorado driver license or ID card. Bring an original Member 4 copy of your DD-214 or a valid military ID to a driver license office appointment. Once added you do not show the documents again at renewal, and there is no added fee when done at renewal. The indicator is accepted as proof of veteran status for the free August state parks pass.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.colorado.gov/active-duty-military-and-veterans",
     "source_title": "Active Duty Military and Veterans, Colorado DMV",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free lifetime small game hunting and fishing combination license",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "Colorado resident veterans with a VA combined service-connected rating of 50% or more (lowered from 60% for applications on or after January 1, 2025), and Purple Heart recipients, get a free lifetime resident small game and fishing combo license. You must have lived in Colorado at least six months, hold a Colorado DL or ID, and have hunter education if you want to hunt. Holders skip the annual Habitat Stamp, and the license counts as a qualifying license for big game draws. Apply with CPW's Veteran License application by email, through your cpwshop.com account, or by mail; allow 15 business days.",
     "source_url": "https://cpw.state.co.us/hunting/hunters-disabilities",
     "source_title": "Hunters with Disabilities, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (C.R.S. 33-4-104(3) as amended by SB 24-161)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Independence Pass: free annual state parks pass for disabled veterans",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "The Independence Pass gives free vehicle entry to all Colorado state parks for 12 months at no cost. Colorado residents qualify with a VA letter showing a discharge other than dishonorable and compensation for a 50% or greater disability (combined ratings count), or loss of use of hands or feet or blindness; Purple Heart recipients also qualify. Apply with CPW's Veteran's License and Pass Application by email, mail, or in person at CPW headquarters in Denver; allow 15 business days. Residents with DV or Purple Heart plates can enter free without any pass when the veteran is in the vehicle.",
     "source_url": "https://cpw.state.co.us/park-specialty-passes",
     "source_title": "Park Specialty Passes, Colorado Parks and Wildlife",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free state park entry in August (Military Parks Pass)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Every August, active-duty military, veterans, and National Guard members get a free pass for entry to any Colorado state park. Pick it up at any state park or CPW office with a DD214, military ID, a Colorado license or ID with VETERAN on it, or a VA medical card. The pass covers only the service member, is not valid at State Wildlife Areas, and camping and other fees still apply.",
     "source_url": "https://cpw.state.co.us/news/07312025/cpw-offers-free-entry-colorado-state-parks-august-active-duty-military-veterans-and",
     "source_title": "CPW offers free entry into Colorado state parks in August (July 31, 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "In-state tuition for honorably discharged veterans",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Every Colorado public college and university must charge in-state tuition to an honorably discharged veteran who lives in Colorado, no matter how recently they moved here (no one-year wait). Schools may extend this to the veteran's dependents, but that part is optional. Students classified this way also get the College Opportunity Fund stipend. Apply through your school's registrar or veterans office with your DD-214.",
     "source_url": "https://content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-23.pdf",
     "source_title": "C.R.S. 23-7.4-203 Tuition classification of armed forces veterans (Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 23)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Colorado National Guard tuition waiver (current Guard members)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Current drilling members of the Colorado Army or Air National Guard can have up to 100% of in-state tuition waived at approved Colorado public colleges after other aid is applied (HB26-1386 took effect July 1, 2026). It does not cover fees or books and is capped by credit hours (65 associate, 130 bachelor's, 145 combined). You must complete the FAFSA or CASFA and apply through DMVA's portal every semester during short windows: June 1 to 20 (fall), November 1 to 20 (spring), April 1 to 20 (summer). This is for serving Guard members, not separated veterans.",
     "source_url": "https://dmva.colorado.gov/tuition-waiver",
     "source_title": "Tuition Waiver Program, Colorado DMVA",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free tuition and room and board for dependents of Guard members killed or permanently disabled on duty",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "A dependent of a Colorado National Guard member who died or was permanently disabled on state active duty, federal active duty, or authorized training can attend a Colorado state college free of tuition and room and board for a first bachelor's degree or certificate. The student must keep a 2.5 GPA and the benefit ends six years after enrollment. This is NOT a general benefit for children of 100% disabled veterans; a 2026 bill to create one (SB26-067) failed. Apply through the school's financial aid office.",
     "source_url": "https://content.leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-23.pdf",
     "source_title": "C.R.S. 23-3.3-205 (Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 23)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay income tax subtraction",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Military retirees under age 55 at year end can subtract up to $15,000 of military retirement pay from Colorado taxable income each year from 2022 through 2028. Retirees 55 and older use the general pension and annuity subtraction instead: up to $20,000 (ages 55 to 64) or $24,000 (65+). Claim it on the Subtractions from Income Schedule (DR 0104AD). VA disability compensation is not part of federal taxable income, so Colorado does not tax it either. No cap changes took effect for 2026.",
     "source_url": "https://tax.colorado.gov/retired-servicemembers",
     "source_title": "Retired Servicemembers, Colorado Department of Revenue (Income Tax Topics: Military Servicemembers, rev. Feb 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans' preference in state and local government hiring",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "When the State of Colorado (or a county, city, or district with a comparable merit system) scores job applicants, 10 points are added for a veteran receiving VA disability compensation or disability retired pay for a line-of-duty disability, and 5 points for an honorably separated wartime or campaign-badge veteran. Surviving spouses get 5 points; the maximum is 10, and no preference applies to promotions. Veterans also get retention preference in layoffs. Attach your DD-214 (Member 4) and, for the 10 points, a VA letter showing a service-connected disability.",
     "source_url": "https://careers.colorado.gov/veterans-preference",
     "source_title": "Veterans' Preference, State of Colorado Careers (Colo. Const. Art. XII Sec. 15)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Colorado Veterans Community Living Centers (state veterans homes)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Colorado runs five state veterans homes (Aurora/Fitzsimons, Florence, Homelake near Monte Vista, Rifle, and Walsenburg) offering long-term skilled nursing, short-term rehab, memory care, respite, and hospice. Honorably discharged veterans, their spouses or widows, and Gold Star parents are eligible if they meet medical criteria; no VA rating is required. Veterans pay a lower daily rate because VA pays part of the cost. The homes accept Medicaid, Medicare (short-term rehab), and private pay. Contact the admissions office of the center you want.",
     "source_url": "https://cdhs.colorado.gov/VCLCs",
     "source_title": "Veterans Community Living Centers, Colorado Department of Human Services",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "CT",
   "name": "Connecticut",
   "slug": "connecticut",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs",
    "url": "https://portal.ct.gov/dva"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Connecticut has no county governments. Every property tax exemption is applied by your town or city assessor, and the dollar amounts differ from town to town because state law (CGS 12-62g) makes towns raise the amounts after big revaluations. Always ask your own assessor for the local figure.",
    "The full property tax exemption on your home (CGS 12-81(83)) is only for veterans the VA has found permanently and totally disabled based on a 100% service-connected rating. A 100% schedular rating that is not P&T, and TDIU, do NOT qualify for it. TDIU veterans get the full exemption only if their town has voted to adopt the optional TDIU exemption created in 2025 (PA 25-168 sec. 240).",
    "The 100% P&T exemption now needs an application EVERY YEAR, due to the assessor by January 1 after the October 1 assessment date, on the OPM form, with your VA letter and a signed statement that you are not claiming it in another town. If the VA drops your P&T status you lose it and fall back to the smaller 12-81(20) exemption.",
    "The full exemption covers only the part of the home you live in. Rental units and business space in the building are taxed. If you do not own a home it shifts to one motor vehicle garaged in Connecticut. Towns may limit it to two acres or cap it at the town's median home value.",
    "For the basic and disabled-veteran exemptions, your DD-214 must be on file with the town clerk before October 1. The income-based additional exemption (Form M-59a) is filed every two years between February 1 and October 1. Missing the date usually pushes you to the next grand list.",
    "Surviving spouses keep most veteran exemptions only while they stay unmarried and live in Connecticut. For the 100% P&T exemption, a spouse of a veteran who died before October 1, 2024 is covered only if the town votes to include pre-2024 deaths.",
    "Free vehicle registration (up to three vehicles) and no-fee disabled veteran plates are NOT based on a percentage rating. You must have wartime service AND a VA-certified service-connected loss or loss of use of an arm or leg, blindness, paraplegia, hemiplegia, or traumatic brain injury. The plate allows 24-hour overtime parking but does not allow use of accessible (handicapped) spaces.",
    "There is no Connecticut free hunting or fishing license based on a VA disability percentage. The free lifetime license is for loss of a limb or loss of use of a limb (any resident), and blind residents. Residents 65 and older fish free.",
    "The state college tuition waiver is based on 90 days of wartime service and Connecticut domicile, not on a disability rating. It waives tuition only, not fees, books, or housing, and it only applies after other federal education benefits are counted. Dependents qualify only if the parent is MIA/POW (after 1960) or was killed in action on or after 9/11/2001.",
    "Military retirement pay is 100% exempt from Connecticut income tax (since tax year 2015) and VA disability compensation is never taxed because Connecticut starts from federal AGI. Former spouses receiving a share of retired pay under a divorce decree cannot take the exemption.",
    "State hiring preference under CGS 5-224 is 5 points for wartime veterans and 10 points if you are eligible for VA disability compensation or pension, but it only applies to scored examinations for original appointment. The DAS website does not explain how points are applied in today's mostly exam-free hiring, so ask DAS before relying on it.",
    "Commonly claimed but not found on any official source: a rating-based hunting/fishing license waiver, a disabled veteran exemption from the $8-per-year Passport to the Parks registration surcharge (DEEP says there are no exemptions), and a free state park camping benefit for disabled veterans (the Disabled Veteran Pass is not valid for camping)."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Basic wartime veteran property tax exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Takes at least $1,000 off the assessed value of your home or vehicle (at least $1,500 once the mandatory income-based add-on in CGS 12-81g is counted; more in towns that have revalued). You must be a Connecticut resident who served 90 or more days in a period of war (or was retired after 30 years). File your DD-214 with the town clerk before the October 1 assessment date; the assessor applies it each year after that. An unmarried surviving spouse or minor child residing in Connecticut gets $1,000 ($3,000 if the death was in service).",
     "source_url": "https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_203.htm",
     "source_title": "CGS 12-81(19) and (22), Chapter 203 Property Tax Assessment",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled veteran property tax exemption (10% or higher)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "Reduces assessed value by $2,000 for a VA rating of 10%-25%, $2,500 for 26%-50%, $3,000 for 51%-75%, and $3,500 for 76% or higher or for any rated veteran age 65 or older (towns that have revalued apply higher amounts). Wartime service is not required; you must be a Connecticut resident. Submit your VA rating letter to the town assessor; proof is not needed again unless your rating changes, and refunds can go back up to three years if proof was late. An unmarried surviving spouse or minor children living in Connecticut keep the same amount.",
     "source_url": "https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_203.htm",
     "source_title": "CGS 12-81(20), as amended by PA 25-168 sec. 234",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Severe service-connected disability home exemption ($10,000 / $5,000)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "An extra $10,000 off the assessed value of your owner-occupied home (and lot) if the VA has found a service-connected loss of use or paralysis of both legs, hemiplegia, total blindness, or amputation of both arms, legs, hands, or feet (or a hand and a foot); $5,000 for loss of use of one arm or one leg. It is added on top of the 12-81(20) amount and applies only to your domicile. Apply through the town assessor after qualifying under 12-81(20). A surviving spouse keeps it while unmarried and living in the home. Towns may also fully exempt a home bought or adapted with VA Specially Adapted Housing funds.",
     "source_url": "https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_203.htm",
     "source_title": "CGS 12-81(21), Chapter 203 Property Tax Assessment",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Full property tax exemption for 100% permanent and total (primary residence or one vehicle)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Your primary residence (house, condo, common-interest unit, or mobile home, including the part you occupy if some is rented or used for business) is fully exempt from property tax if you are a Connecticut resident the VA has determined to be permanently and totally disabled based on a 100% service-connected rating. If you own no home, one motor vehicle garaged in Connecticut is exempt instead. Effective October 1, 2024 (PA 24-46); since the 2025 grand list you must apply every year to the assessor by January 1 on the OPM form with your VA determination and a statement you are not claiming it in another town. An unmarried surviving spouse or minor children living in Connecticut keep it. Towns may limit the lot to two acres, cap the exemption at the town median assessed home value, or extend it to spouses of veterans who died before October 1, 2024.",
     "source_url": "https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/ACT/PA/PDF/2025PA-00168-R00HB-07287-PA.PDF",
     "source_title": "CGS 12-81(83) as amended by PA 25-2 and PA 25-168 secs. 233-239 (House Bill 7287)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Municipal-option full property tax exemption for TDIU",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Towns may vote to give veterans the VA has found to have a service-connected total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) the same full exemption on a primary residence (or one vehicle if no home) that 100% P&T veterans get, in place of the 12-81(20) exemption. Effective October 1, 2025. Check whether your town adopted it; if it has not, a TDIU veteran gets only the rating-based exemption. Apply to the assessor with your VA determination; spouse and unmarried surviving spouse rules mirror the P&T exemption.",
     "source_url": "https://www.cga.ct.gov/2025/ACT/PA/PDF/2025PA-00168-R00HB-07287-PA.PDF",
     "source_title": "PA 25-168 sec. 240 (new section, effective October 1, 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Additional state veterans exemption (income-tested, up to 200%)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "If you already get a 12-81(19), (20), (21) or (22) exemption and your income is at or below the OPM limit, the state doubles your exemption (three times, at town option, for 100%-rated veterans); veterans over the limit get a 50% add-on. For 2025 income the OPM schedule is $46,300 unmarried and $56,500 married; for 100%-rated veterans the statutory limit is $18,000 unmarried / $21,000 married ($21,000 / $24,000 under the local 3x option). VA disability payments do not count as income. File Form M-59a with the town assessor between February 1 and October 1, then every two years.",
     "source_url": "https://portal.ct.gov/opm/igpp/grants/tax-relief-grants/additional-veterans-tax-relief-program",
     "source_title": "OPM Additional Veterans Tax Relief Program; CGS 12-81g; OPM 2026 Homeowners Q&A Booklet (income schedule)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Local-option veteran property tax exemptions",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Towns may add exemptions on top of the state ones: up to $20,000 or 10% of assessed value for income-qualified wartime veterans and surviving spouses (CGS 12-81f); at least $3,000 for income-qualified rated veterans (12-81f(b)); up to $5,000 or 5% for veterans who do not qualify for the state exemptions (12-81jj); 10% of a primary residence for veterans with federal AGI of $50,100 or less (12-81kk); and a percentage exemption for one specially equipped vehicle (12-81h). Each town sets its own income limit (not below the OPM limit) and application form; most are filed with the assessor by October 1 and every two years after.",
     "source_url": "https://prdext3.cga.ct.gov/2023/rpt/pdf/2023-R-0175.pdf",
     "source_title": "OLR Report 2023-R-0175, Veterans' Property Tax Exemptions (Oct. 6, 2023); CGS 12-81f, 12-81h, 12-81jj, 12-81kk",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled veteran plates, free registration for 3 vehicles, overtime parking",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "No registration fee for up to three passenger, camper, or combination vehicles per year, no-charge Disabled Veteran plates, and a card allowing overtime parking up to 24 hours (not accessible spaces). You must be a Connecticut resident with wartime service AND a VA-certified service-connected amputation or loss of use of an arm or leg, blindness, paraplegia, hemiplegia, or traumatic brain injury; percentage rating alone does not qualify. Bring a VA letter on letterhead to DMV (DMV guidance says initial issuance is in person at Wethersfield); title, lien, and clean-air fees still apply. A surviving spouse keeps the plates free for life or until remarriage.",
     "source_url": "https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_248.htm",
     "source_title": "CGS 14-254 Parking privileges of disabled veterans; CGS 14-49(o); DMV Disabled Veteran Registration (class code 14) guidance",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "DEEP Disabled Veteran Pass (lifetime) and Passport to the Parks",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Connecticut residents with any VA service-connected disability get a free lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass admitting the holder to Gillette Castle, Dinosaur, and Fort Trumbull State Parks; it is not valid for camping or special events. Apply in person at a DEEP or park office or by mail to DEEP State Parks Division, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, with proof of residency and a VA card or benefits letter. Separately, anyone in a Connecticut-registered vehicle parks free at all state parks and forests year-round under Passport to the Parks (funded by an $8-per-year registration surcharge with no exemptions).",
     "source_url": "https://portal.ct.gov/deep/state-parks/special-passes---ct-state-parks-and-forests",
     "source_title": "DEEP Special Passes - CT State Parks and Forests (updated June 2024); DEEP Passport to the Parks (updated May 2024)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free lifetime hunting/fishing license (loss of limb or blindness, not rating-based)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Connecticut has no hunting or fishing license waiver tied to a VA percentage. Any resident who has lost a limb or permanently lost the use of a limb gets a free lifetime hunting, sport fishing, or trapping license (permits and stamps still cost) with a physician, PA, or APRN certification, issued at select DEEP offices and participating town clerks. Blind residents get a free lifetime fishing license, with the VA supplying proof for veterans. Residents 65 and older get free annual fishing licenses.",
     "source_url": "https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_490.htm",
     "source_title": "CGS 26-29b and 26-29, Chapter 490 Fisheries and Game; DEEP 2026 Hunting Guide, Hunting Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Tuition waiver at UConn, state universities, community colleges, Charter Oak",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Tuition is waived for undergraduate and graduate study at UConn, the four Connecticut State Universities, and CT State Community College for veterans with 90 or more cumulative days of service in a period of war (or less if separated for a service-connected disability), discharged honorably or under honorable conditions, accepted for admission, and domiciled in Connecticut at acceptance. Fees, books, and housing are not waived, and the waiver pays only what federal GI Bill benefits do not. Since July 1, 2025 (PA 25-95) extension, summer, and intersession fees are also waived and Charter Oak State College must waive tuition fees. Dependent children of service members declared MIA or POW after January 1, 1960 who are state residents also qualify. Apply through the campus veterans office when enrolling.",
     "source_url": "https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_185b.htm",
     "source_title": "CGS 10a-77(d), 10a-99(d), 10a-105(e); CSCU Veterans Tuition Waiver page; PA 25-95 secs. 9-13",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay 100% exempt; VA compensation not taxed",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Connecticut has an income tax, but retired members of the U.S. armed forces or National Guard subtract 100% of military retirement pay (Form CT-1040 Schedule 1, Line 44); surviving beneficiaries of the retiree's survivor election can take the same subtraction, while a former spouse paid under a divorce decree cannot. The full exemption has applied since tax year 2015. VA disability compensation is excluded from federal AGI and therefore is not taxed by Connecticut. No application is needed beyond the tax return.",
     "source_url": "https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/drs/forms/2025/income/2025-ct-1040-instructions_1225.pdf",
     "source_title": "DRS 2025 Form CT-1040 Instructions, Line 44 Military Retirement Pay (Rev. 12/25); CGS 12-701(a)(20)(B)(xvi)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State civil service examination points (5 or 10)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "On a scored state examination for original appointment, wartime veterans who pass get 5 points added; veterans eligible for VA disability compensation or pension get 10 points, as do spouses who cannot work because of the veteran's disability and unmarried surviving spouses. Veterans with a campaign badge or expeditionary medal, and service members in the last year of an enlistment, get 5 points. Claim veteran status when applying through the DAS online job system and supply your DD-214 and VA letter. DAS now fills most jobs without written exams, so ask DAS how the points apply to a given posting.",
     "source_url": "https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_067.htm",
     "source_title": "CGS 5-224 Credit for military service on examinations held for original appointments; DAS Military Talent page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medal",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A state medal for veterans with 90 days of active wartime service (or the full length of a shorter war or operation), discharged honorably or under honorable conditions or for injuries in the line of duty, who live in Connecticut now or lived here at the time of the qualifying service. Submit CTDVA Form VM1 with your DD-214 to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 (Form VM2 for a posthumous award to family). No deadline.",
     "source_url": "https://portal.ct.gov/dva/knowledge-base/articles/advocacy-and-assistance/state-veterans-resources/connecticut-wartime-service-medal",
     "source_title": "CTDVA Connecticut Wartime Service Medal (page dated May 31, 2024)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free bus passes for veterans; Rocky Hill Veterans Home",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Department of Veterans Affairs provides local transit bus passes to Connecticut veterans at no cost; apply online through the DVA forms site and verify status with a VA Health ID card or a Connecticut license or ID showing the veteran flag (passes are mailed monthly and are not transferable; a 2026 law makes the program permanent and adds up to 50% fare discounts on state buses). The DVA campus in Rocky Hill also runs a supportive Residential Facility and the Sgt. John L. Levitow Veterans Health Center (skilled nursing) for veterans discharged honorably or under honorable conditions who live in Connecticut now or lived here when they enlisted; apply to the DVA admissions office, 860-616-3708.",
     "source_url": "https://portal.ct.gov/dva/knowledge-base/articles/advocacy-and-assistance/state-veterans-resources/bus-passes-for-veterans",
     "source_title": "CTDVA Bus Passes for Veterans (page dated Aug. 24, 2026); CTDVA Residential Services; PA 26-21 sec. 8",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "DE",
   "name": "Delaware",
   "slug": "delaware",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs / Office of Veterans Services (Delaware Department of State)",
    "url": "https://vets.delaware.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The big Delaware property tax break is a credit against SCHOOL taxes, not county taxes. The state law requires VA compensation at the 100% rate for a permanent and total disability, 'based on individual unemployability or a 100% disability rating.' TDIU counts. A 100% rating that is not marked permanent and total may be questioned, so bring your VA letter showing P&T status.",
    "You must have been legally domiciled in Delaware for 3 full years in a row before you can get the school tax credit. A vacation home does not count, and being gone from Delaware for 12 months is treated as giving up your domicile.",
    "The school tax credit application is due April 30 for the coming tax year, and you must have paid the prior year's property tax bill in full. Apply through your county (New Castle 302-395-5520, Kent 302-744-2401, Sussex 302-855-7871), not the state.",
    "County property tax relief is different in each county. Sussex and New Castle tie a county credit to the state 100% P&T / TDIU standard. Kent County's program is a general disability and senior exemption with income limits, with only the residency rules waived for 100% service-connected veterans.",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the school tax credit only if the veteran was already getting it, the spouse was already on the deed before the death, the spouse has not remarried, and the home is still the spouse's main residence.",
    "A bill to lower the school tax credit threshold from 100% to 80% (HB 349) was introduced in April 2026 and was still sitting in the House Appropriations Committee as of our check. It is NOT law. Do not expect an 80% rating to qualify.",
    "Delaware does NOT have a free hunting or fishing license for all disabled veterans. The free hunt, trap and fish exemption needs an honorable discharge and a VA service-connected rating of at least 60%.",
    "There is no free state park pass for disabled veterans in Delaware law or on the State Parks website. Any honorably discharged veteran who lives in Delaware can buy the annual pass at half price ($25) for a Delaware-registered vehicle. A disabled resident who holds a federal Gold Access Passport card is exempt from park entrance fees.",
    "The Disabled Veteran (DAV) plate costs a one-time $10 fee and does NOT let you park in handicapped spaces. For parking privileges you need the DAV-HP plate, which also requires a doctor's certification of a walking or similar disability under 21 Del. C. § 2134.",
    "Only one vehicle per veteran is exempt from registration fees, and only if the VA has found you eligible for the automobile or adaptive equipment grant. A rating alone does not waive the registration fee.",
    "Delaware has no tuition waiver for disabled veterans or for their children. The state education benefit covers children (ages 16-24) of service members who died from service causes, were POWs, or are MIA, and it requires 3 years of Delaware residency.",
    "The military pension exclusion is $12,500 regardless of age for tax year 2025 and 2026 returns. Under a law signed August 17, 2026 (SB 219) it rises to $15,000 in 2027, $20,000 in 2028 and $25,000 in 2029. Those higher amounts do not apply yet."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veterans School Property Tax Credit",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "A credit for 100% of the non-vocational school district property tax on your primary residence. You must receive VA compensation for a service-connected permanent and total disability at the 100% rate, 'based on individual unemployability or a 100% disability rating,' and have been legally domiciled in Delaware for at least 3 consecutive years. Apply through your county assessment or billing office by April 30 before the tax year starts, with your VA letter, Delaware ID and Social Security card; you cannot also take the Senior School Property Tax Credit. A surviving spouse who was on the deed, has not remarried and still lives in the home keeps the credit.",
     "source_url": "https://finance.delaware.gov/disabled-veterans/",
     "source_title": "Delaware Department of Finance - Disabled Veterans School Property Tax Credit; 14 Del. C. § 1917(d)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "New Castle County disabled veteran county property tax exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "New Castle County reduces the county property tax (and crossing guard tax) on a principal residence to zero for veterans who receive VA compensation for a service-connected permanent and total disability based on individual unemployability or a 100% rating, with no residency waiting period. Apply to the New Castle County Assessment Division (302-395-5520, assessment@newcastlede.gov) using the county Disability Exemption form; the 2026 form listed a June 1, 2026 filing deadline. County pages blocked our automated reader, so confirm current amounts, income rules and the deadline with the county.",
     "source_url": "https://www.newcastlede.gov/182/Tax-Exemptions",
     "source_title": "New Castle County Assessment Division - Tax Exemptions (Disability Exemption Application, revised Jan. 6, 2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Kent County disability property tax exemption (veteran residency waiver)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Kent County offers a reduction in taxable assessment to owners who are 'entirely disabled (100%) with documented proof.' The program carries income limits (single AGI not over $18,000; applicant and spouse not over $24,750, excluding Social Security and disability income) and the county page does not say veterans are exempt from those limits. The 5-year Delaware residency and 1-year primary-residence rules are waived for veterans 100% disabled due to military service. File with the Kent County Assessment Office by April 30 before the tax year, with all county taxes paid, and reapply every year.",
     "source_url": "https://kentcountyde.gov/Residents/Tax-Credits-Exemptions-Assessment",
     "source_title": "Kent County Levy Court - Tax Credits & Exemptions (Assessment)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Sussex County Real Property Tax Credit for Disabled Veterans",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Sussex County grants a credit against its county value-based property tax to residents who qualify for the state Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit (100% P&T or TDIU, 3 years as a full-time Delaware resident as of July 1). The county says the combined credit can be 'up to a full credit towards property taxes, excluding Sussex Tech and non-value-based fees and services.' The state school tax credit application doubles as the county application; file with the Sussex County Billing Office (302-855-7871) by April 30, with all county taxes and fees paid. The credit continues for a surviving spouse who keeps owning and living in the home, but it does not transfer when the property is sold.",
     "source_url": "https://sussexcountyde.gov/disabled-veterans-school-tax-credit",
     "source_title": "Sussex County - Disabled Veterans School Tax Credit; Sussex County Ordinance No. 2811 (Nov. 16, 2021)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Vehicle registration fee exemption for disabled veterans",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "One vehicle owned by a veteran with a disability who is or ever was eligible for VA automobile or adaptive equipment benefits (38 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq. or Public Law 93-538) is exempt from Delaware registration fees, limited to one automobile per veteran at a time, and the plates are furnished at no cost. This is tied to VA adaptive equipment eligibility, not to a percentage rating. Bring VA documentation of that eligibility to any DMV office; the vehicle still must pass inspection.",
     "source_url": "https://citizen.dmv.de.gov/DriverServices/military-services/",
     "source_title": "Delaware DMV - Military Services; 21 Del. C. § 2164",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran (DAV) and DAV-HP license plates",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "A veteran certified by the VA as having a service-connected disability, or certified by DoD as having sustained a disabling injury in a war or conflict, may get a Disabled Veteran plate for a private passenger vehicle or truck up to 26,000 lb GVWR for a one-time $10 fee plus the normal annual registration fee. The standard DAV plate 'does not permit special parking in handicapped zones.' The DAV-HP plate adds disability parking privileges but requires a physician certification of a permanent mobility, lung or cardiac condition under 21 Del. C. § 2134. Apply with Form MV549 and your VA letter at any DMV office.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dmv.de.gov/forms/veh_serv_forms/pdfs/MV549DAV-Application.pdf",
     "source_title": "Delaware DMV Form MV549 DAV License Plate Application (Rev. 4/2025); 21 Del. C. § 2138",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free hunting, trapping and fishing license exemption",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "60%",
     "details": "Honorably discharged veterans certified by the VA as having 'at least a 60% service-connected disability' may be issued a license exemption to hunt, trap and fish in Delaware without charge. The statute does not require Delaware residency. Submit the Veterans with Disabilities Exempt Application with your VA letter directly to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife and allow up to 4 weeks. Separately, any resident who served 90+ days on active duty can get a free hunting and/or fishing license during the first 12 months after discharge.",
     "source_url": "https://dnrec.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/licenses/exemptions/",
     "source_title": "DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife - License Exemptions; 7 Del. C. § 502(h)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Delaware State Parks Military Pass (50% off annual pass)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Honorably discharged veterans, active-duty members and military retirees who are permanent Delaware residents can buy the annual state park pass for $25 instead of $50 for each vehicle registered in Delaware in their name; passes are sold only at park offices with your DD-214, Delaware license and registration. There is no free pass based on a disability rating. Disabled Delaware residents who hold a federal Gold Access Passport card are exempt from entrance fees, and residents who served 90+ consecutive days in OIF/OEF can get a free pass for 12 months after discharge from the Dover Office of Business Services.",
     "source_url": "https://destateparks.com/Know/Passes",
     "source_title": "Delaware State Parks - Passes and Permits; 7 Del. C. § 4701(a)(5)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Pays tuition and mandatory fees for up to 4 years, first at a Delaware public college, for a child of a service member who was killed on active duty or died of service-related causes, is a prisoner of war, or is officially missing in action. The child must be 16 to 24 years old, a Delaware resident for at least 3 consecutive years, and the parent must have been a Delaware resident at the time of death or POW/MIA status. Apply through the Delaware Higher Education Office financial aid portal; the application opens in December and closes in mid-May each year. Delaware has no tuition waiver for disabled veterans themselves or for children of living disabled veterans.",
     "source_url": "https://delcode.delaware.gov/title14/c034/sc06/index.html",
     "source_title": "14 Del. C. Chapter 34, Subchapter VI - Educational Benefits for Children of Deceased Veterans and Others",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military pension exclusion from state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Delaware taxes income but lets a military retiree exclude up to $12,500 of U.S. military pension at any age (other retirees under 60 get only $2,000; everyone 60 or over gets up to $12,500 of pension and eligible retirement income). SB 219, signed August 17, 2026, phases the military amount up to $15,000 for 2027, $20,000 for 2028 and $25,000 for 2029 and later, regardless of age, with a 3-year (5-year for new residents after 2026) Delaware domicile rule for the 60-and-over exclusion. Claim it on Line 6 of Form PIT-RES and check the military pension box.",
     "source_url": "https://delcode.delaware.gov/title30/c011/sc02/index.html",
     "source_title": "30 Del. C. § 1106(b)(3) as amended by 85 Del. Laws c. 426 (SB 219); 2025 Form PIT-RES Instructions, Line 6 Pension Exclusion",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "VA disability compensation not taxed",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Delaware taxable income starts from federal adjusted gross income, and VA disability compensation, DIC and VA pension are excluded from federal gross income, so they are not taxed by Delaware. The Delaware Division of Revenue does not publish a page that says this in plain words; the PIT-RES instructions only address military pay and the pension exclusion. Nothing to apply for; simply do not report VA compensation as income.",
     "source_url": "https://revenuefiles.delaware.gov/2025/PITForms_Instructions/Instructions/PIT-RES_Instructions_2025-01.pdf",
     "source_title": "Delaware 2025 Form PIT-RES Instructions; 30 Del. C. § 1105-1106 (Delaware AGI based on federal AGI)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State Merit employment preference points",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Veterans who meet the job's minimum qualifications get preference points added to their ranking score for state Merit System jobs: up to 10 points for disabled veterans and 5 points for other honorably discharged veterans or Delaware Guard/Reserve members with 20+ years. Five points go to the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran, the spouse of a service member missing or captured over 90 days, or the spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability. Preference applies only to original entrance, not promotions or layoffs. Send your DD-214 and VA disability letter to the Department of Human Resources by 4:30 p.m. the business day after the posting closes.",
     "source_url": "https://statejobs.delaware.gov/explore/veterans-preference.shtml",
     "source_title": "Delaware Employment Link - Veterans' Preference; 29 Del. C. § 5935",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Delaware Veterans Home (Milford)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A 150-bed state long-term care facility with skilled nursing and a dementia unit at 100 Delaware Veterans Blvd., Milford. Applicants must have been honorably discharged with at least 180 days of active service (or Guard/Reserve equivalents, or be a Gold Star family member), have lived in Delaware for at least one year before applying, and have a medically determined need for long-term care. Apply with the admissions packet to DOSDVH_Admissions@delaware.gov or call 302-424-6000.",
     "source_url": "https://vethome.delaware.gov/application-for-admission/",
     "source_title": "Delaware Veterans Home - Application for Admission",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Delaware Veterans Trust Fund emergency assistance",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "One-time financial help for Delaware resident veterans with an honorable or general-under-honorable-conditions discharge who have a documented emergency need (rent or mortgage, utilities, medical bills, car payments and similar). Funds are paid directly to the vendor, approval is not guaranteed, and the fund depends on donations. Submit the application with DD-214, Delaware ID, bills, two recent pay stubs and two bank statements to DOS_OVS@delaware.gov or at the Bear, Dover or Millsboro veterans offices.",
     "source_url": "https://vets.delaware.gov/veterans-trust-fund/",
     "source_title": "Delaware Office of Veterans Services - Veterans Trust Fund",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Paraplegic Veterans Pension ($3,000 per year)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Delaware pays a state pension of $3,000 per year in equal monthly installments to veterans who are paraplegic and fully disabled due to service during a period of war. This is a unique Delaware benefit listed on the Office of Veterans Services benefits page; contact the Office of Veterans Services (800-344-9900) to apply. We could not locate the application form or the statute section online, so confirm documentation requirements with the office.",
     "source_url": "https://vets.delaware.gov/veterans-benefits/",
     "source_title": "Delaware Office of Veterans Services - Veterans Benefits",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "DC",
   "name": "District of Columbia",
   "slug": "district-of-columbia",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs (MOVA)",
    "url": "https://communityaffairs.dc.gov/mova"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The $445,000 property tax deduction needs a VA rating that is 'total and permanent' OR payment at the 100% rate for unemployability (TDIU). A plain 100% schedular rating that is not marked permanent does not match the law's words.",
    "The $445,000 deduction has an income cap. For tax year 2026, total household federal adjusted gross income for 2024 must be under $163,500. The cap changes every year.",
    "You apply for the veterans deduction with the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs online, not with the tax office. File between October 1 and March 31 to get the whole year. File April 1 to September 30 and you only get half, on the second bill.",
    "You cannot stack the veterans deduction with the regular Homestead Deduction, the 50% Senior/Disabled Tax Relief, or the assessment cap credit. It replaces them.",
    "Surviving spouses and domestic partners can keep or claim the $445,000 deduction starting October 1, 2025 (D.C. Law 26-83), but only if the home was getting it when the veteran died, or would have qualified if the veteran had applied.",
    "You must own at least 50% of the home by deed, live in it as your main home, and be domiciled in DC. Homes in an irrevocable trust (other than a special needs trust) or owned by an LLC do not qualify.",
    "DC taxes military retirement pay in full. The old $3,000 exclusion for people 62 and older ended with tax year 2014. VA disability compensation is not taxed because it is not in federal gross income.",
    "The DMV 'no fee' tag is for one vehicle only, only for veterans the VA calls 'Total and Permanent,' and it only waives the yearly registration fee. Specialty tag application and display fees may still apply.",
    "A disability placard or tag in DC does not give free parking. You get double the posted time at meters, but you still pay the meter.",
    "DC government hiring preference is 5 points for honorable service over 180 days plus 5 more for a service-connected disability, but it ends 5 years after you leave the service, and military retirees get no preference at all.",
    "DC has no hunting, no state park pass, and no fishing license break for disabled veterans. The fishing license is $10 and only people under 16 or 65 and older are exempt.",
    "DC has no tuition waiver for disabled veterans or their children. UDC only gives in-state tuition to GI Bill users who live in DC and enroll within 3 years of discharge, which federal law already requires."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veterans Homestead Deduction ($445,000)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Takes $445,000 off the assessed value of your DC home before tax is figured. You qualify if the VA classified you as having a total and permanent service-connected disability, or you are paid at the 100% rate for unemployability, you own at least 50% of the home by deed, live there as your main home, are domiciled in DC, and household federal AGI for 2024 is under $163,500 for tax year 2026. Apply online with the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs; file October 1 to March 31 for the full year, or April 1 to September 30 for half. Surviving spouses and domestic partners qualify starting October 1, 2025.",
     "source_url": "https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/47-850",
     "source_title": "DC Code § 47-850(a-2) Residential property tax relief — Homestead deduction; OTR Real Property Tax Reliefs page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Senior Citizen or Disabled Property Owner Tax Relief (50%)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Cuts the property tax bill by 50% for an owner who is 65 or older, or who has an SSA permanent and total disability finding, gets SSI/SSDI, railroad disability, or federal or DC government disability payments, owns at least 50% of the home, and has household federal AGI under $163,500 for tax year 2026. This is a general DC program, not a veteran program, and it cannot be combined with the $445,000 veterans deduction. Apply through OTR (MyTax.DC.gov) once eligible. OTR does not say whether VA compensation alone counts as a federal disability payment.",
     "source_url": "https://otr.cfo.dc.gov/am/page/real-property-tax-reliefs-credits-and-deductions",
     "source_title": "OTR: Real Property Tax Reliefs, Credits and Deductions; DC Code § 47-863",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No-fee vehicle tags for P&T veterans",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "A veteran with a service-connected permanent and total disability can get one set of tags (DAV, Veteran, or standard passenger) at no fee for one non-commercial vehicle. Only the annual registration fee is waived. Bring a VA letter that says 'Total and Permanent' to a DC DMV service center. The statutory basis was not located in the DC Code; the DMV web page is the source.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.dc.gov/service/specialty-vehicle-tags",
     "source_title": "DC DMV: Specialty Vehicle Tags",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "DC Veteran specialty license plates",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Any DC-resident veteran discharged under conditions other than dishonorable, or a veteran's spouse, can get Veteran tags (branch designs) for a passenger car, pickup, or van. Cost is a $52 one-time application fee plus a $26 yearly display fee, on top of regular registration unless the P&T no-fee rule applies. Show a DD 214, WD AGO, or DD 256 at DC DMV. When the veteran dies the tags transfer to the surviving spouse for life or until remarriage.",
     "source_url": "https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/50-1501.02a",
     "source_title": "DC Code § 50-1501.02a Issuance of veterans' license plates",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled American Veteran (DAV) tags",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "DAV tags are issued for a passenger vehicle at normal registration fees to a veteran certified as a member of the DC chapter of Disabled American Veterans by its Commander. You also need the VA authorization letter and an approved DC DMV disability tag/placard application, so the tag carries DC disability parking privileges (double meter time after paying). No VA percentage is stated by DMV; eligibility runs through DAV membership and the disability tag approval.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.dc.gov/service/specialty-vehicle-tags",
     "source_title": "DC DMV: Specialty Vehicle Tags; DC Code § 50-1501.03(a)(3)(C)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart license plates",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "DC residents who received the Purple Heart, or their unremarried surviving spouse, can get a Purple Heart tag for a $10 one-time application fee with no annual display fee (new law effective May 21, 2026). Prove the award with a DD-214/DD-215, WD-AGO 53-55, award orders, or an award certificate at DC DMV. Regular registration fees still apply unless the P&T no-fee rule applies.",
     "source_url": "https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/50-1501.02o",
     "source_title": "DC Code § 50-1501.02o Purple Heart award recipient motor vehicle identification tags (D.C. Law 26-114)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disability parking placard and parking privileges",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "DC DMV issues disability placards free and disability tags for $10 to DC residents with a qualifying mobility impairment certified by a medical practitioner (one placard and one set of tags per person). Holders may park in designated disabled spaces and for double the posted time at meters, including red top meters, after paying the meter rate. There is no free metered parking and no veteran-specific parking privilege in DC.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.dc.gov/service/apply-for-disability-parking-placards-and-permits",
     "source_title": "DC DMV: Apply for Disability Parking Placards and Permits; DDOT Parking for Persons with Disabilities",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veteran designation on driver license or ID",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Honorably discharged veterans can have 'Veteran' printed on a DC driver license or non-driver ID card. Bring a DD 214, WD AGO, or DD 256 to a DC DMV service center. No separate fee is listed.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.dc.gov/page/veteran-designation-0",
     "source_title": "DC DMV: Veteran Designation",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Fishing license (no disabled veteran exemption)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "DC has no fishing license discount or exemption for disabled veterans. A resident annual license is $10 (non-resident $13), sold online by DOEE for the calendar year. Only people under 16 and people 65 and older are exempt. DC has no hunting and no state park pass program.",
     "source_url": "https://doee.dc.gov/service/get-fishing-license",
     "source_title": "DOEE: Get a Fishing License",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "UDC in-state tuition for GI Bill users living in DC",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The University of the District of Columbia charges the in-state rate and waives its 12-month residency wait for a veteran using Montgomery GI Bill (ch. 30) or Post-9/11 GI Bill (ch. 33) who lives in DC and enrolls within three years of discharge from active duty of 90 days or more, and for people using transferred Post-9/11 benefits on the same terms, as long as they stay continuously enrolled. Contact UDC's Office of Military and Veteran Student Services. DC has no separate tuition waiver for disabled veterans or their dependents.",
     "source_url": "http://files-do-not-link.udc.edu/docs/admissions/Residency%20Policy.pdf",
     "source_title": "UDC Policy on Student Residency Classification (Veterans section)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "DC National Guard Tuition Assistance",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "DC funds a tuition assistance program for members and new recruits of the DC National Guard who are DC residents. Dollar caps, school limits, and service obligations are set by DC National Guard policy memos, which could not be retrieved. Apply through the DC National Guard education office.",
     "source_url": "https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/49-807",
     "source_title": "DC Code § 49-807 National Guard tuition assistance benefits",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "DC income tax: military retirement taxed, VA compensation not taxed",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "DC has an income tax that starts from federal gross income. VA disability compensation is not in federal gross income, so DC does not tax it. Military retirement pay is fully taxable in DC; the $3,000 exclusion for retirees 62 and older applied only to tax years before January 1, 2015 and was repealed by D.C. Law 20-155. Survivor benefits from the federal or DC government are excluded for people 62 and older (D-40 Line 12), and a general disability income exclusion up to $10,000 (Form D-2440) exists for people with an SSA or government disability determination and household AGI under $100,000.",
     "source_url": "https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/47-1803.02",
     "source_title": "DC Code § 47-1803.02 Gross income — Items included and excluded; OTR 2025 D-40 Booklet",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "DC government veterans hiring preference",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "For DC government Career and Educational Service jobs, a veteran with more than 180 consecutive days of active duty and an honorable separation gets 5 extra points, and 5 more points if the veteran has a service-connected disability or receives VA compensation, disability retirement, or pension. The preference ends 5 years after separation, military retirees get none, and people who entered service after October 14, 1976 must have served in wartime. Unremarried surviving spouses and spouses of service-connected disabled veterans get the federal-equivalent preference. Claim it on the DC government job application (dchr.dc.gov). A separate 10-point preference goes to any DC resident who agrees to stay a resident 7 years.",
     "source_url": "https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/1-607.03",
     "source_title": "DC Code § 1-607.03 Veterans preference in employment",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "VetsRide free transportation",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Free rides through the Department of For-Hire Vehicles and the Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs for veteran residents of DC with annual income under $45,000 or who are recently unemployed. Register or book a ride at (202) 745-5555. Monthly trip limits are not stated on the DFHV page.",
     "source_url": "https://dfhv.dc.gov/page/vetsride",
     "source_title": "DFHV: VetsRide",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans Navigator Office (DC Superior Court)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Search results show a DC Superior Court Veterans Navigator Office (Moultrie Courthouse, Room 120B, 202-879-1259) that links court-involved veterans to legal aid, housing, treatment, employment, and VA benefits help in criminal, civil, family, and landlord-tenant cases. The page now returns 'Page Not Found' after the courts' website redesign, and no formal DC Veterans Treatment Court docket could be confirmed on dccourts.gov.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dccourts.gov/",
     "source_title": "DC Courts: Serving Veterans / Veterans Navigator Office (page not found at time of check) (original page moved; DC Courts home page linked)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "FL",
   "name": "Florida",
   "slug": "florida",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs",
    "url": "https://floridavets.org"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The full homestead exemption needs a VA letter that says you are 'totally and permanently disabled.' A 100% rating that is not marked permanent does not match the law's words. TDIU is not named in the statute, so ask the VA for a P&T letter and check with your county property appraiser.",
    "You must be a Florida permanent resident on January 1 and the home must be your homestead. Only the $5,000 exemption (10% or more) can be used on property that is not your homestead.",
    "File with the county property appraiser by March 1. You may apply before your VA letter arrives; the exemption is dated back to your application and refunds are limited to 4 years. If you miss March 1, most counties take late applications until 25 days after the August TRIM notice.",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the exemption only while holding title, living in the home, and staying unmarried. If the spouse moves, only the dollar amount from the last tax roll moves with them. At least one county website adds a 5-year marriage rule that is not in the statute, so verify locally.",
    "The 65-and-older discount only counts disabilities the VA identifies as combat-related, and the discount percentage equals your rating percentage. It is a reduction, not a full exemption.",
    "The free DV plate needs a 100% rating for compensation (P&T is not required), an honorable discharge, and either 5 years of continuous Florida residency or a filed Florida domicile declaration. You get only one free plate; extra DV plates cost regular fees. Choosing a military or specialty plate instead means you pay that plate's fees. The parking-fee exemption only applies when the disabled veteran is actually in the vehicle, and event venues may still charge.",
    "No toll exemption for DV or DV-wheelchair plates exists in Florida law. The only disability toll permit is for drivers with permanent upper-limb impairments in a specially equipped vehicle.",
    "The free driver license or ID card is only for 100% permanent and total veterans (or holders of the FDVA ID card). The 'Veteran' license designation is for any honorably discharged veteran and does not waive the regular license fee.",
    "Free hunting and fishing licenses start at a 50% rating (since July 1, 2024) or a VA total and permanent rating. You must apply through GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or a tax collector; the license does not cover the federal duck stamp, tarpon tags, alligator hunts, or quota hunts. The $20 Military Gold Sportsman's License is for active duty and military retirees only, not for disabled veterans who did not retire.",
    "The free lifetime state park pass requires an honorable discharge and any service-connected disability. All other veterans get 25% off annual passes. County and city park discounts are required by law but the amount varies by county or city.",
    "Florida has no state income tax, so military retired pay and VA compensation are never taxed by the state. Business-license fee waivers are for any honorably discharged veteran (within 60 months of discharge for state professional licenses); there is no 50% disability rule.",
    "The children-and-spouses scholarship needs the veteran's Florida home of record in DEERS (or Florida residency), a 100% P&T rating or service-connected death, a child aged 16 to 22, and a Florida Financial Aid Application filed by April 1 for priority funding."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Total homestead property tax exemption for total and permanent service-connected disability",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Your entire homestead is exempt from property tax if you were honorably discharged, have a service-connected total and permanent disability, hold a VA letter certifying you are totally and permanently disabled, and are a Florida permanent resident on January 1. TDIU is not named in the law; a 100% rating not marked permanent does not meet the wording. A surviving spouse keeps the exemption while holding title, living in the home and not remarrying, and may move a capped amount to a new home. File Form DR-501 with your county property appraiser by March 1; you may file before the VA letter arrives and get a refund back to the application date (4-year limit).",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0196/Sections/0196.081.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 196.081 Exemption for certain permanently and totally disabled veterans and for surviving spouses of veterans (2026 Florida Statutes)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "$5,000 property tax exemption for 10%+ service-connected disability",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "Florida exempts $5,000 of property value for an honorably discharged ex-servicemember who is a bona fide Florida resident and is disabled 10 percent or more by misfortune or during wartime service. The Department of Revenue states it is not limited to homestead property. The unremarried surviving spouse also gets it. File Form DR-501 with your county property appraiser by March 1 with your VA rating letter; counties report it renews automatically.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0196/Sections/0196.24.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 196.24 Exemption for disabled ex-servicemember or surviving spouse (2026 Florida Statutes); DOR PT-109 (R. 08/24)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Combat-related disability property tax discount for veterans age 65 and older",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "If you are 65 or older, honorably discharged, and partially or totally permanently disabled from a combat-related cause, your homestead tax is discounted by a percentage equal to your VA service-connected disability percentage (applied after other exemptions). Submit Form DR-501DV to the county property appraiser by March 1 with a VA letter stating the percentage and evidence the disability is combat-related, your DD-214, and proof of age; late filers may petition the value adjustment board. The discount carries over to a surviving spouse who holds title, lives there and does not remarry.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0196/Sections/0196.082.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 196.082 Discounts for disabled veterans; surviving spouse carryover (2026 Florida Statutes)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Total homestead exemption for wheelchair-using, quadriplegic, paraplegic or legally blind veterans",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Two separate total exemptions: (1) F.S. 196.091 exempts the homestead of an honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected total disability who received VA specially adapted housing assistance and must use a wheelchair; (2) F.S. 196.101 exempts the homestead of any quadriplegic, and of any paraplegic, hemiplegic, wheelchair-dependent or legally blind totally and permanently disabled person subject to a household income cap (statutory base $14,500, indexed yearly; VA and Social Security benefits count as income). Proof is a VA certificate or Form DR-416 from two Florida doctors, filed with the county property appraiser by March 1.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0196/Sections/0196.101.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 196.101 Exemption for totally and permanently disabled persons; F.S. 196.091 Exemption for disabled veterans confined to wheelchairs (2026 Florida Statutes)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate, DV wheelchair plate, and parking-fee exemption",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "One free DV plate (or a free DV plate with the wheelchair symbol, which also carries disabled-parking-permit privileges) for an honorably discharged veteran with a VA 100% service-connected rating for compensation, a 100% rating with military disability retirement pay, or a vehicle bought with a VA auto grant, who has lived in Florida 5 continuous years or filed a Florida domicile declaration. Only the first plate is tax-free; additional DV plates pay regular fees, and since 2024 you may choose a military or specialty plate instead but must pay its fees. Vehicles with these plates are exempt from fees on public streets, metered and timed parking when the veteran is in the vehicle. Apply at a county tax collector with your VA 100% letter or FDVA ID card; renewals require a certified statement of continued eligibility.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0320/Sections/0320.084.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 320.084 Free motor vehicle license plate to certain disabled veterans; F.S. 320.0842; F.S. 316.1964; FLHSMV Procedure RS-17 (Rev. 07/26)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No-fee driver license or ID card for 100% permanent and total veterans",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "An honorably discharged veteran with a VA 100-percent total and permanent service-connected rating for compensation (or an FDVA identification card, or a 100% T&P rating with military disability retirement pay) is exempt from all driver license and ID card fees under F.S. 322.21. Bring your FDVA ID card or VA letter to any FLHSMV or tax collector driver license office. Any honorably discharged veteran may also add a free 'Veteran' designation to their license by showing a DD-214 or VA ID card.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0322/Sections/0322.21.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 322.21(7) License fees (2026 Florida Statutes); FLHSMV Military & Veterans Information page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No-cost Persons with Disabilities Resident Hunting and Fishing License",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "FWC issues hunting, freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses and most permits (deer, WMA, archery, muzzleloader, crossbow, turkey, Florida waterfowl, snook, lobster) at no cost to a Florida resident honorably discharged veteran with a VA service-connected rating of 50 percent or greater, or to any resident the VA certifies as totally and permanently disabled or who holds the FDVA 100% ID card. The veteran license is good for 5 years. It does not cover the federal duck stamp, tarpon tags, the statewide alligator hunt or quota hunts. Apply online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com (FWC reviews within about 10 business days) or at a county tax collector with proof of Florida residency and your VA rating letter.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0379/Sections/0379.353.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 379.353 Recreational licenses and permits; exemptions from fees and requirements; FWC Persons with Disabilities Resident Hunting/Fishing License page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free lifetime Florida State Parks family entrance pass; 25% annual pass discount; local park discounts",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "By statute, honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability of any percentage receive a lifetime family annual entrance pass at no charge, and surviving spouses and parents of members who fell in combat get the same. All active duty members and honorably discharged veterans get 25 percent off annual entrance passes. Present your DD-214 and VA disability documentation; state park pages indicate passes are issued in person at a park ranger station (not verified because the parks website blocked access). Counties and cities must also offer a partial or full park entrance fee discount to veterans, but the amount varies locally.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0258/Sections/0258.0145.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 258.0145 Military, law enforcement, and firefighter state park fee discounts; ch. 2016-196 (s. 125.029 and s. 166.0447)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Congressman C.W. Bill Young out-of-state tuition fee waiver, transcript fee waiver, and Purple Heart tuition waiver",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Florida public universities, state colleges and career centers must waive out-of-state fees for any honorably discharged veteran, and for anyone using VA education benefits, who physically lives in Florida while enrolled, so they pay in-state rates. The same schools waive transcript fees for veterans, active duty members and their spouses and dependents. Recipients of a Purple Heart or a higher combat decoration who are Florida residents now or were at the time of the action get undergraduate and career-certificate tuition waived for up to 110 percent of required credit hours. Apply through the school's registrar or veterans office with your DD-214.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=1000-1099/1009/Sections/1009.26.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 1009.26(8), (13), (17) Fee waivers (2026 Florida Statutes)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled veteran tuition and fee gap waiver (Post-9/11 GI Bill)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "A Florida-resident veteran rated by the VA as 100 percent total and permanent (or 100% with military disability retirement pay, or holding the FDVA ID card) who uses the Post-9/11 GI Bill at a state university, Florida College System institution, district career center or charter technical career center, but does not qualify for the federal 100-percent benefit tier, gets a waiver equal to the difference between what the GI Bill pays and the school's full tuition and fees. The waiver is applied after federal benefits; apply through the school's veterans certifying office.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0295/Sections/0295.011.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 295.011 Disabled veterans; education (2026 Florida Statutes)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CSDDV)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Pays tuition and registration fees at a Florida public college or university (or the equivalent average at an eligible private school) for a dependent child aged 16 to 22, or the spouse, of a veteran who died from service-connected causes on active duty, is rated 100 percent permanent and total by the VA (or 100% with disability retirement pay or holds the FDVA ID card), or is a POW/MIA. Florida must have been the veteran's home of record in DEERS, or the student must be a Florida resident for tuition with the veteran living in Florida. A spouse of a disabled veteran must have been married at least 1 year; a surviving spouse must be unremarried and apply within 5 years of the death. File the Florida Financial Aid Application (opens October 1) by April 1 for priority funding; FDVA certifies the veteran.",
     "source_url": "https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/PDF/factsheets/CSDDV.pdf",
     "source_title": "FDOE Office of Student Financial Assistance, Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans 2026-27 Fact Sheet; F.S. 295.01-295.04",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No state personal income tax (military retired pay and VA compensation untaxed)",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Florida does not impose a personal income tax, so there are no state filing requirements and no state tax on military retired pay, VA disability compensation, DIC or SBP. The Department of Revenue cites Article VII, Section 5 of the Florida Constitution. Nothing to apply for.",
     "source_url": "https://floridarevenue.com/faq/Pages/FAQDetails.aspx?FAQID=1466",
     "source_title": "Florida Department of Revenue FAQ: Do I have to file a personal income tax return in Florida?",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans' preference in state and local government hiring",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Florida and its counties, cities and school districts must give hiring and retention preference. On scored selections, 20 points are added for veterans with any compensable service-connected disability and for spouses of veterans with a permanent total service-connected disability who cannot work; 15 points for wartime veterans, unremarried surviving spouses of veterans who died of service-connected causes, and parents or spouses of members killed in combat; 10 points for any other veteran or current reservist or Guard member. Veterans rated 30 percent or more go to the top of the list. For unscored positions, disabled veterans get first preference and must be interviewed if minimally qualified; agencies may waive college-degree requirements for honorably discharged veterans. Claim it on the application (People First for state jobs) with your DD-214 and VA rating letter.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0295/Sections/0295.07.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 295.07 Preference in appointment and retention; F.S. 295.08; F.S. 295.085 (2026 Florida Statutes)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Professional license and local business tax fee waivers for veterans",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Department of Business and Professional Regulation waives the initial license, application and unlicensed-activity fees for any honorably discharged veteran or their spouse who applies within 60 months after the veteran's discharge (no disability rating required). Separately, honorably discharged veterans, their spouses and unremarried surviving spouses are exempt from county and city local business taxes and related fees, and so is a business with fewer than 100 employees that the veteran majority-owns; sign the local government's Request for Fee Exemption form with proof of discharge.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0455/Sections/0455.213.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 455.213(13) General licensing provisions; F.S. 205.055 Exemptions; veterans, spouses of veterans (2026 Florida Statutes)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State Veterans' Nursing Homes and FDVA 100% P&T identification card",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "FDVA operates state veterans' nursing homes; to be admitted you must be a veteran (or a veteran's spouse or surviving spouse), need nursing home care, be a Florida resident when you apply, owe FDVA nothing from a prior stay, have applied for available financial assistance, and be approved for care by the VA. Priority goes first to Florida-resident veterans, then to those whose service-connected disability is the reason care is needed. Separately, FDVA issues an identification card to Florida permanent residents rated 100 percent service-connected permanent and total, which serves as proof for most state benefits (but not the property tax exemptions). Apply through FDVA; FDVA's web pages could not be fetched, so confirm current application packets at floridavets.org.",
     "source_url": "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0200-0299/0296/Sections/0296.36.html",
     "source_title": "F.S. 296.36 Eligibility and priority of admittance; F.S. 295.17 Identification cards (2026 Florida Statutes)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "GA",
   "name": "Georgia",
   "slug": "georgia",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS)",
    "url": "https://veterans.georgia.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-16",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The homestead exemption is not a full exemption. It removes a fixed dollar amount of value ($121,812 for 2025; DeKalb County lists $126,526 for 2026) from your home's value. Value above that is still taxed. GDVS says it 'makes no guarantees' and that each of Georgia's 159 county tax commissioners administers the rules, so proof and practice vary by county.",
    "For the homestead exemption, GDVS lists three doors in: 'VA-rated 100 percent totally disabled,' or rated less than 100% but 'paid at the 100 percent rate due to unemployability' (TDIU), or a VA statutory award for loss of use of hands, feet, or sight. The word 'permanent' does not appear in the GDVS homestead criteria, but for the one-vehicle ad valorem exemption GDVS says '100 percent totally and permanently.' Some counties ask for a VA letter saying 100% or TDIU. Bring your VA Summary of Benefits letter.",
    "File the homestead application with your county tax commissioner (some counties use the tax assessor). You must own and live in the home on January 1. The historic deadline is April 1, but the Department of Revenue now says you may apply up to the end of your 45-day window to appeal your notice of assessment. Missing it means waiting a year.",
    "Surviving spouse rule for the homestead: the exemption continues for the 'unremarried surviving spouse or minor children' only 'as long as they continue to occupy the home as a residence.' Remarrying or moving ends it.",
    "The vehicle tax break is on ONLY one vehicle, and GDVS says it is the one 'upon which the free Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate is attached.' You can get free DV plates for up to two vehicles, but only one gets the tax exemption. The plate itself is not issued for motor homes.",
    "The free one-time veterans hunting and fishing license is for ANY honorably discharged veteran with 90+ days of active federal duty discharged on or after July 1, 2005. It is good for one year and 'may be issued only once.' After that, disabled veterans pay the low disability rate ($18 for three years) or buy a discounted lifetime license.",
    "Georgia does NOT give disabled veterans or their children a tuition waiver at state colleges. The HERO Scholarship is for Georgia National Guard and Reserve members who deployed to a combat zone, and their children and spouses (including when the member became 100% disabled from combat injuries). It is not for regular active-duty veterans. In-state tuition for recently separated veterans comes from a Board of Regents waiver, not GDVS.",
    "Military retirement: for tax years 2022 through 2026, only retirees under 62 get the $17,500 military exclusion (plus another $17,500 if you have more than $17,500 of Georgia earned income). Retirees 62 and older use the general retirement exclusion instead. HB 266 (signed 2025) raises the military exclusion to $65,000 for anyone under 65, but only for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and you cannot stack it with the general retirement exclusion.",
    "The 10-point state hiring preference needs a VA service-connected rating of at least 10%. The 5-point credit is for wartime veterans. Points are added to a passing score on a scored exam; if there is no exam, the agency must give 'appropriate consideration.' Preference does not apply to promotions or transfers.",
    "The business license (occupation tax) exemption at 10% or more is handled through your county probate court, not GDVS, and lasts ten years. Counties may require extra forms.",
    "Several property tax measures for disabled veterans (full-value exemption, partial-rating exemptions, surviving-spouse expansions) were proposed in the 2025-2026 session and may appear on the November 2026 ballot. None of them is law yet as of this review and we could not confirm their final status. Do not count on them until the Department of Revenue posts them.",
    "Commonly believed but NOT found on an official Georgia source: that disabled veterans pay no property tax at all, that any rating under 100% qualifies for the homestead exemption, that the DV plate gives free parking statewide, and that VA disability is required to be reported on the Georgia return."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Removes a set amount of your home's value from property tax: the greater of $32,500 or the federal Specially Adapted Housing cap under 38 U.S.C. 2102 ($121,812 for 2025; DeKalb County's 2026 sheet lists $126,526). Value above that stays taxable. You qualify if you are an honorably discharged Georgia resident who owns and lives in the home and are VA-rated 100% totally disabled, OR rated less than 100% but paid at the 100% rate due to unemployability (TDIU), OR have a VA statutory award for loss or loss of use of feet, hands, or sight. The unremarried surviving spouse or minor children keep it while they live in the home. Apply with your county tax commissioner (or tax assessor); you must own and occupy the home on January 1, and file by April 1 (DOR now allows filing up to the end of your 45-day assessment appeal window).",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.georgia.gov/disabled-veteran-homestead-tax-exemption",
     "source_title": "GDVS - Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Exemption (O.C.G.A. 48-5-48); DOR Property Tax Homestead Exemptions",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Ad Valorem / Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) Exemption on One Vehicle",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "No annual ad valorem tax or one-time title ad valorem tax (TAVT, normally 7% of value) on ONE vehicle you own. GDVS says it is for veterans 'verified by VA to be 100 percent totally and permanently service-connected disabled' and veterans rated unemployable who are entitled to certain VA statutory awards; the Department of Revenue lists 'Disabled Veterans compensated at 100%.' GDVS says the exemption applies only to the vehicle carrying the free Disabled Veteran plate. Unremarried surviving spouses and minor children are covered under O.C.G.A. 48-5-478. File Form MV-30 with your VA letter at your county tag office.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.georgia.gov/book/export/html/1506",
     "source_title": "GDVS - Tax Exemptions: Ad Valorem Tax on Vehicles; DOR Form MV-30 (Rev. 06/2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Disabled Veteran License Plate (up to 2 vehicles)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "A free Disabled Veteran plate with no registration, manufacturing, or annual fee, for up to 2 motorcycles or vehicles (not motor homes). You qualify if you are an honorably discharged Georgia veteran who is VA-rated 100% totally disabled, OR rated less than 100% but paid at the 100% rate due to unemployability, OR have a VA statutory award for loss or loss of use of feet, hands, or sight. Unremarried surviving spouses and surviving minor children also qualify. Apply through the Department of Revenue Special Tag Unit (404-968-3880) with your VA entitlement letter, or through a GDVS field office with a physician's certified statement. We could not find an official Georgia page confirming the plate's parking privileges, so do not assume it replaces a disabled parking permit.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.georgia.gov/node/1556",
     "source_title": "GDVS - License Plates: Disabled Veteran; DOR Military & Veteran License Plates",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Sales Tax Exemption on a VA-Grant Adapted Vehicle",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "If you receive a VA automobile grant to buy and specially adapt a vehicle for your disability, the sale of that vehicle is exempt from Georgia sales/title ad valorem tax under O.C.G.A. 48-8-3(30). The rating threshold is set by the VA grant program, not Georgia. GDVS says the exemption applies only to the original grant purchase. Bring the VA grant letter and Form MV-30 to your county tag office.",
     "source_url": "https://dor.georgia.gov/mv-30-georgians-veteran-affidavit-relief-state-and-local-title-ad-valorem-tax-fees",
     "source_title": "DOR Form MV-30 Georgia Veteran's Affidavit for Relief of State and Local Title Ad Valorem Tax Fees",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Veteran Driver's License or State ID",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Georgia residents who served and were released with any discharge other than dishonorable get a free driver's license and/or ID card marked VETERAN. Bring your DD-214 (Member 4 copy) or a GDVS Certificate of Eligibility to any Department of Driver Services (DDS) center. First-time Georgia applicants must also meet normal residency and ID requirements. National Guard members who served on active duty or have 20 years of service also qualify per GDVS.",
     "source_url": "https://dds.georgia.gov/node/31701",
     "source_title": "DDS - Veterans License Process Simplified (Feb. 1, 2022); GDVS - Veteran Driver's License",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "One-Time Free Veterans Hunting & Fishing License",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A free full-privilege sportsman's license, valid one year from issue, for Georgia resident veterans who served 90 or more days on active federal duty and were honorably discharged on or after July 1, 2005. It may be issued only once. Apply through Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division with a copy of your DD-214 and Georgia license or ID. After it expires, honorably discharged resident veterans can buy an Adult Lifetime Sportsman's License at a 20% discount (ages 16-49).",
     "source_url": "https://georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes/veterans",
     "source_title": "Georgia DNR WRD - One-Time Veterans Hunting & Fishing License",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Resident Disability Hunting & Fishing License (3-year, $18)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Georgia residents who are totally and permanently disabled can buy a discounted Sportsman's Disability License for $15 plus a $3 fee for three years ($18 total), or hunting-only or fishing-only for $12 for three years. DNR's application accepts a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 100% disability as proof; GDVS describes it as a 'permanent and total disability rating from VA.' Hunter education is required for licenses that include hunting if you were born on or after January 1, 1961. Apply online at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com or by mail with the WRD Certification of Disability form; once approved for a permanent disability you do not have to reapply.",
     "source_url": "https://georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes/disability",
     "source_title": "Georgia DNR WRD - Resident Disability Hunting & Fishing License Options",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "25% State Parks Discount for Disabled Veterans",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Georgia resident disabled veterans who present a GDVS Certificate of Eligibility card get 25% off individual accommodations (one per person), recreation fees, golf, parking, and historic site admission under O.C.G.A. 12-3-9.1. Online bookings are charged in full and refunded at check-in when you show the card. Separately, the annual ParkPass ($70; daily parking is $10) is 25% off for active military and all veterans, and 50% off for seniors 62+; discounted passes must be bought in person. We could not find an official page stating the minimum VA rating needed for the Certificate of Eligibility card.",
     "source_url": "https://gastateparks.org/Reservations",
     "source_title": "Georgia State Parks - Reservations & Discounts; Georgia State Parks - ParkPass",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Business Certificate of Exemption (Occupation Tax Waiver)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "Veterans discharged under honorable conditions with a VA service-connected rating of 10% or more are exempt for ten years from local occupation taxes, administrative fees, and regulatory fees for peddling, running a business, or practicing a profession (O.C.G.A. 43-12-1). Complete GDVS VS Form 40-025 and take it with ID, your DD-214, and your VA Summary of Benefits letter to your county probate court; the probate judge issues a notarized certificate you then use to register with your county tax commissioner. Some counties also require VS Form 40-026. A 2025-2026 bill (HB 632) proposed clarifying eligibility; we could not confirm it became law.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.georgia.gov/node/18001",
     "source_title": "GDVS - Business Certificate of Exemption",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State Employment Veterans' Preference (5 or 10 points)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "On state jobs with a numerically scored written entrance exam, honorably discharged veterans who served during a time of armed conflict (or Guard/Reserve on active duty during OIF/OEF or Desert Shield/Storm in a danger area) get 5 points added to a passing score. Veterans with a VA service-connected disability of at least 10%, disabled veterans over 55 receiving pension or compensation, certain spouses of disabled veterans, and unmarried widows/widowers of wartime veterans get 10 points instead. If no scored exam is used, the agency must give 'appropriate consideration' to eligible veterans. Preference does not apply to promotion, demotion, or transfer. Submit your DD-214 (and VA rating letter) with your application through Team Georgia Careers.",
     "source_url": "https://doas.ga.gov/assets/Human%20Resources%20Administration/State%20Personnel%20Board%20Rules/478-1-.18%20Veterans%20Preference%20%2011.28.17.pdf",
     "source_title": "State Personnel Board Rule 478-1-.18 Veterans' Preference (rev. 11/28/2017), citing O.C.G.A. 45-2-20 to 45-2-22",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military Retirement Income Exclusion (VA compensation not taxed)",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Georgia has an income tax. For tax years 2022-2026, retirees under 62 can exclude up to $17,500 of military retirement pay, plus another $17,500 if they have more than $17,500 of Georgia earned income; each spouse qualifies separately. Taxpayers 62-64 use the general retirement exclusion (up to $35,000) and 65+ up to $65,000, per GDVS. Under HB 266 (signed 2025), for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, anyone under 65 may exclude military retirement pay up to $65,000, but not on top of the general retirement exclusion. Claim it on your Georgia Form 500 using the DOR retirement income worksheet. VA disability compensation is not in federal adjusted gross income, which Georgia's return starts from, so it is not taxed; we did not find a Georgia page that states this directly.",
     "source_url": "https://dor.georgia.gov/retirement-income-exclusion",
     "source_title": "DOR - Retirement Income Exclusion; HB 266 (2025) as passed House and Senate, O.C.G.A. 48-7-27(a)(5.1)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "In-State Tuition Waiver for Recently Separated Veterans and Dependents (USG)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Board of Regents Policy 7.3.4.1 lets University System of Georgia schools waive out-of-state tuition for military personnel, recently separated service members, and National Guard members, and for students using VA education benefits ('covered individuals' under 38 U.S.C. 3679(c)), including some spouses and dependent children. A 2021 Chancellor's letter removed the old 36-month enrollment limit for covered individuals. Apply through your school's registrar with your DD-214 or VA Certificate of Eligibility; lawful presence verification is required. We could not retrieve the current policy text, so confirm details with the school.",
     "source_url": "https://www.usg.edu/student_affairs/military/services_and_benefits",
     "source_title": "University System of Georgia - Military Services and Benefits (Policy 7.3.4.1)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Georgia HERO Scholarship (Guard/Reserve combat service, children and spouses)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Up to $2,000 per academic year and up to $8,000 total for Georgia National Guard and U.S. Reserve members who deployed to a combat zone, for their children (generally 25 or younger during the service), and for children and spouses of a member who was killed, died, or 'became 100 percent disabled as a result of injuries' in a combat zone. You must meet Georgia residency for 12 consecutive months before the term and attend an eligible Georgia school. Awards are first-come, first-served as funds allow. Apply through the Georgia Student Finance Commission at GAfutures.org. This is not a general tuition waiver for disabled veterans or their dependents.",
     "source_url": "https://gafutures.org/hope-state-aid-programs/scholarships-grants/hero/eligibility/",
     "source_title": "GSFC GAfutures - Georgia HERO Scholarship Eligibility and Award Amounts",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Georgia War Veterans Homes (Augusta and Milledgeville)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "State skilled nursing homes for wartime veterans who are current Georgia residents and lived in Georgia either the two years before applying or five of the past 15 years, served on active duty in a listed wartime period (WWII through Persian Gulf, August 2, 1990 to present), have an other-than-dishonorable discharge, and are VA-approved for skilled nursing care. A nominal daily fee is charged; for veterans rated 70% or higher service-connected, or admitted for a service-connected condition, VA pays the daily fee in full. Apply through the home's admissions office or any GDVS field office; waiting lists may exist.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.georgia.gov/node/2076",
     "source_title": "GDVS - State War Veterans Homes: Eligibility Criteria",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Georgia VECTR Center (Veterans Education Career Transition Resource Center)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A state-backed center in Warner Robins run with Central Georgia Technical College that offers accelerated career training at little or no cost to Georgia residents, service members stationed in Georgia, and transitioning military, plus a testing center, employment connections, a Veterans Business Outreach Center, and on-site GDVS claims officers. Open to the public. Contact the center at 1001 S. Armed Forces Blvd, Warner Robins, GA 31088.",
     "source_url": "https://www.gavectr.org/",
     "source_title": "Georgia VECTR Center",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-16",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "HI",
   "name": "Hawaii",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services (State Department of Defense)",
    "url": "https://dod.hawaii.gov/ovs/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Hawaii has no state property tax. Each of the four counties (City and County of Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai) sets its own disabled veteran exemption, threshold, deadline and minimum tax. Check your own county's real property office. The Office of Veterans' Services only links to the counties; it does not run the program.",
    "None of the four county rules name TDIU (total disability based on individual unemployability) or permanent and total (P&T). Honolulu and Hawaii County use the words 'totally disabled' from active duty injuries; Honolulu's 2026 guide says '100% totally disabled.' Kauai starts at 80 percent and Maui at 70 percent, so a TDIU veteran rated 70 percent or more clears those two counties on the schedular rating alone. For Honolulu and Hawaii County, ask the county whether a TDIU letter counts before you rely on it.",
    "County deadlines differ. Honolulu now has no annual deadline for the totally disabled veteran claim; file before the Aug. 19 or Feb. 19 tax payment date. Hawaii County: June 30 or December 31. Maui: December 31. Kauai: September 30, and you must already hold the regular home exemption. The home must be your owner occupied principal residence in every county, and a minimum tax still applies ($300 Honolulu, $150 Kauai, half of the minimum tax in Maui and Hawaii County).",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the county exemption only while unmarried and, in most counties, only while living in the same home. The exemption does not move to a new house.",
    "The state waives the $46 annual state vehicle registration fee for one non-commercial vehicle if you are a Hawaii resident with a VA 100 percent service-connected rating (P&T is not required). You must get a new letter from the Office of Veterans' Services every year; the county DMV will not take last year's letter. County weight tax and county fees still apply unless you were furnished a car by the VA (then the county weight tax is also waived on that one car under HRS 249-6).",
    "Bills to replace the $46 fee waiver with a full vehicle weight tax exemption for 100 percent disabled veterans (HB 657 of 2025, SB 607 of 2025 and 2026) did not pass. As of October 2026 the law is unchanged.",
    "Hawaii has no disabled veteran or veteran discount on hunting or freshwater fishing licenses and no veteran park pass. The good news is that resident rates are low ($10 hunting, $5 freshwater fishing, free at age 65), Hawaii residents never need a license for ocean fishing, and residents pay nothing to enter or park at state parks. You must have lived in Hawaii one year to be a resident for hunting.",
    "Hawaii has no state tuition waiver for veterans or for the children or spouses of disabled veterans. Bills to create one (SB 951 and HB 426 in 2021 and 2022) did not pass. What you do get is the resident tuition rate at every University of Hawaii campus if you use GI Bill, VR&E, Fry or DEA benefits and live in Hawaii.",
    "Hawaii does not tax military retired pay, VA disability compensation, or other federal benefits that are tax free under federal law. There is no age limit or dollar cap on the military pension exclusion. Reserve and National Guard drill pay is excluded up to $8,636 for 2025.",
    "State civil service preference is 5 points for honorable service and 10 points if a VA or service letter dated within the past 12 months confirms you qualify for the 10 point preference. The statute (HRS 76-103) leaves the details to rules, and the state's job notice does not list a disability percentage. Points apply only to open competitive recruitments.",
    "The state special housing grant is a one time payment of up to $5,000 and only tops up a VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant. You must have been a bona fide Hawaii resident before you entered the service, and the money depends on the Legislature funding it. Ask the Office of Veterans' Services whether funds are available before you plan on it."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "City and County of Honolulu: totally disabled veteran real property tax exemption (ROH 8-10.5)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Honolulu exempts real property owned and occupied by a veteran who is '100% totally disabled due to service related injuries while on active duty with U.S. Armed Forces.' You still pay the minimum real property tax, currently $300 a year. The exemption passes to a widow or widower who remains unmarried and keeps owning and living in the home. There is no annual filing deadline; file Form BFS-RP-E-8-10.5 with the Real Property Assessment Division and the exemption starts with the next tax payment date (Aug. 19 or Feb. 19) after you file. The county's words are 'totally disabled,' not permanent and total, and TDIU is not mentioned, so ask the county if you are rated under TDIU.",
     "source_url": "https://realproperty.honolulu.gov/tax-relief-and-forms/exemptions/totally-disabled-veterans/",
     "source_title": "City and County of Honolulu Real Property Assessment Division - Totally Disabled Veterans (Revised Ordinances of Honolulu 8-10.5); RPAD Information Guide rev. 2026-06-26",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Maui County: severely disabled (70%+) and totally disabled veteran property tax exemptions (MCC 3.48.475)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "70%",
     "details": "Maui County Code section 3.48.475 defines 'severely disabled' as 'a 70 percent or higher disability rating by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.' A severely disabled veteran who owns and occupies a home pays only 50 percent of the minimum real property tax instead of the normal bill (the county reported the minimum tax at $350 when the rule passed in 2022). File the Claim for Disability Exemption, Severely Disabled Veteran, with the Real Property Assessment Division by December 31 for the next tax year; the county verifies your rating with the VA. The county also has an older totally disabled veteran exemption, but the county web pages blocked our review, so confirm the current amounts, the 100 percent rule and surviving spouse terms with the division at (808) 270-7297.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mauicounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/102703/Disability-Exemption-for-Disabled-Veterans",
     "source_title": "County of Maui Real Property Assessment Division - Claim for Disability Exemption, Severely Disabled Veteran (Maui County Code 3.48.475); Maui County Council press release July 13, 2022 (Bill 110, CD1)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Hawaii County: totally disabled veteran real property tax exemption (Form 19-73)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Hawaii County exempts the principal home of a veteran who is totally disabled from injuries received on active duty, except for special assessments and half of the annual minimum tax (the county lists the minimum tax at $200). The county says the program requires 100 percent disability and that you must already have the homeowner exemption. File Form 19-73 with the Real Property Tax Division by June 30 for the first half payment or December 31 for the second half. The exemption continues while you stay totally disabled or while your surviving spouse stays unmarried. Any part of the home used for business is not covered. The county website blocked automated review, so confirm the current rules with the division (Hilo 808-961-8201, Kona 808-323-4880).",
     "source_url": "https://hawaiipropertytax.com/exemptions-programs/",
     "source_title": "County of Hawaii Real Property Tax Division - Exemptions/Programs (Hawaii County Code ch. 19; Form 19-73)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Kauai County: disabled veteran property tax exemption (80%+ full; under 80% up to $50,000)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Kauai gives two tiers. A veteran who is '80% to totally disabled due to injuries sustained while on duty as a member of the United States Armed Forces' and who holds the county home exemption is 'exempt from all property tax (with the exclusion of multi-unit properties) except the minimum tax of $150' ($75 if you also qualify for the income based additional exemption). A disabled veteran who is 'less than 80% disabled' gets an exemption of up to $50,000 of value on top of the home exemption. File RP Form P-6 and the Claim for Home Exemption (P-3) with the Real Property Assessment Division on or before September 30 for the next tax year. After the veteran dies, the surviving spouse, civil union partner or reciprocal beneficiary keeps the benefit on the same home while unmarried and living there.",
     "source_url": "https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Finance/Real-Property-Tax/Assessment/ExemptionTax-Relief-Information",
     "source_title": "County of Kauai Department of Finance, Real Property Assessment - Exemption/Tax Relief Information (Kauai County Code 5A-11.4); Understanding Your Real Property Taxes, rev. 1/22/2026",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State vehicle registration fee ($46) exemption for 100% service-connected veterans (HRS 249-31.5)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "If you are a Hawaii resident, were discharged other than dishonorably, and the VA rates you with 'a service-connected one hundred per cent disability rating for compensation or a service-connected disability rating of one hundred per cent,' you do not pay the $46 annual state registration fee on one non-commercial vehicle. Permanent and total status is not required. You still pay the county weight tax, county registration fee and other charges. Request an original eligibility letter from the Office of Veterans' Services each year (it is mailed to you) and present it to your county DMV when you renew; the DMV will not accept a prior year's letter. The vehicle must have a current registration and safety check.",
     "source_url": "https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol04_Ch0201-0257/HRS0249/HRS_0249-0031_0005.htm",
     "source_title": "Hawaii Revised Statutes 249-31.5 Exemptions from registration fees for certain vehicles; disabled veterans; Office of Veterans' Services - Benefits and Services",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "County vehicle weight tax exemption for a car furnished by the VA (HRS 249-6)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Passenger cars 'owned by persons who, by reason of their service disability, have been furnished such cars by the federal government and have been so certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs' are exempt from the county vehicle weight tax. This covers a car bought with a VA automobile grant, which the VA gives for specific service-connected disabilities such as loss of use of a hand or foot or certain vision loss, not for a rating percentage. The exemption covers only one vehicle and not a vehicle used for business. Bring the VA certification to your county motor vehicle office.",
     "source_url": "https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol04_Ch0201-0257/HRS0249/HRS_0249-0006.htm",
     "source_title": "Hawaii Revised Statutes 249-6 Exemptions for certain cars furnished to disabled veterans",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veteran, Combat Wounded (Purple Heart), war era and Gold Star special license plates (HRS 249-9.2)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Your county finance director issues, for a fee, one set of special plates marked VETERAN, COMBAT WOUNDED (Purple Heart), COMBAT VETERAN, PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR, FORMER PRISONER OF WAR, WORLD WAR II, KOREA, VIETNAM, PERSIAN GULF, IRAQ or AFGHANISTAN VETERAN, or GOLD STAR FAMILY. You need proof of the award or VA or Office of Veterans' Services certification of your service, plus a discharge paper showing an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge. The Office of Veterans' Services says the cost is the same as a regular plate; there is no free plate for disabled veterans. Plates go on a non-commercial car, motorcycle or scooter registered in your name and cannot be transferred; a survivor may keep the front plate as a memorial.",
     "source_url": "https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol04_Ch0201-0257/HRS0249/HRS_0249-0009_0002.htm",
     "source_title": "Hawaii Revised Statutes 249-9.2 Special number plates; military service (am. L 2024, c 83)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Honolulu: $20 county vehicle registration fee exemption for veterans age 65 and older (from July 1, 2026)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Starting July 1, 2026, veterans 'of the U.S. armed forces 65 and older who were not dishonorably discharged' living on Oahu can have the $20 City and County of Honolulu registration fee waived on one non-commercial vehicle each year. It does not waive the $46 state fee, state or county weight tax, the $7 beautification fee or plate fees. Apply once in person at a satellite city hall (schedule an AlohaQ appointment) with form CS-L(MVR)50B, proof of veteran status, age and vehicle ownership; the exemption stays with the vehicle until you remove it. The City Council passed Bill 62 (2024) in October 2025 and the mayor signed it in November 2025. Other counties do not offer this.",
     "source_url": "https://www.honolulu.gov/csd/veterans/",
     "source_title": "City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services - Veterans Benefit (Bill 62 (2024), CD2)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Hunting, fishing and state parks: no veteran discount; resident rates and free resident park entry",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Hawaii has no veteran or disabled veteran discount on hunting or fishing licenses and no veteran park pass; the only free licenses are for residents age 65 and older. A resident hunting license is $10 after one year of Hawaii residency (active duty members and families count as residents), plus a $10 Wildlife Conservation Stamp and hunter education proof; non-residents pay $95. A freshwater game fishing license is $5 for residents and military. Hawaii residents need no license to fish in the ocean; only non-residents age 15 and over must buy a marine license ($20 one day, $40 seven days, $70 annual), and active duty members stationed in Hawaii and their families are exempt. State parks that charge (such as Diamond Head and Haena) list 'Residents = Free with Hawaii DL or ID' for entry and parking, while non-residents pay $5 per person and $10 per vehicle; resident tent camping is $20 a night and non-resident $30. Show your Hawaii driver license or state ID.",
     "source_url": "https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0183D/HRS_0183D-0022.htm",
     "source_title": "Hawaii Revised Statutes 183D-22 Hunting licenses; fees; HRS 188-72 Nonresident recreational marine fishing license; DLNR Freshwater Game Fishing License; DLNR Division of State Parks Haena fees",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "University of Hawaii resident tuition for GI Bill, VR&E, Fry and DEA users (Regents Policy 6.208)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Board of Regents Policy RP 6.208 (effective Aug. 15, 2024) exempts from non-resident tuition at every UH campus: veterans using Post-9/11 or Montgomery GI Bill benefits, people using transferred Post-9/11 benefits, Fry Scholarship and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) users, and 'veterans with service-connected disabilities' using the VR&E (chapter 31) program, as long as they live in Hawaii, or move away but stay continuously enrolled. Dependents of active duty members transferred out of Hawaii also keep the resident rate. Hawaii has no state tuition waiver or scholarship for veterans or for children and spouses of disabled veterans; proposals in 2021 and 2022 did not pass. Apply through your campus Residency Officer.",
     "source_url": "https://www.hawaii.edu/policy/docs/temp/rp6.208.pdf",
     "source_title": "University of Hawaii Board of Regents Policy RP 6.208 Board Exemptions to Non-Resident Tuition (eff. Aug. 15, 2024); UH Student Affairs - Veterans and Military Connected",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No state income tax on military retired pay or VA disability pay; reserve and Guard pay exclusion (HRS 235-7)",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Hawaii excludes from taxable income 'any compensation received in the form of a pension for past services' and any income the United States exempts from federal tax. The Department of Taxation's Form N-11 instructions say Hawaii 'does not tax qualifying distributions ... from a government retirement system (e.g., federal civil service, military pension, state or county retirement system)' paid by reason of retirement, disability or death; subtract the amount on the pension line. There is no age limit or cap. VA disability compensation and DIC are federally tax free and are not taxed by Hawaii. Reserve and Hawaii National Guard duty pay is excluded up to $8,636 for tax year 2025. Hawaii does tax active duty pay of residents.",
     "source_url": "https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol04_Ch0201-0257/HRS0235/HRS_0235-0007.htm",
     "source_title": "Hawaii Revised Statutes 235-7(a) Other provisions as to gross income; Hawaii Department of Taxation 2025 Form N-11 Instructions (Pensions; National Guard Duty Pay Exclusion)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State civil service veterans preference points, 5 or 10 points (HRS 76-103)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "On open competitive state recruitments, you get 5 veterans preference points added to your passing score by submitting your DD-214 (Member 4) showing honorable service. You get 10 points if you submit 'an official statement/letter from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs or armed service dated within the past 12 months which confirms your qualification to receive 10 points preference.' The statute says preference for veterans, disabled veterans, spouses of disabled veterans and unremarried surviving spouses 'shall be provided by rules and regulations,' and the state notice does not list a disability percentage for the 10 point tier. Claim the points when you apply through the Department of Human Resources Development. Counties run their own systems with similar 5 and 10 point rules.",
     "source_url": "https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol02_Ch0046-0115/HRS0076/HRS_0076-0103.htm",
     "source_title": "Hawaii Revised Statutes 76-103 Veteran's preference; DHRD Important Information for job announcements (Veterans Preference Points)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State special housing grant up to $5,000 for VA Specially Adapted Housing grant recipients (HRS 363-11)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "The Office of Veterans' Services may pay 'a grant not to exceed $5,000 to remodel or purchase a home for a disabled veteran.' You must be approved for a federal VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant, have been 'a bona fide resident of the State before entering active service,' live in Hawaii when the VA grant is approved and when you apply, and the home must be in Hawaii and be your permanent residence. The state cannot pay more than the VA pays, the grant is made only once, and it depends on money being appropriated. The state sends the money to the VA regional office escrow once the VA grant is ready to close. Apply on the office's form; call OVS at (808) 433-0420.",
     "source_url": "https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol07_Ch0346-0398/HRS0363/HRS_0363-0011.htm",
     "source_title": "Hawaii Revised Statutes 363-11 Special housing for disabled veterans; Hawaii Administrative Rules 7-31-4.1 (State Department of Defense)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery (Kaneohe) and county veterans cemeteries; no cost gravesite and marker",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The state cemetery in Kaneohe, Oahu buries veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their eligible dependents: spouses, children under 21 (under 23 if in school), and unmarried adult children disabled before age 21. The state provides the gravesite, flat granite or bronze marker, grave opening and closing, a vault liner for casket burials (subject to funds) and perpetual care at no charge; the VA pays the plot allowance for the veteran. Families pay the funeral home and transportation, and an urn vault if needed. Gravesites cannot be reserved; your funeral director contacts the cemetery (808-369-3575) with the veteran's DD-214 or other discharge record. County run veterans cemeteries serve Hawaii Island (Hilo and Kona), Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kauai.",
     "source_url": "https://dod.hawaii.gov/ovs/veterans-cemetery/arranging-for-burial-in-the-hawaii-state-veterans-cemetery-kaneohe/",
     "source_title": "Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services - Arranging for Burial in the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery (Kaneohe), revised 2/12/2024; OVS Veteran Cemeteries",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State veterans homes: Yukio Okutsu (Hilo) and Daniel K. Akaka (Kapolei) State Veterans Homes",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Hawaii runs two skilled nursing homes for veterans, overseen by the Office of Veterans' Services: the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo (808-961-1500) and the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home in Kapolei, Oahu (apply through the online form on the OVS page). Earlier OVS material said residents must be veterans in good standing who meet general VA eligibility and were Hawaii residents before entering the military or have lived in Hawaii more than a year before applying, but the current OVS page lists no criteria and says to contact the home or your primary care doctor. Confirm eligibility, cost share and any waiting list with the home.",
     "source_url": "https://dod.hawaii.gov/ovs/state-veteran-homes/",
     "source_title": "Hawaii Office of Veterans' Services - State Veteran Homes",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ],
   "slug": "hawaii"
  },
  {
   "code": "ID",
   "name": "Idaho",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Idaho Division of Veterans Services",
    "url": "https://veterans.idaho.gov"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Idaho does not fully exempt a disabled veteran's home from property tax. The main benefit is a reduction of up to $1,500 a year on your home and up to one acre. The law (Idaho Code 63-705A) covers a veteran with 'a service-connected disability of one hundred percent (100%)' or 'a disability rating based on individual unemployability rating that is compensated at the one hundred percent (100%) disability rate.' So a 100% schedular rating and TDIU both count. You do not need a permanent and total (P&T) rating to get the money. P&T only matters for one thing: if you are 100% P&T you do not have to reapply every year.",
    "Property tax deadlines are strict. You must own and live in the home as your primary residence by April 15, the home must already have an Idaho homeowner's exemption, and you must apply between January 1 and April 15 each year (online through the Tax Commission's TAP portal or on paper with your county assessor). Most veterans must reapply every year. If you buy a new home after April 15 but before October 1, tell the Tax Commission before October 1 and the benefit can move with you. The benefit does not reduce solid waste, irrigation or other fees.",
    "Surviving spouse: if the veteran applied and then died, the spouse keeps the $1,500 reduction for that year and future years 'until such time as the surviving spouse remarries, dies, or no longer has property tax levied on the homestead.' The Tax Commission says the benefit is not transferable to a new property after the veteran dies. Any widow or widower, with or without a veteran connection, can also apply for the income-tested Property Tax Reduction (circuit breaker).",
    "The Property Tax Reduction (circuit breaker) is a separate, income-tested program. A veteran with a service-connected rating of 10% or more (or a VA pension for a non-service-connected disability) is an eligible claimant. For 2027 taxes your 2026 income after medical expenses must be $40,030 or less. VA disability compensation counts as income unless your rating is 40% or more; DIC does not count. The reduction is $250 to $1,500. Homes valued above the greater of $400,000 or 200% of your county's median are not eligible. You can get both the circuit breaker and the $1,500 veteran reduction, but the total cannot exceed your actual tax bill.",
    "The free Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate waives registration fees on one vehicle at a time. The statute keys on receiving VA compensation 'for one hundred percent (100%) service-connected disability' or loss of use of a hand, foot or both eyes. The ITD application form says '100% service-connected permanent disability' and asks for a 100% rating letter; it does not mention TDIU. If you are TDIU or 100% without a P&T letter, confirm with ITD Special Plates before you count on it. The DV plate comes with a disability placard and lets you park free at meters and without time limits in time-restricted zones.",
    "Idaho has no vehicle sales tax exemption for disabled veterans and no driver license fee waiver. Adding the 'VETERAN' designation to your license is free only when you get a new or renewed license; at any other time you pay the duplicate license fee. The Purple Heart plate waives only the plate fee (you still pay registration) unless you also qualify for the DV fee exemption. The Medal of Honor plate is free but regular registration fees apply.",
    "Hunting and fishing: Idaho does not give free licenses to disabled veterans. Resident veterans with a VA rating of 40% or more get a $5 Disabled American Veteran (DAV) license and sharply reduced tags and permits; nonresident veterans at 40% or more get a reduced-fee hunting license and a limited pool of DAV deer and elk tags. You must send your VA 'Benefits Summary' percentage letter to Fish and Game once. The Idaho State Parks Veteran Pass is stricter: you must be an Idaho resident rated 100% permanent and total. The Parks application says 'Being compensated at 100% does not qualify,' so TDIU and non-permanent 100% ratings are excluded.",
    "Education: Idaho has no state tuition waiver for veterans themselves. In-state tuition for GI Bill users comes from federal law, not Idaho law. The Armed Forces and Public Safety Officer Dependent Scholarship (Idaho Code 33-4302) pays tuition and fees, up to $750 per term for books, and on-campus housing for the spouse or child of an Idaho resident service member who is a POW or MIA, died of wounds from active duty, or is 'determined to be unemployable due to' such injuries (VA individual unemployability or an SSA finding). A 100% rating alone does not meet the statute's wording. Operation Education at the University of Idaho is a scholarship, not an entitlement, and is limited to post-9/11 veterans with a permanent service-connected disability.",
    "Income tax: Idaho taxes military retired pay but allows a deduction. Since the 2025 law change (House Bill 40, retroactive to January 1, 2025), a retired service member qualifies if 'classified as disabled' at any age, is 62 or older, or is under 62 and worked enough to have to file a federal return. 'Disabled' includes 'a veteran of a U.S. war with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or more.' The 2025 cap is $48,216 (single) or $72,324 (married filing jointly), reduced by any Social Security or Railroad Retirement you and your spouse receive. VA disability compensation is not in federal adjusted gross income, so Idaho does not tax it.",
    "State hiring preference adds 5 points to a passing score for any veteran (90 days of active duty, honorable or general discharge) and 10 points for a veteran with a 10% or higher service-connected rating or a Purple Heart. Veterans rated 30% or more must be offered an interview if they are among the qualified applicants. Points apply only to your first hire, not promotions. Unremarried widows and widowers get the same points, and the spouse of a disabled veteran who cannot work in public employment gets 10 points.",
    "2025 and 2026 law changes: the $1,500 property tax benefit itself was last changed in 2023 (House Bill 258); nothing in the 2025 or 2026 sessions changed it or the DV plate law. The 2025 session broadened the military retirement deduction (H0040, ch. 13, and trailer H0479, ch. 302). The 2026 session passed only a veterans code cleanup (S1273, ch. 44) and a veterans benefits consumer protection law (S1286, ch. 145); neither changes benefit eligibility described here."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Special property tax reduction of up to $1,500 for 100% or TDIU veterans (Idaho Code 63-705A)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Your property tax (or occupancy tax) on your Idaho home and up to one acre is cut by $1,500 or your whole bill, whichever is less. You qualify with a VA 'service-connected disability of one hundred percent (100%)' or a 'disability rating based on individual unemployability rating that is compensated at the one hundred percent (100%) disability rate' as of January 1. A 100% schedular rating does not need to be permanent; TDIU counts. The home must be your primary residence by April 15 and already have the homeowner's exemption; a mobile home counts. There is no income limit. Apply between January 1 and April 15 online (Tax Commission TAP portal) or on paper with your county assessor, with your current VA rating letter. If you are 100% permanent and total you do not have to reapply each year; everyone else reapplies annually. If you move after April 15 but before October 1, notify the Tax Commission before October 1 to transfer the benefit. Fees such as solid waste and irrigation are not reduced.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title63/T63CH7/SECT63-705A/",
     "source_title": "Idaho Legislature - Idaho Code 63-705A Special property tax or occupancy tax reduction for disabled veterans; Idaho State Tax Commission - Property Tax Benefit for Veterans with Disabilities (updated Sept. 22, 2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Property Tax Reduction (circuit breaker) for veterans rated 10% or more, income-tested",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "A separate program reduces property tax on your home and up to one acre by $250 to $1,500 depending on income. You are an eligible claimant if on January 1 you are 'a disabled veteran of any war engaged in by the United States, whose disability is recognized as a service-connected disability of a degree of ten percent (10%) or more, or who has a pension for nonservice-connected disabilities.' You must own and live in the home as your primary residence by April 15 and have the homeowner's exemption. For 2027 taxes, your 2026 household income after medical expenses must be $40,030 or less. VA disability compensation counts as income unless your rating is 40% or more; DIC does not count. Homes assessed above the greater of $400,000 or 200% of the county median are not eligible (they are referred to the deferral program). Apply January 1 to April 15 online or with your county assessor every year. You can stack this with the $1,500 veteran reduction, but the total cannot exceed your actual tax.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title63/T63CH7/SECT63-701/",
     "source_title": "Idaho Legislature - Idaho Code 63-701 Definitions (claimant, homestead, income) and 63-705 Amount of reduction; Idaho State Tax Commission - Property Tax Reduction page (updated Sept. 23, 2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Surviving spouse keeps the $1,500 veteran reduction; widows and widowers eligible for circuit breaker",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "If a qualified veteran applied for the $1,500 reduction and then died, 'the veteran's surviving spouse is entitled to receive the special tax reduction in that year and subsequent years, until such time as the surviving spouse remarries, dies, or no longer has property tax levied on the homestead.' The spouse must keep living in the same home; the Tax Commission says the benefit is not transferable to a new property after the veteran's death. Separately, any widow or widower (no veteran link needed) is an eligible claimant for the income-tested Property Tax Reduction of $250 to $1,500, with the same April 15 deadline and $40,030 income limit for 2027. DIC and death benefits from the VA do not count as income for that program.",
     "source_url": "https://tax.idaho.gov/taxes/property/homeowners/veteran-benefit/",
     "source_title": "Idaho State Tax Commission - Property Tax Benefit for Veterans with Disabilities (updated Sept. 22, 2026); Idaho Code 63-705A(3) and 63-701(1)(c)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate, registration fee waiver, and disability parking privileges",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "No registration fee is charged on one vehicle at a time owned by a veteran 'receiving compensation from the veterans administration ... for one hundred percent (100%) service-connected disability' or for loss or loss of use of a hand or foot, or blindness in both eyes. ITD issues the DV plate (counties cannot) with a disability placard, and the plate gives the parking privileges of Idaho Code 49-410(7): free parking at meters, unlimited time in time-restricted zones, and use of accessible spaces. The ITD form (ITD 3397, rev. 7/24) says applicants 'must be a veteran with a 100% service-connected permanent disability' and must send a 100% VA rating letter; it does not mention TDIU, so TDIU veterans should confirm with ITD Special Plates first. A Purple Heart recipient who qualifies may choose a fee-free Service-Connected Disabled Purple Heart plate instead. Apply by mail (ITD Special Plates, PO Box 7129, Boise ID 83707-1129) or email specialplates@itd.idaho.gov; vehicles over 26,000 pounds are excluded. Limited to one set.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title49/T49CH4/SECT49-403/",
     "source_title": "Idaho Legislature - Idaho Code 49-403 Disabled veteran license plates (am. 2023, ch. 16); Idaho Code 49-410(7); ITD Form 3397 Disabled Veteran Plates Application (Rev. 7/24)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart and Medal of Honor plates; free VETERAN designation on driver license at renewal",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Purple Heart plates (Idaho Code 49-403A) are open to any veteran or service member with a DD-214, medal certificate or orders showing the award; you pay regular registration but 'shall not be charged the plate fee,' may put them on several vehicles, and a surviving spouse may keep or reapply for them within 5 years of the death. Medal of Honor plates (49-415A) are free, cover up to two vehicles, and need VA certification; regular registration fees still apply. Idaho does not waive driver license fees for veterans. Any honorably discharged veteran can add the word VETERAN to a driver license or ID card by showing a DD-214 (copy 4), VA ID card, 100% disabled veteran letter or other listed proof; there is 'no additional charge' when done with a new or renewed license, but 'a duplicate fee' applies at any other time. Apply for Purple Heart plates with ITD Form 3398; for Medal of Honor plates call ITD Special Plates at (208) 334-8649.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title49/T49CH4/SECT49-403A/",
     "source_title": "Idaho Legislature - Idaho Code 49-403A Purple heart recipient license plates; 49-415A Congressional medal of honor license plates; ITD Veteran Designation flyer (Revised 11-16-23)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Reduced-fee Disabled American Veteran (DAV) hunting and fishing licenses and tags (40% or more)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Idaho Fish and Game sells a $5 DAV license to resident veterans whose VA letter shows 'a service-connected disability rating of 40% or greater.' DAV holders then buy reduced tags: deer $10.75, elk $16.50, bear $6.75, turkey $10.75, and archery or muzzleloader permits $3.75 each. Nonresident veterans at 40% or more can buy a $31.75 DAV hunting license with 3-day fishing, and reduced deer ($23.75) and elk ($39.75) tags from a yearly pool of 500 deer and 300 elk DAV tags. Send your one-page VA Benefits Summary percentage letter once by email (licenses@idfg.idaho.gov), mail (Licensing Section, PO Box 25, Boise ID 83707) or at any regional office; you do not resend it later. Fish and Game also offers 5 free Disabled Veterans Special Big Game Tags each year (deer, elk, pronghorn, bear or mountain lion) through a sponsoring nonprofit; apply January 2 to 31. Licenses are not free in Idaho.",
     "source_url": "https://idfg.idaho.gov/licenses/dav-programs",
     "source_title": "Idaho Department of Fish and Game - Disabled Veterans Programs (DAV reduced fees; Disabled Veterans Special Big Game Tag Program)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Idaho State Parks Veteran Pass: free vehicle entry and free campsite for 100% P&T Idaho residents",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "A lifetime, non-transferable pass that 'Waives the Motor Vehicle Entrance Fee for one personal vehicle' for day use and 'Waives the Usage Fees for one campsite per eligible veteran' (not cabins, yurts or lodges; reservation and transaction fees still apply; 14-night limit in 30 days per park). You must meet all three: 'A Resident of Idaho,' 'Service-connected disability,' and 'VA evaluation of 100% Permanent & Total.' The application states 'Being compensated at 100% does not qualify,' so TDIU and non-permanent 100% ratings are excluded. Apply online at parksandrecreation.idaho.gov, or email IDPRVeteran@idpr.idaho.gov or mail the Veteran Pass application with your VA letter (or your Idaho DV plate number) to Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Attn: Veteran Pass Program, PO Box 83720, Boise ID 83720-0065. Processing can take up to 90 days and you need the card in hand to get the discount.",
     "source_url": "https://parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/Vet-Application-2025.pdf",
     "source_title": "Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation - Idaho State Parks Veteran Pass Program application and brochure (2025); IDPR Discounts and Fees page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Armed Forces and Public Safety Officer Dependent Scholarship: tuition, fees, books, housing (33-4302)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "The spouse or child of an Idaho resident who entered active service as an Idaho resident (shown on the DD-214) qualifies if the service member 'has been determined by the federal government to be a prisoner of war or missing in action' or 'died of, or is determined to be unemployable due to, injuries or wounds sustained during active duty or inactive duty training.' Unemployable means the VA found individual unemployability or the SSA found total and permanent disability from service injuries; a 100% rating alone is not the statutory test. The student attends an Idaho public college or career technical college 'without the necessity of paying tuition and fees,' gets up to $750 per academic period for books and supplies, and on-campus housing and subsistence while living on campus, for up to 36 months. A child must be an Idaho resident who finished high school in Idaho; a spouse must have been married at the time of the event and still married if the veteran is living. Benefits can be used for 19 years after high school or 10 years after the event, whichever is longer. Apply through the State Board of Education and the school's financial aid office.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title33/T33CH43/SECT33-4302/",
     "source_title": "Idaho Legislature - Idaho Code 33-4302 Armed forces and public safety officer scholarships (am. 2025, ch. 94)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Operation Education scholarship at the University of Idaho for post-9/11 veterans with permanent disabilities",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "The University of Idaho's Operation Education program is 'available to military personnel who sustained permanent disability while serving our nation since Sept. 11, 2001,' and their spouses may also apply. It is a donor-funded scholarship, not a state entitlement, and the committee gives priority to Idaho residents and to combat-zone injuries. Depending on need it can cover tuition, books and fees, on-campus housing, transportation, adaptive equipment, medical assistance, child care, tutoring and career help. You must be honorably separated, admitted as a degree-seeking student, and generally enroll full time; you must also apply for VA benefits such as Veteran Readiness and Employment. Download the application from the program page and send your DD-214 and disability documentation; questions go to operationeducation@uidaho.edu or (208) 885-6229.",
     "source_url": "https://www.uidaho.edu/current-students/operation-education/prospective-scholars/eligibility-requirements",
     "source_title": "University of Idaho - Operation Education, Eligibility Requirements",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Idaho income tax: military retirement deduction (disabled any age, 62+, or working); VA pay untaxed",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Idaho taxes military retired pay but lets you deduct it under Idaho Code 63-3022A, as broadened in 2025 (House Bill 40, retroactive to January 1, 2025). A retired service member or unremarried surviving spouse qualifies if the retiree 'is classified as disabled,' 'has attained the age of sixty-two (62) years by the end of the tax year,' or 'was employed during the tax year and received sufficient income from such employment to be required to file a federal return.' The Tax Commission's 2025 instructions say 'classified as disabled' includes 'a veteran of a U.S. war with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or more.' The 2025 maximum is $48,216 (single) or $72,324 (married filing jointly), reduced by Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits you and your spouse receive, and never more than the retired pay in your federal income. Claim it on Form 39R, Part B, line 8. VA disability compensation is excluded from federal adjusted gross income, which is where Idaho starts, so Idaho does not tax it. The Idaho income tax rate dropped to 5.3% for 2025.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title63/T63CH30/SECT63-3022A/",
     "source_title": "Idaho Legislature - Idaho Code 63-3022A Deduction of certain retirement benefits (am. 2025, ch. 13 and ch. 302); Idaho State Tax Commission - 2025 Form 39R instructions (EIN00046, 03-02-2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans preference in state and local government hiring: 5 or 10 points, guaranteed interview at 30%",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Idaho public employers (state, counties, cities, school districts) must give preference at initial hire. 'Five (5) points shall be added to the earned rating of any veteran and the widow or widower of any veteran as long as he or she remains unmarried.' 'Ten (10) points shall be added to the earned rating of veterans discharged under honorable conditions who ... have a current service-connected disability of ten percent (10%) or more,' and the same 10 points go to Purple Heart recipients, the unremarried widow or widower of a disabled veteran, and the spouse of a disabled veteran who cannot work in public employment because of the disability. Veterans with 'a current service-connected disability of thirty percent (30%) or more shall be offered an interview if they are one (1) of the qualified applicants.' A veteran means 90 days of continuous active duty (or less if separated for a service-connected disability) with an honorable or general discharge. Points apply 'only for the purpose of initial appointment,' not promotions. Claim preference on the state application and be ready to show your DD-214 and VA rating letter.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title65/T65CH5/SECT65-504/",
     "source_title": "Idaho Legislature - Idaho Code 65-504 Basic preference and addition of points to competitive examination ratings; 65-502 Definitions; 65-203 Veteran defined",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Idaho State Veterans Homes in Boise, Lewiston, Pocatello and Post Falls",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Division of Veterans Services runs four skilled nursing homes (Boise also has residential and special care units). To be admitted you must be a veteran with at least 90 days of service and an honorable (other than dishonorable) discharge, 'a resident of the State of Idaho at the time of application,' and 'unemployable as a result of age, illness, or disability.' Wartime veterans get priority. Spouses and widows of veterans are eligible for nursing care only and must show proof of marriage. You must apply for (or already receive) VA pension with Aid and Attendance, and either apply for Medicaid or pay the current maximum monthly charge; veterans are admitted regardless of financial status. Apply with the Idaho State Veterans Home Application for Admission and your DD-214; call (208) 780-1300. The admission page was last updated in 2021, so confirm current rules with the home.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.idaho.gov/?p=1383",
     "source_title": "Idaho Division of Veterans Services - Idaho State Veterans Home Application for Admission (eligibility; page updated June 23, 2021)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries in Boise and Blackfoot (no Idaho residency required)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Idaho operates state veterans cemeteries in Boise (10100 N Horseshoe Bend Rd) and Blackfoot; the Snake River Canyon National Cemetery near Buhl is federal. Eligibility follows National Cemetery Administration rules and Idaho law: generally an honorably discharged veteran who served before September 7, 1980, or who later completed 24 months of active duty or a federally ordered deployment. 'There is no requirement to be a resident of the state of Idaho.' Interment fees for eligible veterans are paid by the VA; the family pays funeral costs. Guard and reserve members who do not meet federal rules, and spouses and dependents, pay a fee that the cemetery quotes case by case. Pre-registration is free and not binding: send discharge papers (and a marriage certificate for a spouse) to the cemetery. Burials are scheduled by the family or funeral home with a Request for Burial.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.idaho.gov/cemeteries/",
     "source_title": "Idaho Division of Veterans Services - Cemeteries; Idaho State Veterans Cemetery Boise page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Emergency financial relief grant for Idaho veterans (Joining Forces Idaho)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Division of Veterans Services offers one-time emergency help with bills such as an electric bill, rent or car repairs. The 2026 Joining Forces Idaho application says the 'Applicant must be a resident of Idaho,' must show veteran status (DD-214 member copy 4 showing character of discharge), and the need must be 'current and NOT ongoing.' The Division's state benefits page describes the older Emergency Relief program as 'up to a $1,500 grant, in cases of extreme emergency' for veterans who 'entered the military from Idaho, or lived within the state for at least 5 years,' with the event within 90 days of the request; the policy document behind that page could not be retrieved, so treat the $1,500 cap and the 5-year rule as unconfirmed. Send the signed application, bills or past-due notices, and proof of Idaho residency to JFIdaho@veterans.idaho.gov, or call (208) 780-1300.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.idaho.gov/pressrelease/joining-forces-idaho-grant-application-emergency-assistance-financial-relief/",
     "source_title": "Idaho Division of Veterans Services - Joining Forces Idaho Grant Application (Emergency Assistance and Financial Relief), posted Feb. 11, 2026; IDVS State Benefits and Services page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ],
   "slug": "idaho"
  },
  {
   "code": "IL",
   "name": "Illinois",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA)",
    "url": "https://veterans.illinois.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Illinois property tax relief for veterans is tiered by your VA rating, not all-or-nothing. The Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities (SHEVD) takes $2,500 off the equalized assessed value (EAV) at 30% to 49%, $5,000 at 50% to 69%, and exempts the first $250,000 of EAV at 70% or more. Since tax year 2023 there is no longer a rule that your home's EAV must be under $250,000 to qualify; instead, EAV above $250,000 stays taxable. The law says 'service connected disability of 70% or more ... as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs' and does not mention individual unemployability (TDIU). If your schedular rating is below 70% and you are paid at the 100% rate through TDIU, no official Illinois source says you qualify for the 70% tier. Ask your Chief County Assessment Office before you count on it.",
    "You must reapply for SHEVD every year unless the VA certifies you have 'a combined service connected disability rating of 100%' and are 'permanently and totally disabled' (P&T). That no-reapply rule comes from Public Act 102-895 (May 23, 2022). By its words it needs a 100% combined rating plus P&T, so a 60% rating with TDIU P&T does not match the text. World War II veterans also do not reapply. Cook County says all other applicants, including the 70% to 99% tier, must reapply each year.",
    "Illinois property tax deadlines are set county by county. The statute says to apply 'during the application period in effect for the county of his or her residence,' and you file with the Chief County Assessment Office (in Cook County, the Cook County Assessor). Cook County processes late applications as Certificates of Error, which can reach back several tax years. Illinois taxes are paid a year behind, so the 2025 exemption shows on bills paid in 2026. The home must be your primary residence, and any part used for business is excluded. A home rented out for more than 6 months is presumed commercial. You must be an Illinois resident with a service-connected disability certified by the VA and receiving VA disability compensation. If you move in after January 1, the exemption is prorated by month. If you move into a nursing home or VA facility, the exemption continues while your spouse lives there or the home sits empty but you still own it.",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the SHEVD as long as he or she holds title, lives in the home, and does not remarry. If the spouse sells, an amount up to the last exemption granted can move to a new primary residence. Since tax year 2023, a spouse can also qualify if the veteran never applied but would have qualified (the spouse must have lived in Illinois since the veteran's death), or if the spouse receives VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for a service-connected death; DIC spouses get the first $250,000 of EAV exempt. Spouses of veterans killed in the line of duty get a full exemption on the home.",
    "You cannot stack the veteran exemptions. A taxpayer who takes the Specially Adapted Housing exemption (15-165) or the general Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities (15-168, $2,000 EAV) cannot also take SHEVD in the same year. The Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption ($5,000 for the year you return from an armed conflict and the next year) is in addition to the others. Cook County says it cannot be combined with SHEVD; the statute says it is 'in addition to any other homestead exemption,' so ask your county.",
    "The free veterans-with-disabilities license plate has two doors. Any veteran with a VA service-connected disability whose doctor certifies it meets the disability-plate standard gets the plate with the wheelchair symbol free of the registration fee. A veteran rated 50% or more who does not meet that medical standard gets a plate without the symbol, also free. Right now the fee waiver covers one vehicle; Public Act 104-603 raises that to 2 sets of plates on July 1, 2027. Renewals need fresh proof unless your disability is permanent. The Illinois Secretary of State website could not be reached during this research, so fee details come from the statute and IDVA.",
    "Illinois has no state income tax on military retired pay, military disability retired pay, Survivor Benefit Plan payments from a government plan, or active duty and Guard pay. All are subtracted on Form IL-1040 (Line 5 retirement income, or Schedule M for military pay). VA disability compensation and DIC are not in federal adjusted gross income, which is where the Illinois return starts, so they are not taxed either. No 2025 or 2026 change to these rules was found.",
    "Illinois does not require a fishing license for veterans 'at least 10% disabled with service-related disabilities or in receipt of total disability pensions.' IDVA says the same 10% rule covers hunting licenses and issues the Disability Affidavit for Illinois Hunting and Fishing Privilege card through its Veteran Service Officers; the hunting side was not found in the Wildlife Code text, so confirm with IDVA or IDNR. Free camping at Illinois state parks is a narrower benefit: permanent loss of use of a leg or arm, wheelchair or crutch dependence, 100% service-connected compensation, or former POW status, with a $10 utility fee still due at electric sites.",
    "The MIA/POW Scholarship for dependents is the one Illinois benefit that clearly counts TDIU: IDVA accepts a veteran rated '100% permanent and totally disabled from service-connected causes due to unemployability.' The Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) is for the veteran and needs Illinois residency when you entered service (or within 6 months) and a return to Illinois within 6 months of discharge, or 15 consecutive years of Illinois residency after service. The ISAC website blocked automated access, so IVG details come from the statute and IDVA.",
    "State hiring preference is points, not absolute preference: 10 points for a VA service-connected disability or a Purple Heart, 5 points for qualifying wartime service, 3 points for other honorable service. Claim it by checking the box on the careers.illinois.gov application and providing a certified DD-214 to the CMS Veterans Outreach Program. Spouses of veterans with a service-connected disability and some surviving spouses and parents can also get points.",
    "Things that are NOT available or were not found: no vehicle sales tax exemption for disabled veterans, no free Illinois ID card or driver's license just for being a veteran (free ID cards go only to residents of veterans homes or hospitals and people 65 and older; the 'veteran' designation is free at renewal, $5 for an early license update), no state veterans cemetery was named on the IDVA burial page, and Veterans Cash lottery grants go to nonprofits and government agencies, not to individual veterans. The War Participation Bonus is a one-time $100 (more for WWII) for Illinois residents with qualifying campaign medals, not a disability benefit.",
    "2025 and 2026 law changes checked: Public Act 104-234 (Aug. 15, 2025) only renamed the agency to 'Department of Veterans Affairs' in many statutes. Public Act 104-238 (Jan. 1, 2026) lets IDVA set MIA/POW Scholarship eligibility by rule. Public Act 104-603 (July 1, 2027) doubles the free plates for veterans with disabilities, Purple Heart, Medal of Honor and POW plates to 2 sets. Bills to change SHEVD (HB 2809 percentage tiers, SB 99 surviving spouse $250,000, HB 3136 caregivers, HB 4405 nonresident killed in line of duty) had not become law as of this research; HB 4405 was re-referred to Rules."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities (SHEVD): $2,500 to first $250,000 EAV exempt",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "30%",
     "details": "If you are an Illinois resident veteran with a VA-certified service-connected disability and receive VA disability compensation, your primary home gets a reduction in equalized assessed value (EAV): $2,500 at 30% to 49%, $5,000 at 50% to 69%, and the first $250,000 of EAV exempt at 70% or more (EAV above $250,000 is still taxed). World War II veterans get a full exemption at any rating. The law counts your rating 'as of the date the application is submitted' and does not mention TDIU, so a TDIU veteran rated under 70% should ask the county. Apply with your Chief County Assessment Office during your county's application period, with your VA rating letter and DD-214 (Cook County requires a certified DD-214 for first-time filers). You must reapply every year unless the VA certifies a 100% combined rating that is permanent and total; then it renews on its own.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=003502000K15-169",
     "source_title": "Illinois General Assembly - 35 ILCS 200/15-169 Homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities and veterans of World War II (P.A. 103-596); IDOR PIO-74 (R-07/25)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "SHEVD for surviving spouses, including DIC recipients and spouses of veterans killed in the line of duty",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "If your veteran spouse dies, the exemption carries over as long as you hold title, live in the home, and do not remarry. If you sell, you can move an amount up to the last exemption granted to a new primary residence. Since tax year 2023 you can also qualify if the veteran never applied but would have qualified (you must have lived in Illinois since the death), or if the VA certifies you receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for a service-connected death; DIC spouses get the first $250,000 of EAV exempt. Spouses of veterans killed in the line of duty get a full exemption. File with your Chief County Assessment Office with the death certificate and proof of ownership; IDOR says Form PTAX-342 is used to transfer the exemption.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=003502000K15-169",
     "source_title": "Illinois General Assembly - 35 ILCS 200/15-169(c) surviving spouse provisions; Cook County Assessor - Veterans with Disabilities Exemption",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Specially Adapted Housing property tax exemption: up to $100,000 of assessed value",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "If the federal government approved you for a VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant under 38 U.S.C. 2101, up to $100,000 of your home's assessed value is exempt. The home must be owned and used only as your home (or your spouse's or unmarried surviving spouse's). It covers homes bought or adapted with federal SAH funds, later homes bought with the proceeds of a prior SAH home, and since 2015 homes adapted or donated by a charity when you have SAH approval and a licensed inspector certifies VA design standards. Mobile homes qualify under a parallel law. IDVA must certify the exemption each year to the Department of Revenue, so start with your IDVA Veteran Service Officer. You cannot take SHEVD or the persons-with-disabilities exemption in the same year.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=003502000K15-165",
     "source_title": "Illinois General Assembly - 35 ILCS 200/15-165 Veterans with disabilities (specially adapted housing) (P.A. 104-234)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption: $5,000 EAV reduction for two years after an armed conflict deployment",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "An Illinois resident who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, Illinois National Guard, or Reserves and returns from active duty in an armed conflict gets a $5,000 reduction in EAV on the principal residence for the year of return and the following year. You must own (or hold a legal or equitable interest in) and live in the home and be liable for the taxes. If you buy the home after January 1 of the return year, you can use the exemption the next year only. You can get it again after another qualifying deployment. File Form PTAX-341 with your Chief County Assessment Office during the county application period with your DD-214 or military orders; it is not renewed automatically. The statute says it is in addition to other homestead exemptions.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=003502000K15-167",
     "source_title": "Illinois General Assembly - 35 ILCS 200/15-167 Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption; IDOR PIO-74",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free license plates for veterans with disabilities (with or without the wheelchair symbol)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "You pay no registration fee for veterans-with-disabilities plates on one car, motorcycle, or truck up to 8,000 pounds if you hold VA proof of a service-connected disability and a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse certifies that the disability meets the standard for disability plates (Section 3-616); these plates carry the international symbol of access. If your VA rating is 50% or more but you do not meet that medical standard, you get a plate without the symbol, also free. Renewals need new proof of eligibility unless your disability is permanent; IDVA can help with documentation. Public Act 104-603 raises the free allowance to up to 2 sets of plates on July 1, 2027. Apply at a Secretary of State facility.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K3-609",
     "source_title": "Illinois General Assembly - 625 ILCS 5/3-609 Plates for veterans with disabilities (P.A. 104-603; P.A. 104-682)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart plates free of registration fees; free 'veteran' designation on driver's license at renewal",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "An Illinois resident awarded the Purple Heart (or the surviving spouse of one) can display Purple Heart plates on one vehicle 'without the payment of any registration or registration renewal fee'; this rises to 2 vehicles on July 1, 2027 under Public Act 104-603. Separately, any honorably discharged veteran can have the word 'veteran' printed on an Illinois driver's license or state ID by showing a DD-214 or other proof at any Secretary of State facility; it is free when added at renewal, or $5 for an early license update and $10 for an early ID update (free for veterans 65 and older). Illinois does not waive the regular license or ID fee for veterans; free ID cards go only to people 65 and older and residents of veterans homes or hospitals.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K3-623",
     "source_title": "Illinois General Assembly - 625 ILCS 5/3-623 Purple Heart Plates; 625 ILCS 5/6-110(e-5); IDVA - Veteran Driver's License page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No fishing license needed and free hunting license for veterans 10%+ service-connected or on VA pension",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "Under the Fish Code, veterans the VA certifies as 'at least 10% disabled with service-related disabilities or in receipt of total disability pensions' may fish with sport fishing devices without a license, as long as the disability does not make fishing unsafe. IDVA says the same 10% rule gives free hunting licenses and that this applies regardless of your state of residence. You need a DD-214 and a Disability Affidavit for Illinois Hunting and Fishing Privilege card, which IDVA issues through its Veteran Service Officers using VA proof of compensation dated within the last year; carry it while hunting or fishing. The hunting exemption was not found in the Wildlife Code text, and IDVA does not say whether stamps and permits (habitat, waterfowl, deer) are also free, so confirm with IDVA or IDNR.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=051500050K20-5",
     "source_title": "Illinois General Assembly - 515 ILCS 5/20-5(d) Fish and Aquatic Life Code, necessity of license; exemptions; IDVA - Fishing and Hunting Permits page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free camping and shelter reservations at Illinois state parks for severely disabled veterans and former POWs",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "An Illinois resident veteran who has permanent loss of use of a leg or arm (or both), cannot move without crutches or a wheelchair, or 'is receiving 100% service connected disability compensation benefits' from the VA or military disability retired pay (not Temporary Disability Retired List), and any former prisoner of war, camps free at IDNR state parks any day of the week. At Class AA, A, A-P, B/E and B/E-P sites you still pay the $10 utility fee; at Class B/S, B/S-P, C and D sites there is no fee. Shelter reservation fees are also waived, and your spouse, minor children and grandchildren under 18 are covered when camping with you. Get the Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Certification Card at any IDVA field office with federal proof, and show it to park staff when you get your camping permit. Whether TDIU counts as '100% compensation' is not stated.",
     "source_url": "https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/camp/discounts.html",
     "source_title": "Illinois Department of Natural Resources - Camping Fee Discounts (Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities, Veterans and Former POWs)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG): 4 years of tuition and mandatory fees at Illinois public colleges",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The IVG pays all tuition and mandatory fees for the equivalent of 4 years of full-time study (120 eligibility units) at any Illinois state university or public community college. You qualify if you were an Illinois resident when you entered federal active duty (or within 6 months, or were enrolled at an Illinois public college), served at least 1 year of federal active duty (less if discharged for a service-connected medical reason or served in a hostile area), were honorably discharged, and returned to Illinois within 6 months of leaving service. If you do not meet the entry-residency test, you can still qualify after 15 consecutive years of Illinois residency after service. Current service members with 1 year of honorable service also qualify. The grant never expires while federal GI Bill benefits exist. Apply through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) with your DD-214. The separate Illinois National Guard Grant gives active Guard members with 1 year of service up to 4 years (6 after 10 years of service) of tuition and fees at the same schools.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=011009470K40",
     "source_title": "Illinois General Assembly - 110 ILCS 947/40 Illinois Veteran grant program; 110 ILCS 947/45 Illinois National Guard and Naval Militia grant program",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "MIA/POW Scholarship and $250 Educational Opportunity Grant for dependents of 100% P&T or deceased veterans",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "A spouse or child (natural, adopted or step-child under 18 at adoption or marriage, or a court-ordered ward for 2 years) of a veteran who is MIA or a POW, died of a service-connected cause, or 'has become a person with a permanent disability from service-connected causes with 100% disability' pays no tuition or mandatory fees for the equivalent of 4 years at any Illinois state university or public community college. IDVA states a veteran rated 100% permanent and total 'due to unemployability' qualifies. The veteran must have been an Illinois resident at entry into service, within 6 months after, or for 15 consecutive years after entering service. A spouse loses the benefit at the end of the term if he or she remarries or divorces. Benefits expire 12 years after first use. Apply through the ISAC student portal with the DD-214 or casualty report and VA award letter; IDVA decides eligibility by rule (Public Act 104-238, effective January 1, 2026). Children aged 10 to 18 of the same veterans can also get a $250 Educational Opportunity Grant each school year through IDVA.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.illinois.gov/services-benefits/education/mia-pow-scholarship.html",
     "source_title": "Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs - MIA/POW Scholarship (105 ILCS 5/30-14.2; 95 Ill. Adm. Code 116)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No Illinois income tax on military retired pay, military disability retirement, SBP, or active duty pay",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Illinois lets you subtract all federally taxed retirement income from 'a government retirement and government disability plan, including military plans' on Form IL-1040, Line 5, so military retired pay and military disability retired pay are not taxed. Survivor Benefit Plan payments from a government plan fall under the same subtraction. Active duty, Reserve and National Guard pay is subtracted on Schedule M; IDOR says 'Illinois does not tax military pay earned by service persons.' VA disability compensation and DIC are not in federal adjusted gross income, which is the starting point for the Illinois return, so they are not taxed. Attach your 1099-R or W-2 when you claim the subtraction. Illinois Publication 120 (R-12/25) and Publication 102 (R-12/25) are current.",
     "source_url": "https://tax.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/tax/research/publications/pubs/documents/pub-120.pdf",
     "source_title": "Illinois Department of Revenue - Publication 120, Retirement Income (R-12/25); Publication 102, Illinois Filing Requirements for Military Personnel (R-12/25); 35 ILCS 5/203(a)(2)(E) and (F)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State hiring preference points: 10 for service-connected disability or Purple Heart, 5 wartime, 3 other",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Under the Personnel Code, points are added to your passing score for State of Illinois jobs: 10 points if you hold VA proof of a service-connected disability or received the Purple Heart; 5 points for wartime service of at least 6 months, for the duration of hostilities, or ending in a hardship or service-connected discharge; and 3 points for other honorable service of 6 months or more, or 4 years in the Guard or Reserves. The augmented score sets your rank order. A spouse of a veteran whose service-connected disability keeps the veteran from civil service work, an unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died of a service-connected cause, and one parent of such an unmarried veteran can claim the same points. Check the veteran box on your careers.illinois.gov application and send a certified DD-214 or NGB-22 to the CMS Veterans Outreach Program (800-643-8138). This is a points preference, not an absolute hiring preference.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=002004150K8b.7",
     "source_title": "Illinois General Assembly - 20 ILCS 415/8b.7 Personnel Code, Veteran preference (P.A. 103-746); CMS Veterans Outreach Program",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Illinois Veterans Homes in Anna, LaSalle, Manteno, Quincy and Chicago",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "IDVA runs five homes offering nursing and domiciliary care. You must be an honorably discharged veteran with qualifying service (wartime or campaign medal service, retirement for a service-connected disability, 24 months of continuous active duty after September 7, 1980, or certain Guard and Reserve service; peacetime veterans with 1 year of service may also qualify), be 'disabled by disease, wounds, or otherwise' and unable to earn a living, and have entered service from Illinois or lived in Illinois for the year before applying. Widows and widowers can be admitted at Anna and Quincy when beds are open, and eligible Gold Star family members may also apply. The cost of care is $1,720 per month (as of June 2025), charged as a maintenance fee based on your and your spouse's income; the inability to pay does not bar admission. Apply through the Adjutant's office at the home you choose.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.illinois.gov/services-benefits/homes/homes.html",
     "source_title": "Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans' Homes (20 ILCS 2805/2.01)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Illinois War Participation Bonus ($100), POW compensation, and $125 headstone-setting reimbursement",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Illinois pays a one-time $100 bonus to honorably discharged veterans who lived in Illinois for 12 months before entering service and earned the Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service or Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam), Southwest Asia Service Medal, or a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary or Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal or Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 30 consecutive or 60 nonconsecutive days of foreign or sea service. World War II veterans get $10 per month of domestic service and $15 per month of foreign service. Survivors of veterans whose deaths were service-connected from hostile action (WWII) or Agent Orange (Vietnam) get $1,000. Former POWs held in Southeast Asia on or after January 1, 1961 get $50 per month of captivity. Apply through IDVA's online form or a Veteran Service Officer. Separately, IDVA pays up to $125 toward setting a government headstone, and county Veterans Assistance Commissions bury indigent veterans and spouses. No state veterans cemetery is listed by IDVA.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.illinois.gov/services-benefits/benefits/compensation-benefits.html",
     "source_title": "Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs - War Participation Bonus and Compensation Benefits; IDVA - Survivor and Burial Benefits",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ],
   "slug": "illinois"
  },
  {
   "code": "IN",
   "name": "Indiana",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA)",
    "url": "https://www.in.gov/dva/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Indiana rewrote its veteran property tax benefits in 2026. House Enrolled Act 1210 (2026) replaced the old $14,000 deduction with a deduction of 100 percent of the assessed value of a totally disabled veteran's principal residence, with no assessed value cap (the old $240,000 cap is gone). The old $24,960 wartime deduction became a $350 credit, and the old age 62 deduction became a $250 credit. The changes start with the 2026 assessment date (taxes paid in 2027).",
    "The 100 percent deduction requires a 'total disability' shown by a VA pension certificate, a VA award of compensation, or an IDVA certificate of eligibility. The law does not say 'permanent,' and the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) says the total disability does not have to be service connected. Total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is not named anywhere. Ask your county auditor or IDVA before you count on it if your 100 percent pay comes from TDIU.",
    "If you got the old $14,000 deduction, the county auditor will automatically switch you to the $250 credit for taxes paid in 2027. You will NOT get the new 100 percent deduction unless you file a new State Form 12662 with your county auditor by January 15, 2027. Late applications cannot be made retroactive.",
    "You cannot have both the 100 percent deduction and any credit under IC 6-1.1-51.3 (the $350, $250, Over 65, or Blind/Disabled credits). The $350 and $250 credits can be stacked with each other. Nothing renews each year; once approved, the benefit continues while you stay eligible.",
    "Residency: the 100 percent deduction requires at least one year living in Indiana before the assessment date (January 1) and the home must be your principal place of residence. The $350 and $250 credits have no Indiana residency rule; you just need to own (or buy under a recorded contract) the Indiana property. Property held in a trust or LLC cannot get the 100 percent deduction, but a trust can get the credits.",
    "Surviving spouses: a surviving spouse keeps the 100 percent deduction if the veteran qualified at death and the spouse owns the home, but loses it on remarriage. The $350 and $250 credits also pass to a surviving spouse who owns the property; the $250 credit also goes to the spouse of a member killed in action or who died on active duty or inactive duty training.",
    "If you qualify for a veteran property tax benefit but own no taxable property, you can get a vehicle excise tax credit of up to $70 per vehicle on up to two vehicles. You need an affidavit from the county auditor and State Form 52870 at the BMV. The BMV form still cites the pre-2026 statute numbers, so confirm with your auditor.",
    "The Disabled Hoosier Veteran (DHV) license plate and placard are based on the type of disability, not just the rating: loss or loss of use of a hand or foot, blindness, a VA rated condition that keeps you from walking without pain or difficulty, or a 50 percent or higher rating with at least 60 percent of it from a mobility disability. IDVA, not the BMV, approves the application (State Form 32584). The plate or placard lets the veteran park free at Indiana meters, but only when the veteran is in the vehicle. DHV eligibility also unlocks the $25 state park pass.",
    "The $2.75 disabled veteran hunting and fishing license covers fishing and small game only. It does not cover deer, turkey, or any stamps (gamebird, waterfowl, trout and salmon). You must get DNR approval once before you can buy it. Indiana also waives DNR property entry fees for all veterans and active duty members on Veterans Day (November 11); the last official listing we found was for 2024.",
    "For children of disabled veterans, the percentage of tuition covered depends on when the veteran enlisted. Before July 1, 2011: 100 percent. On or after July 1, 2011: 20 percent plus the veteran's VA rating (so a 40 percent rating means 60 percent of tuition). The child must apply before age 33, and the exemption lasts 124 credit hours or eight academic years. Wartime service (or a campaign medal) by the parent is required.",
    "Indiana does not tax military retired pay or military survivor benefits (100 percent deductible since tax year 2022). VA disability compensation is excluded from federal adjusted gross income, which is where the Indiana return starts, so it is not taxed. Active duty pay gets a $5,000 Military Service Deduction; National Guard and reserve pay is fully deductible.",
    "State hiring preference: IDVA's page says only that the State Merit System adds points for veterans applying for state merit jobs or promotions (citing IC 4-15-2-18). We could not find the current statute text or point values on an official page, so treat this as unverified. Indiana also has a no fee peddler, vendor, or hawker license for honorably discharged veterans where a local ordinance requires one."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "100% property tax deduction on principal residence for totally disabled veterans (new 2026 law)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Starting with the 2026 assessment date (taxes paid in 2027), a veteran with a 'total disability' can deduct 100 percent of the assessed value of the home used as the principal place of residence, with no assessed value cap. You must have served at least 90 days (wartime not required), been honorably discharged, lived in Indiana at least one year before January 1 of the assessment year, and prove the total disability with a VA pension certificate, VA award of compensation, or IDVA certificate of eligibility. DLGF says the disability does not have to be service connected; the law does not say 'permanent' and does not mention TDIU. A surviving spouse keeps it if the veteran qualified at death and the spouse owns the home and has not remarried. File State Form 12662 with your county auditor by January 15 of the year the tax is first due; if you had the old $14,000 deduction you must file again to get this one. You cannot also take any IC 6-1.1-51.3 credit.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/dlgf/files/2026-memos/Veterans-Deductions-FAQ_DLGF_08122026-1.pdf",
     "source_title": "Indiana DLGF - Frequently Asked Questions, 2026 Legislative Update: Veterans Deductions and Credits (IC 6-1.1-12-14, as amended by HEA 1210-2026; FAQ dated June 17, 2026, posted Aug. 12, 2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "$350 property tax credit for wartime veterans with 10%+ service-connected disability",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "A credit of up to $350 against your local property tax bill if you served during a U.S. war, were honorably discharged, and have a service-connected disability of at least 10 percent. Proof is a VA award of compensation, VA pension certificate, VA disability compensation check, or IDVA certificate. There is no Indiana residency rule and no wartime period test beyond serving during a war; you must own the Indiana property or be buying it under a recorded contract. The credit can be split across more than one property but the total stays $350, and any unused amount is lost. A surviving spouse qualifies if the veteran met the tests at death. This replaces the old $24,960 deduction starting with 2026 pay 2027; DLGF recommends counties move old recipients over automatically, but the law requires an application, so file State Form 12662 with your county auditor by January 15 if you are not sure.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/dlgf/files/2026-memos/Veterans-Deductions-FAQ_DLGF_08122026-1.pdf",
     "source_title": "Indiana DLGF - FAQ 2026 Legislative Update: Veterans Deductions and Credits (IC 6-1.1-51.3-6; State Form 12662 R20 6-26)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "$250 property tax credit for veterans age 62+ with 10%+ disability",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "A credit of up to $250 against local property tax if you served at least 90 days, were honorably discharged, are at least 62 years old, and have a disability of at least 10 percent (VA or IDVA proof). Wartime service is not required. You can stack it with the $350 credit and with the Over 65 or Blind/Disabled credits, but not with the 100 percent deduction. A surviving spouse qualifies if the veteran met the tests at death, or if the member was killed in action, died on active duty, or died during inactive duty training. For taxes paid in 2027, counties automatically convert anyone who had the old $14,000 deduction to this credit. Otherwise file State Form 12662 with the county auditor by January 15.",
     "source_url": "https://forms.in.gov/Download.aspx?id=16787",
     "source_title": "Indiana DLGF - State Form 12662 (R20 / 6-26), Application for Property Tax Benefits for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses (IC 6-1.1-51.3-5)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Property tax deduction for a homestead donated to a disabled veteran (50% to 100% of value)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "If a tax-exempt organization (for example a 501(c)(3) homebuilder) gave you your home at no charge, and you served at least 90 days, were honorably discharged, and have a disability of at least 50 percent, you may deduct a share of the home's assessed value equal to your rating tier: 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 percent. You must own the home (no contract purchase). You cannot take this and the 100 percent deduction for the same year, and no unused part can be used against vehicle excise tax. File State Form 12662, Section V, with your county auditor by January 15.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/dva/divisions/training-and-services/disabled-veteran-property-tax-deduction/",
     "source_title": "Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs - Disabled Veteran Property Tax Deductions and Credits (IC 6-1.1-12-14.5; State Form 12662)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Hoosier Veteran (DHV) license plate and placard with free metered parking",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "You can get a DHV plate for each vehicle you own, and a placard, if your service-connected condition is one of these: loss of sight or permanent vision impairment in both eyes; loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet or hands; a VA rating for a physical condition that keeps you from walking without pain or difficulty; or a VA rating of at least 50 percent where at least 60 percent of the rating is for a mobility disability. Apply through IDVA (State Form 32584 with a VA certificate and your VA claim number; most approvals take about two days), then take the stamped form to a BMV branch. The plate and placard let you park in accessible spaces and at any Indiana meter for free, but the privilege belongs to the veteran, not the car. You pay normal registration fees and excise tax. Purple Heart recipients can get a modified Purple Heart plate with the accessibility symbol.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/dva/divisions/training-and-services/veteran-license-plates/",
     "source_title": "Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs - Veteran License Plates (IC 9-18.5-5-1; IC 9-18.5-6); IDVA DHV approval letter; BMV Drivers with Disabilities page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Vehicle excise tax credit (up to $70 per vehicle, two vehicles) for disabled veterans who own no property",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "If you qualify for a veteran property tax deduction or credit but do not own property the deduction can be applied to, Indiana gives you a credit against the annual vehicle excise tax equal to the lesser of the excise tax due or $70 per vehicle, for up to two vehicles per registration year. Get an affidavit from your county auditor stating you own no qualifying property, then file State Form 52870 at the BMV with the affidavit. Under the old law, any unused part of a property tax deduction could also be applied to excise tax; DLGF says the new 100 percent deduction usually leaves nothing unused. The BMV form (revised 12-24) still names the pre-2026 statutes, so confirm current eligibility with your auditor.",
     "source_url": "https://forms.in.gov/download.aspx?id=11539",
     "source_title": "Indiana BMV - State Form 52870 (R3 / 12-24), Qualified Veteran Excise Tax Credit (IC 6-6-5-5.2); DLGF Veterans FAQ 2026",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Hoosier Veteran plate ($15) and Purple Heart plate",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Any Indiana resident honorably separated from the active armed forces can buy a Hoosier Veteran plate for $15 (plus $45 if personalized) by bringing a DD-214 or discharge certificate to a BMV branch; no application form is needed. Purple Heart recipients, or an unremarried surviving spouse, can get a Purple Heart plate by applying through IDVA with proof of the award. These plates do not waive registration fees or excise tax. Indiana has no veteran discount on driver's license fees that we could find.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/dva/divisions/training-and-services/veteran-license-plates/",
     "source_title": "Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs - Veteran License Plates (IC 9-18.5-6)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Reduced fee disabled veteran hunting and fishing license ($2.75 per year or $27.50 for 10 years)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Indiana residents who served in the armed forces and have a VA service-connected disability (or military disability retirement) can buy a license to fish and hunt small game for $2.75 a year, or $27.50 for a 10-year license. It does not cover deer or turkey, and gamebird, waterfowl, and trout and salmon stamps cost regular price. First send DNR the application (State Form 50833) with proof of your disability by email (INHuntFish@dnr.IN.gov), fax, or mail; after DNR approves you once, buy the license at GoOutdoorsIN.com, at a DNR property, or from a license vendor. IDVA's page says DNR will not process a faxed copy, while DNR's page lists a fax number, so use email or mail to be safe.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/dnr/fish-and-wildlife/licenses-and-permits/disabled-veterans/",
     "source_title": "Indiana Department of Natural Resources - Disabled Veterans license (IC 14-22-12-1.5)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "$25 Disabled Hoosier Veteran annual state park pass; free DNR entry on Veterans Day",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Veterans eligible for the Disabled Hoosier Veteran license plate (see the plate row for the mobility-based tests) can buy an annual entrance pass for $25 instead of the $50 resident price. It covers unlimited entry to state parks, recreation areas, reservoirs, and state forests for the calendar year, but not historic sites or museums. Buy it at any DNR property with your DHV registration or approved State Form 32584, or online. Former POWs and their surviving spouses get a free Golden Hoosier Passport mailed each year. Indiana resident Gold Star family members get a free annual pass. All veterans and active duty members, with everyone in their vehicle, are admitted free to DNR properties on Veterans Day; just tell the gate attendant.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/rates-and-fees/entrance-fees/",
     "source_title": "Indiana Department of Natural Resources - Entrance Fees (Disabled Hoosier Veteran pass, IC 9-18.5-5); events.in.gov Veterans Day free admission listing",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Tuition and fee exemption for children of disabled veterans (up to 124 credit hours)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "The biological or adopted child of a veteran who served during a war (or in duty that earned a service or campaign medal), has a VA service-connected disability or died from service, and was discharged other than dishonorably gets tuition and regularly assessed fees waived at Indiana public colleges for up to 124 credit hours or eight academic years. If the veteran enlisted before July 1, 2011, 100 percent is covered; if on or after that date, 20 percent plus the veteran's VA disability percentage. The veteran must have listed Indiana as home of record at enlistment or lived in Indiana five years before the child first applies, and the child must qualify for in-state tuition and apply before turning 33. Students who graduated high school on or after January 1, 2023 may use up to $5,000 a year at Indiana private nonprofit colleges. Apply once at ScholarTrack.IN.gov and file the FAFSA every year; IDVA reviews the application.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/che/state-financial-aid/state-financial-aid-by-program/tuition-and-fee-exemption-children-of-disabled-veterans",
     "source_title": "Indiana Commission for Higher Education - Tuition and Fee Exemption for Children of Disabled Veterans (IC 21-14-4)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart recipient tuition and fee exemption; National Guard Tuition Supplement Grant",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A veteran who received the Purple Heart or was wounded by enemy action, entered active duty from a permanent Indiana home address, and was discharged other than dishonorably gets up to 100 percent of tuition and regularly assessed fees waived at Indiana public colleges for up to 124 credit hours (eight academic years) at the undergraduate resident rate. Apply once at ScholarTrack.IN.gov and file the FAFSA each year. Separately, Indiana National Guard members in active drilling status seeking a first degree can get the National Guard Tuition Supplement Grant covering tuition and fees at public colleges (up to $5,000 a year at private nonprofits), certified by the unit each semester.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/che/state-financial-aid/state-financial-aid-by-program/tuition-and-fee-exemption-indiana-purple-heart-recipient",
     "source_title": "Indiana Commission for Higher Education - Tuition and Fee Exemption for Indiana Purple Heart Recipients; National Guard Tuition Supplement Grant page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retired pay and survivor benefits 100% deductible; $5,000 active duty pay deduction",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Indiana lets you deduct all military retirement pay and military survivor's benefits (phased in from 2019 and 100 percent since tax year 2022), with no age requirement, on IT-40 Schedule 2. The surviving spouse gets the same deduction; a divorced spouse receiving a share under a divorce decree does not. You did not have to live in Indiana while serving. Active duty members can deduct up to $5,000 of military pay, and National Guard and reserve pay is fully deductible. VA disability compensation is not in federal adjusted gross income, which is where the Indiana return starts, so Indiana does not tax it. Enclose your 1099-R or W-2 with the return.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/dor/files/ib27.pdf",
     "source_title": "Indiana Department of Revenue - Income Tax Information Bulletin #27, Indiana Adjusted Gross Income Tax Applicable to Military Personnel (June 2025; IC 6-3-2-4); Bulletin #6 (June 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans preference points for state merit jobs; no fee peddler or vendor license",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "IDVA states that the State Merit System adds points to the scores of veterans applying for merit positions or promotions in Indiana state government (IDVA cites IC 4-15-2-18). We could not find the current statute text, point values, or any extra points for disabled veterans or spouses on an official page, so ask the State Personnel Department when you apply through WorkForIndiana. Department of Workforce Development offices have Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program specialists who focus on job placement for veterans with service-connected disabilities. Separately, any veteran with an honorable discharge can get a license to vend, hawk, or peddle in any Indiana county, city, or town without paying the license fee where a local ordinance requires one (IC 25-25-2-1); apply through the county auditor or local licensing authority with your DD-214.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/dva/divisions/training-and-services/employment-assistance/",
     "source_title": "Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs - Employment Assistance (cites IC 4-15-2-18); IDVA No Fee Vendor, Hawker, or Peddler License fact sheet (IC 25-25-2-1)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military Family Relief Fund emergency grants",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "IDVA's Military Family Relief Fund gives hardship grants to Indiana resident veterans and their families for rent or mortgage, utilities, food, medical and dental bills, basic transportation, education, child care, and funeral costs. You must be an Indiana resident, the veteran must have an eligible discharge code, household income cannot exceed two times the federal poverty guidelines, and you must show genuine financial hardship in your income, spending, and statement letter. The fund will not reimburse bills already paid or pay bills more than 10 days in advance. Apply online, by email (MFRF@dva.in.gov), fax, mail, or in person at IDVA; incomplete applications close after 30 days. Grant maximums are set in 915 IAC 3 and were not shown on the web pages.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/dva/divisions/military-family-relief-fund/mfrf-eligibility",
     "source_title": "Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs - Military Family Relief Fund Eligibility Criteria (IC 10-17-12; 915 IAC 3)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Indiana Veterans' Home (West Lafayette) and Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery (Madison)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Indiana Veterans' Home in West Lafayette offers long-term skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, and memory care to honorably discharged veterans of any service period, their spouses and surviving spouses, and Gold Star parents. You need one year of Indiana residency right before applying (waivers for those who enlisted in or were discharged to Indiana) and must pass a background check. Apply by sending the application packet to Admissions (765-497-8072). The Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Madison buries veterans separated under conditions other than dishonorable, their spouses, and dependent children; for eligible veterans and spouses there is no cost for the plot opening and closing, outer burial container, monument, or chapel. No Indiana residency rule is stated for the cemetery.",
     "source_url": "https://www.in.gov/ivh/admissions-information/who-is-eligible-for-ivh/",
     "source_title": "Indiana Veterans' Home - Who is Eligible for IVH; IDVA - Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ],
   "slug": "indiana"
  },
  {
   "code": "IA",
   "name": "Iowa",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs",
    "url": "https://dva.iowa.gov"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Iowa's full property tax credit needs a 'permanent' 100% service-connected rating, or a permanent and total (P&T) rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) paid at the 100% rate. The law names TDIU directly, so TDIU counts if the VA rates you permanently and totally disabled. A 100% rating that the VA has not marked permanent does not match the law's words.",
    "2026 change: Senate File 2472 repealed Iowa Code 425.15 and moved the same credit to Iowa Code 425.1(2)(b), retroactive to the 2026 assessment year. If you first apply on or after July 1, 2026, the credit covers only one-half acre and no outbuildings. People who applied before that date keep the old homestead definition and do not need to refile.",
    "File property tax claims with your city or county assessor by July 1. A claim filed after July 1 counts for the next year. Bring your DD-214 and a current VA Benefit Summary letter. You do not refile each year. You cannot take both the full disabled veteran credit and the $4,000 military exemption; pick one.",
    "Surviving spouse: the full credit continues to the estate or the surviving spouse 'so long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried' and they stay in the home. A surviving spouse or child who receives Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) qualifies on their own, and the Department of Revenue says a DIC spouse stays eligible even after remarriage. The credit ends if DIC ends.",
    "Residency: most Iowa veteran benefits use the Iowa Code 35.1 definition of 'veteran,' which requires you to be an Iowa resident with an honorable discharge. The homestead must be the home you own and occupy on July 1 and live in at least six months of the year. The military exemption requires you to be 'a resident of and domiciled in the state of Iowa.' Amounts do not vary by county.",
    "There is no partial property tax credit for ratings below 100%. Bills to add tiers (HF 912, HF 910, HF 469 in 2025) were introduced but never passed. Any veteran with wartime service, 20 years of Guard or Reserve, 18 months of active duty, or an early discharge for a service injury can get the $4,000 military exemption instead.",
    "Vehicles: Iowa's free DV plate and registration fee exemption apply only to a vehicle bought with the VA automobile grant (38 U.S.C. 3901-3904), not to a disability rating. DV plates park free in city lots and metered spaces. Bills to waive registration fees for 100% rated veterans (HF 291, HF 912 in 2025) did not pass. Any honorably discharged veteran gets one free set of Veteran plates but pays a $5 yearly fee plus normal registration.",
    "Driver license: operator and motorcycle license fees are waived only for a 'permanent service-connected disability rating of one hundred percent.' The law does not mention TDIU, so ask Iowa DOT before you count on it. Honorably discharged veterans get chauffeur and CDL fees waived. The 'Veteran' designation costs $10 to add to a current card.",
    "Hunting and fishing: any service-connected rating (even 0%) or ex-POW status gets you a $7 lifetime hunting and fishing license after 90 days of Iowa residency. You still pay yearly habitat and other fees. A $5 annual license is open to any veteran with federal active duty. A $65 lifetime trout license is for 100% rated veterans or those with the disabled veteran homestead credit.",
    "Income tax: Iowa has a flat 3.8% income tax (tax year 2025 on). Military retirement pay and military survivor benefits are fully excluded, back to tax year 2014. Active duty pay is excluded. VA disability pay and DIC are not in federal income, so Iowa does not tax them.",
    "Education: a new 2026 law (HF 2491, effective July 1, 2026) waives all tuition and mandatory fees at the three Regents universities for Iowa veterans with a permanent 100% service-connected rating, after Pell and GI Bill money is used up. It does not name TDIU and does not cover community colleges. Veterans with 90 days of Title 10 service get in-state tuition at Regents schools. Iowa has no tuition waiver for children or spouses of living disabled veterans.",
    "Veterans preference in Iowa is a preference 'over other applicants of no greater qualifications' for state, county, city and school jobs, and the hiring officer must put the reasons for a refusal in writing. Point bonuses (5 points, plus 5 more for a service-connected disability) apply to city civil service and point-rated exams in local governments. Apply through your county veterans service officer for Trust Fund grants (income cap 300% of poverty, $20,000 liquid asset cap)."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Credit: full credit of all property tax on your homestead",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Your whole homestead property tax bill is credited if you are an Iowa resident veteran with an honorable discharge and either a 'permanent service-connected disability rating of one hundred percent' or 'a permanent and total disability rating based on individual unemployability that is compensated at the one hundred percent disability rate.' Veterans who bought the home with a VA specially adapted housing grant also qualify. The credit continues to your unmarried surviving spouse. File Form 54-049 and the homestead form 54-028 with your city or county assessor by July 1, with your DD-214 and VA Benefit Summary letter; no yearly refiling. If you first apply on or after July 1, 2026, the credit covers only one-half acre and no outbuildings (SF 2472, 2026, which moved the law from Iowa Code 425.15 to 425.1(2)(b)).",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/425.15.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - Iowa Code 2026 section 425.15 Disabled veteran tax credit (re-enacted as 425.1(2)(b) by SF 2472, 2026); Iowa Department of Revenue - Disabled Veteran Homestead Property Tax Credit",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Credit for surviving spouses and children receiving DIC",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A surviving spouse or child who receives VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) gets the same full property tax credit on the homestead they own and occupy, in their own right. The Department of Revenue says a DIC surviving spouse 'is eligible for the credit even upon remarriage.' The credit ends when DIC ends. A surviving spouse of a veteran who already had the credit keeps it 'so long as the surviving spouse remains unmarried' and stays in the home. File Form 54-049 with the assessor by July 1 with the VA letter showing DIC.",
     "source_url": "https://revenue.iowa.gov/disabled-veteran-homestead-property-tax-credit",
     "source_title": "Iowa Department of Revenue - Disabled Veteran Homestead Property Tax Credit (Iowa Code 425.15(1)(d), (2); 425.1(2)(b) as amended by SF 2472, 2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military Service Property Tax Exemption: $4,000 of taxable value",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Iowa takes $4,000 of taxable value off property owned by an honorably discharged veteran who is 'a resident of and domiciled in the state of Iowa.' You qualify with wartime service under Iowa Code 35.1, 20 years of Guard or Reserve service, 90 days of federal active duty in the Guard or Reserve, 18 months of active duty, or a shorter tour ended by a service-related injury. No disability rating is needed. If the veteran does not claim it, the spouse, unmarried surviving spouse, widowed dependent parent, or minor child may. File Form 54-146 with your city or county assessor by July 1 after recording your DD-214 with the county recorder; it renews automatically while you own the property on July 1. You cannot combine it with the full disabled veteran credit.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/426A.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - Iowa Code 2026 chapter 426A Military Service Tax Credit and Exemptions (426A.11, 426A.12, 426A.13); Iowa Department of Revenue Form 54-146",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran (DV) plates with no registration fee for a VA auto-grant vehicle; free parking",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "If the VA paid for your vehicle under the automobile grant (38 U.S.C. 3901-3904) and you live in Iowa, that vehicle is exempt from the annual registration fee and you get one free set of DV plates or free military special plates. The benefit follows the grant vehicle, not your rating; a replacement vehicle needs new proof. DV plates may park free in any city-owned lot or metered space in Iowa, and the plates carry persons-with-disabilities parking rights (a PWD sticker can be added). Apply at your county treasurer with your DD-214 and VA documents showing the grant. Iowa has no registration fee waiver based on a disability percentage alone.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/321.105.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - Iowa Code 2026 section 321.105(5); 321.166(6); 321L.2(5); Iowa DOT - Disabled Veteran Plate",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veteran, Purple Heart, Ex-POW and Medal of Honor license plates",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Any honorably discharged Iowa veteran can get one set of Veteran plates (or branch, Purple Heart, or other armed-forces plates) at no charge, then pay a $5 yearly fee to the Veterans License Fee Fund plus normal registration; a second set is $25 and personalized plates are $25. Ex-POW plates are free with a flat $15 annual registration fee. Medal of Honor plates are free and exempt from all registration fees. A surviving spouse may keep the plates until remarriage. Show your DD-214 (Guard and Reserve need 90 days of active duty other than training, or 20 years). Mail the Special Plate Application to Iowa DOT Vehicle & Motor Carrier Services and pick up the plates at your county treasurer.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/321.34.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - Iowa Code 2026 section 321.34(8), (8A), (12A), (18); Iowa DOT - Veteran Plate",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Driver license fee waiver for 100% permanent service-connected veterans; Veteran designation",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Iowa DOT does not charge the operator license fee or the motorcycle fee to 'a veteran with a permanent service-connected disability rating of one hundred percent, as certified by the United States department of veterans affairs.' Bring your VA Summary of Benefits letter when you get or renew a license; the waiver is not applied after the fact. The law does not mention TDIU. Honorably discharged veterans of any rating get chauffeur (Class D) and commercial license fees waived with a DD-214. Any honorably discharged veteran with 90 days of active duty can add a 'Veteran' designation; adding it to a current card costs $10.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/321.191.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - Iowa Code 2026 section 321.191(10); Iowa DOT - Military Fee Waiver; Iowa DOT - Driver's License Designations",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Lifetime hunting and fishing license ($7), lifetime fur harvester license, and deer tag for disabled veterans",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Iowa DNR issues a lifetime hunting and fishing combined license to an Iowa resident who served on federal active duty and 'was disabled or was a prisoner of war' in service; 'disabled' means 'entitled to a service connected rating under 38 U.S.C. ch. 11,' with no minimum percentage. The DNR fee is $7 (optional hard card $6). You must have lived in Iowa at least 90 days and still buy yearly habitat and other fees. The same application gets you a lifetime fur harvester license ($7 on the 7/2026 form; a 2026 law set it at $5 plus processing) and a $33 extra any-deer tag. Send DNR Form 542-1412 with your DD-214 and a current VA rating letter by mail, email, or upload at GoOutdoorsIowa.com. Any veteran with federal active duty can instead buy a $5 annual license, and 100% rated veterans can buy a $65 lifetime trout license.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/483A.24.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - Iowa Code 2026 section 483A.24(16), (17), (20), (21); Iowa DNR Form 542-1412 (7/2026); SF 2471 (2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Regents university tuition and mandatory fee waiver for 100% permanent service-connected veterans (new 2026)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Starting July 1, 2026, the University of Iowa, Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa must 'waive all tuition and mandatory fees for a veteran, as defined in section 35.1, who has a permanent service-connected disability rating of one hundred percent' and is admitted. It is a last-dollar benefit: you must first use or be ineligible for Pell grants, GI Bill and other federal or state aid, and the school prorates the waiver each semester to cover the gap. TDIU is not named in the law. Community colleges and private schools are not covered. Ask the university's veterans services office how to apply; implementation details were not yet posted when checked.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGE/91/HF2491.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - House File 2491 (2026), enrolled and signed April 30, 2026; Iowa Code 262.9(43)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "In-state tuition at Regents universities for veterans, Guard and Reserve, active duty and dependents",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Board of Regents rules give resident tuition status to 'Honorably discharged veterans who have served an aggregate of 90 days or more on Title 10 orders, other than for training'; other discharges are reviewed case by case. Active duty Title 10 members and their dependents, Iowa Guard and Reserve members assigned to an Iowa unit after initial training or one year of service, retired Iowa Guard members, and people moved to Iowa by military orders (with spouse, domestic partner and children) also qualify. The rule follows Section 702 of the federal Choice Act. Ask the university registrar; documentation may be required.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/rule/681.1.4.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Administrative Code 681-1.4(2)(b) Board of Regents resident classification (Iowa Code 262.9(3)); ARC 0417D effective 8/12/26",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Educational assistance for children of Iowa service members who died on active duty (War Orphans fund)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs pays tuition for a child under 31 whose parent died on or after September 11, 2001 while on active federal military service and had lived in Iowa at least six months before entering service. The award is up to the highest Regents resident undergraduate tuition rate per year, minus other state and federal grants, or the child's financial need if less, with a lifetime cap of five times that rate; the child must start college before age 26. Children of members who died before September 11, 2001 get up to $600 a year ($3,000 lifetime) after two years of Iowa residency. IDVA also runs the Branstad-Reynolds Children of the Fallen scholarship (apply by December 31). Apply through IDVA.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/35A.13.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - Iowa Code 2026 section 35A.13(9) War orphans educational assistance account; IDVA - Children of Fallen Iowa Service Members Scholarship",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No Iowa income tax on military retired pay, SBP survivor benefits, or active duty pay; flat 3.8% rate",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Iowa lets you subtract all 'retirement pay received by a taxpayer from the federal government for military service performed in the armed forces, the armed forces military reserve, or national guard,' plus military survivor benefits under 10 U.S.C. 1447, back to tax year 2014, at any age. Active duty military pay is also subtracted. VA disability compensation and DIC are not in federal adjusted gross income, so Iowa does not tax them. Iowa's income tax is a flat 3.8% starting with tax year 2025. Claim the subtraction on your Iowa return; no separate application.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/422.7.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - Iowa Code 2026 section 422.7(20), (21), (29); 422.5(1)(a); Iowa Department of Revenue - Military Tax Information",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans preference in state, county, city and school district hiring",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Iowa veterans (honorable discharge; Iowa residency is not required for this benefit) 'are entitled to preference in appointment and employment over other applicants of no greater qualifications' for all state, county, city and school jobs. If you are of good moral character and can do the job, the hiring officer 'shall appoint the applicant' and must file written reasons for any refusal; you can demand the reasons and appeal to district court within 20 days, arbitrate within 60 days, or sue within 300 days. In city civil service and point-rated local exams you get 5 percentage points, plus 5 more if you have any service-connected disability, receive VA compensation or pension, or earned a Purple Heart. Preferred employees can be removed only for incompetency or misconduct after a hearing. Claim it on the job application and attach your DD-214 and VA rating letter.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/35C.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - Iowa Code 2026 chapter 35C Veterans Preference (35C.1, 35C.3, 35C.6); Iowa Code 400.10 Veterans preferences (civil service points)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Iowa Veterans Trust Fund grants (dental, vision, hearing, medical equipment, repairs, housing, unemployment)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Iowa Commission of Veterans Affairs pays for needs that other sources will not cover: dental, vision, hearing and prescription costs; durable medical equipment; travel for wounded veterans' follow-up care; job retraining; counseling; emergency vehicle repair, home repair and temporary housing (up to $10,000 lifetime each for repairs, $1,000 per year for transitional housing); up to $500 a month ($3,000 per year, $6,000 lifetime) during unemployment caused by a service-connected illness; and one-time homelessness prevention up to $1,000. Household income, counting VA disability pay, must be at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines and liquid assets under $20,000. Veterans, spouses and dependents qualify; a veteran must be an Iowa resident with 90 days of active federal service and an honorable discharge. The rules say a veteran rated 100% TDIU permanent and total does not qualify for the unemployment payments. Apply through your county veterans service officer.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/35A.13.pdf",
     "source_title": "Iowa Legislature - Iowa Code 2026 section 35A.13 Veterans trust fund; Iowa Administrative Code 801-14; IDVA - State Benefits",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Injured Veterans Grant: up to $10,000 for serious injuries in a hazardous duty area after 9/11",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Iowa pays a grant 'up to $10,000' in $2,500 steps to service members or veterans 'seriously injured in the line of duty in a hazardous area after September 11, 2001' while receiving combat or hazardous duty pay. The grant is not taxed by Iowa. The amount depends on the severity of the injury under Iowa Administrative Code 801-11. Apply to the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs with your DD-214 and medical evacuation or injury records, or through your county veterans service officer.",
     "source_url": "https://dva.iowa.gov/benefits/state-benefits/injured-veterans-grant",
     "source_title": "Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs - Injured Veterans Grant (Iowa Code 35A.14; IAC 801-11)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Iowa Veterans Home (Marshalltown), Iowa Veterans Cemetery (Van Meter), and county veterans service officers",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown admits honorably discharged veterans who meet Iowa residency on the admission date and need residential or nursing care, plus spouses married at least one year, surviving spouses, and Gold Star parents; a veteran rated 70% or higher who needs nursing care has 'no out of pocket expense.' Get an application at any county Commission of Veterans Affairs office or VA medical center. The Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter buries honorably separated veterans free; spouses and dependent children pay $300; Iowa residency is not required and pre-need determination is free. Every Iowa county employs an accredited veterans service officer under Iowa Code chapter 35B who files claims and explains state benefits at no charge.",
     "source_url": "https://dva.iowa.gov/veterans-home/admissions",
     "source_title": "Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs - Iowa Veterans Home Admissions; IDVA - Iowa Veterans Cemetery Eligibility for Burial; Iowa Code 35B.6",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ],
   "slug": "iowa"
  },
  {
   "code": "KS",
   "name": "Kansas",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Kansas Office of Veterans Services (KOVS)",
    "url": "https://www.kovs.ks.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Kansas has no property tax exemption for disabled veterans. It has two refund programs instead, and both use a 50% or higher VA service-connected evaluation. Bills to create a full or partial exemption or credit (HB 2036 in 2023, HB 2635 in 2024, HB 2005 'Veterans' Valor' in 2025-2026, and the 2026 House Substitute for SB 434) all died. Nothing changed for the 2025 or 2026 tax years.",
    "Both refund programs define 'disabled veteran' by a 'service-connected evaluation percentage equal to or greater than 50%.' TDIU (total disability based on individual unemployability), 100% schedular, and 100% P&T all clear that bar as long as your combined evaluation is at least 50%. Permanence is not required by the statute, but the Department of Revenue asks for documentation of permanent disability and the Kansas Office of Veterans Services describes it as a 50% or greater permanent rating. Send your VA rating letter with the claim.",
    "You can file only one property tax refund claim per household each year: K-40H (Homestead), K-40PT (SAFESR, seniors only), or K-40SVR (Senior or Disabled Veteran). Claims are filed with the Kansas Department of Revenue, not the county. The deadline is April 15 of the year after the tax year (April 15, 2026 for 2025 taxes). Late claims may be accepted for good cause within four years.",
    "For every refund you must have lived in Kansas the entire prior year, must own and occupy the home as your homestead, and the home's appraised value must be $350,000 or less. Income limits apply: $43,389 for K-40H and $58,041 for K-40SVR for the 2025 tax year (indexed each year). VA disability pay, Social Security disability, SSI and Railroad Retirement are not counted as household income.",
    "A surviving spouse who has not remarried can keep the refund if the veteran was receiving it at death. For K-40H the unremarried surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, or of a service member who died in the line of duty, qualifies on his or her own. A surviving spouse who remarries loses the benefit.",
    "New for July 1, 2026: a state and local sales tax exemption for veterans the VA certifies as 100% permanent and total or TDIU (the Kansas Office of Veterans Services names TDIU directly). It covers up to $24,000 of personal purchases per year, but not motor vehicles, alcohol, tobacco or e-cigarettes. You must get a Disabled Veteran Exemption Certificate Card from the Department of Revenue first. A surviving spouse keeps it until remarriage.",
    "The free Disabled Veteran license plate needs a 50% or higher service-connected evaluation and an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge. Registration is free for the first plate, but Kansas still charges personal property tax on the vehicle. Kansas has no vehicle property tax exemption for disabled veterans; the only exemption is for current military and Guard members. There is no driver's license fee waiver for disabled veterans.",
    "The free hunting and fishing license starts at a 30% service-connected evaluation and is permanent, but the Kansas Office of Veterans Services notes it is issued 'based on state funding.' Kansas state parks give no veteran discount; the only reduced-price park permit is the Senior/Disabled permit, and park fees rise on November 1, 2026.",
    "Kansas does not tax military retired pay or VA disability pay. Veterans paid at the 100% rate for a permanent disability also get an extra $2,320 personal exemption on the Kansas return (K.S.A. 79-32,121). No official Kansas source we found addresses SBP or DIC by name.",
    "The Kansas Hero's Scholarship (tuition and required fees for dependents and spouses) uses an 80% rating threshold, or a service-connected disability that ended the member's service, or death in service. The servicemember must be a current Kansas resident (or was one at death). Funding is first come, first served.",
    "In 2024 and 2025 Kansas rewrote most veteran definitions to require an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions (L. 2024 ch. 84 and L. 2025 ch. 97). Veterans with other-than-honorable discharges do not qualify for the state benefits listed here. Veteran homes and cemeteries use the VA's 'other than dishonorable' standard instead.",
    "The state veterans agency was renamed in 2024 from the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office to the Kansas Office of Veterans Services (kovs.ks.gov). Its web pages block automated tools, so some application details below come from statute and Department of Revenue pages. Call KOVS at 785-296-3976 or 800-513-7731 for help."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Senior or Disabled Veteran property tax refund (K-40SVR) for 50%+ service-connected veterans",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "Kansas refunds the increase in your homestead property tax over your base year (the first year you qualified, no earlier than 2021). You qualify if you lived in Kansas all of the prior year, own and occupy the home, have a 'service-connected evaluation percentage equal to or greater than 50%' with an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge, the home's base-year appraised value is $350,000 or less, and household income is $58,041 or less for 2025 claims. A surviving spouse who has not remarried keeps the refund if the veteran was receiving it at death. File Form K-40SVR with the Kansas Department of Revenue after December 31 and by April 15 (April 15, 2026 for 2025 taxes) with a copy of your VA rating letter showing 50% or more. You cannot also file K-40H or K-40PT. This is a refund, not an exemption, and processing takes 20 to 24 weeks.",
     "source_url": "https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch79/079_045_0008a.html",
     "source_title": "Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes - K.S.A. 79-4508a Property tax refund for seniors and disabled veterans (L. 2025 ch. 123); KDOR Form K-40SVR (2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead Refund (K-40H) for 50%+ disabled veterans and surviving spouses",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "The Homestead Refund pays back part of the property tax on your home, up to $700, scaled down as income rises. You qualify as a disabled veteran if you were a Kansas resident all of 2025, own your home (contract for deed counts, rent-to-own does not), were a disabled veteran (50% or higher service-connected evaluation, honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge) all year, and household income was $43,389 or less. Homes valued at $350,000 or more do not qualify. The unremarried surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, or of a service member who died in the line of duty, also qualifies. File Form K-40H with the Kansas Department of Revenue by April 15, 2026 with your VA rating letter. Only one claim (K-40H, K-40PT or K-40SVR) is allowed per household.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ksrevenue.gov/homesteadbook25.html",
     "source_title": "Kansas Department of Revenue - 2025 Homestead or Property Tax Refund for Homeowners instructions (K-40H, K-40PT, K-40SVR); K.S.A. 79-4502",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Sales tax exemption for 100% P&T or TDIU veterans (effective July 1, 2026, up to $24,000 per year)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Starting July 1, 2026, a Kansas resident veteran with an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge who is certified by the VA 'to have a 100% disability or be deemed totally disabled or unemployable,' with a permanent disability from military action, accident or disease in service, pays no state or local sales tax on up to $24,000 of personal-use purchases per year. The Kansas Office of Veterans Services says TDIU counts. Motor vehicles, alcohol, tobacco and e-cigarettes are excluded, and purchases to produce income do not qualify. Your spouse or an authorized household member may buy for you. A surviving spouse keeps the exemption until remarriage. Apply first to the Department of Revenue (online or paper Form K-97) with your DD-214 and VA award letter; you get a wallet-size Disabled Veteran Exemption Certificate Card to show retailers. Created by 2024 HB 2098 (K.S.A. 79-3606h).",
     "source_url": "https://www.ksrevenue.gov/vetsalesexempt.html",
     "source_title": "Kansas Department of Revenue - Disabled Veteran Tax Exemption (K.S.A. 79-3606h); KDOR Notice 26-01 (May 15, 2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Disabled Veteran license plate and registration, plus free metered and attended-lot parking",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "A Kansas resident with an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge and a 'service-connected evaluation percentage equal to or greater than 50%' gets one Disabled Veteran plate with no registration fee, for a car, motorcycle or truck of 20,000 pounds or less that you own or lease. You still pay the vehicle's personal property tax. Extra DV plates for other vehicles carry the regular registration fee. With the plate you may park free in metered zones without time limits and free in reserved accessible spaces in attended public lots; the version with the wheelchair symbol (needs a medical certification under K.S.A. 8-1,124) also allows parking in accessible spaces. Complete Form TR-103, signed by you and the VA regional office, and apply at your county treasurer's motor vehicle office with proof of insurance. Carry the state ID card when using accessible parking.",
     "source_url": "https://ksrevenue.gov/dov-disabledvet.html",
     "source_title": "Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles - Kansas Disabled Veteran Plate (K.S.A. 8-160 and 8-161, L. 2025 ch. 97)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart and other military plates (regular fee) and free VETERAN designation on driver's license",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Kansas issues a Purple Heart plate to a resident who proves the award for wounds 'in military or naval combat against an armed enemy of the United States,' for each car, truck under 20,000 pounds or motorcycle. You pay the regular registration fee; there is no fee waiver. Other military plates (branch, Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Bronze Star, Silver Star, Gold Star Mother, Families of the Fallen, POW) work the same way. Any veteran with a DD-214 showing an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge may ask the Division of Vehicles to print VETERAN on a driver's license or ID card; no extra fee for the designation is listed, but regular license fees apply. Apply at your county treasurer (plates) or driver's license office (designation).",
     "source_url": "https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch08/008_001_0140.html",
     "source_title": "Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes - K.S.A. 8-1,140 Purple Heart license plates; K.S.A. 8-243 (VETERAN designation); KOVS State Veterans Benefits page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free permanent hunting and fishing license for 30%+ disabled resident veterans",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "30%",
     "details": "The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks issues a free permanent hunting and fishing license to any Kansas resident who was discharged honorably or with a general discharge under honorable conditions, whose disability was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, and who has a service-connected evaluation of 30% or more. Apply online through Go Outdoors Kansas (Customer Applications) or mail the Disabled Veterans Hunt and Fish License Application to KDWP Licensing, 512 SE 25th Ave, Pratt, KS 67124, with your Kansas driver's license or ID, your VA letter showing at least 30%, and your hunter education card if born on or after July 1, 1957. Allow two weeks. The license covers the hunting and fishing license itself; the official pages do not say it covers big game permits, stamps or park permits. The Kansas Office of Veterans Services notes the licenses are issued 'based on state funding.'",
     "source_url": "https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch32/032_009_0034.html",
     "source_title": "Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes - K.S.A. 32-934 Disabled veterans hunting and fishing licenses (L. 2025 ch. 97); KDWP Special Licenses and Permits page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State park vehicle permits: no veteran discount; reduced Senior/Disabled permit only",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Kansas state parks charge a vehicle permit and offer no veteran or disabled veteran discount. The only reduced permit is the Senior/Disabled annual vehicle permit, $13.75 for 2025 versus $25.00 regular (rising to $20.25 versus $39.00 on November 1, 2026), and a Senior/Disabled daily permit of $3.25 ($4.25 after November 1, 2026). KDWP describes it as for residents 65 or older or persons with disabilities who display a disability plate or placard; whether a Disabled Veteran plate without the wheelchair symbol qualifies is not stated, so ask at the park office. Free park permits go only to active Kansas National Guard members. A State Park Passport ($15.50, $30.50 after November 1, 2026) can be added when you register your vehicle at the county treasurer.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ksoutdoors.gov/licenses-permits-fees/kansas-state-park-entrance-and-camping-fees",
     "source_title": "Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks - Kansas State Park Entrance and Camping Fees (2025 fees and fees beginning 11/1/2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Kansas Hero's Scholarship: tuition and fees for dependents and spouses of 80%+ disabled veterans",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Dependents and spouses attend any public Kansas college, university, technical college or Washburn without paying tuition and required fees for up to 10 undergraduate semesters. The servicemember must be a current Kansas resident (or was one at death) and must have died in service, or sustained a service-connected injury or disability that made the member 'incapable of continuing military service,' or be 'entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability of at least 80%.' Dependents and spouses of Kansas public safety officers and former POWs also qualify. A spouse must not have remarried. Funding is limited and first come, first served. Apply at sfa.kansasregents.gov with the DD-214, VA letter and residency proof; 2026-27 deadlines are July 1, 2026 (summer), September 1, 2026 (fall) and February 1, 2027 (spring). Post-9/11 GI Bill users should check how this restricted aid affects VA tuition payments.",
     "source_url": "https://www.kansasregents.gov/resources/PDF/Students/Student_Financial_Aid/Heros_2026-2027.pdf",
     "source_title": "Kansas Board of Regents - Kansas Hero's Scholarship 2026-2027 information and required documentation (K.S.A. 75-4364)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "In-state tuition for veterans and families; Kansas Military Service Scholarship",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A veteran with an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge who was stationed in Kansas at least 11 months or lived in Kansas before service, and lives in Kansas when enrolling, pays in-state tuition at Kansas public colleges no matter how long he or she has been in the state; the spouse and dependent children get the same. Current service members and their families, and anyone using federal GI Bill benefits who lives in Kansas and files a letter of intent to stay, are also treated as residents. Separately, the Kansas Military Service Scholarship pays tuition and fees for up to 8 undergraduate semesters for a Kansas resident who received hostile fire pay for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 (or fewer days because of injury), is honorably discharged or still serving, and files a FAFSA; priority date May 1. Contact the school registrar for tuition status and the Board of Regents (785-430-4300) for the scholarship.",
     "source_url": "https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch48/048_036_0001.html",
     "source_title": "Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes - K.S.A. 48-3601 Residency for tuition purposes; veterans and families (L. 2025 ch. 97); KOVS State Veterans Benefits page (Kansas Military Service Scholarship)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retired pay and VA disability pay not taxed by Kansas",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Kansas lets you subtract all military retirement benefits (and federal civil service retirement) from Kansas income on Schedule S, line A14, with no age or income limit. VA disability compensation is not in federal adjusted gross income and is not taxed by Kansas; the Kansas Office of Veterans Services lists 'Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Payments' as not taxed. Military recruitment and retention bonuses and certain military student loan repayments are also subtracted (line A17). Active duty pay is taxed only by your state of legal residence. No official Kansas page addresses Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) or DIC by name.",
     "source_url": "https://ksrevenue.gov/incomebook25.html",
     "source_title": "Kansas Department of Revenue - 2025 Individual Income Tax Booklet, Schedule S line A14 (K.S.A. 79-32,117(c)(vii)); KOVS State Veterans Benefits page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Additional $2,320 Kansas income tax exemption for 100% permanently disabled veterans",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "An honorably discharged veteran 'certified by the United States department of veterans affairs ... to be in receipt of disability compensation at the 100% rate, if the disability is permanent and was sustained through military action or accident or resulted from disease contracted while in such active service' gets an extra Kansas personal exemption of $2,320 for tax year 2025 and later ($2,250 for 2023 and 2024). The Kansas Office of Veterans Services describes this as 100% permanent and total. The law does not mention TDIU. Claim it in the exemptions section of Form K-40; keep your VA letter. For 2025 the standard exemptions are $18,320 (joint) or $9,160 (other filers) plus $2,320 per dependent.",
     "source_url": "https://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch79/079_032_0121.html",
     "source_title": "Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes - K.S.A. 79-32,121 Kansas personal exemption; additional exemption for disabled veterans (L. 2025 ch. 112)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans' preference in state, county and city hiring (guaranteed interview; hire if competent)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Kansas gives veterans preference for initial hire and first promotion if they are 'competent' for the job, in state government and in Kansas counties and cities. For state classified jobs marked Veterans Preference Eligible, every qualifying veteran who meets the requirements must be offered an interview (unless a Kansas Employee Preference Program applicant applied). You qualify with an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge and wartime or campaign service, any VA service-connected disability, a Purple Heart, or release with a service-connected disability. Spouses of veterans rated 100% or unemployable, unremarried spouses of members who died in service, and POW spouses also qualify. Officers who retired at O-4 or above are excluded unless retired for combat wounds or rated 10% or more. Claim it on the application with your DD-214; you must be notified within 30 days if not hired and may appeal. There are no preference points.",
     "source_url": "https://admin.ks.gov/offices/personnel-services/jobs/veterans-preference/how-do-i-determine-if-i-am-eligible",
     "source_title": "Kansas Department of Administration, Office of Personnel Services - Veterans Preference: How do I Determine if I am Eligible? (K.S.A. 73-201, L. 2025 ch. 97)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled veteran business contract preference (30%+) and military spouse license fee exemption",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "30%",
     "details": "State agencies must give preference to Kansas disabled veteran businesses (at least 51% owned and controlled by veterans with a 'service-connected evaluation percentage equal to or greater than 30%' and an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge), with a goal of 3% of contracts. A disabled veteran business that is a responsible bidder wins the contract if its bid is not more than 10% above the lowest bid. Register with the Department of Administration, Procurement and Contracts. Separately, since July 1, 2025 the spouse of a current member, or of a former member with an honorable discharge, pays no application, licensing, renewal or background check fees to any Kansas occupational licensing body (K.S.A. 48-3406).",
     "source_url": "https://www.kovs.ks.gov/veteran-services/state-veterans-benefits-guide",
     "source_title": "Kansas Office of Veterans Services - State Veterans Benefits (K.S.A. 73-230, 75-3740 Disabled Owned Veteran Business; K.S.A. 48-3406 Spouses Application Fees Exemption)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Kansas Soldiers' Home (Fort Dodge) and Kansas Veterans' Home (Winfield) long-term care",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Kansas runs two veterans homes with skilled nursing, dementia care and domiciliary units: the Kansas Soldiers' Home at Fort Dodge and the Kansas Veterans' Home at Winfield (a third home in Topeka is awaiting federal construction funds). You must meet VA veteran status with a discharge 'under conditions other than dishonorable,' need 24-hour skilled nursing care documented by a physician, and have no felony record or sex offender registration. Spouses, surviving spouses and Gold Star Parents may be admitted as space allows. Kansas residency is not required, but Kansas residents get preference, and veterans without adequate means of support get first priority. Charges depend on ability to pay; the Legislative Research Department reports veterans rated 70% or higher pay no resident fees, which we could not confirm on the KOVS site. Apply through KOVS with VA Form 10-10EZ and the Application for Admission.",
     "source_url": "https://www.kovs.ks.gov/veteran-homes/eligibility-admissions",
     "source_title": "Kansas Office of Veterans Services - Veteran Homes: Eligibility and Admissions (K.S.A. 76-1908, 76-1954)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free burial in Kansas Veterans' Cemeteries (Fort Dodge, Fort Riley, WaKeeney, Winfield)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Kansas operates four state veterans cemeteries. Eligibility follows VA National Cemetery Administration rules: discharge from active duty under other than dishonorable conditions, death on active duty, or 20 qualifying years of Guard or Reserve service with retired pay eligibility. There is no Kansas residency requirement and no fee for the veteran or eligible dependents; the state provides the grave, liner, opening and closing, marker and perpetual care (a fee can apply only if you decline the standard liner or need an oversized one). Spouses, surviving spouses (even if remarried to a non-veteran, for deaths on or after January 1, 2000), unmarried children under 21 (23 if full-time students) and permanently disabled adult children may be buried there even if the veteran is not. Pre-register with KVCP Form 200 and your DD-214.",
     "source_url": "https://www.kovs.ks.gov/veteran-cemeteries/program-information",
     "source_title": "Kansas Office of Veterans Services - Kansas Veterans' Cemetery Program",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ],
   "slug": "kansas"
  },
  {
   "code": "KY",
   "name": "Kentucky",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA)",
    "url": "https://veterans.ky.gov"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Kentucky has no veteran-specific property tax exemption. The only break is the general homestead exemption in Section 170 of the Kentucky Constitution and KRS 132.810 for owners who are 65 or older or 'totally disabled.' It takes $49,100 off the assessed value of your home for the 2025 and 2026 tax years (the Department of Revenue resets the amount every two years). It is not a full exemption. The same amount applies in every county.",
    "The homestead law does not say '100 percent,' 'permanent and total,' or 'individual unemployability.' It says you must be 'classified as totally disabled under a program authorized or administered by an agency of the United States government' and must 'have received disability payments pursuant to the disability.' A VA 100% rating is a total disability rating, so it fits. TDIU is also a total rating for pay purposes, but no official Kentucky source names TDIU, so ask your county PVA. P&T is not required, but you must keep the total classification for the whole tax year, and the PVA can ask for proof of continuing disability at any time. A veteran rated 'service-connected totally disabled' does not have to reapply every year; other disabled owners under 65 do.",
    "To get the homestead exemption, file Form 62A350 with the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) in your county by December 31 of the tax year. You must own and live in the home as your personal residence on January 1. Only one exemption per home, even if you are both 65 and disabled. There is no surviving spouse carryover; a spouse qualifies only on his or her own age or disability. If you no longer meet the disability classification, you must tell the PVA, or you can be billed for up to five years of back taxes.",
    "Bills to create a real disabled veteran property tax exemption have been filed in Kentucky for years but none has passed. In 2025, HB 639 (new homestead exemption for veterans with a service-connected disability) died in committee. In 2026, HB 285 (up to $100,000 for veterans rated 50% or more), HB 587, HB 242 and SB 169 (constitutional amendments for disabled veterans) all died in committee. Kentucky needs a constitutional amendment approved by voters before the legislature can give disabled veterans more than the regular homestead amount.",
    "The free Disabled Veteran license plate needs a VA rating of exactly 100% service-connected (or a VA grant to buy or adapt a vehicle, or the Medal of Honor). Veterans rated 50% to 99% can get a Disabled Veteran plate but pay $23 to get it and $23 to renew. A 2025 bill (HB 157) that would have made all veteran plates free was changed in the Senate and that part was dropped. A 2026 law (Acts ch. 161) rewrites the fee list effective January 1, 2027; the 100% plate stays at $0. Kentucky does not waive driver license fees for disabled veterans. The accessible parking placard is free to anyone with a qualifying mobility impairment, veteran or not.",
    "The Disabled Sportsman's hunting and fishing license needs a 50% or higher service-connected rating and Kentucky residency. You first get a disability authorization from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife (good for 3 years), then buy the license each year. The regulation sets the price at $12; the Fish and Wildlife fee page shows $12.68 after a 2026 cost-of-living adjustment. The regular Resident Sportsman's License is $100.42, so this is a large discount.",
    "Kentucky State Parks give veterans rated 100% service-connected who live in Kentucky up to three free overnight stays a year (three nights each) in a lodge room, cottage or campsite. You must call the park no more than 10 days ahead and bring your VA letter and proof of Kentucky residency. In summer and October, stays must fall Sunday through Thursday. There is no free pass for veterans rated below 100%; active and retired military get 15% off lodging.",
    "The Kentucky Tuition Waiver is for your spouse and children, not for you. The veteran must be rated 100% service-connected for compensation (or P&T for VA pension), be a POW or MIA, or have died on active duty or from a service-connected cause, and must be a current Kentucky resident (or a resident at death). Children must start before age 26 and get up to 45 months; spouses have no age limit. It waives tuition only, not fees, books or housing, at Kentucky public schools. TDIU is not named in KRS 164.515. A 2026 bill to turn the waiver into a last-dollar scholarship with a 128-credit-hour cap (HB 497) passed the House but died in the Senate, so the rules above still apply.",
    "Kentucky taxes income at a flat rate: 4% for 2025 and 3.5% for 2026 (KRS 141.020, as changed by 2025 HB 1). Active duty military pay is fully exempt. Military retired pay gets the general pension exclusion of up to $31,110 per person; if you retired before January 1, 1998, your military pension is fully exempt, and if you retired later, the part earned before 1998 is exempt on Schedule P. VA disability compensation is not in federal adjusted gross income, which is where the Kentucky return starts, so Kentucky does not tax it.",
    "Kentucky state hiring preference is an interview preference, not points. Since June 27, 2019 (HB 338), any veteran with an honorable, under honorable conditions, or general discharge, their spouse, unremarried surviving spouse, current service members and their spouses, and a dependent parent of a member who died or became permanently and totally disabled from service, must be offered an interview for a competitive classified job they are minimally qualified for (at least five such applicants, or all if fewer). A disability rating does not add anything extra.",
    "Kentucky runs five state veterans nursing homes (Wilmore, Hazard, Hanson, Radcliff and Bowling Green). You must be a veteran with a discharge that is not dishonorable, need nursing care, and be a Kentucky resident on the day you are admitted. Spouses are not eligible. Kentucky's five state veterans cemeteries do not require Kentucky residency; burial is free for the veteran and the KDVA page lists a $500 spousal fee. Starting January 1, 2026, Guard and Reserve members who finished their initial service obligation are also eligible."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead exemption for totally disabled owners ($49,100 off assessed value, 2025-2026)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Kentucky has no veteran-only property tax exemption. If you are 'classified as totally disabled under a program authorized or administered by an agency of the United States government' and receive disability payments for it, or are 65 or older, you can take $49,100 off the assessed value of the home you own and live in as your personal residence on January 1. A VA 100% total rating fits the words of the law; TDIU is a total rating but is not named by any Kentucky agency, and P&T is not required. File Form 62A350 with your county Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) by December 31 of the tax year with your VA award letter. A 'service-connected totally disabled veteran' does not have to reapply each year. Only one exemption per home and no surviving spouse carryover.",
     "source_url": "https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=39641",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Legislature - KRS 132.810 Homestead exemption -- Application -- Qualification (Ky. Const. Sec. 170); DOR press release Nov. 14, 2024 setting the 2025-2026 amount at $49,100; DOR Form 62A350",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Disabled Veteran license plate (100%); $23 plate for 50% to 99%; local vehicle fee exemption",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "If the VA has declared you 'one hundred percent (100%) service-connected disabled,' or you received VA help to buy a vehicle, or you hold the Medal of Honor, the Disabled Veteran plate costs $0 to get and $0 to renew, with no limit on the number of vehicles you own or lease. Veterans rated 'between fifty percent (50%) and ninety-nine percent (99%)' pay $23 initial and $23 renewal. Apply at your county clerk with Form TC 96-217 (notarized) and your VA rating letter; the clerk collects usage tax but no registration fee. Disabled Veteran plates expire July 31. With the plate, no city or county may charge you a local vehicle license or fee, and you may park two hours past posted limits. Fees are restructured January 1, 2027 under 2026 Acts ch. 161; the 100% plate stays free.",
     "source_url": "https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57951",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Legislature - KRS 186.162(2)(a) and (2)(d) Special license plates fees (effective until Jan. 1, 2027); KRS 186.041; KRS 189.4595; Transportation Cabinet Form TC 96-217 (rev. 10/2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart license plate ($23 initial, $11 renewal) with surviving spouse retention",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Purple Heart recipients, former POWs and Pearl Harbor survivors can get a special plate for $23 initial and $11 renewal; $5 of each fee goes to the Kentucky Veterans' Program Trust Fund. Show your DD-214 or VA ID card plus proof of the award at the county clerk. A surviving spouse may keep the Purple Heart plate on the same or a replacement vehicle and renew it as long as the registration fee is paid. A 2026 law changes the fee split effective January 1, 2027 ($17 initial, $5 renewal plus clerk fee).",
     "source_url": "https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57953",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Legislature - KRS 186.041 Special military-related license plates (effective July 15, 2026); KRS 186.162(2)(b)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "'Veteran' designation on driver license or ID card (no disabled veteran license fee waiver)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Any veteran can ask that the word 'veteran' be printed on a Kentucky driver license or personal ID card when first applying, renewing or getting a duplicate. Show an unexpired VA Veteran ID Card or Veteran Health ID Card, a DD-2, DD-214, DD-256, DD-257 or NGB-22, or a Geneva Conventions ID card at a Driver Licensing Regional Office. Kentucky does not waive driver license or ID card fees for disabled veterans; KRS 186.531 has no veteran exemption. The free accessible parking placard (KRS 189.456) is available to any person with a qualifying mobility impairment through the county clerk.",
     "source_url": "https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57818",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Legislature - KRS 186.416(4) Veteran's designation on operator's license or personal ID card (effective July 15, 2026); KRS 186.531; KRS 189.456",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Resident Disabled Sportsman's hunting and fishing license ($12 base fee) for 50%+ service-connected veterans",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "A Kentucky resident who is 'an American veteran at least fifty percent (50%) disabled as a result of a service-connected disability' can buy the Disabled Sportsman's License. It includes the combination hunting and fishing license, all deer permits, spring and fall turkey permits, the Kentucky migratory bird and waterfowl permit and the trout permit (the same package as the $100.42 Resident Sportsman's License). The regulation sets the fee at $12; the Fish and Wildlife fee page shows $12.68 after the 2026 adjustment. First get a disability authorization (valid 3 years) by sending a VA letter showing at least 50% to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife online through My Profile, by mail, fax or in person in Frankfort. Then buy the license each year; it runs March 1 to the end of February. You still need the federal duck stamp and HIP survey for waterfowl.",
     "source_url": "https://fw.ky.gov/Licenses/Pages/Resident-Senior-and-Disabled-Licenses.aspx",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources - Senior and Disabled Licenses (KRS 150.175(27); 301 KAR 5:022; fw.ky.gov Fees page)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Kentucky State Parks lodging or camping for 100% service-connected veterans (3 stays per year)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Kentucky State Parks give a free lodge room, cottage or campsite to a veteran who is '100% disabled as a direct result of a service-connected incident and is a current Kentucky resident.' Kentucky National Guard or Reserve members disabled the same way also qualify. You get up to three overnight stays per calendar year, three nights maximum per visit, subject to availability. From Memorial Day to Labor Day and in October, stays must start and end Sunday through Thursday. The free room covers only the veteran's own accommodation; pet fees still apply. Call the park no more than 10 days before arrival and bring your VA disability letter and proof of Kentucky residency. Active and retired military get 15% off lodging and 10% off campsites; former POWs camp free.",
     "source_url": "https://parks.ky.gov/parks/park-listings/deals",
     "source_title": "Kentucky State Parks - Deals and Discounts: Kentucky Disabled Veterans Lodging Guidelines",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Kentucky Tuition Waiver for spouse and children of 100% disabled, P&T, POW or MIA veterans (KRS 164.515)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Your spouse (any age) and your children, stepchildren or orphans under 26 pay no tuition at Kentucky state-supported colleges, universities and vocational schools for up to 45 months or until they earn a degree. You must be 'a permanently and totally disabled war veteran, or a one hundred percent (100%) service-connected disabled veteran regardless of wartime service,' rated 'permanently and totally disabled for pension purposes or one hundred percent (100%) disabled for compensation purposes' by the VA or Defense Department, or a POW or MIA. You must have an honorable-conditions discharge and be a current Kentucky resident (or a Kentucky resident at death). The waiver covers tuition only, not fees, books or housing, and does not work at private or out-of-state schools. Apply to KDVA (KDVA.TuitionWaiver@ky.gov, 502-503-7911) after the student is accepted, with birth or marriage certificate, VA award letter and DD-214; allow 30 days.",
     "source_url": "https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=45836",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Legislature - KRS 164.515 Exemption from tuition for spouse or child under age 26 of permanently disabled member of the National Guard, war veteran, prisoner of war, or MIA; KDVA Education for Veterans in Kentucky page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Tuition waiver for spouse and children of veterans who died in service or of a service-connected cause",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "If a Kentucky veteran died on active duty, was killed in action, or died from a service-connected disability, the unremarried spouse and children or stepchildren pay no matriculation or tuition fees at Kentucky state-supported schools. Under KRS 164.505 (killed in service or died of a service-connected disability during a war, national emergency or UN action, with Kentucky as home of record) there is no age or time limit and graduate degrees count. Under KRS 164.507 (any wartime veteran who was a Kentucky resident at death, or who died on active duty or from a service-connected disability) children under 26 get up to 45 months. Proof is a death certificate, VA or Defense Department records, and birth or marriage certificates. Apply through KDVA.",
     "source_url": "https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=45833",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Legislature - KRS 164.505 Exemption from matriculation or tuition fee of dependents, widow, or widower of members killed while in service or having died as a result of service-connected disability; KRS 164.507",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Income tax: $31,110 pension exclusion, pre-1998 military retirement fully exempt, 3.5% rate for 2026",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Kentucky's flat income tax is 4% for 2025 and 3.5% for tax years starting January 1, 2026. Active duty military pay is fully exempt. Military retired pay is treated like any pension: you exclude up to $31,110 per person. If you retired before January 1, 1998, your entire military pension is exempt; if you retired after December 31, 1997, the part earned before 1998 is exempt based on an 'exempt percentage' you figure on Schedule P. VA disability compensation is excluded from federal adjusted gross income, which is the starting point for the Kentucky return, so it is not taxed. Kentucky National Guard members get a $20 credit.",
     "source_url": "https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57914",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Legislature - KRS 141.019(1)(g) and (l) Calculation of adjusted gross income (pension exclusion, military pay); KRS 141.020(2)(e)-(f) tax rate; DOR Military Tax Issues page; DOR Schedule P",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Interview preference for state classified jobs (veterans, spouses, surviving spouses, dependent parents)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "If you served in the Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard and were discharged with an honorable, under honorable conditions, or general discharge, you get interview preference for any competitive classified state job you meet the minimum qualifications for. The same goes for your spouse, your unremarried widow or widower, current service members and their spouses, and a parent dependent on a member who died in service or 'became permanently and totally disabled as a result of a service-connected disability.' The agency must interview at least five preference applicants, or all of them if fewer than five. It applies only to initial appointment, not promotions. Kentucky dropped the old 5 and 10 point system in 2019. Claim it when you apply on the Personnel Cabinet careers site and upload your DD-214.",
     "source_url": "https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=48896",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Legislature - KRS 18A.150 Interview preference for current service members, honorably or generally discharged former service members, and members' spouses, surviving spouses, and dependent parents (effective June 27, 2019); Personnel Memo 19-07",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Kentucky Veterans Centers (five state veterans nursing homes)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "KDVA runs skilled nursing homes at Wilmore (Thomson-Hood), Hazard (Paul E. Patton Eastern Kentucky), Hanson (Joseph Eddie Ballard Western Kentucky), Radcliff (Carl M. Brashear) and Bowling Green (Robert E. Spiller). To be admitted you must 'be a veteran,' 'be disabled by reason of disease, wounds, age, or otherwise is in need of nursing care,' 'be a Kentucky resident as of the date of admission,' and have a discharge 'that is not of a dishonorable nature.' Spouses are not eligible. Bring your DD-214, proof of Kentucky residency, insurance cards, and your VA award letter if you are rated 70% or higher. Contact the admissions coordinator at the center you want; an admission committee reviews each case.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.ky.gov/Veterans-Centers/Pages/Admission-to-State-Veterans-Homes.aspx",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs - Admission to State Veterans Homes (KRS 40.325; 17 KAR 3:040)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Burial in a Kentucky State Veterans Cemetery (five cemeteries, no residency requirement)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Kentucky has five state veterans cemeteries: Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West, Central, North, North East and South East. Anyone eligible for a national cemetery under 38 U.S.C. 2402 qualifies, including spouses, minor children and some unmarried adult dependent children. Kentucky residency is not required. Starting January 1, 2026 (2025 Acts ch. 20), Guard and Reserve members who completed their initial service obligation with a discharge other than dishonorable, and Guard members who died on state active duty or Title 32 duty, are also eligible. Burial, plot, vault, headstone and perpetual care are free for the veteran; the KDVA page lists a $500 spousal fee due at the time of death. File the Kentucky Veterans Cemeteries Eligibility Application with KDVA in advance to speed things up.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.ky.gov/Cemeteries/Pages/default.aspx",
     "source_title": "Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs - Kentucky Veterans Cemeteries (KRS 40.315, effective Jan. 1, 2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ],
   "slug": "kentucky"
  },
  {
   "code": "LA",
   "name": "Louisiana",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA)",
    "url": "https://vetaffairs.la.gov"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Louisiana's disabled veteran property tax break is written into the state constitution (Article VII, Section 21(K)). It is an add-on to the regular $7,500 homestead exemption and applies only to the home you own and live in. The tiers are 50% to 69% (an extra $2,500 of assessed value), 70% to 99% (an extra $4,500), and 100% (the rest of the assessed value). Louisiana assesses homes at 10 percent of market value, so $7,500 of assessed value is about $75,000 of home value.",
    "The 100% tier uses the words 'one hundred percent unemployability or totally disabled.' That means a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) counts. The constitution does not say the rating must be permanent, so a 100% schedular rating that is not marked permanent and total (P&T) should also qualify. Ask your parish assessor what VA letter they want.",
    "There is no single statewide filing deadline for the veteran exemption. You apply at your parish assessor's office, usually in person, with your VA rating letter and proof you own and live in the home. Each parish assessor sets its own paperwork, so call first. Jefferson Parish, for example, requires an in-person visit with a recorded act of sale and photo ID.",
    "The 100% exemption does not always wipe out your whole tax bill. The homestead exemption covers state, parish, and special district taxes. City (municipal) taxes and fees may still be billed in many cities. The East Baton Rouge assessor says 'city taxes and fees will still be due.' Check your own parish and city.",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the veteran exemption only while the spouse 'occupies and remains the owner of the property.' The spouse qualifies even if the veteran never claimed the exemption before dying. On November 3, 2026, voters will decide Act 39 of 2026 (SB 180), which would drop the stay-in-the-home rule and let the spouse move the exemption one time to a new home, starting with tax year 2027. Until voters approve it, the old rule stands.",
    "The free 100% DAV license plate needs a 100% service-connected rating; a 50% rating gets you a free disabled veteran or military honor plate and mobility-impaired parking privileges, a free driver license or ID card, free hunting and fishing licenses, free state park day use, and free airport parking. Most of these need a form or affidavit signed by a Veterans Assistance Counselor at your parish veterans service office, so start there.",
    "The free hunting and fishing license requires a 'permanent service connected disability classification of fifty percent or more.' It is open to residents and nonresidents and must be renewed each year. Veterans without a 50% rating can buy a $20 combination license (Act 321 of 2025, effective August 1, 2025) if they are Louisiana residents with an honorable discharge.",
    "Title 29 tuition exemption is for children (ages 16 to 25) and spouses of veterans rated 90% to 100% or found unemployable, or who died in service or from a wartime service-connected disability. The veteran must have lived in Louisiana for 12 months (before entering service, before death, or before the child enrolls). It covers tuition and most fees at Louisiana public colleges. Apply through your parish veterans service office; LDVA issues a certificate you take to the school.",
    "Louisiana does not tax military retired pay or Survivor Benefit Plan payments (R.S. 47:44.2). VA disability pay is not taxed because Louisiana starts with federal adjusted gross income. Since tax year 2025 the state has a flat 3% income tax with a $12,500 standard deduction ($25,000 joint) under Act 11 of the 2024 Third Extraordinary Session. A 2025 bill for a special disabled veteran deduction (HB 402) did not pass.",
    "State and city civil service give 10 preference points to any honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected disability (any percentage) and 5 points to wartime and post-9/11 veterans. Points are added only on original hire and only if you pass the test. You must attach your DD-214 and a VA letter dated within the last 6 months.",
    "Louisiana has no state veteran bonus, no vehicle sales tax exemption for disabled veterans, and no veteran-specific income tax deduction. A bill to add a vehicle sales tax exemption was not found enacted. New residents, veteran or not, pay no more than $90 use tax on a car they already owned (R.S. 47:302(D))."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Full homestead property tax exemption for 100% unemployability or totally disabled veterans",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "If the VA rates you 100% or pays you at the 100% rate for individual unemployability (TDIU), the constitution exempts 'the remaining assessed valuation' of your homestead from ad valorem tax, on top of the regular $7,500 homestead exemption. The exact words are 'one hundred percent unemployability or totally disabled by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.' No permanent and total (P&T) requirement is written in the law. You must own and occupy the home. Apply at your parish assessor's office with your VA rating letter; there is no statewide deadline, so file as soon as you qualify. City taxes and fees may still be due in some municipalities.",
     "source_url": "https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=206551",
     "source_title": "Louisiana Constitution Art. VII, Sec. 21(K)(1)(c) (as amended by Acts 2022, No. 172, approved Nov. 8, 2022); LDVA State Benefits page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Additional $4,500 assessed value exemption for 70% to 99% service-connected veterans",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "70%",
     "details": "If your VA service-connected rating is 'seventy percent or more but less than one hundred percent,' the next $4,500 of assessed value after the $7,500 homestead exemption is exempt, for a total of $12,000 of assessed value (about $120,000 of home value). You pay tax only on assessed value above $12,000. You must own and occupy the home as your homestead. Bring your VA rating letter to your parish assessor. The exemption began with tax year 2023.",
     "source_url": "https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=206551",
     "source_title": "Louisiana Constitution Art. VII, Sec. 21(K)(1)(b); East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor - Extended Homestead Exemption for Qualifying Veterans",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Additional $2,500 assessed value exemption for 50% to 69% service-connected veterans",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "If your VA service-connected rating is 'fifty percent or more but less than seventy percent,' the next $2,500 of assessed value after the $7,500 homestead exemption is exempt, for a total of $10,000 of assessed value (about $100,000 of home value). Tax applies only to assessed value above $10,000. You must own and live in the home. File with your parish assessor with your VA rating letter; each assessor sets its own paperwork.",
     "source_url": "https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=206551",
     "source_title": "Louisiana Constitution Art. VII, Sec. 21(K)(1)(a); Jefferson Parish Assessor - Homestead Exemption",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Surviving spouse continuation of the disabled veteran exemption (and pending 2026 transfer amendment)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "The surviving spouse of a veteran in any tier (50% to 69%, 70% to 99%, or 100%) keeps the same exemption 'if the surviving spouse occupies and remains the owner of the property, whether or not the exemption was in effect on the property prior to the death of the veteran.' There is no remarriage rule in the text. Today the exemption is lost if the spouse sells and moves. Act 39 of 2026 (SB 180) asks voters on November 3, 2026 to remove the occupy-and-own rule and allow a one-time transfer of the exemption to a new homestead, capped at the amount claimed in the last year on the old home, starting with tax year 2027. Check with your parish assessor after the election.",
     "source_url": "https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26RS&b=SB180&sbi=y",
     "source_title": "Louisiana Legislature - 2026 Regular Session SB 180 (Act 39) proposing to amend Const. Art. VII, Sec. 21(K)(1); current text at Const. Art. VII, Sec. 21(K)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free 100% DAV military honor license plate with accessibility symbol and free hang tag",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "A Louisiana resident with 'a service-connected disability of one hundred percent as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs' gets a free lifetime plate marked '100% DAV' with the international symbol of accessibility, one for each vehicle registered in your name. No fee and no renewal. Holders get the same parking privileges as mobility-impaired plate holders and may also request a free accessibility hang tag that never needs renewal. Apply at any Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) office with your vehicle registration and an LDVA-17 affidavit signed by a veterans service officer. Transfers to another of your vehicles cost $3; a lost plate costs $10 plus an $8 handling fee.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=1017799",
     "source_title": "R.S. 47:490.31 Military honor license plate; 100% disabled veteran (Acts 2016, No. 194); OMV Policy 160.00 (rev. 08/28/2017)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free disabled veteran, military honor, and Purple Heart DV plates and parking privileges for 50% or higher",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "LDVA says veterans rated 50% or higher may get a disabled veteran plate or a military honor plate at no charge, and OMV policy lets 'veterans who have a 50% or more service connected disability' get a mobility-impaired license plate and permanent placard with an affidavit from the Veterans Affairs office instead of a doctor's certificate. Purple Heart recipients 'who have a service-connected disability of fifty percent or more' get a free 'DV' Purple Heart plate and a free accessibility hang tag (R.S. 47:490.32). LDVA also reports free parking at Louisiana airports for any length of time and 7 days free at the Port of New Orleans cruise terminal (Louisiana residents only since Act 86 of 2025) for veterans rated at least 50%, with a form certified by a Veterans Assistance Counselor. The statute for the general 50% disabled veteran plate was not located, so confirm the fee with OMV.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=1148936",
     "source_title": "R.S. 47:490.32 Military honor license plate; Purple Heart disabled veteran (Acts 2019, No. 6); OMV Policy 14.00 Mobility Impaired License Plates (rev. 07/21/2026); LDVA State Benefits page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free driver license or ID card for 50% or higher disabled veterans; 100% DAV and Veteran designations",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "You pay no fees, including handling and parish fees, for a new, renewed, duplicate, or amended driver license or special ID card if you were honorably discharged, have 'a service-related disability of at least fifty percent,' receive VA compensation for it, and are not a sex offender registrant. Bring your DD-214 and a VA statement of your rating to an OMV office. A 100% rating lets you add a '100% DAV' indicator under your photo. Any honorably discharged veteran can add a 'Veteran' marker with a DD-214; it is free only if you turn in your current license at the same time. LDVA notes fee waivers may not be honored at privatized Public Tag Agent offices.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=452291",
     "source_title": "R.S. 32:412.2 Exemption from fees; certain veterans (Acts 2007, No. 123; 2010, No. 402; 2012, No. 95); OMV Policy 2.01 (rev. 08/31/2021)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Disabled Veterans Hunting and Fishing License for 50% or higher (residents and nonresidents)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or Louisiana National Guard 'having a permanent service connected disability classification of fifty percent or more' get a free annual Disabled Veterans Hunting and Fishing License; the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation pays the $4 fee. It includes basic and saltwater fishing, basic, deer, waterfowl, and turkey hunting, and the WMA access permit, but not the federal duck stamp. Residents and nonresidents qualify. Apply in person at LDWF headquarters in Baton Rouge, by mail, or by email to lifetime@wlf.la.gov with the application, a copy of your driver license or ID, and VA proof of disability. Renew yearly. Since Act 321 of 2025 LDWF also issues a free durable hard card. Honorably discharged resident veterans without a 50% rating can buy a $20 hunting and fishing combination license (R.S. 56:3000(G), effective August 1, 2025).",
     "source_url": "https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=1240979",
     "source_title": "R.S. 56:3000(H) Disabled/Special Needs Hunting and Fishing license; (G) Honorably Discharged Veteran license (Acts 2025, No. 321); LDWF Special Licenses and Permits page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free day-use entry to Louisiana State Parks with the Disabled Veteran State Park Permit",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "A Louisiana resident veteran who has had a limb amputated, received a federal automobile allowance, or is rated by the VA or Social Security as totally and permanently disabled or at least 50 percent disabled 'shall be exempt from paying the day use entrance fee to any Louisiana state park.' Everyone riding with you in one private, non-commercial vehicle also enters free. Apply for the permit through your parish veterans service office; the Office of State Parks issues it after LDVA verifies eligibility. The permit does not discount camping or cabins; active duty and retired military get 15% off rentals with code MILITARY. State parks are run by the Office of State Parks (lastateparks.com, an official site that is not a .gov address).",
     "source_url": "https://legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=104938",
     "source_title": "R.S. 56:1694 Exemption from entrance fees; certain veterans (Acts 1980, No. 827; 1991, No. 372); Louisiana State Parks Special Rates and Discounts page; LDVA State Benefits page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Title 29 tuition and fee exemption for children and spouses of 90% to 100% or unemployable veterans",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Minimum rating: 90% service-connected or rated unemployable. Children ages 16 to 25, and spouses or surviving spouses, of a veteran who was 'rated ninety percent or above' service-connected disabled or 'determined to be unemployable' by the VA, or who was killed in action, died in service, is MIA or POW, or died from a wartime service-connected disability, attend any Louisiana public college or university with no tuition, matriculation, registration, lab, athletic, medical, nonresident or other school fees. The veteran must have lived in Louisiana at least 12 months before entering service, before death, or before the child enrolls (or been permanently assigned to a Louisiana installation). Spouses must use it within 10 years of eligibility. Apply through your parish veterans service office; LDVA mails a certificate you give to the school. You cannot combine it with R.S. 17:1686 benefits.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=85513",
     "source_title": "R.S. 29:288 Educational benefits for children, spouses, and surviving spouses of veterans (as amended by Acts 2023, No. 46 and Acts 2024, No. 74); LDVA Title 29 page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "In-state tuition for veterans and dependents using VA education benefits; National Guard tuition exemption",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Louisiana public colleges classify a veteran, spouse, or dependent who is 'eligible to receive educational assistance administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs' as a resident for tuition and fees, with no prior Louisiana residency, for as long as the student stays continuously enrolled (LSU residency policy; the state statute cite was not retrieved). Louisiana National Guard members age 17 or older who are domiciled in Louisiana get free tuition at public colleges for five academic years or until a degree, and the clock pauses during mobilization (R.S. 29:36.1). Act 355 of 2026 lets veterans use a DD-214 as proof of eligibility for TOPS starting August 1, 2026. Apply at the school's registrar or veterans office.",
     "source_url": "https://www.lsu.edu/registrar/academics/residency.php",
     "source_title": "Louisiana State University Office of the University Registrar - Residency Regulations (veterans section); R.S. 29:36.1 National Guard tuition exemption",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan exempt from state income tax; flat 3% rate since 2025",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Income 'pursuant to a retirement system for retirees of the United States Government' is exempt from Louisiana income tax, which the Department of Revenue confirms covers military retired pay and 'a military survivor benefit plan.' VA disability compensation is not taxed because Louisiana starts from federal adjusted gross income. Beginning with tax year 2025, Act 11 of the 2024 Third Extraordinary Session replaced the graduated brackets with a flat 3% rate and raised the standard deduction to $12,500 single or $25,000 joint, indexed for inflation from 2026. Report the exempt retirement income on Schedule E of Form IT-540. There is no extra deduction tied to a disability rating.",
     "source_url": "https://revenue.louisiana.gov/tax-education-and-faqs/faqs/individual-income-tax/is-there-a-list-of-retirement-system-benefits-that-may-be-excluded-from-louisiana-income-tax/",
     "source_title": "Louisiana Department of Revenue FAQ - Retirement benefits excluded from Louisiana income tax (R.S. 47:44.2); Revenue Information Bulletin 25-012 (March 7, 2025, Act 11 of 2024 3rd E.S.)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans preference points in state and city civil service hiring (10 points disabled, 5 points wartime)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "The Louisiana Constitution requires state and city civil service to add 10 points to the passing score of 'each honorably discharged veteran who served either in peace or in war and who has one or more disabilities recognized as service-connected' by the VA, and to certain spouses, unremarried widows, and parents; only one 10-point preference per person. Veterans who served in a declared war, a campaign with an authorized badge, or at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 (not for training) get 5 points. Points apply only to original (probational or job) appointments and only if you reach the minimum score. Claim the points on your state application (SF-10); for 10 points attach your DD-214 and a VA disability letter dated within the last 6 months. Spouses and parents use Form C.S. 295. Preference employees also have layoff protection.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=206619",
     "source_title": "Louisiana Constitution Art. X, Sec. 10(A)(2) Veterans; State Civil Service HR Handbook Procedure 22 - Veterans Preference Information (rev. 3/22/18)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Louisiana Veterans Homes (five) with no monthly fee for 70% or higher service-connected veterans",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "LDVA runs homes in Jackson, Monroe, Bossier City, Reserve, and Jennings. Louisiana veterans who were honorably discharged and served 90 days of active duty (wartime or peacetime), eligible National Guard members and reservists (Act 132 of 2025 added Guard veterans who never deployed on federal orders), spouses of veterans, and Gold Star parents may apply. Veterans 'with a VA service-connected rating of 70% or higher,' or admitted for a condition related to their service connection at any rating, live there free. Other veterans pay a monthly fee ($2,424 as posted, changes yearly, often offset by VA Aid and Attendance); spouses and Gold Star parents pay $5,500 per month. Submit the admissions application with a pre-admission medical exam.",
     "source_url": "https://vetaffairs.la.gov/homes",
     "source_title": "LDVA - Louisiana Veterans Homes (admissions requirements and fees); LDVA 2025 Regular Session summary (Acts 132 and 191 of 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free burial in five state veterans cemeteries; Military Family Assistance Fund grants up to $10,000",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Veterans who served active duty (not training only) and were discharged under honorable conditions are buried free in the state cemeteries at Leesville, Rayville, Keithville, Slidell, or Jennings; spouses and dependent children pay a fee equal to the federal VA plot allowance. Pre-need registration is optional and can be done online. Separately, the Military Family Assistance (MFA) Fund pays up to $10,000 in a 12-month period to current Louisiana resident veterans with an honorable or under-honorable-conditions discharge (and Guard and Reserve members in good standing) for rent or mortgage, utilities, car payments, food, and some medical bills when there is a documented hardship; it is a fund of last resort reviewed at a monthly board meeting. Act 241 of 2025 added indigent veteran burials and up to $1,000 in education help for children of certain disabled veterans. Apply online or by mail to LDVA.",
     "source_url": "https://vetaffairs.la.gov/cemeteries",
     "source_title": "LDVA - Louisiana Veterans Cemeteries; LDVA - Military Family Assistance Fund; Act 241 of 2025 (HB 116)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ],
   "slug": "louisiana"
  },
  {
   "code": "ME",
   "name": "Maine",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services",
    "url": "https://www.maine.gov/veterans"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Maine's veteran property tax exemption is small: $6,000 of just value, not a full exemption. For the disability path the law says you must receive federal pension or compensation for 'total disability.' Maine Revenue Services Bulletin No. 7 (October 14, 2025) adds that a veteran 'receiving compensation as unemployable at the 100% level is considered totally disabled,' so TDIU (total disability based on individual unemployability) counts. Permanence is not required. A 100% schedular rating also counts.",
    "The war-period rule matters. If you served during a federally recognized war period (or earned an expeditionary medal, or served February 1, 1955 to February 27, 1961), you qualify at age 62 or when you receive federal pension or compensation for total disability, service-connected or not. If you did not serve in a war period, you qualify only if you receive federal pension or compensation for a total service-connected disability.",
    "File a written application and proof with the assessor of the town where you live by April 1 of the first year you want the exemption. In the unorganized territory you file with the State Tax Assessor. Once approved you do not refile each year unless the assessor asks. Your application is confidential. The dollar amount is multiplied by your town's certified assessment ratio, so a $6,000 exemption at an 85% ratio is $5,100 off assessed value; some towns make up the difference under 36 M.R.S. 6234.",
    "Big change coming. The 2026 supplemental budget (Public Law 2025, chapter 650, Part M) ends the separate veteran exemption in 36 M.R.S. 653 for tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2027. It is replaced by a consolidated homestead exemption in 36 M.R.S. 683-A: $25,000 for every homestead plus a veteran add-on that scales with your VA rating ($10,000 at 60%, $20,000 at 70%, $30,000 at 80%, $40,000 at 90%, $50,000 at 100%; $5,000 to $7,000 for veterans under 60%). Property that had the exemption on April 1, 2026 is presumed eligible for the equivalent exemption in 2027. Maine Revenue Services must publish transition guidance; as of this research it had not.",
    "Surviving spouse rules: an unremarried surviving spouse or minor child gets the same $6,000 exemption if the veteran would have qualified, or if the survivor receives a federal pension or compensation as a survivor. A widowed parent age 62 or older receiving federal benefits for a child's service-connected death also qualifies. The survivor must be a Maine resident; the home must be the survivor's residence. If the veteran died in the 12 months before April 1, an assessor may abate taxes for a survivor who applies within one year of commitment.",
    "Disabled Veteran license plates need VA certification 'as to the veteran's permanent disability and receipt of 100% service-connected benefits.' The BMV says the disability must be permanent and total. The plate waives the registration fee and title fee for up to 3 vehicles, and a disability placard is free. The excise tax exemption (paid to your town) is separate: it applies to up to 3 owned vehicles, and from July 1, 2026 up to 3 leased vehicles, for veterans receiving federal pension or compensation for 'total, service-connected disability,' whether or not you take the DV plate. Your name must be on the title or lease. If you choose a different plate you pay the regular registration fee. No official source says how TDIU is treated for the plate.",
    "Hunting, fishing and trapping licenses are free for life at a 50% or higher service-connected rating with an honorable discharge, and they now include most permits (bear, turkey, migratory bird, pheasant, muzzleloader, crossbow, archery, coyote night hunt, and expanded-archery deer permits). Lottery permits like moose and antlerless deer still require applying. Residents of states with reciprocal agreements can get the Maine license too. The same 50% rule waives the fee for a noncommercial lobster and crab license and a scallop license through the Department of Marine Resources.",
    "Every honorably discharged Maine resident veteran gets a free lifetime day-use pass to state parks, historic sites and the Maine State Museum (apply by mail with your DD-214; veterans 65 and older are not issued the pass because seniors already enter free). Free camping and shelter fees are a separate benefit tied to the Disabled Veteran plate: you must send your BMV letter to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to be added to the Disabled Veterans' Camping List. The passes are not valid at Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Penobscot River Corridor, Penobscot Narrows Observatory or Maine Wildlife Park.",
    "The Veterans Dependents Educational Benefits tuition waiver uses the words 'total permanent disability resulting from a service-connected disability.' A 100% rating that is not permanent, or TDIU, does not match that wording. The veteran must have entered service from Maine or lived in Maine 5 years before applying, and must keep living in Maine while the dependent uses it. Children must be 16 to 22 (up to 26 if their own military service delayed them), get 120 credit hours over 10 years, keep a 2.0 GPA, and must apply for a Pell Grant. Spouses get 120 credit hours including master's programs. Room and board are not covered.",
    "Maine income tax: military retirement pay and Survivor Benefit Plan payments have been fully exempt since tax year 2016, and starting with tax year 2026 the exemption covers all uniformed services (adds NOAA Corps and Public Health Service). VA disability compensation is not in federal adjusted gross income, which is where the Maine return starts, so Maine does not tax it. Separately, a veteran rated 100% for service-connected disabilities 'that are rated permanent' gets double the Property Tax Fairness Credit on the Maine income tax return (36 M.R.S. 5219-KK(2-E)); the regular credit cap is $1,500 under age 65 and $2,000 at 65 or older for 2026.",
    "State hiring preference is a guaranteed interview, not points. Any veteran with a discharge other than dishonorable who meets the minimum qualifications must be offered an interview for a classified state job, and veterans are kept first in layoffs with equal seniority. A 2026 law (Public Law 2025, chapter 634) extended this to spouses of current service members and Guard or Reserve members. There is no extra preference for disabled veterans.",
    "Not available or not found: Maine has no full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans (the largest current exemption is $6,000, or $50,000 for a specially adapted housing unit). No driver's license fee waiver for disabled veterans was found in Maine law. No state veterans bonus program was found. Maine Veterans' Homes are run by a state-created nonprofit; admission requires Maine residency at entry into service or at application and is not limited to disabled veterans."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Veteran property tax exemption: $6,000 of just value (36 M.R.S. 653(1)(C))",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Maine exempts up to $6,000 of just value of the home where you live. You qualify if you served during a federally recognized war period (including Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, OEF, OIF, New Dawn, or February 1, 1955 to February 27, 1961, or you hold an expeditionary medal) and are 62 or older or receive any federal pension or compensation for total disability, service-connected or not. Veterans with no war-period service qualify if they receive federal pension or compensation for a total, service-connected disability. Maine Revenue Services says a veteran paid as unemployable at the 100% level (TDIU) counts as totally disabled; permanence is not required. You must be a Maine resident with a discharge other than dishonorable. File a written application and proof (DD-214, VA letter) with your town assessor by April 1 of the first year; the amount is adjusted by the town's certified ratio. This exemption ends after the tax year beginning April 1, 2026 and is replaced by 36 M.R.S. 683-A.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/36/title36sec653.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 36 M.R.S. 653 Estates of veterans; Maine Revenue Services Property Tax Bulletin No. 7 (Oct. 14, 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "$50,000 property tax exemption for a specially adapted housing unit (36 M.R.S. 653(1)(D-1))",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "If you are a war-period or expeditionary-medal veteran described in 38 U.S.C. 2101 and you received a federal Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant, up to $50,000 of the just value of that specially adapted home is exempt. Maine Revenue Services describes the veteran as totally and permanently disabled, which matches the federal SAH grant rules. Your unremarried surviving spouse keeps the exemption. You cannot stack this with the $6,000 exemption. Apply with your town assessor by April 1 with your DD-214 and the VA letter showing total and permanent disability and the SAH grant. The exemption is adjusted by the town's certified ratio. Under the 2027 consolidated homestead law (36 M.R.S. 683-A(2)(E)) SAH grant recipients keep a $50,000 add-on.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/36/title36sec653.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 36 M.R.S. 653(1)(D-1) Estates of veterans, specially adapted housing; MRS Bulletin No. 7",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "$6,000 property tax exemption for surviving spouses, minor children and widowed parents (36 M.R.S. 653(1)(D))",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "An unremarried surviving spouse or minor child of a veteran who would have qualified for the veteran exemption, or who receives a federal pension or compensation as the survivor of a veteran, gets up to $6,000 of just value exempt on the home where they live. A widowed parent age 62 or older who receives federal pension or compensation based on a child's service-connected death also gets $6,000. The survivor must be a Maine resident and not remarried. Apply with the town assessor by April 1 with the death certificate, the veteran's DD-214 and the federal benefit letter. If the veteran died within the 12 months before April 1, the assessor may abate taxes for a survivor who applies within one year of the tax commitment date. After April 1, 2027 survivors get the add-on the veteran would have received under 36 M.R.S. 683-A.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/36/title36sec653.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 36 M.R.S. 653(1)(D) Estates of veterans, surviving spouse, minor child, parent; MRS Bulletin No. 7",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Consolidated homestead exemption with tiered veteran add-on, tax years from April 1, 2027 (36 M.R.S. 683-A)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Starting with the property tax year that begins April 1, 2027, Maine replaces the veteran exemption with one homestead exemption of $25,000 of just value plus a veteran add-on based on your VA service-connected rating: up to $10,000 at 60%, $20,000 at 70%, $30,000 at 80%, $40,000 at 90% and $50,000 at 100%. Veterans with no rating or under 60% get $5,000 (under age 62), $6,000 (62 or older) or $7,000 (World War I era). SAH grant recipients get a $50,000 add-on. Only one add-on tier applies. Unremarried surviving spouses, minor children and qualifying parents get the add-on the veteran would have received. You must be a Maine permanent resident who owned the homestead for the preceding 12 months, and the amount is adjusted by the town's assessment ratio. File written application and proof of entitlement with your town assessor by April 1. The law says property that had the old exemption on April 1, 2026 is presumed eligible for the equivalent exemption in 2027; Maine Revenue Services must issue transition guidance, which was not yet published.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/36/title36sec683-A.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 36 M.R.S. 683-A Homestead exemption (enacted by PL 2025, c. 650, Pt. M, L.D. 2212)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran plates: no registration or title fee, free placard, excise tax exemption up to 3 vehicles",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "The Secretary of State issues Disabled Veteran plates and a registration certificate with no annual registration fee to any 100% disabled veteran who provides VA or service branch certification of permanent disability and receipt of 100% service-connected benefits; the BMV states the disability must be permanent and total. Up to 3 vehicles (registered weight 26,000 lbs or less) qualify, a disability placard is free on request, and the BMV also waives title fees. Veterans who lost both legs or the use of both legs, and amputee or blind veterans with a VA-furnished or specially designed vehicle, pay no motor vehicle fees at all, including sales tax. Separately, the municipal excise tax is waived on up to 3 automobiles you own (and from July 1, 2026 up to 3 you lease) if you receive federal pension or compensation for total, service-connected disability, whether or not you display the DV plate; your name must appear on the title or lease. Bring your DD-214 and current VA Benefit Summary letter to your town office or BMV branch. If you choose a different plate you pay the normal registration fee. TDIU is not mentioned in the plate statute.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec523.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 29-A M.R.S. 523 Certain veterans (amended PL 2025, c. 152); 36 M.R.S. 1483(12), (12-A); Maine BMV Available Veteran Plates",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart plates at no fee, Special Veteran plates, and Veteran designation on the driver's license",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Purple Heart recipients get Purple Heart registration plates at no registration fee for up to 2 vehicles (10,000 lbs or less); you still pay excise tax. An unremarried surviving spouse may keep using the plates. Medal of Honor, former prisoner of war and Pearl Harbor survivor plates are also fee-free. Any honorably discharged veteran may buy Special Veteran plates ($35 to $37 for passenger vehicles) with one of 35 commemorative decals, or a Disability Special Veteran plate with Form PS-18. Any veteran with an honorable discharge can add a military service designation (flag) to a Maine driver's license or ID card by showing a DD-214 or VA certification; it is free at renewal or $5 for a duplicate card between renewals.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec524.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 29-A M.R.S. 524 Other special veterans registration plates; 29-A M.R.S. 1412 Military service designation; Maine BMV Available Veteran Plates",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free lifetime hunting, fishing and trapping licenses at 50%+; free noncommercial lobster and scallop licenses",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "A veteran honorably discharged from the Armed Forces or National Guard with a service-connected disability evaluated at 50% or more gets, at no cost, all hunting, trapping and fishing licenses, including permits and stamps (bear, migratory bird, pheasant, turkey, muzzleloader, crossbow, archery, coyote night hunt, and one antlerless and one either-sex expanded-archery deer permit), plus a guide license if qualified. The license lasts for life as long as you stay a resident of Maine or a reciprocal state and it is not revoked. Residents of New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Texas and other reciprocal states may apply. Lottery permits such as moose and antlerless deer still require an application; the Bureau also runs a Disabled Veterans' Controlled Moose Hunt and donated moose permit lottery for veterans rated 50% or higher. Apply with the Disabled Veteran License Application and proof of residency and rating at any Bureau of Veterans' Services office or by mail. Maine residents at 50% or higher also pay no fee for a noncommercial lobster and crab license or a scallop license from the Department of Marine Resources.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/12/title12sec10853.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 12 M.R.S. 10853(4) Complimentary and reduced-rate licenses, disabled veteran (amended PL 2025, c. 333); 12 M.R.S. 6421(7-D); Maine IF&W Licenses for Persons with Disabilities",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Lifetime Veteran State Park and Museum Pass; free park entry and camping with Disabled Veteran plates",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Any Maine resident veteran with an honorable or general-under-honorable discharge gets a free lifetime day-use pass to Maine State Parks, historic sites and the Maine State Museum. Mail the application and a copy of your DD-214 to the Bureau of Veterans' Services; allow 2 to 3 weeks. The pass is for the veteran only; veterans 65 and older are not issued one because Maine seniors already enter free. Separately, a veteran whose vehicle displays Disabled Veteran plates or placards (100% permanent and total, or double leg loss) pays no admission at any state-owned park, camping area or beach, and the veteran, spouse and unmarried children are exempt from family camping and shelter reservation fees (limit 6 per site, veteran must be present). To get the camping waiver, send your BMV Disabled Veteran plate letter to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to be placed on the Disabled Veterans' Camping List. Neither benefit is valid at Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Penobscot River Corridor, Penobscot Narrows Observatory or Maine Wildlife Park.",
     "source_url": "https://www.maine.gov/veterans/benefits/recreational-licenses/lifetime-park-museum-pass",
     "source_title": "Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services - Free Lifetime Veteran State Park and Museum Pass; BVS Free Camping for Disabled Veterans; 12 M.R.S. 1819",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans Dependents Educational Benefits: 100% tuition waiver for children and spouses (37-B M.R.S. 505)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Maine waives 100% of tuition and mandatory fees at the University of Maine System, Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy for the child or spouse of a veteran who has a total permanent disability resulting from a service-connected disability, was killed in action, died from a service-connected disability, was totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected disability at death, or has been missing, captured or detained more than 90 days. The veteran must have entered service from Maine or lived in Maine for 5 years before the application, and must keep living in Maine while benefits are used. Children must be at least 16, a high school graduate, and start before age 22 (26 if their own military service delayed them); they get up to 120 credit hours over 10 years for certificate, associate or bachelor programs and must keep a 2.0 GPA. Spouses (current spouse, or unremarried widow or widower) get 120 credit hours including master's programs. Room and board are not covered. Every student must apply for a federal Pell Grant. Apply through the Bureau of Veterans' Services with the program application.",
     "source_url": "https://www.maine.gov/veterans/benefits/education/veterans-dependents-educational-benefits",
     "source_title": "Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services - Veterans Dependents Educational Benefits; 37-B M.R.S. 505(2)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "In-state tuition for all honorably discharged veterans at Maine public colleges (20-A M.R.S. 10010)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "If you are a current member of the Armed Forces or an honorably discharged veteran enrolled at any University of Maine System campus, Maine Community College System campus or Maine Maritime Academy, you pay in-state tuition regardless of your state of residence. No disability rating or waiting period is required. Show your DD-214 (or GI Bill certificate of eligibility or military ID) to the school's registrar or veterans office when you enroll.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec10010.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 20-A M.R.S. 10010 Current members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay and Survivor Benefit Plan fully exempt from Maine income tax; VA pay not taxed",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Since tax year 2016 all benefits under a military retirement plan, including survivor benefits, are fully exempt from Maine income tax, with no cap and no reduction for Social Security. Starting with tax year 2026 the definition covers all uniformed services (adds NOAA Corps and Public Health Service to Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and Space Force). Survivor Benefit Plan annuities paid to the survivor of a member who died from service are also subtracted. Claim the subtraction on Form 1040ME Schedule 1S and the pension income deduction worksheet. VA disability compensation, DIC and pension are excluded from federal adjusted gross income, which is the starting point of the Maine return, so Maine does not tax them. Other pension income has a separate capped deduction ($48,216 per person for 2025) with an income phaseout.",
     "source_url": "https://www.maine.gov/revenue/faq/individual-income-tax",
     "source_title": "Maine Revenue Services - Individual Income Tax FAQ, pension income deduction (revised April 13, 2026); 36 M.R.S. 5122(2)(M-2), (HH); MRS 2025 Legislative Changes",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Property Tax Fairness Credit doubled for 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans (36 M.R.S. 5219-KK)",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Maine's Property Tax Fairness Credit is a refundable income tax credit for property tax or rent paid on your Maine homestead that exceeds 4% of your income. A resident veteran rated by the VA at 100% for one or more service-connected disabilities that are rated permanent gets an additional credit equal to the regular credit, so the credit is doubled. For 2026 the regular credit is capped at $1,500 under age 65 and $2,000 at 65 or older; the combined credit cannot exceed the property tax and rent you actually paid. On a joint return only one spouse must be the 100% permanent and total veteran. Claim it on Schedule PTFC/STFC with your Form 1040ME; the benefit base (property tax or rent counted) is capped by filing status.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/36/title36sec5219-KK.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 36 M.R.S. 5219-KK Property tax fairness credit, sub-§2-D and 2-E (amended PL 2025, c. 650)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veteran preference in state hiring: guaranteed interview and layoff retention (5 M.R.S. 7054-B)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "For any classified State of Maine job, the hiring agency must offer an interview to any veteran who meets the minimum qualifications. 'Veteran' means anyone who served on active duty in the Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard and received a discharge other than dishonorable. In a reduction in force, veterans are retained ahead of other employees with equal seniority, status and performance reviews. Gold star spouses have the same preference, and a 2026 law (PL 2025, c. 634) added spouses of current active duty, Reserve and National Guard members. Maine does not add points for disabled veterans. Claim the preference when you apply through the Bureau of Human Resources; if you are not hired, BHR will point you to other openings under Executive Order 2016-002.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/5/title5sec7054-B.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 5 M.R.S. 7054-B Veteran preference (amended PL 2025, c. 634); Maine BVS Employment page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans Emergency Financial Assistance Program grants up to $2,000 (37-B M.R.S. 505(1-C))",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A Maine resident veteran with an honorable or general-under-honorable discharge who has an emergency and no savings or other help may get a grant of up to $2,000 for things like preventing homelessness, home damage from fire or flood not covered by insurance, illness of the veteran or a family member, vehicle repair to keep a job, or up to $500 for a dental emergency. A separate $2,000 grant is available while a VA pension claim is pending. Reserve retirees and, case by case, Maine National Guard members may also qualify. The Bureau runs the program through a contracted vendor (Fedcap Veterans Forward, 844-653-0316); denials can be reconsidered by the director and commissioner.",
     "source_url": "https://www.maine.gov/veterans/benefits/tax-finance-benefits",
     "source_title": "Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services - Tax Exemptions and Financial Benefits (VEFAP); 37-B M.R.S. 505(1-C)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Maine Veterans' Homes (six locations) and free burial in the Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Maine Veterans' Homes, a state-chartered nonprofit, runs six homes in Augusta, Bangor, Caribou, Machias, Scarborough and South Paris offering long-term, short-term, skilled and rehabilitative care. Admission is limited to veterans who were Maine residents when they entered the Armed Forces or are Maine residents when they apply, plus their spouses, widows or widowers, and gold star parents; admission is granted when private pay, Medicare or Medicaid rules are met. Burial in the four state veterans cemeteries (two in Augusta, Caribou, Springvale) is free for eligible veterans (honorable or general discharge; 24 continuous months of service if enlisted after September 7, 1980) and their spouses and eligible dependent children; headstones and vaults are not provided by the State. Schedule through the cemetery office at 207-287-3481.",
     "source_url": "https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/37-B/title37-Bsec607.html",
     "source_title": "Maine Legislature - 37-B M.R.S. 607 Maine Veterans' Homes admission; 37-B M.R.S. 504 Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery System; BVS Preparing for Burial",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ],
   "slug": "maine"
  },
  {
   "code": "MD",
   "name": "Maryland",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families",
    "url": "https://veterans.maryland.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The full state property tax exemption (Tax-Property 7-208) is for a veteran the VA has declared to have a 'permanent 100% service connected disability' that is 'reasonably certain to continue for the life of the veteran.' The state assessment agency (SDAT) also accepts a rating that is 'permanently unemployable,' based on a 1976 Attorney General opinion, so a permanent TDIU rating counts. A temporary 100% rating does not. The VA Summary of Benefits letter is not accepted; you need the rating decision or the VA certification on the SDAT form.",
    "File the SDAT 'Application for Exemption for Disabled Veterans' with the Supervisor of Assessments in the county where the home is. There is no deadline; you can file any time. If you file within 30 days after settlement on a new home, the tax is abated from the settlement date. You can even apply before you buy; SDAT must answer within 15 business days. Refunds of past tax are allowed only if you apply within 3 years of the calendar year you first became eligible, and no refunds go back before the 2018-2019 tax year.",
    "You must own the home and it must be your legal residence (principal residence) with no more than two families living there. You must be a Maryland resident; SDAT asks for a Maryland driver's license, voter card, or last year's Maryland tax return as proof. There is no income cap.",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the exemption only while unmarried and only while owning and living in the home. The spouse can move the same dollar amount of exemption to a new home. A spouse who remarries and later divorces does not get it back. Surviving spouses of members who died in the line of duty and spouses who receive VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) also qualify. Since June 1, 2026 (Chapter 647), the old 2-year limit to buy a home after a line-of-duty death is gone.",
    "Veterans rated 50% to 99% get nothing from the state exemption. Instead, counties and cities may offer a local credit under Tax-Property 9-265: 25% off the county tax for 50% to 74% ratings and 50% off for 75% or higher (or a non-permanent 100% rating). The law also lets counties limit by income. The state's $100,000 federal AGI cap was repealed on June 1, 2026 (Chapter 646), and each county now sets its own income rule. You apply to the county, usually every year (Anne Arundel by April 1; Frederick by October 1). Not every county offers it.",
    "Vehicle registration fees are waived for one or more vehicles owned and personally used by a veteran the VA has classified as having 'lost the use of a hand, arm, or leg, or is totally disabled,' or who is legally blind. MVA applies this to veterans rated 100% and gives them a free Disabled Veteran plate and permanent registration. Veterans rated 50% to 99% (including an 'unemployability rating') get the plate free but still pay the yearly registration fee. Bills to add a fee waiver for TDIU veterans (SB 179 and HB 248 in 2025, HB 844 in 2026) did not pass.",
    "Maryland has no state driver license fee waiver for disabled veterans, no vehicle excise (sales) tax exemption for disabled veterans, and no veteran-specific parking placard. The free 'VETERAN' designation on a driver license is open to any veteran with an honorable, general, or general under honorable conditions discharge.",
    "Free lifetime hunting and fishing licenses are for Maryland residents who are 100% service-connected disabled, former prisoners of war, or 'deemed unemployable' by the VA. You must apply at a DNR Licensing and Registration Service Center with your VA letter. Yearly federal and state migratory bird stamps and the Big Game Harvest Record are not included. Every veteran, from any state, gets free day-use entry to Maryland State Parks; there is no veteran discount on the $75 annual Passport.",
    "Maryland taxes military retired pay, but you can subtract the first $12,500 if you are under 55 and the first $20,000 if you are 55 or older (Tax-General 10-207(q)). A 2026 bill (HB 857) to raise the under-55 amount to $20,000 did not pass. VA disability compensation is not in federal adjusted gross income, and Maryland starts from federal AGI, so it is not taxed; no Maryland page says this in so many words.",
    "State hiring: every honorably discharged veteran gets 10 points added to a passing selection test score. The spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability and the surviving spouse of a veteran also get 10 points. Former prisoners of war get 2 more points. Maryland law no longer gives extra points for a service-connected disability itself; a separate 5-point credit exists for anyone with a disability under the ADA.",
    "The Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship pays up to $13,689 (2025-2026) at a Maryland school. It covers veterans rated 25% or more who have used up federal education benefits, and children and unremarried spouses of service members who died or have a 'service-connected 100% permanent disability.' Apply through the school's financial aid office by July 15. For 2026-2027, MHEC sends the money to the schools, which may change awards."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Full property tax exemption on the home of a 100% permanently disabled veteran (Tax-Property 7-208)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Your home (the house, yard, and needed structures, with no more than two families living there) is fully exempt from state, county, and city property tax if you were honorably discharged and the VA has declared you to have a 'permanent 100% service connected disability' that is 'reasonably certain to continue for the life of the veteran.' SDAT also accepts a permanent unemployability (TDIU) rating under a 1976 Attorney General opinion. You must own the home, live in it as your legal residence, and be a Maryland resident. File SDAT's Application for Exemption for Disabled Veterans (Rev. Feb 2025) with your county Supervisor of Assessments any time, with your DD-214, your VA rating decision showing the effective date (the Summary of Benefits letter is not accepted), and proof of Maryland residency. Apply within 30 days of settlement to have tax abated from the settlement date; apply within 3 years of becoming eligible to get refunds of tax already paid. Disabled active duty members with a lifelong service-connected physical disability qualify too but must recertify yearly.",
     "source_url": "https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gtp&section=7-208&enactments=false",
     "source_title": "Maryland General Assembly - Tax-Property Article 7-208 (Disabled active duty service members, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses); SDAT Real Property Exemptions page and Application for Exemption for Disabled Veterans",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran, line-of-duty death, or DIC recipient",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "If you are the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who had (or posthumously qualifies for) a permanent 100% service-connected rating, you keep the full exemption on the home as long as you own and live in it. If the veteran never applied but was living in Maryland at death, you can still apply. If you sell and buy another Maryland home, the same dollar amount of exemption moves with you. The exemption also covers the unremarried surviving spouse of a service member who died in the line of duty (the home must have been owned by the member, or bought by the spouse if either of you was domiciled in Maryland at the death; the former 2-year purchase limit was repealed effective June 1, 2026) and anyone receiving VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). File SDAT's Application for Exemption for Surviving Spouses of a Disabled Veteran (Rev. Feb 2025) with the county Supervisor of Assessments, with the veteran's DD-214 and VA rating decision, your proof of Maryland residency, and the death certificate. Refunds are limited to 3 years from the calendar year you became eligible. A spouse who remarries and later divorces does not regain the exemption.",
     "source_url": "https://dat.maryland.gov/realproperty/Pages/Property-Tax-Exemptions.aspx",
     "source_title": "Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation - Real Property Exemptions (Tax-Property 7-208(c), (g); 2026 Md. Laws ch. 647)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "County or city property tax credit for veterans rated 50% to 99% (Tax-Property 9-265; local option)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "If your county or city has adopted this credit, you get 25% off the county (or city) property tax on your home if the VA rates you 'at least 50% but not more than 74%,' and 50% off if you are rated 'at least 75%' and do not qualify for the full state exemption. The law covers a 'permanent service-connected disability of at least 50%' or a 'nonpermanent service-connected disability of 100%,' but a county may limit it to permanent ratings. You must be honorably discharged, own the home, and live there as your legal residence with no more than two families. Until June 30, 2026 the state capped eligibility at $100,000 federal adjusted gross income; starting with tax years after that date (Chapter 646 of 2026) each county sets its own income rule, so check locally. Apply to the county finance or treasury office, not SDAT, with your DD-214, VA award letter, Maryland ID, and tax return; most counties require a new application every year (Anne Arundel by April 1; Frederick by October 1). Counties may extend the credit to unremarried surviving spouses. The state veterans agency lists Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Cecil, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington counties as having a local veteran credit, but terms differ (Howard County's version is an age-65-plus credit of 20% for 75% to 99% ratings) and the list may be incomplete.",
     "source_url": "https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gtp&section=9-265&enactments=false",
     "source_title": "Maryland General Assembly - Tax-Property Article 9-265 (Property tax credit for dwelling house of disabled veterans); 2026 Md. Laws ch. 646 (HB 1611); DVMF Local Property Tax Exemptions page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Vehicle registration fee exemption, free Disabled Veteran plates, and permanent registration",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "State law (Transportation 13-903(a)(8)) exempts from registration fees any vehicle 'owned by, or leased to, and personally used by a veteran' whom the VA has classified as having 'lost the use of a hand, arm, or leg, or is totally disabled,' or who is legally blind (20/200 or a 20-degree field). The surviving spouse of a disabled veteran as defined in Tax-Property 7-208 is also exempt (13-903(a)(9)). MVA applies this to veterans rated 100%: you pay no registration fee, get Disabled Veteran plates (with or without the wheelchair symbol) at no charge, and your registration and sticker are permanent with no renewal trips. Veterans with a 'service-connected disability rating or unemployability rating of 50-99%' get the Disabled Veteran plate free but still pay annual registration fees and the surcharge. Vanity or organizational plates cost their normal plate fee. Book an appointment through myMVA (or mail form VR-120) and bring a letter on Maryland DVMF letterhead or a VA letter showing your rating. The law does not state a vehicle limit. Whether a TDIU rating counts as 'totally disabled' for the fee waiver is not stated by MVA; bills to add TDIU veterans (2025 SB 179/HB 248, 2026 HB 844) did not pass.",
     "source_url": "https://mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/military-service-members/license-plates",
     "source_title": "MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration - Military Service Members: License Plates (Transportation Article 13-903(a)(8)-(9), 13-903(d)); MVA brochure DL-401",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free 'VETERAN' designation on a Maryland driver license or ID card",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Any veteran who served on active duty (not only for training) and has an Honorable, General, or General under honorable conditions discharge can have the word VETERAN printed on the front of a Maryland driver license or ID card. There is no cost if you add it without making other changes; normal fees apply if you renew or change your name or address at the same time. Schedule an MVA appointment through myMVA and bring one document such as a DD-214, Veteran Health Identification Card, VA letter, DVMF letter, or DD Form 2 retiree card. Maryland has no driver license fee waiver, no vehicle excise tax exemption, and no veteran-specific parking placard for disabled veterans.",
     "source_url": "https://mva.maryland.gov/your-mva-guide/military-service-members/veteran-drivers-license-designation",
     "source_title": "MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration - Veteran Driver's License Designation",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Complimentary lifetime hunting license and lifetime fishing license (100% disabled, TDIU, or former POW)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Maryland residents who are '100% service-connected disabled veterans or former prisoners of war or are deemed unemployable by the US Department of Veterans Affairs' can get a free lifetime hunting license and a free lifetime fishing license from the Department of Natural Resources. The hunting license includes the bow stamp, muzzleloader stamp, sika deer stamp, and furbearer permit; you still must buy the Maryland Migratory Game Bird Stamp, the federal duck stamp, and the Big Game Harvest Record each year. The fishing license includes the nontidal angler's license, trout stamp, Chesapeake Bay sport fishing license, and recreational oyster license. Send a VA letter of disability or VA certification with the signed Hunting License Application (H699) or Fishing License Application (DNRF3) to a DNR Licensing and Registration Service Center; the licenses are issued only at those centers. Purple Heart recipients get 50% off regular licenses. Questions: 410-260-3220.",
     "source_url": "https://dnr.maryland.gov/pages/military-one-stop-shop.aspx",
     "source_title": "Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Military One-Stop Shop (Military Veterans, Members, and POWs)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free day-use entry to Maryland State Parks for all veterans",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "'All applicable day-use entrance charges are waived for all veterans of the United States Armed Forces,' and the waiver 'applies to both resident and out-of-state veterans.' It covers only the veteran, not others in the car, unless the park charges a per-vehicle fee, in which case that fee is waived. Other service charges such as camping, boat launch, and rentals are not waived. The Park Service does not list a specific proof document; the free VETERAN designation on a Maryland driver license is suggested. Active duty members and Maryland National Guard members get the same waiver by showing a military ID. The $75 annual Maryland State Park and Trail Passport ($100 nonresident) covers everyone in the vehicle but has no veteran discount. Maryland has no free lifetime park pass for disabled veterans.",
     "source_url": "https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/Veterans-Admission-Waiver.aspx",
     "source_title": "Maryland Park Service (DNR) - Veterans Admission Waiver",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship (veterans 25%+; dependents of 100% permanent or deceased members)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "This state scholarship pays up to $13,689 for 2025-2026 (capped at in-state tuition and mandatory fees at the highest-cost University System of Maryland four-year school) for study at a Maryland college, graduate program, or private career school. You qualify as a veteran with a 'service-connected disability of 25% or greater' who has used up or lost eligibility for federal veterans' education benefits, or as the child, stepchild, or unremarried surviving spouse of a service member who died from military service or has a 'service-connected 100% permanent disability' from it. Children and surviving spouses of 9/11 victims, Vietnam POW/MIA families, and certain public safety and school employees are also covered. You must be a Maryland resident when you apply and at least 16. Apply to your school's financial aid office (not MHEC) by July 15; awards renew automatically for up to 5 years full time or 8 years part time. Starting in 2026-2027 MHEC allocates funds to the schools, which may adjust awards.",
     "source_url": "https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/ProgramDescriptions/prog_conroy.aspx",
     "source_title": "Maryland Higher Education Commission - Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Douglas J.J. Peters Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "If you served in Afghanistan on or after October 24, 2001, or Iraq on or after March 19, 2003 (as a veteran, active duty member, or activated Reserve or Maryland National Guard member), or you are the child, stepchild, or spouse of someone who did, you can get up to $8,699 a year (on campus), $5,637 (off campus), or $5,067 (living with parents) for 2025-2026 toward an undergraduate degree or a transferable 2-year certificate at a Maryland school. You must be a Maryland resident (active duty stationed in Maryland counts) and enrolled at least half time. Apply through the MHEC One-App on the MDCAPS portal and upload your DD-214 or orders showing the deployment (plus a marriage or birth certificate for family members). The 2025-2026 window ran April 15, 2025 to April 1, 2026; renewals get first priority, then veterans, then dependents. Awards last up to 4 years full time or 8 years part time.",
     "source_url": "https://mhec.maryland.gov/preparing/Pages/FinancialAid/ProgramDescriptions/prog_vaic.aspx",
     "source_title": "Maryland Higher Education Commission - Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship Program",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "In-state tuition at Maryland public colleges for honorably discharged veterans, service members, and families",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Education Article 15-106.4 exempts you from nonresident tuition at any Maryland public college or university if you are an honorably discharged veteran who 'resides in this State' or 'is domiciled in this State.' There is no waiting period and no disability rating requirement. Active service members stationed in, living in, or domiciled in Maryland and their spouses and financially dependent children also pay in-state rates, and the family keeps the rate while continuously enrolled even if the member moves. Public schools must also follow federal in-state tuition rules for GI Bill users. Show your DD-214 and proof of Maryland residence to the school's registrar or veterans office.",
     "source_url": "https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=ged&section=15-106.4&enactments=false",
     "source_title": "Maryland General Assembly - Education Article 15-106.4 (Exemption from nonresident tuition for service members, veterans, and dependents)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement income subtraction ($12,500 under age 55; $20,000 age 55 and older)",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Maryland taxes military retired pay, but Tax-General 10-207(q) lets you subtract 'the first $12,500 of military retirement income' if you are under 55 on the last day of the tax year, and 'the first $20,000' if you are 55 or older. 'Military retirement income' means 'retirement income, including death benefits, received as a result of military service,' so Survivor Benefit Plan payments to a surviving spouse count. Claim it on Form 502 (see Instruction 13). A 2026 bill (HB 857) to raise the under-55 amount to $20,000 did not pass. VA disability compensation is not part of federal adjusted gross income, which is where Maryland starts, so it is not taxed. Retirees 65 or older or totally disabled may instead qualify for the general Maryland pension exclusion.",
     "source_url": "https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gtg&section=10-207&enactments=false",
     "source_title": "Maryland General Assembly - Tax-General Article 10-207(q) (Subtraction for military retirement income); DVMF Retirement Pay and Pension Tax Deductions page (updated Jan. 16, 2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "10-point veterans credit on state job selection tests (spouses and surviving spouses included)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "For state government jobs filled by a selection test, the appointing authority 'shall apply a credit of 10 points' to the passing score of an 'eligible veteran' (honorable discharge or certificate of satisfactory completion of service, including reserves), 'the spouse of an eligible veteran who has a service connected disability,' the 'surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran,' and the spouse of an active service member. Former prisoners of war get 2 more points. Current state employees and veterans convicted of a crime after discharge are not eligible. Maryland law no longer gives extra points for the veteran's own service-connected disability; a separate 5-point credit applies to any applicant with a disability under the ADA. Claim the credit on your state application through the Department of Budget and Management and have your DD-214 ready.",
     "source_url": "https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gsp&section=7-207&enactments=false",
     "source_title": "Maryland General Assembly - State Personnel and Pensions Article 7-207 (Credits on selection tests); DBM Determine your Eligibility for Veteran's Credit",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Charlotte Hall Veterans Home (state assisted living and nursing home)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Maryland's only state veterans home is at 29449 Charlotte Hall Road in St. Mary's County. You must be a Maryland resident veteran who served on full-time active duty (not just training) with a discharge other than dishonorable, and be at least 62 or found disabled by Social Security or the VA. Certain reserve members and certain non-veteran spouses can also be admitted (spouses pay the full assisted living cost). Cost depends on income and your VA rating; every veteran gets a VA per diem credit, and a veteran 'rated 70% or greater for a service-connected disability may be entitled to the full cost of nursing home care.' Assisted living residents generally pay 90% of net monthly income. Start by calling the Veterans Service Officer at 301-884-8171 ext. 5112, then mail or email the admission application to the home. The home may decline an applicant for health, safety, or welfare reasons.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.maryland.gov/benefits-services/healthcare/charlotte-hall-veterans-home",
     "source_title": "Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families - Charlotte Hall Veterans Home",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Burial in one of five Maryland State Veterans Cemeteries at no cost to the veteran",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Eligible veterans receive a plot, grave liner, headstone, and interment services 'at no expense' at Cheltenham (Prince George's County), Crownsville (Anne Arundel), Garrison Forest in Owings Mills (Baltimore County), Rocky Gap in Flintstone (Allegany), or Eastern Shore in Hurlock (Dorchester). Eligibility follows the VA National Cemetery Administration rules; any discharge other than dishonorable qualifies. National Guard members and reservists must also show at least 2 years of Maryland residency. Spouses, minor children, and some unmarried adult dependent children can be buried too; the fee for dependents, Guard members, and reservists is $1,002 (adjusted each October 1). You can pre-register by mailing the Pre-Application Interment Planning form to the cemetery, but the final decision is made at the time of death. The family or funeral director calls the cemetery to schedule and provides the DD-214.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.maryland.gov/benefits-services/burial/veteran-cemeteries",
     "source_title": "Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families - Veteran Cemeteries; Burial Eligibility and Requirements; Burial Costs and Arrangements (updated Jan. 16, 2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Maryland Veterans Trust Fund emergency grants (rent, mortgage, utilities, car, repairs)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Trust Fund makes one-time grants, paid straight to the landlord, lender, utility, or repair shop, for Maryland residents who are honorably discharged veterans, Maryland National Guard members, or their surviving spouses and who face a financial hardship. Covered items are past-due rent or mortgage, past-due utilities, past-due car and insurance payments, and reimbursement of emergency car or home repairs. Bills must be 30 to 60 days past due when you apply. Apply online through the Trust Fund portal with your DD-214, proof of Maryland residency, proof of income, bank statements, the past-due notices, your lease or mortgage statement, vendor payment details, and a short written plan. Applications are taken the 1st through 15th of each month, reviewed the 16th through 23rd, and decided by month end. Awards depend on available funding; no maximum amount is published. The agency also funds a Service Animal Program through grants to nonprofit groups, not direct payments to veterans.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.maryland.gov/benefits-services/maryland-veterans-trust-fund",
     "source_title": "Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families - Maryland Veterans Trust Fund",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ],
   "slug": "maryland"
  },
  {
   "code": "MA",
   "name": "Massachusetts",
   "slug": "massachusetts",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Massachusetts Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS)",
    "url": "https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-veterans-services"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Massachusetts property tax exemptions for veterans are local-option. A city or town must have voted to accept each clause, and you apply to your local board of assessors, not to the state. Call your assessors to confirm which clauses your town accepted and its current dollar amount.",
    "The base amounts are small: $400 for a 10% or higher service-connected rating, $1,000 for a 100% rating. Clause 22J (HERO Act 2024) lets a town add up to 100% more, and Clause 22I ties amounts to inflation, but each town must vote to adopt them. The state does not reimburse these two options. A veteran in a town that has not adopted them gets the base figure.",
    "You must own and live in the home as your domicile on July 1 of the tax year. If you do not meet every requirement on July 1 you get none of the exemption that year. You must also be a legal resident and have lived in Massachusetts six months before entering service, or five consecutive years before filing.",
    "File with the assessors by April 1 of the tax year or within 3 months after the actual tax bill was sent, whichever is later (G.L. c. 59, s. 59). You must re-apply every fiscal year, although after the first grant you generally do not need a new VA certification unless your disability status changes.",
    "You cannot stack the property tax clauses on one home. The statute says a person who gets an exemption under Clause 22 through 22F cannot also receive another listed exemption on the same property, so you receive the single highest tier you qualify for.",
    "The state rating test for the 100% property tax tier (Clause 22E) is written as a disability rating of 100 per cent determined by the VA. We found no official page saying that a TDIU-only rating (paid at the 100% rate but rated below 100% schedular) or a P&T designation counts. Ask your assessor in writing before relying on it. By contrast the RMV fee and excise waivers state in plain words that a 100% rating or a VA finding of unemployability due to service-connected disability qualifies.",
    "Since the 2024 HERO Act, the RMV waives the registration fee on any/all vehicles (no longer just one) and the driver license transaction fee for veterans with a 100% rating or VA unemployability finding. The veteran must be listed as an owner. Excise tax is still waived on only one passenger vehicle or pickup truck, applied for through your local assessors, and special plate fees, title fees and sales tax fees are not waived by the registration exemption.",
    "Disabled Veteran (DV) plates have a different test than the 100% waivers: at least 60% service-connected, a qualifying permanent disabled parking privilege, and 60% worth of conditions that affect walking. A veteran at 100% for a non-ambulation condition may get the fee waivers but not DV plates, and the one-vehicle sales tax exemption requires DV plates (or, since the HERO Act, Purple Heart plates for a qualifying Purple Heart recipient with a 60% rating).",
    "Massachusetts has a state income tax, but military retirement pay is excluded from state gross income and VA disability compensation cannot be taxed by the state. These are not claimed on a form; they are simply not included in Massachusetts income.",
    "The disabled veteran annuity is paid at $2,500 a year (once a year in August since 2025) to veterans with a 100% service-connected rating or VA compensation at 100%. New applications or updates must be received and approved by June 30 to be paid in August so apply as soon as you qualify. Since July 1, 2025 a surviving spouse keeps the annuity after remarrying.",
    "Bills for a statewide disabled veteran homestead exemption (H.3836, tiers starting at 30%) and for free hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans have been filed in the 2025-2026 session. H.3836 was sent to a study order on 5/11/2026. Neither is law, so do not count on them.",
    "Chapter 115 is a means-tested cash and medical aid program, not tied to a VA rating. Because it counts income, a veteran with a 100% rating may still qualify if household income is low. The 2024 HERO Act added outpatient behavioral health coverage and a protection so a COLA increase does not cut off benefits mid-year."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Property tax exemption: Clause 22 (10% or higher)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "Veterans with a service-connected disability of 10% or more, Purple Heart recipients, Gold Star parents, and certain surviving spouses may get a $400 exemption (or the abatement of tax on $2,000 of valuation, whichever is greater) on the home they live in, if their town has accepted the clause. You must own and occupy the home as domicile on July 1 and file with the local board of assessors each year by April 1 or within 3 months after the tax bill is sent, whichever is later. Local towns may raise the amount under Clauses 22I and 22J.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/local-property-tax-exemptions-for-veterans",
     "source_title": "Local Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans (EOVS); G.L. c. 59, s. 5, Clause Twenty-second",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Property tax exemption: Clauses 22A, 22B, 22C and 22F (loss of limb, paraplegia, specially adapted housing)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "These are condition-based tiers, not rating-based: $750 for loss of use of one foot or hand, loss of one eye, a Medal of Honor, DSC, Navy Cross or Air Force Cross, or former prisoner of war (22A); $1,250 for loss of both feet, hands or eyes (22B); $1,500 for permanent and total disability with VA specially adapted housing assistance (22C). Clause 22F covers veterans who are paraplegic or 100% disabled for service-connected blindness, and the statute text lists no dollar amount for it. Apply to the local assessors; the exemption continues for an unremarried surviving spouse who stays an owner and occupant of the home.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/local-property-tax-exemptions-for-veterans",
     "source_title": "Local Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans (EOVS); G.L. c. 59, s. 5, Clauses 22A-22F",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Property tax exemption: Clause 22E (100% service-connected)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating determined by the VA may get a $1,000 exemption (or the abatement on $6,000 of valuation, whichever is greater) on their domicile. It continues for an unremarried surviving spouse who remains owner and occupant. Whether a TDIU-only or P&T designation qualifies is not stated on any official page we found, so confirm with your assessors. Apply to the local assessors by April 1 or within 3 months after the bill is sent.",
     "source_url": "https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleIX/Chapter59/Section5",
     "source_title": "G.L. c. 59, s. 5, Clause Twenty-second E; EOVS Local Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Optional local increases (Clauses 22I, 22J) and Clause 22D surviving spouse",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "A city or town may vote to adopt Clause 22I (annual cost of living increase) and Clause 22J (an extra exemption of up to 100% of your regular amount; for example a 22E exemption could go from $1,000 to $2,000). Both are local options, so the amount depends on your town, and the taxable value cannot fall below 10% of full value. Clause 22D gives surviving spouses of those who died from a service-related injury or illness, or are missing in action, a full exemption on the home.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ask-dls-hero-act",
     "source_title": "Ask DLS: HERO Act; G.L. c. 59, s. 5, Clauses 22D, 22I, 22J",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Vehicle registration and driver license fee waiver",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Under the HERO Act the RMV waives registration fees on any or all vehicles and driver license transaction fees for veterans whom the VA rates 100% or deems unemployable due to service-connected disability. The veteran must be listed as an owner. Special plate fees, reinstatement fees, title and sales tax fees, permit and road test fees, and Mass ID fees are still charged. Ask the RMV how to show your VA letter.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/disabled-veteran-fee-and-tax-exemptions",
     "source_title": "Disabled veteran fee and tax exemptions (Massachusetts RMV)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Motor vehicle excise tax exemption (one vehicle)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Disabled veterans do not pay excise tax on one passenger vehicle or pickup truck that they own and use for non-commercial purposes. Eligibility is now based on a VA finding of a 100% rating or unemployability due to service-connected disability, not the RMV Medical Advisory Board. Apply to your local board of assessors with VA certification within 3 years of the excise due date or 1 year of payment, whichever is later, per the DLS guidance (which predates the HERO Act change).",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/ask-dls-hero-act",
     "source_title": "Ask DLS: HERO Act; Ask DLS: Motor Vehicle Excise Exemptions for Veterans; RMV Disabled veteran fee and tax exemptions",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran plates and one-vehicle sales tax exemption",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "60%",
     "details": "DV plates are for Massachusetts resident veterans who are primary owner of a registered passenger vehicle, have permanent disabled parking privileges, and have at least a 60% service-connected rating, with conditions totaling 60% that affect walking. Veterans with DV plates (or a qualifying Purple Heart plate) do not pay sales tax on one passenger vehicle or pickup truck bought for non-commercial use. Apply through the RMV with your VA disability breakdown letter.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/disabled-veteran-fee-and-tax-exemptions",
     "source_title": "Disabled veteran fee and tax exemptions (Massachusetts RMV)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State park parking: daily fee waiver for DV plates",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "60%",
     "details": "Daily parking fees are waived at all DCR facilities for vehicles with disabled veteran license plates, Purple Heart plates, or disability plates or placards. Veterans with other RMV veteran plates can use designated veterans-only spaces at several DCR sites, first come first served. No separate application is listed; you need the plates.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/guides/parking-at-massachusetts-state-parks",
     "source_title": "Parking at Massachusetts State Parks (DCR)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Hunting and fishing licenses (no veteran-specific waiver found)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "The 2026 MassWildlife fee schedule lists free licenses only for residents who are paraplegic, blind, intellectually disabled (fishing), or paraplegic (hunting and sporting), plus age-based discounts; no waiver for disabled veterans as such is listed. A paraplegic veteran qualifies under the paraplegic category with pre-approval from MassWildlife. Bills to give disabled veterans free licenses have been filed but we found no enacted law.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/license-types-and-fees",
     "source_title": "License types and fees (MassWildlife)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State college and university tuition waiver for veterans",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Massachusetts veterans (as defined in G.L. c. 4, s. 7, clause 43) who are legal residents and not in default on federal loans may receive a full or partial tuition waiver for state-supported undergraduate degree or certificate courses at public colleges and universities, on a space-available basis. No disability rating is required. Campus fees are not included. Contact the school's veterans representative or financial aid office. Dependents of living disabled veterans have no state waiver we could find; the Public Service Scholarship covers children of veterans killed in action or who died from service.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/veteran-educational-benefits",
     "source_title": "Veteran Educational Benefits (EOVS); Categorical Tuition Waiver (Dept. of Higher Education); G.L. c. 15A, s. 19",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State income tax: military retirement and VA compensation",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Massachusetts has an income tax, but U.S. military retirement pay is excluded from state gross income under G.L. c. 62, s. 2(a)(2)(E). VA disability compensation, pensions and GI benefits are exempt from state taxation under 38 U.S.C. 5301. Nothing to apply for; leave these amounts out of Massachusetts income.",
     "source_url": "https://budget.digital.mass.gov/govbudget/fy26/tax-expenditure-budget/personal-income-tax/exclusions-from-gross-income/1-029/",
     "source_title": "Tax Expenditure Budget items 1.029 and 1.025 (FY26)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Civil service veterans preference",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Under G.L. c. 31, s. 26 disabled veterans are placed first on civil service eligible lists, ahead of other veterans, and a disabled veteran is retained in employment ahead of all other persons including veterans. Veterans also get two points added to promotional exam scores. The statute does not set a minimum rating; the Civil Service Commission defines disabled veteran, so confirm your status when you apply. Apply through the state Civil Service examination and application process.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/civil-service-overview-for-veterans",
     "source_title": "Civil Service overview for veterans; G.L. c. 31, s. 26",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veteran annuity ($2,500 a year)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, or compensated at 100% by the VA, who are Massachusetts residents and not dishonorably discharged may receive a $2,500 annuity once a year in August. Apply to EOVS with the application, direct deposit and W-9 forms, DD-214 and VA rating decision; applications and updates must be approved by June 30. Surviving spouses may continue after remarriage effective July 1, 2025.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/how-to/how-to-apply-for-veteran-annuity-benefits",
     "source_title": "How to Apply For Veteran Annuity Benefits (EOVS)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Chapter 115 needs-based benefits",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Chapter 115 is a means-tested program of financial, medical and dental help for food, shelter, clothing, fuel and medical care for eligible veterans and dependents, run by EOVS. It depends on income and family size, not on a VA rating. HERO Act 2024 added outpatient behavioral health coverage. Apply through your local Veteran Service Officer; use the EOVS benefit estimator for a starting point.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massvets-veteran-financial-benefits",
     "source_title": "MASSVETS Veteran Financial Benefits (EOVS)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Massachusetts Veterans Homes (Chelsea and Holyoke)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "State-run long-term care homes in Chelsea and Holyoke accept veterans who are Massachusetts residents when applying, meet the state veteran definition (including 90 days active duty with a non-dishonorable discharge, or a service-connected disability award), and are medically and behaviorally suitable for nursing-level care. Bring your DD-214 to admissions: Chelsea (617) 887-7146, Holyoke (413) 552-4764.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/eligibility-requirements-for-veterans-homes-0",
     "source_title": "Eligibility Requirements for Veterans Homes",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "MI",
   "name": "Michigan",
   "slug": "michigan",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA)",
    "url": "https://www.michigan.gov/mvaa"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The Michigan disabled veterans property tax exemption (MCL 211.7b) was NOT replaced by a credit. It still exists and exempts the homestead entirely; the older assumption that it was phased out in 2025 is wrong. What changed (2023 PA 150) is that for taxes levied on or after Jan 1, 2025 the exemption continues without re-filing until you rescind it or the assessor denies it.",
    "Qualifying tests for the property tax exemption are (1) VA permanent and total at the 100% rate, (2) a VA specially adapted housing certificate, or (3) VA individually unemployable (TDIU). A 100% rating that is not permanent and total, and ratings below 100% without TDIU, do not qualify. Attach a letter from the VA, not from a county veterans office.",
    "The statute says 'homestead,' and the State Tax Commission FAQ says homestead and principal residence are not interchangeable terms, while the Treasury web page says 'principal residence.' Ask your assessor if you own several properties. Title must be held by you alone or jointly with your spouse.",
    "File Form 5107 with the local city or township assessor, not the county. The statute window is after Jan 1 and before Dec 31 of the year claimed, but the MVAA advises filing in January or February. A newly bought home is prorated by days owned and occupied unless closing documents are provided.",
    "Veterans below the exemption threshold may still claim the MI-1040CR-2 homestead property tax credit with their income tax return (maximum $1,900 for 2025, household resources under $71,500). It is a refundable-style credit, so file even if you owe no income tax.",
    "Disabled veteran plate tiers: 100% (or TDIU) gets a non-expiring plate with no registration fees; 50% to 90% gets the plate but pays regular fees. A disabled veteran plate is not a parking permit. To get disability parking on the plate, also file the MV-110.",
    "The Recreation Passport exemption for state parks follows the license plate, not the person. If your car has the Disabled veteran plate you are exempt; a veteran without that plate on the vehicle is not.",
    "Free hunting and fishing licenses require a 100% permanent and total rating (not blindness-based) or TDIU, and cover only licenses that do not need a separate application (not drawings). A summary page from the MVAA says 'veterans with a disability'; the DNR rule controls.",
    "Children of Veterans Tuition Grant is for the child, not the veteran, requires total and permanent disability, ends at age 26, and is capped at $2,800 per year and $11,200 total.",
    "Pending bills (not law as of this check): Senate Bill 821 (2026) would create disabled veteran lifetime hunting and fishing licenses starting July 1, 2027, and House Bill 5885 (2026) would clarify when assessors deny the disabled veteran exemption. Check legislature.mi.gov before relying on either.",
    "Michigan has a state income tax. Military retirement pay is exempt, but a veteran should confirm treatment of VA disability compensation on their own return; Michigan income tax starts from federal AGI, and VA compensation is not included in federal AGI."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veterans Homestead Property Tax Exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Real property used and owned as a homestead by a disabled veteran is fully exempt from property tax collection. A disabled veteran must be a Michigan resident, honorably discharged, and meet one of three tests: VA determination of permanent and total disability at the 100% rate, a VA certificate of pecuniary assistance for specially adapted housing, or a VA rating of individually unemployable (TDIU). File State Tax Commission Form 5107 with the local assessor (city or township) with a VA letter; for taxes levied on or after Jan 1, 2025 the exemption stays in effect without re-filing until you rescind it or the assessor denies it. There is no income or asset test.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-211-7b",
     "source_title": "MCL 211.7b (General Property Tax Act, Sec. 7b)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Surviving spouse continuation of homestead exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "An unremarried surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who was eligible for the exemption immediately before death keeps the exemption on any homestead the spouse owns and uses, including a home acquired after the death. It ends if the spouse remarries. The spouse files Form 5107 with the local assessor and must be a Michigan resident; title must be held solely by the spouse.",
     "source_url": "https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-211-7b",
     "source_title": "MCL 211.7b(1)(b) and (4)(b)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead Property Tax Credit for Veterans (MI-1040CR-2)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "A veteran with a service-connected disability (or a surviving spouse of a veteran deceased in service) can claim an income tax credit for property tax on the homestead using Form MI-1040CR-2, even if no income tax is owed (it is paid as a refund). The 2025 form caps the credit at $1,900, bars homes with taxable value over $165,400, and bars household resources over $71,500. The credit size depends on your disability percentage; the percent-to-allowance table is in the Treasury instructions. Treasury advises also computing the regular MI-1040CR and filing whichever is larger.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/taxes/-/media/Project/Websites/taxes/Forms/IIT/TY2025/MI-1040CR2.pdf",
     "source_title": "2025 MI-1040CR-2 Homestead Property Tax Credit Claim for Veterans and Blind People",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Permanent Disabled Veteran license plate (no registration fee)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "A veteran with an honorable discharge and a VA 100% combined rating, or a lower rating with a 100% unemployable rating, can get a Permanent Disabled Veteran plate with non-expiring registration and no registration fees. Only one disabled veteran plate per applicant; the vehicle must be a non-commercial passenger vehicle, pickup or van titled to the applicant. Apply at any Secretary of State office or by mail with discharge papers and a VA Rating Decision or Summary of Benefits letter. The MVAA page also mentions a one-time $5 administrative fee; confirm with the Secretary of State.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/sos/-/media/Project/Websites/sos/Vehicle/License-Plates/Application-for-Veteran-License-plate-BDVR-87.pdf",
     "source_title": "Application for Veteran License Plate (BDVR-87)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Standard Disabled Veteran license plate (50% to 90%)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "Veterans with a VA rating of 50 to 90% (with an honorable discharge) can get a Standard Disabled Veteran plate. Regular registration fees apply and registration expires on the applicant's birthday. A disabled veteran plate is not automatically a disability (parking) plate; to get one that is also a disability plate you must add the MV-110 Disability License Plate Application.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/sos/-/media/Project/Websites/sos/Vehicle/License-Plates/Application-for-Veteran-License-plate-BDVR-87.pdf",
     "source_title": "Application for Veteran License Plate (BDVR-87)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free Recreation Passport (state parks) with disabled veteran plate",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "A Recreation Passport is not required for a vehicle registered with a Michigan Disabled veteran plate (or Ex-POW or Medal of Honor plate). The DNR says the exemption is tied to the plate and registration, not to the person, so you need the plate on the vehicle you drive into the park. Because both permanent and standard disabled veteran plates exist, the 50% starting point follows the plate rules; confirm park entry with the DNR.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/faqs/recreation-passport/rp",
     "source_title": "Recreation Passport FAQs (Michigan DNR)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free hunting and fishing licenses",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Michigan resident veterans with a disability get any hunting or fishing license that does not require a separate application free of charge if the VA has determined them permanently and totally disabled at the 100% rate (for disabilities other than blindness) or rated individually unemployable. Carry the VA documentation when buying the license and while afield. Licenses obtained through a drawing or separate application are not covered.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/fishing/license-info",
     "source_title": "Fishing and hunting license information (Michigan DNR)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Children of Veterans Tuition Grant",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Undergraduate tuition grant for the natural or adopted child (age 16 up to 26) of a qualified Michigan veteran who died, is missing in action, or became totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected illness or injury per the VA. Maximum $2,800 per academic year ($1,400 per semester full-time), up to 8 semesters or $11,200 lifetime. Apply once through the MiSSG Student Portal and file the FAFSA every year; the 2026-27 application deadline is June 30, 2027. Student needs at least a 2.25 GPA and half-time enrollment.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/programs/children-of-veterans-tuition-grant",
     "source_title": "Children of Veterans Tuition Grant (Michigan Student Aid)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "In-state tuition for veterans",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Per the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, veterans and active-duty members receive in-state tuition regardless of their state of residency or duty status. This applies to veterans generally, not only disabled veterans. Ask the school's veterans certifying official how it is applied. Michigan has no statewide tuition waiver for disabled veterans themselves.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/mvaa/quality-of-life/quality-of-life/state-of-michigan-veteran-benefits",
     "source_title": "State of Michigan Veteran Benefits (MVAA)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay exempt from state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Military retirement benefits paid to retirees of the U.S. armed forces for their service are exempt from Michigan individual income tax; deduct them on Schedule 1 to the extent included in AGI, and still report them on Schedule W. The MVAA page says military disability retirement pay received as a pension or similar allowance for injury or sickness from active service is not included in taxable income. Michigan has an income tax; civilian pay from the military does not qualify as military pay.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/taxes/questions/iit/accordion/military/are-military-retirement-benefits-exempt-from-michigan-individual-income-tax",
     "source_title": "Are military retirement benefits exempt from Michigan individual income tax? (Treasury)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State hiring veterans' preference",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Under Civil Service Rule 3-8, a veteran (90 or more days of active duty, honorable discharge) gets 5 points added to a final passing exam score, and a disabled veteran (found eligible for VA or military disability compensation for a service-connected disability) gets 10 points. Where an agency screens by score instead, the add-on is 5 percent or 10 percent of the highest screening score. A spouse of a disabled veteran with a service-connected rating over 50 percent also gets 10. Preference is not a guarantee of a job, and you must register with Civil Service to receive it.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mdcs/SPDOC/2009/CSCRule3_8VetsPrefSPDOC_0904a.pdf?rev=8955ee5962b047bbb0a82a7876328f1a",
     "source_title": "Civil Service Commission Rule 3-8: Veterans' Preference",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Michigan Veterans Trust Fund emergency grants",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Discretionary emergency grants for veterans facing an unforeseen, short-term financial hardship that a grant can resolve. Applicants are Michigan residents, honorably discharged, generally with 180 days of wartime service (a separate program covers peacetime veterans age 65 and older). Apply through your county MVTF committee or call 1-800-MICH-VET; denials can be appealed to the MVTF Board of Trustees. Not tied to a disability rating.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/mvaa/quality-of-life/emergency-assistance/panel-content",
     "source_title": "Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVAA)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Michigan Veteran Homes (state nursing care)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Three state veteran homes (Grand Rapids, Marquette, Chesterfield Township) provide skilled nursing care. Eligibility includes honorably discharged veterans eligible for VA health care or VA long-term nursing care financial assistance, and certain dependents; Michigan residency is not required. Apply by contacting a home directly or a Veteran Service Officer.",
     "source_url": "https://www.michigan.gov/mvh/eligibility",
     "source_title": "Michigan Veteran Homes - Eligibility",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "MN",
   "name": "Minnesota",
   "slug": "minnesota",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs",
    "url": "https://www.mn.gov/mdva/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The homestead market value exclusion (Minn. Stat. 273.13, subd. 34) needs a service-connected rating of 70 percent or more and an honorable discharge. At 70 to 99 percent, $150,000 of the home's market value is excluded. A 'total (100 percent) and permanent disability' excludes $300,000. The statute and the Revenue page do not mention TDIU, so a TDIU rating by itself is not clearly enough for the $300,000 tier; ask your county assessor.",
    "This is a reduction in taxable value, not a full tax exemption. The home must be classified as your homestead and you must own and occupy it on December 31. The exclusion does not stack with the regular homestead market value exclusion.",
    "Apply to your county assessor by December 31 of the first assessment year you want the exclusion (taxes payable the next year). Some county forms list earlier dates (for example December 15), so call the county before the end of November. Bring your DD-214 and VA rating documentation; a County Veterans Service Officer can help.",
    "On a farm homestead, only the house, garage, and one surrounding acre count toward the exclusion.",
    "If a veteran with the $300,000 exclusion dies, it carries over to the surviving spouse while the spouse holds title and lives in the home; it ends on remarriage or if the property is disposed of. A spouse receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) can also qualify under the Revenue page. A VA-approved primary family caregiver can claim it if the veteran owns no Minnesota homestead.",
    "The vehicle registration exemption (Minn. Stat. 168.012, subd. 13) uses the definition of a veteran with a 'total service-connected disability': a 100 percent total and permanent rating shown by a VA (or military retirement board) document. It covers passenger automobiles, one-ton pickups, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles, up to two vehicles at a time. Personalized-plate fees and required special-plate donations are not waived.",
    "Free hunting and fishing licenses require a 100 percent service-connected disability. The DNR page says 'proof of a 100% service-related disability'. It does not say whether a TDIU rating counts. A federal duck stamp is still required for waterfowl. The free permanent angling license is issued only at the DNR License Center in St. Paul.",
    "The free state park vehicle permit is different: any level of service-connected disability qualifies (Minn. Stat. 85.053, subd. 10). Show a VA determination letter or other official validation each year.",
    "VA disability compensation is not part of federal adjusted gross income, and Minnesota starts from federal AGI, so it is not taxed. No Minnesota page found says this in so many words. Military retirement pay is a full subtraction, but you cannot also claim the Credit for Past Military Service in the same year.",
    "Minnesota state-job preference uses points on open exams: 10 points for a veteran and 15 for a disabled veteran (compensable service-connected disability). A disabled veteran gets the points only after passing the exam without them. Hiring under the newer applicant-pool system lists disabled veterans ahead of other applicants instead of using points.",
    "The Minnesota GI Bill pays up to $5,000 per state fiscal year and $15,000 in a lifetime, and must be applied for through the state program. The Survivors and Dependents Education Program in Minn. Stat. 197.75 is for dependents of veterans who died from service; the 2026 amendments (Laws 2026 ch. 49) could not be read, so check the current text.",
    "Minnesota Veterans Homes require an honorable discharge, Minnesota residency, and, under the statute, applicants must be 'without adequate means of support' unless the discretionary payment path in Minn. Stat. 198.03 applies."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead market value exclusion, $150,000 (70 percent or more)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "70%",
     "details": "If you were honorably discharged and have a service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or more, $150,000 of your homestead's market value is excluded from taxation. You must own and occupy the home as your homestead on December 31. Apply to the county assessor by December 31 of the first assessment year you want it; the exclusion cannot be combined with the regular homestead market value exclusion. A 100 percent rating that is not clearly permanent and total falls into this tier.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/273.13",
     "source_title": "Minn. Stat. 273.13, subd. 34 (Homestead of veteran with a disability); Minnesota Department of Revenue, Market Value Exclusion for Veterans with a Disability (updated Sept. 9, 2026)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead market value exclusion, $300,000 (100 percent total and permanent)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "Veterans with a 'total (100 percent) and permanent disability' get $300,000 of market value excluded from their homestead. You need an honorable discharge and must own and occupy the homestead on December 31. Apply to the county assessor by December 31. The statute does not mention TDIU, so a TDIU-only rating is not clearly covered; ask your assessor before assuming it counts.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/273.13",
     "source_title": "Minn. Stat. 273.13, subd. 34(b); Minnesota Department of Revenue, Market Value Exclusion for Veterans with a Disability",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead exclusion for surviving spouses and primary family caregivers",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "If a veteran who qualified for the $300,000 exclusion dies, it carries over to the surviving spouse, who must hold title and live in the home; it ends on remarriage or when the property is disposed of. The Revenue page also lists a surviving spouse who receives DIC, and says the veteran's disability status is not a factor in that case. A primary family caregiver approved by the VA may qualify if the veteran owns no Minnesota homestead. Apply to the county assessor by December 31. The amount for a DIC spouse and the caregiver tiers should be confirmed with the assessor.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/market-value-exclusion-veterans-disability",
     "source_title": "Minnesota Department of Revenue, Market Value Exclusion for Veterans with a Disability; Minn. Stat. 273.13, subd. 34(c)-(e)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Registration tax, plate and filing fee exemption for veterans with a total service-connected disability",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "A veteran with a 100 percent total and permanent service-connected disability rating shown by VA documentation is exempt from registration tax, administrative fees, filing fees and surcharges, and plate and validation sticker fees on a passenger automobile, one-ton pickup, motorcycle, or recreational vehicle. The exemption applies to no more than two vehicles at a time, and to vehicles jointly registered with a spouse or domestic partner. Personalized-plate fees and required special-plate donations are not waived. The Driver and Vehicle Services application procedure and disabled-veteran parking privileges could not be confirmed.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/168.012",
     "source_title": "Minn. Stat. 168.012, subd. 13 (Disabled veterans); Minn. Stat. 171.01, subd. 51 (definition)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free small game, deer, and permanent angling licenses (100 percent disabled)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Resident veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability can get a free small game license, one free deer license a year (firearms, archery, or muzzleloader), and a free permanent angling license with no trout stamp. A permanent card lets you get the small game and deer licenses free each year. The permanent angling license is issued only by the DNR License Center in St. Paul. Federal duck stamps are still required. The DNR does not state whether TDIU counts.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/military/print.html",
     "source_title": "Minnesota DNR, Military benefits (Resident Veterans); Minn. Stat. 97A.441, subds. 5, 6, 6a",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free annual state park vehicle permit (any service-connected disability)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "The DNR issues an annual state park vehicle permit at no charge to any veteran with any level of service-connected disability (Minn. Stat. 85.053, subd. 10). Show a veteran award letter, VA healthcare ID card, DOD privilege card, or a Disabled Vet license plate to park staff. The statute says you must present a yearly federal determination letter or other official validation. Purple Heart recipients and active military also get free permits under subd. 8.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/85.053",
     "source_title": "Minn. Stat. 85.053, subds. 8 and 10; Minnesota DNR, Military benefits",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Minnesota GI Bill (education and training grant)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Veterans who served honorably in any branch at any time, and non-veterans with 5 or more cumulative years of honorable Minnesota National Guard or reserve service (some on or after Sept. 11, 2001), can receive up to $5,000 per state fiscal year and $15,000 in a lifetime for college, on-the-job training or apprenticeship, or licensing and certification. You must be a Minnesota resident, enrolled, making satisfactory progress, and have filed the FAFSA. Surviving spouses and children of a service member who died from service, and spouses and children of a service member with a total and permanent service-connected disability, are also covered if eligible for federal chapter 33 or 35 benefits. Apply through the state MN GI Bill program run by MDVA.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/197.791",
     "source_title": "Minn. Stat. 197.791 (Minnesota GI Bill); MDVA MN GI Bill page (not readable by our tools)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Survivors and Dependents Education Program (tuition waiver and stipend)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Children and surviving spouses of a deceased veteran who meet the statute's definitions are admitted free of tuition to Minnesota public institutions until a bachelor's degree, and an educational stipend of $750 a year is paid to each eligible child and spouse. The statute was amended in 2025 and 2026 (Laws 2026 ch. 49), and the current definition of the veteran's death or disability that qualifies could not be read. Confirm eligibility with MDVA before relying on this.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/197.75",
     "source_title": "Minn. Stat. 197.75 (Survivors and dependents education)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay subtraction from state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Minnesota taxes income, but federally taxable pension or retirement pay from the federal government for military service is a subtraction, with no dollar cap in the statute (Minn. Stat. 290.0132, subd. 21). The subtraction applies to people who do not claim the Credit for Past Military Service. Claim it on Schedule M1M. VA disability compensation is not in federal adjusted gross income, so it is not taxed; no Minnesota page found states this directly.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/290.0132",
     "source_title": "Minn. Stat. 290.0132, subd. 21 (Military service pension; retirement pay)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Credit for Past Military Service (state income tax credit)",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "A person who has served at least 20 years, has a 100 percent service-connected disability rating, or is eligible for certain military retirement pay, and who separated before the end of the tax year, can claim a credit of $750, reduced by 10 percent of federal adjusted gross income above $30,000. You cannot take this credit and the military retirement subtraction together. Claim it on the Minnesota income tax return.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/290.0677",
     "source_title": "Minn. Stat. 290.0677, subds. 1a and 2 (Credit for past military service)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State job veterans preference (points and applicant-pool ranking)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "On open civil service exams, a veteran who passes gets 10 points, and a disabled veteran with a compensable service-connected disability gets 15 points; on promotional exams a disabled veteran with a permanent rating of 50 percent or more gets 5 points for a first promotion (Minn. Stat. 197.455). In the state's applicant-pool system (Minn. Stat. 43A.11), disabled veterans are listed ahead of all other applicants, then other veterans, and the top five recently separated veterans must get an interview. A surviving spouse, or the spouse of a disabled veteran who cannot qualify, may use the preference. Claim it when you apply.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/197.455",
     "source_title": "Minn. Stat. 197.455 (Veterans preference in civil service); Minn. Stat. 43A.11",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Minnesota Veterans Homes",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Minnesota runs state veterans homes for honorably discharged veterans who are Minnesota residents (statute: served in a Minnesota regiment or credited to Minnesota). Spouses and surviving spouses must be at least 55. Applicants must be without adequate means of support unless the discretionary payment path in Minn. Stat. 198.03 applies, and each home has its own application and waiting list. MDVA says residents must need skilled nursing care at some homes; confirm with the specific home.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/198.022",
     "source_title": "Minn. Stat. 198.022 (Eligibility for admission); MDVA Veterans Homes admissions (page not readable by our tools)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "MS",
   "name": "Mississippi",
   "slug": "mississippi",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Mississippi Veterans Affairs (MSVA)",
    "url": "https://www.msva.ms.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The Mississippi homestead exemption for veterans is for an honorably discharged veteran with a 'service-connected, total disability.' The statute (Miss. Code 27-33-67(2)(a)) does not say 'permanent,' and it does not list TDIU. The Department of Revenue rule asks for proof such as the Veteran's Consent of Release (Form 72-042). Whether a TDIU-only rating (100% pay level, not a 100% schedular rating) is accepted should be confirmed with your county Tax Assessor before you rely on it.",
    "Apply for the homestead exemption in person at the county Tax Assessor's office, only between January 1 and April 1. You must own the home and live in it as your primary residence on January 1. Ownership must be on record before January 1, and the deed filed with the Chancery Clerk before January 7. Missing the April 1 date means no exemption for that year.",
    "You can lose the homestead exemption, retroactively, if you or your spouse did not file or pay Mississippi income tax on time, filed as a nonresident, or did not properly register your vehicles. The Department of Revenue says you may have to repay the exemption. Change of VA benefit status, marriage, divorce, death, or a deed change can force you to re-apply.",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the total homestead exemption only while unremarried. Department of Revenue rule 3.03 says that from January 1, 2026, the unremarried surviving spouse of a person who qualifies for the total-disability exemption also qualifies. Bills in 2025 and 2026 to widen surviving-spouse rules (HB 714, SB 2808, SB 3120) died in committee.",
    "The state's $1 disabled veteran plate has TWO routes: a rating of 100% permanent, or at least 70% NONPERMANENT service-connected disability (Miss. Code 27-19-53, as amended effective July 1, 2025). A 70% nonpermanent holder must show an updated VA benefits letter at each renewal. Older MSVA pages that say only '100% permanent or TDIU permanent' are out of date.",
    "The plate is $1 each for up to 2 passenger vehicles or pickup trucks plus 1 motorcycle, and those vehicles are exempt from ad valorem and privilege taxes. A third vehicle pays regular fees and taxes. Proof of ownership of each vehicle is required. The privilege exemption does not cover commercial vehicles; the statute says it applies only to passenger vehicles, pickups and motorcycles.",
    "The hunting and fishing exemption needs a VA letter stating 100% service-connected disability. You are not required to buy a license, but you must carry proof of age, residency and disability status while hunting or fishing. MDWFP also sells an optional 'Disabled Exempt' card (fee listed as $5.79 on the form revised 7/2024) if you want a card instead of carrying papers.",
    "Mississippi has NO tuition waiver for veterans with a service-connected disability or for their spouses and children. Bills to create one (HB 1226, SB 2058, SB 2444 in 2025) died in committee. The only veteran tuition rule is that nonresident veterans and GI Bill-eligible people pay in-state tuition (Miss. Code 37-103-25). The only dependent scholarship is for children of POW/MIA service members (37-108-1).",
    "State employment preference is a list-order system. The State Personnel Board defines a 'disabled veteran' as a veteran certified by the VA within the last 90 days as having a service-connected rating of at least 30%, or a Purple Heart recipient. You must submit current VA proof for disabled veteran status. The sources I found show points (4 for veterans, 8 for disabled veterans) only in the reduction-in-force retention formula.",
    "Mississippi has a state income tax (4.4% on taxable income over $10,000 per the Department of Revenue FAQ; the 2025 return instructions show scheduled reductions through 2030). But VA payments are not taxed, and retirement income from federal, state and private systems, which includes military retirement, is exempt in total per the 2025 return instructions. Separation pay and early plan distributions are not exempt.",
    "State park and state lake discounts do not need a disability rating: the 15% park camping and lodging discount covers all veterans, and state lake 'exempt' permits are for ages 62+, 100% disabled, active service members or military veterans. Park proof of 100% disability is a VA letter stating '100% Service Connected Disability.'",
    "A 2026 bill (HB 420, signed March 20, 2026, effective July 1, 2026) adds a total homestead exemption for honorably discharged veterans age 85 or older, starting with exemptions claimed in 2027, and extends it to unremarried surviving spouses. This is separate from the service-connected disability exemption."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead exemption - total (service-connected total disability)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected, total disability, and their unremarried surviving spouses, are exempt from all ad valorem (property) tax on their homestead (Tier 3 of the state homestead system). You must own and occupy the home as your primary residence on January 1, and apply in person at the county Tax Assessor's office between January 1 and April 1; once allowed, you generally do not re-file each year unless something changes. Proof is Department of Revenue-approved VA documentation, for example the Veteran's Consent of Release (Form 72-042). Special assessments and fees that are not ad valorem tax may still be due; confirm with your Tax Assessor.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dor.ms.gov/county-services/homestead-exemption",
     "source_title": "Homestead Exemption - Mississippi Department of Revenue",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead exemption - TDIU or non-100% schedular rating (unclear)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "The statute and rule say 'service-connected, total disability' and do not name TDIU or 'permanent and total.' A 2025 Attorney General opinion summary says civilian employability is irrelevant and only documentation of a service-connected total disability and honorable discharge is needed, but I could only find that opinion through a non-official summary. Ask your county Tax Assessor, in writing, whether a TDIU rating is accepted before relying on it.",
     "source_url": "https://www.sos.ms.gov/adminsearch/ACCode/00000161c.pdf",
     "source_title": "35 Miss. Admin. Code Part VI, Rule 3.03 (homestead applicants, total disability proof) - Secretary of State",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead exemption - veteran age 90+ (85+ from 2027)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "An honorably discharged veteran who is at least 90 on January 1 gets a full ad valorem exemption on the homestead, and so does the unremarried surviving spouse. HB 420 (2026, effective July 1, 2026) lowers the age to 85 for exemptions claimed in 2027 and later. Documents are a birth certificate or state ID and the DD-214; apply at the county Tax Assessor between January 1 and April 1.",
     "source_url": "https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2026/html/HB/0400-0499/HB0420SG.htm",
     "source_title": "HB 420 (As Sent to Governor), 2026 Regular Session, amending Miss. Code 27-33-75",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled American Veteran license plates - $1 each",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "A Mississippi resident rated 100% permanent, OR at least 70% nonpermanent, service-connected can buy up to 2 passenger vehicle or pickup plates and 1 motorcycle plate per year for $1 each (Miss. Code 27-19-53). A 100% permanent rating may have the plate labeled '100% Disabled Veteran' or 'Disabled Veteran'; a 70% nonpermanent holder must show an updated VA benefits letter every renewal. Apply at the county Tax Collector with VA verification and proof of ownership; the unremarried surviving spouse can keep the plates.",
     "source_url": "https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2025/html/SB/2001-2099/SB2052SG.htm",
     "source_title": "SB 2052 (As Sent to Governor), 2025 Regular Session, amending Miss. Code 27-19-53",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Vehicle ad valorem and privilege tax exemption (2 vehicles + 1 motorcycle)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Vehicles and the motorcycle that carry the $1 disabled veteran plates are exempt from all ad valorem and privilege taxes. The Department of Revenue says a qualified veteran may register up to 2 vehicles and 1 motorcycle this way; more vehicles pay regular fees and taxes. Same threshold as the plates: 100% permanent or at least 70% nonpermanent.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dor.ms.gov/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-frequently-asked-questions",
     "source_title": "Motor Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions - Mississippi Department of Revenue",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Hunting and fishing license exemption",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Residents with a total service-connected disability from the VA do not have to buy a hunting or fishing license (Miss. Code 49-7-5 and 49-7-9). You must carry proof of age, residency and disability status (a VA letter stating 100% service connected) while hunting or fishing. MDWFP also issues an optional Disabled Exempt card for a small fee; WMA user permits are waived for exempt users.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mdwfp.com/licenses-permits/fishing-license-requirements",
     "source_title": "Fishing License Requirements (Exemptions) - Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Optional MDWFP Disabled Exempt hunting/fishing card",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Instead of carrying papers, a 100% service-connected veteran can apply for a Disabled Exempt hunting/fishing license by mailing the MDWFP application, a current VA letter stating 100% service connected, and proof of Mississippi residency. The form revised 7/2024 lists the fee as $5.79. Veterans rated below 100% do not qualify for this exemption.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mdwfp.com/sites/default/files/2024-07/Exempt%20License%20Application.pdf",
     "source_title": "Application for Resident Exempt Hunting / Fishing License (Revised 7/2024)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State park 15% camping and lodging discount",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Mississippi State Parks give a 15% discount off the camping and lodging rate to ages 62+, disabled, veterans and active service members (excluding holidays, special events and Buccaneer State Park Gulf View sites). Proof of status is required at check-in; for disability, a VA letter stating '100% Service Connected Disability.' This is a discount, not a free pass.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mdwfp.com/parks-destinations/state-park-fees",
     "source_title": "State Park Fees - Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State fishing lake 'exempt' permit rates",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "State fishing lakes run by MDWFP charge reduced 'exempt' prices (for example annual boat launch/fishing $100 vs $125, annual fishing permit $35 vs $55, one-day camping $22 vs $25) for persons 62+, 100% disabled, active service members or military veterans. Veterans can show military veteran status; 100% disabled users use a VA letter stating 100% service connected.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mdwfp.com/fishing-boating/state-fishing-lake-permit-fees",
     "source_title": "State Fishing Lake Permit Fees - Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "In-state tuition for nonresident veterans and GI Bill users",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A veteran as defined in Title 38, or a person entitled to Title 38 education benefits, is authorized in-state tuition at Mississippi public colleges (Miss. Code 37-103-25). There is no state tuition waiver for service-connected disabled veterans or their dependents; the only dependent scholarship is for children of POW/MIA service members. Contact the school's veterans office and the Mississippi VA State Approving Agency at (601) 576-4867.",
     "source_url": "https://www.msva.ms.gov/state-benefits",
     "source_title": "State Benefits for Veterans - Mississippi VA",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State income tax: VA disability pay and military retirement",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Mississippi has a state income tax, but it does not tax VA payments, and retirement income from federal, state and private retirement systems is exempt in total per the Department of Revenue's 2025 return instructions. Separation pay and early distributions are not exempt. National Guard and Reserve pay: the first $15,000 is excluded; combat-zone pay is exempt.",
     "source_url": "https://www.dor.ms.gov/individual/individual-income-tax-frequently-asked-questions",
     "source_title": "Individual Income Tax Frequently Asked Questions - Mississippi Department of Revenue",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State employment preference (disabled veteran listing and RIF points)",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "30%",
     "details": "When state agencies get a list of eligible applicants, disabled veterans are listed before veterans at the top of the list. A disabled veteran is one certified by the VA within the last 90 days at 30% or more service connected, or a Purple Heart recipient (Miss. Code 25-9-301). In state layoffs, veterans get 4 points and disabled veterans 8 points toward the retention score. Submit VA proof when you apply on the State Personnel Board site.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mspb.ms.gov/information-veterans",
     "source_title": "Information for Veterans - Mississippi State Personnel Board",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Concealed carry permit fee exemption",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Veterans with any service-connected disability are exempt from concealed weapon permit fees and renewal fees, if resident of Mississippi for 12 months immediately before applying (waivers for certain out-of-state permit holders, stationed military and retired law enforcement). Miss. Code 45-9-101. Details of the application are handled by the Department of Public Safety; this row cites the MSVA summary.",
     "source_url": "https://www.msva.ms.gov/state-benefits",
     "source_title": "State Benefits for Veterans - Mississippi VA",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Veterans' Home Purchase Board home loan",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Veterans' Home Purchase Board makes below-market fixed-rate home loans to eligible veterans (listed rates effective March 1, 2026: 4.50% for 0-15 years and 5.00% for 16-30 years, maximum loan $500,000). You need a VA Certificate of Eligibility, a discharge other than dishonorable, and Mississippi residency before service or for 2 consecutive years before applying. Disability rating is not an eligibility requirement. A surviving spouse may qualify if the veteran died from service-connected causes.",
     "source_url": "https://www.vhpb.ms.gov/veteran-eligibility",
     "source_title": "VHPB Program Eligibility - Veterans' Home Purchase Board of Mississippi",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "MO",
   "name": "Missouri",
   "slug": "missouri",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Missouri Veterans Commission",
    "url": "https://mvc.dps.mo.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The Property Tax Credit is a refund claimed on your state income tax return (MO-PTS) or on Form MO-PTC, not a lower local tax bill. It is capped at $1,550 of tax paid for tax year 2026 (up from $1,100) and is phased out by income, so a high-income household may get little or nothing.",
    "The credit statute reads 'one hundred percent disabled as a result of such service.' It does not mention TDIU or P&T, and DOR forms ask for a VA letter that the disability is 100% from military service. Ask DOR whether a TDIU-only rating counts.",
    "For a veteran who is 100% service-connected, VA payments are not counted as income for the credit. A veteran who is 100% disabled but not from service must count VA payments as income. Attach the VA letter.",
    "Missouri has no general disabled veteran property tax exemption. Only a former POW with a total service-connected disability gets a full homestead exemption (constitution). Several 2026 bills (such as SB 1535, HB 2362, SJR 77 and SJR 94) would expand relief, but none was found enacted, so do not count on them.",
    "The 'free' Disabled Veteran plates have a threshold that is unclear: DOR's page asks for a VA letter of service-connected disability, but the statute refers to total service-connected compensation or a VA automobile grant. Registration is free for one set only, and the plates do not give disabled parking unless the wheelchair symbol is added.",
    "The no-permit hunting and fishing exemption starts at 60%. It does not cover deer, turkey, bear, elk, trapping, trout, or migratory birds, and you must carry a VA statement of eligibility.",
    "The Returning Heroes tuition cap is for combat veterans (proof of combat service), has time limits (10 years undergraduate, 20 years graduate) and a 2.5 GPA. It is not tied to a disability rating, and it covers the veteran, not dependents.",
    "Dependent tuition help (Wartime Veteran's Survivor Grant) is narrow: post-9/11, combat-related death or 80% combat disability, limited to 25 new grants a year.",
    "Military retirement is fully subtractable for tax years 2021 and later; the older 2016 phase-in does not apply. Survivor Benefit Plan annuities are not treated the same way.",
    "The state job points table is on an application form dated 08-17, while the statute was rewritten in 2018. Treat the 5/10 point figures as unconfirmed.",
    "Free disabled parking placards depend on a permanent disability, not a VA percentage; the 'VETERAN' marking on a driver license costs nothing extra but normal license fees apply."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Property Tax Credit (circuit breaker)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "A refundable state income tax credit (not a bill reduction) for a veteran who 'became one hundred percent disabled as a result of such service.' For tax year 2026 and later the credit can be based on up to $1,550 of property tax paid on an owned home ($1,055 of rent-equivalent for renters); the 2025 caps were $1,100 and $750. Income must be at or below $42,200 (single, owned and occupied all year) or $48,000 (married, owned and occupied all year) for 2026, and VA benefits do not count as income for a veteran who is 100% service-connected (attach a VA letter). File Form MO-PTS with your MO-1040, or Form MO-PTC if you do not file an income tax return, with the Department of Revenue; the 2025 claim was due April 15, 2026 and can be filed up to 3 years late. The law does not mention TDIU or P&T status, so confirm with DOR whether a TDIU-only veteran qualifies.",
     "source_url": "https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=135.010",
     "source_title": "RSMo 135.010 and 135.025/135.030 (Property Tax Credit); DOR Form MO-PTC instructions",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Former POW homestead property tax exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "The Missouri Constitution exempts from all property tax the homestead of a Missouri citizen who is a former prisoner of war and has a total service-connected disability. You must own and live in the home as your primary residence, and give your county assessor a VA letter showing total service-connected disability and a DD-214 or other proof of POW status. It is not run by the Department of Revenue; apply at the county assessor's office. This does not help non-POW veterans.",
     "source_url": "https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?constit=y&section=X++6",
     "source_title": "Missouri Constitution Art. X, Sec. 6; State Tax Commission FAQ: Are Veterans or Former POWs Exempt from Property Tax",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran license plates (first set free)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Missouri residents honorably discharged with a service-connected disability can get one free set of Disabled Veteran plates, with no plate, transfer, processing or replacement fees (additional sets pay normal fees). Apply with Form 4601 and a VA letter (under 1 year old, from the VA itself, not a clinic) showing the disability is service-connected. DOR's page does not state a minimum percentage, but the statute (RSMo 301.071) refers to total service-connected compensation or eligibility for a VA automobile grant, so confirm your rating qualifies before applying. These plates do not allow disabled parking unless the wheelchair symbol is added with a physician statement (DOR-1776).",
     "source_url": "https://dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle/plates/disabled-veteran.html",
     "source_title": "Disabled Veteran (DV) License Plates (DOR); RSMo 301.071, 301.072",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Permanent disabled parking placard (free, VA letter accepted)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "A permanent disabled parking placard is free, and a veteran can submit a VA letter verifying a permanent disability instead of a physician statement at first application. Disabled veterans do not need to submit another statement to renew. This turns on a permanent disability that limits mobility, not a VA percentage. Apply through the Department of Revenue.",
     "source_url": "https://dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle/disabled-plates-placards/permanent.html",
     "source_title": "Permanent Disabled Placard (Missouri DOR)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military Award Placard (free parking at meters and public colleges)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Veterans awarded certain medals (including Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Medal of Honor, and former POW) can get a removable placard for free parking in metered spaces (if local authorities approve) and in public college and university lots (except special events), for vehicles up to 6,000 pounds. Apply with Form 4601 plus the specialty plate or proof of the medal (DD-214 or similar). No disability rating is required.",
     "source_url": "https://dor.mo.gov/forms/Military%20Reference%20Guide.pdf",
     "source_title": "Military Reference Guide (DOR, revised January 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Hunting and fishing permit exemption (60% or POW)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "60%",
     "details": "An honorably discharged veteran with a service-related disability of 60% or more (or a former POW) may fish and hunt without a permit, except for deer, turkey, bear and elk, and may not trap. Trout permits or trout park tags, migratory bird permits and the federal duck stamp are still required. Carry a certified statement of eligibility from the VA. Nonresident veterans who meet the same test can buy resident-priced permits where a permit is required. A 2026 bill (HB 2202) to make permits free for 100% veterans was not shown as passed.",
     "source_url": "https://mdc.mo.gov/permits/permit-exemptions",
     "source_title": "Permit Exemptions (Missouri Department of Conservation); Veteran Benefits (MDC)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State park camping discount",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Missouri State Parks gives veterans, retired and active military, and people with disabilities a $2 per night camping discount, year-round. Ask for it at payment and show military ID (DD-214, DD-1173, CAC) or, for the disability discount, a state disabled placard or plate, an America the Beautiful Access Pass, or a VA or SSA letter. No percentage-based discount for disabled veterans was found.",
     "source_url": "https://mostateparks.com/activity/camping/camping-fees",
     "source_title": "Camping Rates (Missouri State Parks); Military Benefits and Services",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Missouri Returning Heroes' Education Act (tuition cap)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Combat veterans honorably discharged and eligible to vote in Missouri (or Missouri residents) pay no more than $50 per credit hour at public colleges that receive state funds, for certificate, associate or bachelor's programs, if they keep a 2.5 GPA. Graduate programs (not professional degrees like law or medicine) are limited to 30% of tuition and fees. The eligibility window is 10 years from last discharge for undergraduate and 20 years for graduate. No disability rating is needed, but you must show combat service (combat theater, combat medal, or imminent-danger pay). Ask the school's veterans office.",
     "source_url": "https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=173.900",
     "source_title": "RSMo 173.900 Missouri Returning Heroes' Education Act; DHEWD",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Wartime Veteran's Survivor Grant (dependents)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "For spouses and children (under 25) of post-9/11 service members who died or were injured in combat, or who became 80% disabled from combat injuries, and who were Missouri residents when entering service. The grant covers up to Mizzou-level tuition, up to $2,000 per semester room and board, and up to $500 per semester for books, for a first bachelor's degree, with a 2.5 GPA. Only up to 25 new grants are awarded per year within appropriations, and the Missouri Veterans Commission must certify the survivor.",
     "source_url": "https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=173.234",
     "source_title": "RSMo 173.234 (Veteran's Survivors Grant)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay exempt from state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Missouri has an income tax, but 100% of military retirement benefits reported on federal Form 1040 line 5b can be subtracted from federal AGI (Form MO-A, Part 1, Line 10), for tax years 2021 and later. A survivor annuity (SBP) does not qualify for this subtraction but may qualify for the public pension exemption. No disability rating is needed.",
     "source_url": "https://dor.mo.gov/faq/taxation/individual/pension.html",
     "source_title": "Pension FAQs (Missouri DOR); Military Reference Guide",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "VA disability compensation and state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Missouri starts from federal adjusted gross income, and VA disability compensation is not included in federal AGI, so it is not taxed by the state. I did not find a DOR page that states this in one sentence; the DOR guide only addresses VA payments for the property tax credit. Confirm with DOR before relying on it.",
     "source_url": "https://dor.mo.gov/forms/Military%20Reference%20Guide.pdf",
     "source_title": "Military Reference Guide (DOR, January 2025)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State employment veterans' preference",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "The State of Missouri application lists veterans' preference of 5 or 10 points (not cumulative) for open competitive recruitment only: 5 points for qualifying active duty or reserve service, and 10 points for a veteran who receives compensation for a service-related disability (attach a VA statement). RSMo 36.220 (amended 2018) says only that veterans, disabled veterans and spouses get preference and win ties when other factors are equal. The point table is on a form dated 08-17, so the current rule needs to be confirmed with the Office of Administration, Division of Personnel.",
     "source_url": "https://oa.mo.gov/sites/default/files/PaperApplication.pdf",
     "source_title": "State of Missouri Application for Employment (veterans' preference section); RSMo 36.220",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Missouri Veterans Homes",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Seven state veterans homes offer 24-hour skilled nursing care. Applicants must meet VA veteran status, have lived in Missouri for 180 consecutive days before applying, have a physician document the need for 24-hour skilled nursing, and not be on a sex offender registry or have certain felony convictions. The 2026 monthly rate is $2,773. One waitlist application covers all homes; apply through the Missouri Veterans Commission.",
     "source_url": "https://mvc.dps.mo.gov/homes/admissions/",
     "source_title": "Veterans Homes Program Admissions (Missouri Veterans Commission)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "MT",
   "name": "Montana",
   "slug": "montana",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Montana Veterans Affairs Division (Department of Military Affairs)",
    "url": "https://veterans.mt.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Property tax: Montana's disabled veteran program (MDV) is a reduced property tax RATE (100%, 80%, 70% or 50% reduction by income), not a flat exemption. Income limits apply every year, and the benefit is lost if your income passes the top tier.",
    "Property tax: you apply to a local Department of Revenue field office (not the county assessor) by April 15. A late application is considered for the following year, so file anyway. Include your current VA 100% letter.",
    "Property tax: the rating must be 100% disabled or 'paid at the 100% disabled rate' (15-6-311). A veteran paid at the 100% rate through TDIU appears to fit that wording, but no Revenue page says so in plain words. Ask DOR before relying on it.",
    "Property tax: the income test uses federal adjusted gross income, and your spouse's income counts even if the spouse is not on the deed. The home must be your primary residence, lived in at least seven months of the year. On farm or timber land only the one-acre home site qualifies.",
    "Property tax, surviving spouses: only an UNMARRIED surviving spouse qualifies, with a lower income table (2027 top limit $56,276), and needs a VA letter showing the veteran was rated or paid at 100% at death, died on active duty, or died of a service-connected disability.",
    "Vehicles: the registration fee waiver (61-3-460) covers TWO non-commercial vehicles for a veteran currently rated 100% or paid at the 100% rate, and it also waives the fee for two sets of special veteran plates. It is a fee waiver; no source found grants parking privileges with a veteran plate. Parking needs a separate disability parking permit.",
    "Vehicles: a veteran rated 50% or more who received the Purple Heart also gets the registration fee waiver, but must still pay the veterans' cemetery fee on plates.",
    "Hunting and fishing: Montana has NO general free hunting or fishing license for 100% disabled veterans. The only veteran-specific item on the FWP page is half-price deer and antelope licenses for 'certain combat-connected injuries' (up to 50 per year). Many blogs claim free licenses; the official page does not.",
    "State parks: there is no free entry for disabled veterans found. Resident veterans get 50% off overnight camping fees (not electrical fees). Residents already pay a parks fee with vehicle registration.",
    "Education: the Montana University System has no tuition waiver based on disability rating. The Honorably Discharged Veteran Waiver is a last-dollar award, and only after your federal education benefits are used up or expired. Dependents of a disabled veteran have no waiver; the war orphans waiver is only for children of a parent killed or who died of a combat-related injury.",
    "Income tax: Montana taxes military retirement pay like other income, but a partial exemption (the lesser of 50% of retirement pay or Montana wage/business income) applies for up to 5 consecutive years. The 2033 sunset was removed in 2025 (SB 93).",
    "State jobs: disabled veterans get 10 percentage points on scored hiring, veterans get 5, and you cannot stack them. It applies to initial hiring only, and you must claim it and document it when you apply."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Montana Disabled Veteran (MDV) property tax reduction",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "Reduces the property tax rate on your primary residence by 100%, 80%, 70% or 50%, depending on income. For tax year 2027 a single applicant needs 2025 FAGI of $64,551 or less (100% reduction up to $49,654); married or head of household needs $74,482 or less (100% up to $59,584). You must be rated or paid at 100% for a service-connected disability, own the home, and live in it at least seven months a year. Apply with a VA 100% letter to your local Department of Revenue field office by April 15.",
     "source_url": "https://revenue.mt.gov/property/property-tax-help/mdv",
     "source_title": "Montana Disabled Veteran Assistance Program (MDV), Dept. of Revenue; 15-6-311, MCA",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "MDV: unmarried surviving spouse",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "An unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who was rated or paid at 100%, died on active duty, or died of a service-connected disability can get the same reduction on a primary residence, with a lower income table (2027: 100% up to $41,379, 50% tier up to $56,276). A VA letter is required. Apply to the Department of Revenue by April 15.",
     "source_url": "https://revenue.mt.gov/files/Forms/Montana_Disabled_Veteran_Property_Tax_Relief_Application_Form_MDV.pdf",
     "source_title": "Montana Disabled Veteran Property Tax Relief Application (Form MDV), Part III and V",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "MDV: TDIU and non-permanent ratings",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "The statute and form say 100% disabled or 'paid at the 100% disabled rate'; the form says a temporary rating means DOR will periodically ask for an updated VA letter, so permanence is not required. Whether TDIU pay counts is not stated in plain words by DOR. Ask a Revenue field office at (406) 444-6900 before relying on it.",
     "source_url": "https://revenue.mt.gov/property/property-tax-help/mdv",
     "source_title": "Montana Disabled Veteran Assistance Program (MDV); Form MDV Part III",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Motor vehicle registration fee waiver",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "A veteran currently rated 100% disabled or paid at the 100% rate by the VA is exempt from all motor vehicle registration fees under chapter 3 for two motor vehicles not used commercially. A veteran rated 50% or more who has the Purple Heart also qualifies. Unremarried surviving spouses of eligible veterans qualify. VA documentation is required; the statute does not name the office, so ask your county MVD office.",
     "source_url": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0610/chapter_0030/part_0040/section_0600/0610-0030-0040-0600.html",
     "source_title": "61-3-460, MCA (Waiver of fees for veterans)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Special veteran license plates, fee waived",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "The same statute waives the veterans' cemetery fee on two sets of special veteran plates for 100% disabled veterans (Purple Heart recipients at 50%+ still pay it). An eligible veteran can apply the waiver to other special plates under 61-3-458(4) if they meet that plate's own rules. No source found gives parking privileges with the plate; disability parking needs a separate permit.",
     "source_url": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0610/chapter_0030/part_0040/section_0600/0610-0030-0040-0600.html",
     "source_title": "61-3-460, MCA; 61-3-332, MCA",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Half-price deer and antelope licenses (combat disabled)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Veterans with 'certain combat-connected injuries' may get half-priced deer and antelope licenses; up to 50 licenses are issued each year. The FWP page does not state the rating or injury threshold, so call FWP Licensing at 406-444-2950 to confirm eligibility and application steps.",
     "source_url": "https://fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/hunting-licenses/disabled-licenses",
     "source_title": "Disabled Hunting and Fishing Licenses, Montana FWP",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Resident disability conservation license ($8)",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Residents with a qualifying disability can buy general deer, general elk, fishing and upland game bird licenses at half cost with the $8 conservation license. The FWP page does not state a VA rating threshold or the certification needed, so a service-connected rating may not by itself qualify. Confirm with FWP Licensing.",
     "source_url": "https://fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/hunting-licenses/disabled-licenses",
     "source_title": "Disabled Hunting and Fishing Licenses, Montana FWP",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State park camping discount for veterans",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Montana resident veterans get 50% off overnight camping fees at state parks (electrical fees excluded). Proof is a DD 214, VA ID, or a driver's license showing veteran status. There is no found free day-use entry for disabled veterans. A 2026 FWP fee proposal may change rates, so check current fees.",
     "source_url": "https://fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/fees-and-general-information",
     "source_title": "State Parks: Fees and General Information, Montana FWP",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Honorably Discharged Veteran tuition waiver (MUS)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A last-dollar waiver up to in-state tuition at Montana University System campuses for resident undergraduate or graduate students with an honorable discharge (not General) who have used up or let expire their Title 38 or Title 10 education benefits. Apply by the third week of the first semester through the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education portal. There is no disability-rating based waiver.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mus.edu/Prepare/Pay/Waivers/index.html",
     "source_title": "MUS Tuition Waivers; 20-25-421, MCA",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Dependent tuition waiver (war orphans only)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "The War Orphans Waiver covers undergraduate tuition (not fees) for children age 25 or younger of a Montana resident who was killed in action or died of a combat-related injury or disease. It does not cover children or spouses of living disabled veterans, including 100% P&T. Commissioner approval is required.",
     "source_url": "https://www.mus.edu/Prepare/Pay/Waivers/index.html",
     "source_title": "MUS Tuition Waivers (War Orphans Waiver)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement income partial exemption",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Montana has an income tax. Military retirement pay is taxable, but retirees who were residents or became residents on or after June 30, 2023 can exempt the lesser of Montana wage-type income or 50% of retirement pay, for up to 5 consecutive years starting tax year 2024. The sunset was removed by SB 93 (2025). Claim it with Form WMRE.",
     "source_url": "https://revenue.mt.gov/taxes/military",
     "source_title": "Montana Income Tax Guide for Military Members; 15-30-2120, MCA",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "VA disability compensation and state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Montana starts from federal adjusted gross income, and VA compensation is generally not in federal income. No Montana Revenue page found says this directly, so treat it as unconfirmed and ask the Department of Revenue.",
     "source_url": "https://revenue.mt.gov/taxes/military",
     "source_title": "Montana Income Tax Guide for Military Members and Their Families",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State employment preference points",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "When a public employer scores applicants for an initial hire, a disabled veteran gets 10 percentage points added (veterans get 5, no stacking). Unscored hiring gives preference in order: disabled veteran first. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen meeting minimum qualifications and must claim preference when applying. Covers state, county and city hiring.",
     "source_url": "https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0390/chapter_0290/part_0010/section_0020/0390-0290-0010-0020.html",
     "source_title": "39-29-102, MCA; 39-29-101, MCA",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Montana Veterans' Homes",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The state runs veterans homes in Columbia Falls, Butte and Glendive for skilled and intermediate nursing care. Admission eligibility and cost were not confirmed on the pages found; Columbia Falls is (406) 892-3256.",
     "source_url": "https://dphhs.mt.gov/healthcarefacilities/mvh/",
     "source_title": "Montana Veterans' Home, Columbia Falls (DPHHS)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "NE",
   "name": "Nebraska",
   "slug": "nebraska",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs",
    "url": "https://veterans.nebraska.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The big property tax break (Neb. Rev. Stat. 77-3506) is for a veteran with an honorable or general discharge who draws VA compensation for a 100% service-connected permanent disability, OR a total disability rating under 38 CFR 4.16 (TDIU). A veteran with a temporary 100% rating also qualifies, but must reapply every year with a VA certification. A 50% to 99% rating gets nothing from this exemption.",
    "The exemption covers the full taxable value of the home. By statute the 'exempt amount' for this category is 'the taxable value of the homestead' (77-3501.01(3)), and the home-value reduction in 77-3506.03 does not apply to it. The income tables in 77-3507 and 77-3508 apply only to the other homestead categories, not to 77-3506.",
    "You must own the home and live in it as a natural person from January 1 through August 15 of the year. The land is limited to one acre. File with the county assessor after February 1 and on or before June 30 (the county board may extend to July 20). Missing the deadline waives that year's exemption, with limited late-filing exceptions in 77-3514.01.",
    "Permanent 100% and TDIU filers apply once; the exemption continues in later years with no new application. The temporary-100% category must reapply every year with VA certification.",
    "A veteran who qualifies for the separate full exemption in 77-3526 to 77-3528 (paraplegic or multiple amputee whose home was substantially contributed to by VA) is carved out of the 77-3506 category. If that is you, ask the assessor which one applies.",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the exemption while unmarried, or if remarried after reaching age 57. A spouse who remarries before age 57 loses it and must tell the county assessor within 30 days. Spouses of veterans who died of a service-connected disability, or who died on active duty, also qualify.",
    "The Nebraska motor vehicle tax and fee exemption (new January 1, 2026) covers ONE vehicle and is open to any veteran with an honorable discharge who has a service-connected disability, even 0%. You must first be in the NDVA Military and Veterans' Registry and ask the county treasurer within 30 days after buying the vehicle, or before the last day of the renewal month. Plate fees, sales tax and wheel tax are still owed.",
    "Disabled Veteran license plates need only 10% service-connected and no limit on number of vehicles, but they do NOT allow parking in handicapped spaces. For parking you need Disabled Veteran Handicap plates (medical provider certification) or a handicapped parking permit.",
    "The free lifetime Game and Parks hunt/fish/fur permit and park entry permit require 50% or more service-connected (or 100% non-service-connected with a VA pension) and Nebraska residency. Rated 10% to 40% does not qualify for these two permits.",
    "Waiver of Tuition is for DEPENDENTS (spouse or child), not the veteran. The veteran must be rated 100% permanently and totally disabled. A temporary total rating does not count; a TDIU rating counts only if permanent (80-411). It covers one community college credential and one bachelor's degree only, and no graduate school.",
    "Nebraska excludes 100% of military retirement pay from state income tax starting tax year 2022, with no form needed. Nebraska starts from federal adjusted gross income, so VA disability compensation (not in federal AGI) should not be taxed, but no Nebraska page says so directly.",
    "State job preference is a percentage added to a passing score: 5% for any qualifying veteran and 5% more for any service-connected disability, any percentage. Submit your DD-214 and a VA Summary of Benefits letter with each application."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead exemption: 100% disabled veteran (full home value)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Exempts 100% of the taxable value of your home from property tax, with no income limit. You qualify with an honorable or general discharge and VA compensation for 100% service-connected permanent disability or a total rating under 38 CFR 4.16 (TDIU); a temporary 100% rating also qualifies but must be renewed yearly with VA certification. Apply with the county assessor after February 1 and by June 30 (Form 458); permanent and TDIU filers do not reapply.",
     "source_url": "https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=77-3506",
     "source_title": "Neb. Rev. Stat. 77-3506 (Certain veterans; exemption; certain surviving spouses; application)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead exemption: surviving spouse of qualifying veteran",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "An unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who held the 100% permanent or TDIU status, or of any honorably or generally discharged veteran who died of a service-connected disability or on active duty, gets the same full exemption. A spouse who remarries after age 57 keeps it; one who remarries before 57 loses it and must notify the county assessor within 30 days. File with the county assessor after February 1 and by June 30.",
     "source_url": "https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=77-3506",
     "source_title": "Neb. Rev. Stat. 77-3506(2)(b),(d)-(f), (4)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Homestead exemption: veteran totally disabled, non-service-connected (income-based)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A veteran with honorable or general discharge who is totally disabled by a non-service-connected accident or illness may get a partial exemption that depends on household income and home value. Needs VA certification of total non-service-connected disability on the application. File with the county assessor after February 1 and by June 30.",
     "source_url": "https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=77-3508",
     "source_title": "Neb. Rev. Stat. 77-3508 (Homesteads; exemptions; based on disability and income)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Motor vehicle tax and fee exemption (one vehicle)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Starting January 1, 2026, a disabled or blind veteran with an honorable discharge is exempt from the Nebraska motor vehicle tax and motor vehicle fee on ONE vehicle used for personal transportation. 'Disabled veteran' follows 5 U.S.C. 2108, so any service-connected disability counts (NDVA says even 0%), or receiving VA compensation or pension. Enroll in the NDVA Military and Veterans' Registry, then claim at the county treasurer within 30 days of purchase or before the last day of the registration expiration month; it renews automatically.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.nebraska.gov/disabledblind-veteran-motor-vehicle-tax-fee-exemption",
     "source_title": "NDVA: Disabled/Blind Veteran Motor Vehicle Tax and Fee Exemption (Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-3,185)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran license plates",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "Available to a veteran with honorable or general discharge who is at least 10% service-connected. Must be enrolled in the Nebraska Veterans' Registry and title the vehicle in your name. Standard alphanumeric plate has no fee beyond normal registration fees and taxes, there is no limit on the number of vehicles, and a message plate costs $40 a year. Order online or by mail to the DMV.",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/dav-plate",
     "source_title": "Nebraska DMV: Disabled Veteran Plates",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran Handicap plates and parking",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "Standard Disabled Veteran plates do not allow parking in handicapped spaces. For that you need Disabled Veteran Handicap plates, which require Registry enrollment and a medical provider's certification on the Application for Military Handicapped License Plates, or a handicapped parking permit. Apply to the DMV (message plates are not available on these).",
     "source_url": "https://dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/dav-plate",
     "source_title": "Nebraska DMV: Disabled Veteran Plates",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free lifetime hunt/fish/fur permit",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "Nebraska resident disabled veterans rated 50% or more service-connected (or 100% non-service-connected receiving a VA pension) get a Disabled Veteran's Lifetime Annual Small Game Hunt/Fish/Fur Harvest Permit at no fee, and it includes all state stamps. Apply through Nebraska Game and Parks; NDVA's guide describes it as requiring a veterans service officer's involvement. Confirm current paperwork with Game and Parks.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/NDVA%20Guide%20to%20Veterans%20Benefits.pdf",
     "source_title": "NDVA Guide to Veterans' Benefits, April 2026 edition (p. 26)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free lifetime state park entry permit",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "Nebraska resident disabled veterans rated 50% or more service-connected (or 100% non-service-connected with a VA pension) can get one perpetual Disabled Veteran's Lifetime Annual Park Entry Permit at no fee. An application form with a veterans service officer's signature is required; Game and Parks service centers can print the form. It covers park entry only, not camping or other fees.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/NDVA%20Guide%20to%20Veterans%20Benefits.pdf",
     "source_title": "NDVA Guide to Veterans' Benefits, April 2026 edition (p. 26)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Waiver of Tuition for spouse and children",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "The University of Nebraska, state colleges and community colleges waive all tuition and remaining fees (after federal grants and state scholarships) for a Nebraska-resident spouse, child or stepchild of a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled from service (a TDIU rating counts only if permanent), or who died of a service-connected disability. Children must be under 26 (extendable to 31 for post-18 active duty). Limited to one community college credential and one bachelor's degree; apply to NDVA before the term with the veteran's DD-214 and proof of relationship.",
     "source_url": "https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=80-411",
     "source_title": "Neb. Rev. Stat. 80-411 (Waiver of tuition and fees); NDVA Waiver of Tuition program page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military retirement pay excluded from state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, all military retirees can exclude 100% of military retirement benefits from Nebraska taxable income, to the extent included in federal AGI. No election or form is needed. This applies to retirement pay, not to VA compensation.",
     "source_url": "https://revenue.nebraska.gov/about/frequently-asked-questions/military-retirement-benefits-exclusion",
     "source_title": "Nebraska Department of Revenue: Military Retirement Benefits Exclusion (Neb. Rev. Stat. 77-2716)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "VA disability compensation and state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Nebraska individual income tax starts from federal adjusted gross income, and VA disability compensation is not included in federal AGI, so it should not be taxed by Nebraska. I could not find an official Nebraska page stating this in plain words, so confirm with the Department of Revenue before relying on it.",
     "source_url": "https://revenue.nebraska.gov/about/frequently-asked-questions/military-retirement-benefits-exclusion",
     "source_title": "Nebraska Department of Revenue: Military Retirement Benefits Exclusion",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State and local government hiring preference",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Veterans with an honorable or general discharge get 5% added to a passing exam or numerical score for State of Nebraska and local government jobs, and a disabled veteran (any service-connected disability, any percentage per State Personnel) gets an additional 5%. Where no scoring is used, preference breaks ties among equally qualified candidates. Submit a DD-214 and, for the extra 5%, a VA Summary of Benefits letter with the application. Spouses of 100% permanent veterans qualify for 5%.",
     "source_url": "https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=48-227",
     "source_title": "Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-225 to 48-227 (Veterans preference); State Personnel Veterans Preference guide rev. 8/21/2025",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Nebraska Veterans' Homes (Bellevue, Kearney, Norfolk, Scottsbluff)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "Veterans with active-duty service and an honorable or general discharge can apply for admission to the state veterans' homes. Cost is on a sliding scale based on income and assets, and NDVA says veterans rated 70% to 100% service-connected may receive care at no cost once the rating is verified and their care level meets VA criteria. Apply through the home or NDVA.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.nebraska.gov/homes",
     "source_title": "NDVA: Veterans' Homes",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "NV",
   "name": "Nevada",
   "slug": "nevada",
   "agency": {
    "name": "Nevada Department of Veterans Services",
    "url": "https://veterans.nv.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "Nevada's property tax relief is a deduction from assessed value, not a full exemption. Even at 100 percent it is the first $20,000 of assessed value (CPI-indexed, about $36,400 for 2026-27 per county assessor pages), worth roughly $1,300 a year in property tax. Real savings depend on your local tax rate.",
    "The statute requires a 'permanent' service-connected disability (NRS 361.091 and 371.104). The assessor wants a VA letter or rating document showing the permanent percentage, plus an honorable discharge or DD-214. A rating that is not permanent may be turned down; ask the county assessor what document they accept.",
    "Tier is set by your total combined percentage, capped at 100: 60-79, 80-99, or 100 percent. Below 60 percent there is no disabled veteran exemption, but you may still qualify for the smaller general veteran exemption if you served in a listed wartime or campaign period.",
    "You cannot take both the disabled veteran and general veteran exemptions, and the exemption can be claimed in only one county. You can split it between your home's property tax and your vehicle governmental services tax, or donate part of it to the Veterans Home gift accounts.",
    "The file-by date for real property is June 15 (July 5 if you bought the property between June 15 and June 30). Late or denied claims can go to the county board of equalization by January 15 of that fiscal year. File early, with the assessor of the county where you live.",
    "Vehicle exemption: get an exemption number from the county assessor first and give it to the DMV at registration. It cannot be applied after the DMV transaction is finished, and the DMV exemption uses the same dollar amount as your property exemption.",
    "Surviving spouses must have been married to and living with the veteran for the 5 years before death, must not have remarried, and the veteran must have been eligible. The statute lets you claim it as the spouse; line-of-duty death spouses are not given a separate property tax rule in the statute I read.",
    "Disabled Veteran license plates require a 100 percent rating (or combined ratings reaching 100, or a permanent disability that qualifies for a disabled parking plate). A 60-99 percent veteran gets the tax exemption but not these plates. I found no statute waiving registration fees.",
    "The reduced-fee $15 hunting and fishing license is for 50 percent or more service-connected only, plus honorable discharge. You must send a VA percentage letter; tags are not covered.",
    "The state parks Disabled Veteran permit says 'permanent' service-connected disability, not a percentage. An older State Parks overview and some secondary sources describe different rules, so confirm with State Parks.",
    "Nevada has no general disabled veteran tuition waiver. The statutory waiver is for Purple Heart recipients and their children, plus a discretionary graduate degree waiver. Nevada has no state income tax.",
    "TDIU: the statutes do not mention TDIU. The exemption tier is based on the total percentage of permanent service-connected disability, so a veteran paid at the 100 percent rate through TDIU but rated, say, 70 percent schedular may be placed in the 60-79 tier by the assessor. Confirm with the county."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled veteran property tax exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "60%",
     "details": "Nevada exempts part of the assessed value of property owned by a resident honorably discharged veteran with a permanent service-connected disability: the first $10,000 of assessed value at 60-79 percent, $15,000 at 80-99 percent, and $20,000 at 100 percent, with the dollar amounts raised each fiscal year by a CPI formula. County assessor pages for 2026-27 show roughly $18,200, $27,300 and $36,400 of assessed value. File an affidavit and proof with the county assessor where you live by June 15 (July 5 for property bought June 15 to June 30). Combined ratings count, up to 100 percent.",
     "source_url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-361.html#NRS361Sec091",
     "source_title": "NRS 361.091 Exemption for veteran who has incurred service-connected disability and surviving spouse of such a veteran",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Surviving spouse of disabled veteran: property tax exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "60%",
     "details": "The unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran with a permanent service-connected disability can claim the same tiered exemption. The spouse must file an affidavit that they were married to and living with the veteran for the 5 years before the veteran's death, that the veteran was eligible (or would have been if a Nevada resident), that they have not remarried, and that they are a Nevada resident. Apply with the county assessor by June 15. A surviving spouse who is also a veteran may also claim the general veteran exemption.",
     "source_url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-361.html#NRS361Sec091",
     "source_title": "NRS 361.091, subsections 6 and 8",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "General veteran property tax exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Resident veterans with at least 90 continuous days of active duty during a listed wartime or campaign period, and an honorable discharge or certificate of satisfactory service, get the first $2,000 of assessed value exempt, CPI-indexed (about $3,640 for 2026-27 per the Douglas County assessor). A veteran who gets the disabled veteran exemption cannot also take this one. Apply with the county assessor by June 15; the exemption can be used in only one county.",
     "source_url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-361.html#NRS361Sec090",
     "source_title": "NRS 361.090 Veterans exemptions",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled veteran vehicle governmental services tax exemption",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "60%",
     "details": "The same permanent-disability tiers can be applied to the Governmental Services Tax (the main part of the vehicle registration cost): first $10,000 of determined valuation at 60-79 percent, $15,000 at 80-99 percent, and $20,000 at 100 percent. Get an exemption number from the county assessor (bring your DD-214 or discharge papers and VA proof of disability) and give it to the DMV at registration or renewal; it cannot be applied after the transaction is finalized. The same exemption amount cannot be used twice, so you split it between property tax and vehicles. A veteran may transfer it to a current spouse. A surviving spouse also qualifies.",
     "source_url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-371.html#NRS371Sec104",
     "source_title": "NRS 371.104 Exemptions for veteran with a disability and surviving spouse",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran license plates (up to two sets)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "A veteran who receives VA compensation for a qualifying service-connected disability can get DISABLED VETERAN plates with the access symbol, for up to two vehicles (private passenger vehicle, noncommercial truck or motor home). A qualifying disability is a 100 percent rating, combined ratings of at least 100 percent, or any rating that includes a permanent disability qualifying for a disabled parking plate under NRS 482.384. Apply in person at the DMV with VA or DoD proof. Normal registration fees and governmental services tax still apply; I found no statute waiving registration fees.",
     "source_url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-482.html#NRS482Sec377",
     "source_title": "NRS 482.377 Disabled Veteran license plates; NRS 482.0962 Qualifying service-connected disability defined",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free parking for vehicles with Disabled Veteran plates",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100%",
     "details": "A vehicle displaying Disabled Veteran plates is exempt from any parking fees, including parking meters, charged by the State or any political subdivision or public body in Nevada (federal parking excluded). Eligibility follows the plate rules: a qualifying service-connected disability (100 percent or combined to 100, or a permanent disability that qualifies for a disabled parking plate).",
     "source_url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-482.html#NRS482Sec377",
     "source_title": "NRS 482.377, subsection 5",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Reduced-fee resident hunting and fishing license",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "50%",
     "details": "A Nevada resident veteran with a VA service-connected rating of 50 percent or more and an honorable discharge or certificate of satisfactory service can get the annual specialty combination hunting and fishing license for $15 (plus nominal processing fee). Mail or submit the NDOW application with the VA Benefit Summary percentage letter, a Nevada ID, and a hunter education certificate if born after January 1, 1960. The license runs one year from purchase; tags and permits are separate.",
     "source_url": "https://www.ndow.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Veteran-Disability-License-Application-ADA-revised-March-2025.pdf",
     "source_title": "NDOW Resident Disabled Veteran Specialty Combination Hunting and Fishing License application (March 2025); NRS 502.072 and 502.240",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran annual State Parks permit",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "A Nevada resident honorably discharged veteran with a permanent service-connected disability can get an annual permit for unlimited entrance, camping and boat launch use at all Nevada state parks for 12 months, for only a $30 administrative fee. It is a placard for one vehicle. Apply through Nevada State Parks (forms at reservenevada.com; by mail, email or online). Renewals are not offered, so you file a new application each year. State Parks' page does not state a minimum percentage, only permanent service-connected disability.",
     "source_url": "https://parks.nv.gov/fees/annual-permits",
     "source_title": "Nevada State Parks Annual Permits; NRS 407.065",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart veteran fee waiver at NSHE schools",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Board of Regents must waive registration, laboratory and other mandatory fees each semester for a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart, down to the balance left after federal education benefits are credited. The student is treated as a Nevada resident for tuition. It covers any program at a Nevada System of Higher Education school. Submit the NSHE Purple Heart Fee Waiver form to your campus office. Disabled veterans without a Purple Heart do not get an automatic statutory waiver.",
     "source_url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-396.html#NRS396Sec5443",
     "source_title": "NRS 396.5443; NSHE Student Veterans page",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Purple Heart veteran's child fee waiver at NSHE schools",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A child of a Purple Heart veteran gets the same registration, laboratory and mandatory fee waiver if the veteran is (or was at death) a Nevada resident and the child graduated from a Nevada high school. It can be used until 10 years after the child turns 18 (or 10 years after enrolling, if enrolled before 18). The amount is reduced by any federal education benefits received. Apply through the campus using the NSHE Purple Heart Fee Waiver form.",
     "source_url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-396.html#NRS396Sec5443",
     "source_title": "NRS 396.5443, subsections 1(b) and 6",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "No state income tax on military retirement or VA compensation",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Nevada does not impose a state income tax on individuals, so military retirement pay, VA disability compensation and other income are not taxed by the state, and there is no state return to file for wage or retirement income. The Department of Taxation page does not list military pay by name; it states the general rule only.",
     "source_url": "https://tax.nv.gov/about-nevada-department-of-taxation/income-tax-in-nevada/",
     "source_title": "Nevada Department of Taxation, Income Tax in Nevada",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State employment veterans preference and guaranteed interview",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "For classified state jobs, appointing authorities must give a preference to veterans, and must interview each qualified veteran with a service-connected disability (any rating, including 0 percent). At least 22 percent of those interviewed must be qualified veterans without a disability. Declare the preference at application and attach a DD-214 and a VA rating letter. Older statute text and secondary sites say 10 points; the current statute text I read gives a preference without stating points, so confirm the exact points.",
     "source_url": "https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-284.html#NRS284Sec260",
     "source_title": "NRS 284.260 and 284.265; NAC 284.325; State of Nevada Veteran Hiring Preference guide",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Nevada State Veterans Homes",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Nevada operates State Veterans Homes, including a 180-bed skilled nursing home in Boulder City serving eligible veterans, spouses and Gold Star parents, with Alzheimer's and dementia care. Eligibility is set by the home (not by a rating threshold here); contact the home for admission rules and cost. Veterans can also direct their property or vehicle tax exemption amount to the Veterans Home gift accounts.",
     "source_url": "https://veterans.nv.gov/state-veterans-homes",
     "source_title": "Nevada Department of Veterans Services, State Veterans Homes",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "NH",
   "name": "New Hampshire",
   "slug": "new-hampshire",
   "agency": {
    "name": "New Hampshire Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services (Division of Veterans Services)",
    "url": "https://www.nhveterans.nh.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "New Hampshire property tax relief is a tax CREDIT that each city or town sets. The state sets a floor and a ceiling, but the town votes on the amount (RSA 72:27-a). Two veterans with the same rating can get different credits depending on the town. Ask your town assessor or selectmen what your town adopted.",
    "Apply with your town assessor or selectmen on the state form (PA-29) by April 15 before the tax rate is set (RSA 72:33). It is a permanent application, so you file once and keep the credit each year as long as you stay in the same home. If you move, file a new one by December 1 after the move. A late filing is allowed only for 'accident, mistake, or misfortune' and only before the town's tax rate is approved.",
    "The service-connected total disability credit (RSA 72:35) needs a VA certification that you are 'rated totally and permanently disabled from service connection.' The statute does not mention TDIU by name. The specially adapted housing exemption (RSA 72:36-a) does name 'total and permanent total ratings and unemployability.' If you have TDIU, ask your town whether it accepts your VA letter.",
    "The optional service-connected credit under RSA 72:35 can be set by the town anywhere from $701 up to $5,000 (raised from $4,000 in 2025). The statute says it 'shall replace' the regular veterans' credits and is not added on top. The state veterans page still says $2,000, so it is out of date.",
    "The regular veterans' credit (RSA 72:28) is only $50 unless the town votes more, and the town maximum rises from $750 to $1,000 on April 1, 2027 (2026 law, chapter 96). The standard credit also requires service in a listed wartime period or armed conflict, and the veteran must have lived in New Hampshire at least one year before April 1. Many post-1975 veterans qualify only if their town adopted the 'all veterans' credit (RSA 72:28-b).",
    "The credits apply only to your principal home (your 'residential real estate'), plus attached land and buildings and manufactured housing used as your home. A surviving spouse keeps the credit only while unmarried (a spouse who later divorces regains status). Ownership in a revocable trust counts.",
    "The free perpetual Fish and Game license is for veterans who are 'totally and permanently disabled' from a service-connected condition and live in New Hampshire (RSA 214:13). It costs a one-time $10. Veterans rated at least 80% but not 100% can buy a lifetime license at half price. A 10% to 70% rating gets no license discount.",
    "State park day-use admission is free for any New Hampshire disabled veteran with any service-connected rating, shown by a disabled veteran plate or a VA letter (RSA 216-A:3-g, IV). You still pay for camping, ski lifts, tram rides, food, and other 'enterprise' activities. Metered parking is also not waived for these veterans unless your vehicle has the special plate described in paragraph VI.",
    "The free disabled veteran plate, free registration, and free license fee all hinge on the VA rating of 'permanently and totally disabled' from service-connected disability. Only one vehicle gets the plate set. Plates with the accessibility symbol get free parking (RSA 265:73 as described by the state veterans page). A veteran who picks the standard veterans' plate instead gives up the free parking.",
    "Free tuition for a child is at the University System of New Hampshire only, and only if the parent is rated 100% total and permanent, was living in New Hampshire when entering service or when rated, and is still a New Hampshire resident. The child must also file the FAFSA. The waiver runs through the semester the child turns 27 (RSA 187-A:20). There is no tuition waiver for the veteran under these laws; New Hampshire's other tuition waivers go to National Guard members and children of killed or missing service members.",
    "New Hampshire has no tax on wages. The Interest and Dividends Tax ended for tax periods starting January 1, 2025. The state veterans page says the state does not tax military retirement pay, VA disability compensation, or DIC. No state income tax return is needed for these.",
    "Senate Bill 448 (2026 chapter 252, effective August 31, 2026) changed many statutes to use the RSA 21:50 definition of 'veteran,' which now covers a general discharge under honorable conditions. Veterans who were previously turned away for a general discharge should ask again. A lifetime hunting and fishing license for veterans that appeared in early versions of the bill is not in the final text I read."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "Service-connected total disability property tax credit",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Veterans (or an unremarried surviving spouse) with a total and permanent service-connected disability, or a double amputee or paraplegic from service, get a $700 yearly credit on the home they live in. Towns may vote to raise it to as much as $5,000. File a permanent application with your town assessor or selectmen by April 15 with a VA certification that you are rated totally and permanently disabled. The statute does not name TDIU, so confirm with your town if you have TDIU.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/V/72/72-35.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 72:35 Tax Credit for Service-Connected Total Disability",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Specially adapted housing full property tax exemption",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "A veteran who owns a home adapted with a VA Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation grant (or bought with proceeds from selling one) is 'exempt from all taxation on said homestead.' The veteran must be 100% permanently and totally disabled per 38 C.F.R. 3.340 (the statute names 'unemployability'), a double amputee or paraplegic, or blind in both eyes at 5/200 or worse, from service. A surviving spouse is also covered. Apply with the town assessor by April 15 with proof of the service-connected disability.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/V/72/72-36-a.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 72:36-a Certain Disabled Veterans",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Standard and optional veterans' tax credit",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A resident veteran with at least 90 days of active service in a listed war or armed conflict (or a spouse or surviving spouse) gets a $50 yearly credit on the home. Towns may vote to raise it from $51 up to $750, rising to $1,000 on April 1, 2027. A veteran discharged because of a service-connected disability also qualifies, and so does the surviving spouse of a service-connected death. This is not tied to a disability rating. Apply with the town by April 15.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/V/72/72-28.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 72:28 Standard and Optional Veterans' Tax Credit",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "All veterans' tax credit (town option)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "If the town has adopted it, a resident veteran with at least 90 days of active service gets the same dollar credit as the town's regular veterans' credit, with no wartime-period requirement. You cannot receive it if you are eligible for or get the RSA 72:28 or 72:35 credit. Apply with the town assessor by April 15. Whether it exists depends on your town.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/V/72/72-28-b.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 72:28-b All Veterans' Tax Credit",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Combat service tax credit (town option)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Towns may adopt a credit of $50 up to $500 (up to $750 from April 1, 2027) for a New Hampshire National Guard or reserve member called to active duty in a combat area. It replaces, not adds to, the regular veterans' credit and requires military orders with the application. It is for current service members, not a disability benefit.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/V/72/72-28-c.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 72:28-c Optional Tax Credit for Combat Service",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": true
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled veteran plate, free registration, and parking",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "A veteran evaluated by the VA as 'permanently and totally disabled' from a service-connected disability (or an amputee or paraplegic who received a vehicle from the government) gets one set of special plates with the accessibility symbol free, and pays no registration fee for the vehicle. Plates with the accessibility symbol receive free parking time in cities and towns. Apply through the town clerk and the DMV. Veterans rated below 100% P&T do not qualify for the free plate or registration.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXI/261/261-86.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 261:86 Special Number Plates for Certain Veterans; RSA 261:141, VIII",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Driver license fee waiver",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "No fee is charged for a driver's license for a veteran evaluated by the VA as permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability, or for an amputee or paraplegic veteran who received a vehicle from the government. Present VA proof of the rating at the DMV.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXI/263/263-42.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 263:42 Driver's License Fees, paragraph III",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free perpetual hunting and fishing license",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "A New Hampshire resident veteran with a discharge other than dishonorable who is 'totally and permanently disabled' from a service-connected disability gets a perpetual fishing, hunting, or bow-and-arrow license for a one-time $10 administrative fee. Apply to the Fish and Game Department with your VA award letter showing the permanent 100% rating. Veterans at least 80% but under 100% can get a lifetime license at 50% of the regular lifetime price.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XVIII/214/214-13.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 214:13 Licenses for Disabled Veterans",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free state park day-use admission",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "A disabled veteran of New Hampshire with a service-connected disability of any rating pays no day-use admission fee at state parks. Proof is a disabled veteran plate or a VA letter certifying a service-connected disability. Camping, ski lifts, tram rides, food service, and other enterprise activities still cost money.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XIX/216-A/216-A-3-g.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 216-A:3-g Fees for Park System, paragraph IV",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Tuition waiver for children of 100% P&T veterans",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "A child (biological, adopted, or stepchild) of a veteran who is totally and permanently disabled from service attends any University System of New Hampshire institution without tuition. The parent must have lived in New Hampshire at service entry or at the VA disability determination and must still live there. Apply to the university system trustees with the VA letter showing 100% total, permanent, service-connected. Eligibility lasts through the semester the child turns 27, and the child must file the FAFSA.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XV/187-A/187-A-20.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 187-A:20 Tuition Waived",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Tuition for children of killed or missing service members",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "The state veterans page says children of military members who die in wartime service, and children of certain wartime veterans who die of a service-connected disability, may get free tuition at New Hampshire public colleges. A need-based scholarship of up to $2,500 per year for up to 4 years may also be furnished (RSA 193:19 to 193:21). Children of service members missing or captured after February 28, 1961 get free community college tuition under RSA 188-F:15. I read this on the agency page and did not read the RSA 193 text.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nhveterans.nh.gov/veterans-services/nh-state-benefits-veterans",
     "source_title": "NH State Benefits for Veterans (Education Benefits)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State income tax on military pay, VA compensation, and other income",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "New Hampshire taxes no wages and has no general income tax. The Interest and Dividends Tax was repealed for tax periods starting January 1, 2025, so there is no state tax on that income either. The state veterans page says military retired pay, VA disability compensation, and DIC are not taxed and no state return is needed.",
     "source_url": "https://www.revenue.nh.gov/news-and-media/repeal-nh-interest-and-dividends-tax-now-effect",
     "source_title": "NH Department of Revenue Administration: Repeal of NH Interest and Dividends Tax Now in Effect",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State employment hiring preference",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "When the state is the employer, preference in hiring goes to a veteran (as defined in RSA 21:50) who is one of multiple otherwise equally qualified candidates. Towns, cities, and counties give preference to state-citizen veterans with at least 90 days of wartime service. There is no points system and no disability tier in this statute. Spouses of totally disabled wartime veterans and unremarried surviving spouses get the preference under RSA 283:5, per the agency page.",
     "source_url": "https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXIII/283/283-4.htm",
     "source_title": "RSA 283:4 Employment of Veterans",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "New Hampshire Veterans' Home (Tilton)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Veterans' Home in Tilton is a 250-bed intermediate, long-term care facility, with 100 beds for residents with dementia. Contact the home at (603) 527-4400 to learn who is eligible and the costs. I did not read the eligibility statute (RSA 119) because the page would not load, so check with the home.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nhveterans.nh.gov/veterans-services/nh-state-benefits-veterans",
     "source_title": "NH State Benefits for Veterans (Miscellaneous Benefits); RSA 119:9",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "NJ",
   "name": "New Jersey",
   "slug": "new-jersey",
   "agency": {
    "name": "New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs",
    "url": "https://veterans.nj.gov/"
   },
   "last_verified": "2026-10-17",
   "status": "verified",
   "notes": [
    "The full property tax exemption is for a veteran who has 'active duty service' and is honorably discharged, and whose VA certification says the disability is 100% permanent and total. The state claim form (D.V.S.S.E., rev. March 2025) has a box for a 'Service-connected disability rated unemployable with payment of 100% and stated to be totally and permanently disabling,' so a TDIU rating counts only if it is paid at 100% and the VA states it is permanent and total. A 100% rating that is not marked permanent does not qualify, and the exemption cannot start before all of these are met.",
    "The Treasury page says the veteran must be 100% permanently and totally disabled 'during active duty service.' The statute also says the disability must be 'sustained through enemy action, or accident, or resulting from disease contracted while in such active service.' A disability that comes only from National Guard or Reserve training, with no active duty, is a risk; ask the assessor before assuming it counts.",
    "You must own the home (all or part) and live in it as your principal residence, and be domiciled in New Jersey. The exemption covers the house and the 'lot or curtilage' it sits on, not extra land or rental units. For a multi-unit building, only the part you occupy is exempt. An absence from the state of 12 months is treated as evidence you gave up your New Jersey domicile.",
    "You file the claim (Form D.V.S.S.E.) with your municipal tax assessor, not the state. You can file any time during the tax year, and a prorated exemption is allowed from the date you acquire the home. Refunds of past tax are up to each town's governing body (N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.32) and cannot go back before January 16, 2018 unless you had qualifying wartime service. If the assessor denies you, appeal to your County Board of Taxation on Form A-1 by April 1 (January 15 in Burlington, Gloucester and Monmouth counties).",
    "A surviving spouse keeps the exemption only while unmarried and only while owning and living in the home; if the spouse remarries or forms a new civil union, it ends. A surviving spouse of a service member who died on active duty also qualifies, and the surviving spouse of a veteran who is declared disabled after death can qualify. Claimants must tell the assessor about any change that affects eligibility.",
    "The separate $250 deduction does not need any disability, but you must have 'active duty' service (Reserve and Guard members only if called to active duty; 'Active duty for training is ineligible') and an honorable discharge, and own the property on October 1 of the year before the tax year. The wartime-service rule for both the $250 deduction and the disabled veteran exemption ended December 4, 2020. Note that a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Star page still says the $250 deduction needs wartime service; the Division of Taxation page (updated 8/12/25) controls.",
    "New Jersey has no ordinary vehicle registration fee waiver for a 100% rated veteran. Free registration is limited to veterans blind from war service, or veterans with another service-connected disability who qualified for a free automobile from the VA and whose vehicle has special equipment. A disabled veteran who buys a car with VA or NJDVA money pays no sales tax only on the part of the price those agencies fund. Wheelchair symbol plates and parking placards for disability follow separate medical-certification rules.",
    "The disabled veteran parking placard (N.J.S.A. 39:4-207.10) only exempts the vehicle from municipal parking meter fees for up to 24 hours. It does not allow parking in wheelchair-labeled spaces. It works only when you own the vehicle and are the driver or a passenger, and it must be renewed every 3 years.",
    "The free hunting and fishing license program covers a veteran with a service-connected disability 'of any degree,' but you must be certified by mail first (not online or at a license agent) and have lived in New Jersey at least six months. The certification is invalid if you move out of New Jersey. You still need to complete hunter education and any other hunting requirements, and certified veterans do not get lottery preference.",
    "New Jersey does not tax U.S. military pension or survivor benefit payments at any age, but federal civil service pensions are taxable even if they count military time. VA disability compensation is not part of New Jersey taxable income, but no page I could read directly says that in so many words, so confirm it with the Division of Taxation if it matters for your return.",
    "The state civil service preference needs an honorable discharge and service in a listed war era; Reserve and Guard training time (basic training, advanced training, OCS, weekend drills, annual training) does not count toward the active duty requirement. Disabled veteran preference also requires at least 10% VA disability compensation. Many recent veterans have the 'wartime' dates problem, so check the era list before assuming you qualify.",
    "Three older tuition programs are narrow: the Veterans Tuition Credit Program is only for Dec. 31, 1960 to May 7, 1975 service ($400 a year), War Orphan aid is for children of those who died in service or from service-connected disability ($500 a year), and POW-MIA free tuition is for children of POW or MIA parents. In-state tuition (NJTEAM Act) depends on qualifying for the federal All-Volunteer Force or Post-9/11 GI Bill programs, not on a disability rating."
   ],
   "benefits": [
    {
     "benefit": "100% disabled veteran property tax exemption (N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30)",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "Your home and its lot are fully exempt from property tax if you served on active duty, were honorably discharged, and the VA certifies that you are 100% permanently and totally disabled from your service. The state claim form also accepts a service-connected disability 'rated unemployable with payment of 100% and stated to be totally and permanently disabling.' You must own all or part of the home, live in it as your principal residence, and be a New Jersey resident. File Form D.V.S.S.E. with your municipal tax assessor at any time during the tax year, with your DD-214 and the VA certification of disability; there is no income limit and no fixed deadline, and the exemption is prorated from the date you acquire the home.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/lpt/lpt-disabledvet.shtml",
     "source_title": "NJ Division of Taxation - 100% Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption (updated 8/12/25); Claim Form D.V.S.S.E. (rev. March 2025); N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30 as amended by P.L.2019, c.413",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a 100% disabled veteran or of a service member who died on active duty",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T or TDIU",
     "details": "An unremarried surviving spouse, civil union partner, or domestic partner gets the same full exemption on the home if the deceased veteran was a New Jersey resident, had active duty service, and was honorably discharged and VA-certified 100% permanently and totally disabled (or died on active duty). The surviving spouse can also qualify if the VA declares the veteran disabled after death. You must own and live in the home as your principal residence and live in New Jersey, and the exemption ends if you remarry or form a new civil union. File Form D.V.S.S.E. with the municipal assessor with the death certificate, marriage record, DD-214 (or Military Notification of Death) and the VA certification.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/lpt/lpt-disabledvet.shtml",
     "source_title": "NJ Division of Taxation - 100% Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption (surviving spouse requirements); N.J.S.A. 54:4-3.30(b)-(c)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "$250 Veterans Property Tax Deduction",
     "category": "property_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "Any honorably discharged veteran with active duty service can take $250 off the tax bill each year; Reserve and Guard members must have been called to active duty, and active duty for training does not count. As of October 1 of the year before the tax year, you must be a New Jersey legal resident and own the property. The unremarried surviving spouse of an eligible veteran or of a service member who died on active duty also qualifies. File Form V.S.S. with your local assessor or tax collector with your DD-214 and proof of ownership and residency; if denied, appeal to the County Board of Taxation (Form A-1, by April 1).",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/lpt/lpt-veterans.shtml",
     "source_title": "NJ Division of Taxation - $250 Veterans Property Tax Deduction (updated 8/12/25); Form V.S.S.",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free registration for blind or service-disabled veterans (and sales tax exemption on a VA-funded vehicle)",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "The Motor Vehicle Commission offers free registration only to a veteran without sight from war service who is eligible for state compensation under N.J.S.A. 38:18-1, or a veteran with another service-connected disability who has qualified for a free automobile from the VA. The vehicle must be equipped with special attachments needed to operate it, be insured in New Jersey, and you need a New Jersey driver license. Call 609-292-6500 ext. 5076 for the application and mail it with the VA seal or stamp to the MVC Government Unit, P.O. Box 016, Trenton, NJ 08666-0016. Separately, a disabled veteran pays no Sales Tax on the part of a car's price paid with VA or NJDVA funds; any out-of-pocket amount is taxed.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/mvc/drivertopics/veterans.htm",
     "source_title": "NJ Motor Vehicle Commission - Active Duty Military Personnel and Veterans (free registration); NJ Division of Taxation Consumer Automotive Tax Guide, Q49",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates and parking-meter placard",
     "category": "vehicle",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "A Disabled Veteran plate series (DV1000-DV9999) is listed at $15, and the MVC form says you need a copy of your DD-214 or DD-215 and the VA 'Award of Disability percentage letter,' with the application approved by a liaison who certifies membership; the MVC pages do not state a minimum rating. Separately, a Disabled Veteran placard (Form SP-47, DD-214 plus VA Award of Disability letter) exempts a vehicle you own from municipal parking meter fees for up to 24 hours, requires you to be the driver or a passenger, must be renewed every 3 years, and cannot be used in wheelchair-labeled spaces. Apply at any MVC agency or by mail to the NJMVC Special Plates Unit, P.O. Box 015, Trenton, NJ 08666-015.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/mvc/vehicletopics/disvet.htm",
     "source_title": "NJ Motor Vehicle Commission - Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient Placards (N.J.S.A. 39:4-207.10); Military Personnel plates page; Form SP-23",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Free hunting and fishing licenses, stamps and permits for disabled veterans",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "Honorably discharged New Jersey resident veterans whom the VA has declared to have a 'service-connected disability of any degree' get free hunting and fishing licenses, stamps and permits. You must be certified by mail first: send the Disabled Veterans application with your VA disability letter or VA card, your DD-214, and proof of at least six months of New Jersey residency to Disabled Veteran Licensing, Division of Fish and Wildlife, PO Box 420, Trenton, NJ 08625-0420. Certified veterans get unlimited antlerless deer permits, but the state does not give them lottery preference, and hunter education is still required to hunt.",
     "source_url": "https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/licenses-and-permits/disabled-veteran-license-information/",
     "source_title": "NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife - Disabled Veteran License Information; Instructions for Free NJ Disabled Veterans License",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State park disability pass and free Island Beach State Park disabled veteran vehicle permit",
     "category": "recreation",
     "min_rating": "any service-connected",
     "details": "New Jersey has no general free state park pass for disabled veterans. The state park Senior Citizen and Disability Pass gives free entrance and discounted camping to New Jersey residents with a disability, with no veteran requirement, and the department said it was being updated (disability passes only from the Trenton office, 1-800-843-6420). Island Beach State Park has a free disabled veteran vehicle permit for designated fishing areas; it needs a DD-214 showing honorable discharge and proof of a service-connected disability. I could not read the DEP park pages directly, so confirm both with the State Park Service.",
     "source_url": "https://dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/get-outside/state-park-pass/",
     "source_title": "NJ DEP State Parks, Forests and Historic Sites - State Park Pass; Island Beach State Park permits",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": true,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "In-state tuition at New Jersey public colleges (NJTEAM Act)",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "A veteran or covered family member 'living in New Jersey and attending a public institution of higher education in New Jersey' is treated as a state resident for tuition, whatever their home state. The veteran must have served on active duty, been discharged or released, and qualify for federal All-Volunteer Force or Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits. Covered individuals are family members entitled to Post-9/11 benefits through a veteran (transferred benefits) and, for terms beginning after March 1, 2019, people entitled to VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits. Show your VA education benefit eligibility to the college's registrar or veterans office.",
     "source_url": "https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/PL19/264_.HTM",
     "source_title": "New Jersey Legislature - P.L.2015, c.32 (NJTEAM Act) as amended by P.L.2019, c.264 (N.J.S.A. 18A:62-4.1a, 4.1b)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "State veteran tuition aid: Veterans Tuition Credit Program, War Orphan Tuition Assistance, POW-MIA Tuition Benefit",
     "category": "education",
     "min_rating": "varies",
     "details": "The Veterans Tuition Credit Program pays $400 a year ($200 per semester full-time; $100 per semester part-time) to veterans eligible for federal education benefits who served on active duty from Dec. 31, 1960 to May 7, 1975 and lived in New Jersey at induction or for a year before applying. War Orphan Tuition Assistance pays $500 a year for four years to children of service members who died in service or from service-connected disability, or who are MIA. The POW-MIA Tuition Benefit gives free undergraduate tuition to a child of a New Jersey POW or MIA declared after January 1, 1960. Contact the Veterans Benefits Bureau at 888-865-8387 or VBB@dva.nj.gov.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/dva/assets/documents/NJ%20Veterans%20Benefits%20Guide.pdf",
     "source_title": "NJ Department of Veterans Affairs - NJ Veterans Benefits Guide (PDF created April 2026), Education section",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Military pension and survivor benefit exemption from state income tax",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The Division of Taxation says 'U.S. military pension and survivor's benefit payments are not taxable' for New Jersey residents, at any age and without a disability test. Regular military pay is taxable, but combat zone pay is not taxable for tax year 2021 and later. Federal civil service pensions are still taxable even if they credit military service. New Jersey has an income tax, so other income is taxed normally. VA disability compensation is not part of New Jersey taxable income as far as I can tell, but I could not find a page I could read that says so directly; confirm with the Division of Taxation.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/military/taxinformation.shtml",
     "source_title": "NJ Division of Taxation - Military Personnel and Veterans (updated 4/30/25)",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "$6,000 Veteran Income Tax Exemption",
     "category": "income_tax",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "If you were honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty on or before the last day of the tax year, you can claim a $6,000 exemption on your New Jersey income tax return, in addition to your other exemptions. Your spouse can claim a second $6,000 on a joint return if they are also a veteran. Check the veteran exemption oval (resident return) or box (nonresident return); the first time you claim it you must provide official documentation such as a DD-214, or pre-certify it with the Veteran Income Tax Exemption Submission Form. It does not pass to a surviving spouse except for the year of death on a joint return.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/military/vetexemption.shtml",
     "source_title": "NJ Division of Taxation - Income Tax Exemption for Veterans",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "Civil service Veterans and Disabled Veterans preference",
     "category": "employment",
     "min_rating": "10%",
     "details": "Eligible veterans who pass an open competitive civil service exam are placed at the top of the list ahead of non-veterans, and eligible disabled veterans are placed above both. You need an honorable discharge from active duty with service in a qualifying war era (some eras require 90 days; later eras need 14 days or a service-incurred injury, and the right geographic area), and for the disabled veteran level 'at least a 10% disability compensation' from the VA. Spouses and surviving spouses of disabled veterans can qualify in some cases. Submit the Civil Service Veterans Preference Claim Form, DD-214 and VA award letter through the NJ Department of Veterans Affairs (888-865-8387, VBB@dva.nj.gov), up to 8 days before a list is issued.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/dva/veterans/services/civil-service-preference/",
     "source_title": "NJ Department of Veterans Affairs - Civil Service Preference for Veterans (updated 10/02/2026); P.L.2007, c.115",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "New Jersey Catastrophic Entitlement ($150 a month)",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "100% P&T",
     "details": "A New Jersey resident wartime veteran with a 100% permanent service-connected rating from the VA for one of seven catastrophic disabilities gets a monthly payment of $150. The listed disabilities are loss of sight; amputation of both hands, both feet, or one hand and one foot; hemiplegia with permanent paralysis of one leg and one arm on the same side; paraplegia; osteochondritis with permanent loss of use of both legs; multiple sclerosis with loss of use of both feet or legs; and quadriplegia. A widow or widower who was in receipt of the entitlement, or would have been entitled to apply, can qualify. Contact the Veterans Benefits Bureau at 888-865-8387 or VBB@dva.nj.gov and use the Catastrophic Entitlement Application.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/dva/veterans/benefits-resources/",
     "source_title": "NJ Department of Veterans Affairs - Benefits & Resources (updated 10/06/2026); Gold Star Families page; Veterans Benefits Guide",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    },
    {
     "benefit": "New Jersey Veterans Memorial Homes and state veterans cemetery",
     "category": "other",
     "min_rating": "none",
     "details": "The three state long-term care homes (Paramus, Menlo Park, Vineland) are open to veterans honorably discharged from war or peacetime service, their spouses, and spouses and parents of members killed in action in wartime; preference goes to applicants who were state residents for at least two years, and residents pay according to ability based on income. The Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown offers free interment and perpetual care to veterans, their spouses, and dependent children, and pre-registration is encouraged. Contact each home through the NJDVA Memorial Homes page, and the cemetery at 609-738-2400.",
     "source_url": "https://www.nj.gov/dva/veterans/memorial-homes/",
     "source_title": "NJ Department of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Memorial Homes (updated 10/13/2026); Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery page; Veterans Benefits Guide",
     "date_verified": "2026-10-17",
     "needs_verification": false,
     "varies_by_county": false
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "code": "NM",
   "name": "New Mexico",
   "slug": "new-mexico",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "NY",
   "name": "New York",
   "slug": "new-york",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "NC",
   "name": "North Carolina",
   "slug": "north-carolina",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "ND",
   "name": "North Dakota",
   "slug": "north-dakota",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "OH",
   "name": "Ohio",
   "slug": "ohio",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "OK",
   "name": "Oklahoma",
   "slug": "oklahoma",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "OR",
   "name": "Oregon",
   "slug": "oregon",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "PA",
   "name": "Pennsylvania",
   "slug": "pennsylvania",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "RI",
   "name": "Rhode Island",
   "slug": "rhode-island",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "SC",
   "name": "South Carolina",
   "slug": "south-carolina",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "SD",
   "name": "South Dakota",
   "slug": "south-dakota",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "TN",
   "name": "Tennessee",
   "slug": "tennessee",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "TX",
   "name": "Texas",
   "slug": "texas",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "UT",
   "name": "Utah",
   "slug": "utah",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "VT",
   "name": "Vermont",
   "slug": "vermont",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "VA",
   "name": "Virginia",
   "slug": "virginia",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "WA",
   "name": "Washington",
   "slug": "washington",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "WV",
   "name": "West Virginia",
   "slug": "west-virginia",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "WI",
   "name": "Wisconsin",
   "slug": "wisconsin",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "WY",
   "name": "Wyoming",
   "slug": "wyoming",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "AS",
   "name": "American Samoa",
   "slug": "american-samoa",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "GU",
   "name": "Guam",
   "slug": "guam",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "MP",
   "name": "Northern Mariana Islands",
   "slug": "northern-mariana-islands",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "PR",
   "name": "Puerto Rico",
   "slug": "puerto-rico",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  },
  {
   "code": "VI",
   "name": "U.S. Virgin Islands",
   "slug": "us-virgin-islands",
   "agency": {
    "name": "",
    "url": ""
   },
   "last_verified": null,
   "status": "pending",
   "notes": [],
   "benefits": []
  }
 ]
}