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Disabled Veteran Benefits by State

This is the whole map in one place. Find your state below and you will jump straight to the benefits you may qualify for, the exact steps to claim them, and a checklist you can print. Numbers that change (dollar limits, deadlines) link to the official source; everything else is here on the page.

Education only. Not the VA, not a government agency, and not financial, tax, or legal advice. Help with a VA claim or rating is always free through a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer.

Find your state

Not sure where to start? Tap your state below. It jumps you straight to the benefits you may qualify for, the exact steps to claim them, and a checklist you can print. More states are on the way.

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Arizona

In this section

Property tax exemption

State income tax

Vehicle and MVD

Recreation

Education and dependents

Emergency help and other support

If you are a disabled veteran living in Arizona, or thinking about moving here, this page is built to be the only stop you need. Every state-level benefit tied to your VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) disability rating is below: the property tax exemption, state income tax breaks, vehicle and MVD (Motor Vehicle Division) perks, state parks and hunting and fishing discounts, education benefits for you and your dependents, and where to turn in an emergency. I pulled every figure and rule below from an official Arizona source and linked it so you can check it yourself. Arizona just passed a big new law in this space, House Bill 2792 (HB2792), and it reshapes the property tax section starting with tax year 2026. I built this around the law as enacted, but your county assessor administers it, not me, so if they tell you something slightly different, follow them.

Property tax exemption

What it is: Arizona exempts some or all of the assessed value of a disabled veteran's home from property tax, under Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) Section 42-11111. Starting tax year 2026, this got dramatically bigger for veterans rated 100%. Property tax exemptions in Arizona are administered by your County Assessor, not a state agency, so you file with the county, not the state.

Every way to qualify, spelled out:

(a) A 100% VA disability rating shown on your VA letter. Under A.R.S. Section 42-11111 as amended by HB2792, if your VA disability rating decision or Benefit Summary letter shows a 100% service-connected rating, your primary residence is fully exempt from Arizona property tax starting tax year 2026. For this full 100% tier, the statute places the exemption in its own subsection with no income limit and no property-value cap, unlike the partial tier below. What controls is that your VA letter shows the 100% rating. If you are paid at the 100% rate through Individual Unemployability (IU), also called Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), your VA letter typically reflects the 100% rate; bring that letter and let your assessor confirm you belong in the full-exemption box. A.R.S. Section 42-11111; HB2792 Senate Fact Sheet, azleg.gov

(b) A Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) certificate. Arizona's statute does not list a separate Specially Adapted Housing pathway (a VA-issued certificate tied to a home-modification grant) as its own independent route into this exemption. If you have an SAH grant and are also rated 100%, you already qualify under (a); the SAH grant by itself is not a documented independent trigger under Arizona law.

(c) Statutory conditions such as legal blindness, loss or loss of use of limbs, or paraplegia. Arizona does not carve out separate qualifying categories tied to a specific diagnosis the way some states do. Eligibility runs on your VA disability rating percentage as shown on your letter, not on a named condition list.

(d) Surviving spouse continuation. If your spouse had a 100% VA disability rating and their home qualified, you may continue to claim the full exemption as long as you do not remarry and the property is your primary residence. The enacted-bill materials describe this continuation as following the surviving spouse, so if you need to move, ask your assessor whether it carries to your new primary residence before you assume either way. HB2792 Senate Fact Sheet, azleg.gov

(e) Below 100% (partial exemption): the "Personal Exemption." If your VA rating is below 100%, or you have a non-service-connected disability, or you are a widow, widower, or a person with a total and permanent disability certified by a physician, you can claim a smaller exemption. For a veteran rated below 100%, the maximum exemption amount is multiplied by your disability percentage. This partial tier carries an income limit and a total-assessed-property-value cap, and both figures are adjusted every year, so I am not going to hand you a dollar amount that could be stale by the time you read it. Pull the current-year maximum exemption, income limit, and property cap straight from your assessor's exemption page. A.R.S. Section 42-11111; Maricopa County Assessor - Valuation Relief and Personal Exemptions

Income limit (applies only to the below-100% partial exemption in (e), not the full 100% exemption in (a)):

There is a household income ceiling based on the prior calendar year, and it is higher if a qualifying child under 18 lives with you. Because the state re-indexes these numbers annually, confirm this year's exact figures with your county assessor rather than relying on a number that changes each January.

Social Security, VA disability compensation, and veterans' pensions are excluded when your assessor calculates this income test; adjusted gross income, capital gains, taxable pensions, and certain annuities count.

For this partial-exemption tier, the total assessed value of property you own is also capped, and that cap is re-indexed annually; this cap does not apply to the full 100% veteran exemption in (a).

Residency and ownership rules: you must be an Arizona resident and the home must be your primary residence. If you and your spouse own the home jointly, Arizona still lets the veteran claim the full 100% exemption, so joint ownership does not block you.

Step 1 - Pull your VA rating decision letter and Benefit Summary letter. Go to VA.gov - Download your VA benefit letters, sign in, and generate the "Benefit summary and service verification letter," checking the boxes for your combined rating, service-connected status, and permanent and total (P&T) status if you have it. Then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - Find your county assessor and open their exemption page. Property tax exemptions are filed with the assessor in the county where your home sits, not with the state. Go to your county site (for example Maricopa County Assessor - Valuation Relief, Pima County Assessor, Cochise County Assessor - Individual/Organization Exemptions, or Mohave County Assessor - Exemptions), note this year's figures for the partial tier, then come back here and continue with Step 3.

Step 3 - Get the affidavit form. Arizona's statewide form is Arizona Department of Revenue Form DOR 82514, "Affidavit of Individual Tax Exemption"; veterans use the veteran-specific version, labeled 82514V. Your county assessor's site posts the current version, and some counties let you start in person at their office.

Step 4 - File the affidavit in the statutory window. Arizona law sets the filing window as the first Monday in January through March 1 each year; several counties frame the practical cutoff as the last business day of February, since March 1 can land on a weekend. File as early in the window as you can. Attach your VA rating decision and Benefit Summary letter, proof this is your primary residence (Arizona driver's license or voter registration at that address), and the deed or a recent tax bill showing you own it.

Step 5 - If this is your first time filing, attach your most recent state income tax return. Arizona has first-time (initial) filers include their latest return so the assessor can verify eligibility, and if your rating is below 100% they use it to check you against the current-year income limit for the partial Personal Exemption.

Step 6 - Recertify every year. Whether you are on the full exemption or the partial one, Arizona requires you to reconfirm your eligibility annually and to notify the assessor in writing if anything disqualifying happens (you remarry, income rises past the limit on the partial tier, or you sell or move). This is not a one-time filing.

Step 7 - Confirm it posted. Watch your property tax bill for the exemption line, or call your assessor's office a few weeks after filing to confirm it was applied. This step legitimately ends with your county; there is no further office to check beyond your assessor.

State income tax

What it is: Arizona does not add state income tax on top of the federal tax-free treatment your VA disability compensation already gets, and it goes further by exempting military retirement pay entirely.

VA disability compensation is already federally tax-free, and since Arizona's income tax starts from your federal adjusted gross income, it is never taxed by Arizona either.

Military retirement pay is 100% exempt from Arizona income tax, with no dollar cap, for tax years 2020 forward. This covers Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP), and Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) survivor annuities too.

Active-duty pay, including combat-zone pay, has not been taxed by Arizona since 2006; you subtract it to the extent it was included in your Arizona gross income.

No Arizona-specific income tax credit for veterans beyond these subtractions was confirmed in official sources. If you believe one applies to your situation, confirm directly with the Arizona Department of Revenue rather than assuming.

Step 1 - Use Form 140 or Form 140PY, not the short forms. The military retirement and active-duty pay subtraction is only available on Form 140 (full-year resident) or Form 140PY (part-year resident); it is not available on Form 140A or 140EZ.

Step 2 - Find the subtraction line. On Form 140, look for the subtraction for U.S. active or reserve military pay and for pension income from the U.S. uniformed services; the full instructions are at Arizona Department of Revenue - Military Tax Filing.

Step 3 - Confirm your VA compensation never entered your Arizona return at all. Since VA disability compensation is not part of your federal AGI, it should not appear as taxable income on your Arizona return; if a preparer or software is including it, flag it and get it fixed before you file.

Step 4 - If you have questions on your specific filing, call the Arizona Department of Revenue or work with a tax preparer familiar with military filings. This is a filing mechanic, not a claims matter, so it is fine to handle yourself or with a paid preparer.

Vehicle and MVD

What it is: Arizona waives the vehicle license tax (VLT) and registration fee on one vehicle for qualifying disabled veterans, plus offers a Veteran specialty plate, through the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), part of the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

100% disabled veterans drawing VA compensation on that basis: exempt from the VLT and registration fee on one vehicle you own or co-own, and the exemption transfers to a replacement vehicle when you re-register. A.R.S. Section 28-5802; ADOT MVD - Military Personnel and Veterans, Resident Exemptions

Purple Heart recipients who were honorably discharged: qualify for the same VLT and registration fee exemption on one vehicle, on proof of the Purple Heart award submitted at initial registration. This is a separate statutory category from the 100%-disability category, so you can qualify this way even if your disability rating is below 100%. A.R.S. Section 28-5802

Veterans with a VA-financed adapted vehicle: a separate, older exemption in the same statute applies to a vehicle (or its replacement) acquired with financial assistance from the VA under specific federal statutes covering certain service-connected disabilities. A.R.S. Section 28-5802

Surviving spouse: may continue the exemption until remarriage, with annual re-certification required.

Step 1 - Gather your proof. For the 100%-disability category, bring a copy of a statement of honorable service or a 100% disability certificate from the VA (or your DD214/DD215/NGB Form 22, or a veteran organization membership card such as American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), or Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)). For the Purple Heart category, bring proof of the Purple Heart award plus proof of honorable discharge.

Step 2 - Find your MVD office, then bring your paperwork in. This is processed by MVD staff during vehicle registration or renewal, not through a standalone numbered form. Locate an office using the ADOT MVD office locator, then come back here and continue with Step 3. You can also use any Authorized Third Party office, or mail your paperwork to: Motor Vehicle Division, MD 555M, P.O. Box 2100, Phoenix, AZ 85001.

Step 3 - Confirm your VLT line shows $0 on the registration or renewal notice before you pay. If it does not, bring your documentation back to MVD and ask them to correct it.

Step 4 - Ask about the Veteran specialty plate. Confirm the current fee schedule at MVD, since fee tables change; the International Symbol of Accessibility is added automatically for qualifying disabled veterans at no extra charge. Arizona DVS - Veteran License Plates

Step 5 - If you use a disability placard instead of or alongside a plate, apply for it through MVD as well; standard placards are issued at no cost, with a small fee only for a lost or renewed placard.

Step 6 - Re-certify annually if you are a surviving spouse continuing the exemption, since MVD requires this each year to keep it active.

Recreation

What it is: Arizona State Parks and the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) both offer meaningful discounts to disabled veterans, layered by rating percentage.

State Parks, 100% service-connected disabled veterans: free day-use entrance via a Disabled Veterans Annual Arizona State Parks Pass, covering the pass holder plus up to three additional adults at parks with a per-vehicle entrance fee (at per-person-fee parks, the pass covers only the veteran). Requires the disability be rated 100% and that you be receiving compensation on that basis, plus 12 or more months of Arizona residency. It does not cover camping, showers, dump stations, or Kartchner Caverns tours. Arizona State Parks - Veteran and Military Discounts

State Parks, all veterans on Veterans Day: free day-use entrance for veterans at all Arizona State Parks on November 11 each year, regardless of rating. Arizona State Parks - Veteran and Military Discounts

Hunting and fishing license, 100% permanent and total service-connected disability: free combination license (paper is free; an optional plastic card version carries a small fee). Requires a VA benefits letter stating "100% disabled, permanent and total" and 1 or more years of Arizona residency. Arizona Game and Fish Department - Disabled Veteran License

Purple Heart recipients: reduced-fee combination hunting and fishing license under a separate Arizona Game and Fish Department regulation for Purple Heart Medal recipients, with Arizona residency required.

Step 1 - For the State Parks pass, gather VA-certified proof of your 100% rating and compensation status, then bring it plus photo ID to any park visitor center. There is no online application; you request the pass in person, and it is non-transferable.

Step 2 - For the Veterans Day discount, just show up on November 11 with proof you are a veteran; no advance application needed.

Step 3 - For the hunting and fishing license, apply at a local AZGFD office or by mail. Mail a copy of your VA benefits letter stating "100% disabled, permanent and total" (or your Purple Heart proof for that category) to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Front Counter, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. To apply in person, find a local AZGFD office, then come back here and continue with Step 4.

Step 4 - Decide paper or plastic. The paper license is free; pay the small fee only if you want the durable plastic card version.

Education and dependents

What it is: Arizona's State Tuition Waiver Program, run by the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS), covers tuition at Arizona public universities and community colleges up through an undergraduate degree, and it runs concurrently with federal education benefits like the GI Bill without reducing your GI Bill months.

Purple Heart recipients with a VA disability rating of 50% or more: a U.S. Armed Forces member who is an Arizona resident (or was stationed in Arizona, or was injured while in Arizona, at the time of the injury that resulted in the Purple Heart) and has a VA disability rating of 50% or more qualifies.

Surviving dependents of a line-of-duty death (unremarried spouse and/or child up to age 30) whose sponsor was an Arizona National Guard member or U.S. Armed Forces member who was an Arizona resident (or stationed in Arizona) and was killed in the line of duty or died of line-of-duty injuries.

Surviving dependents where the sponsor died by suicide after a post-traumatic stress injury (unremarried spouse and/or child up to age 30): A.R.S. Section 15-1808 separately covers dependents of a veteran (or peace officer or firefighter) who died by suicide after suffering a post-traumatic stress injury, so this is its own pathway distinct from the line-of-duty-death one above.

Arizona National Guard members medically discharged due to an injury or disability suffered during federal active-duty status, or while responding to a Governor-declared state of emergency.

Important limit to know: these are the categories the statute recognizes. A veteran rated 100% permanent and total, without a Purple Heart and without one of the surviving-dependent or National Guard ties above, does not independently qualify for this specific waiver. If you think you fit some other way, confirm directly with ADVS before assuming you are covered. Arizona DVS - Education services; A.R.S. Section 15-1808

Step 1 - Confirm you meet one of the categories above before you apply, since this program is narrower than a general disabled-veteran benefit.

Step 2 - Get the ADVS Tuition Waiver and Verification Form. Download it at dvs.az.gov - Tuition Waiver and Verification Form, then come back here and continue with Step 3.

Step 3 - Gather your documents: proof of the Purple Heart award and your VA rating letter showing 50% or higher (if applying under that category), documentation of the qualifying death (if applying as a surviving dependent), or documentation of the qualifying medical discharge (National Guard category), plus Arizona residency proof.

Step 4 - Submit your completed form and documents to ADVS by email at benefits@azdvs.gov or by postal mail for verification. Free help is available from ADVS Veterans Benefits Counselors; if you want that help, find your nearest office via dvs.az.gov - Find ADVS Offices, then come back here and continue with Step 5.

Step 5 - Coordinate with your school's veterans office. Individual universities, for example ASU Veterans - Arizona Tuition Waiver, publish how the state waiver applies once ADVS verifies you, so check with your specific school's veterans services office when you enroll.

Step 6 - If you are using the GI Bill too, ask your school how the two benefits stack, since the waiver is designed to run alongside federal education benefits without costing you GI Bill entitlement months.

Emergency help and other support

What it is: Beyond the benefits above, Arizona runs state veterans homes for skilled nursing care, state veterans cemeteries at no charge to the veteran, and a hiring preference for state government jobs.

State Veteran Homes: Medicare-certified skilled nursing and rehabilitative care at subsidized rates, with locations including Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and Flagstaff. Eligibility generally requires honorable discharge (or being the spouse of a veteran), a physician's determination that you need skilled nursing care, and Arizona residency. Confirm current active locations and admissions directly with ADVS, since facility rosters can change. Arizona DVS - Arizona State Veteran Homes

Burial in an Arizona State Veterans' Memorial Cemetery: no charge to the veteran, including gravesite, opening and closing, liner, government marker, and perpetual care; a one-time fee applies for a spouse or dependent's burial. Cemeteries are located at Camp Navajo (Bellemont), Marana, and Sierra Vista. Arizona DVS - Cemeteries

State employment hiring preference: under A.R.S. Section 38-492, honorably separated veterans get 5 points added to state job exam scores after 6 or more months of active duty, or 10 points if you have a service-connected disability or are receiving VA compensation or disability retirement. Points apply only to initial hiring, not promotions or transfers, and only after you independently pass. Spouses of veterans who are missing in action, prisoners of war, or totally and permanently service-connected disabled may also qualify. Arizona Dept. of Administration HR - Veterans' Hiring Preference

If you are in a financial emergency right now (facing eviction, a utility shutoff, or similar), start with a free accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) through ADVS, who can connect you to both federal VA and Arizona-specific emergency resources.

Step 1 - Call ADVS's main line, (602) 255-3373, or visit dvs.az.gov, for a warm handoff to the right program, state or federal, if you are not sure where to start.

Step 2 - For a state veterans home inquiry, find current locations and contacts at dvs.az.gov - Arizona State Veteran Homes, call the location nearest you, then come back here if you need the next step.

Step 3 - For burial planning, contact ADVS at dvs.az.gov - Cemeteries, or compare it against a federal VA national cemetery option in Arizona at the VA National Cemetery Administration - Find a Cemetery.

Step 4 - For the state hiring preference, apply through AZStateJobs.gov and indicate your veteran and disability status where the application asks, then have your DD214 and, if claiming the 10-point tier, your VA rating letter ready if requested.

Print-and-take checklist

☐ Download your VA "Benefit summary and service verification letter" and full rating decision at va.gov/records/download-va-letters

☐ If your VA letter shows a 100% rating (including when you are paid at the 100% rate through IU/TDIU), find your county assessor and file Form DOR 82514V (the veteran affidavit) between the first Monday in January and March 1

☐ If this is your first time filing, attach your most recent state income tax return so the assessor can verify eligibility

☐ If rated below 100%, pull this year's maximum exemption, income limit, and property cap from your assessor's page and file for the partial Personal Exemption

☐ Mark your calendar to reconfirm your property tax exemption eligibility with the assessor every year

☐ Confirm your VA disability compensation and, if applicable, military retirement pay are not showing as taxable income on your Arizona Form 140 or 140PY

☐ Bring your VA 100% disability letter, or Purple Heart proof, to MVD at registration or renewal for the vehicle license tax and registration fee exemption

☐ Ask MVD about the Veteran plate and confirm the disability symbol is added at no extra charge

☐ If 100% rated and receiving compensation on that basis, visit an Arizona State Park visitor center in person for your Disabled Veterans Annual Pass

☐ Mail or hand-deliver your VA 100% permanent-and-total letter, or Purple Heart proof, to AZGFD for your hunting and fishing license

☐ If you have a Purple Heart and a 50%-plus VA rating, are a qualifying surviving dependent, or are a medically discharged Arizona National Guard member, apply for the ADVS Tuition Waiver

☐ If none of those tuition-waiver categories fit you, confirm directly with ADVS whether any other education path applies before assuming you don't qualify

☐ Save ADVS's number, (602) 255-3373, and the Find ADVS Offices locator for anything above that needs a local counselor

☐ If anything here touches your actual VA rating (a new claim, an appeal, or confirming Individual Unemployability status), route it to a free accredited VSO, never a paid company

This is education, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and Rated, Now What has no affiliation with the VA, the State of Arizona, or any other government agency. Every program above is free to apply for through the official state or federal office linked. If anything here touches your actual VA disability rating (filing a new claim, appealing a decision, arguing for a higher percentage, or sorting out an Individual Unemployability question), that is claims work, and a free, VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) handles it at no cost. You can find one through ADVS directly or through VA.gov's accredited representative search. Never pay anyone for basic claims preparation or filing help. Be alert to "benefits planners," pension-poaching schemes, and annuity or insurance salespeople who use free seminars about veteran benefits, including this new property tax exemption, as a lead-in to sell you an annuity, trust, or long-term-care insurance product, sometimes implying a government affiliation that does not exist. No legitimate program described here ever requires you to buy a financial product, sign over part of your benefit stream, or pay a processing fee to a private company. If someone offers to buy out your future VA payments for a lump sum, or pressures you to restructure your finances around one of these benefits, treat it as a red flag and report it to the VA Office of Inspector General hotline.

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California

In this section

Property tax exemption (Disabled Veterans' Exemption)

State income tax

Vehicle / DMV benefits

Recreation

Education / dependents

Emergency help / other support

If you're a disabled veteran in California, this page is your one-stop shop for the state and local benefits you've earned, on top of your VA disability compensation. I'll walk you through every benefit California offers, every way to qualify for each one, and the exact steps to file, so you don't have to go hunting for a form number or an office address. Start with the property tax exemption since it's usually the biggest dollar benefit, then work through the rest.

Property tax exemption (Disabled Veterans' Exemption)

California's Disabled Veterans' Exemption reduces your home's assessed value before your county calculates your property tax bill. There are two tiers: a basic exemption (no income limit) and a bigger low-income exemption (income-capped, and it requires you to re-file every year). Both dollar amounts adjust annually for inflation, so always confirm the current figure with your county assessor before you rely on it. For the 2026 lien year, the basic exemption is running around $180,671 off assessed value, and the low-income exemption is running around $271,009 off assessed value if your household income is under roughly $81,131. Confirm the exact current-year numbers at California State Board of Equalization (BOE) — Disabled Veterans' Exemption.

Every way to qualify (any ONE of these makes you eligible on the disability side):

You are rated 100% service-connected disabled by the VA (a single condition or a combined rating that reaches 100%).

You are not rated 100% on paper, but the VA compensates you at the 100% rate because of Individual Unemployability (you are unable to hold down substantially gainful work because of your service-connected disability). Being paid at the 100% rate qualifies the same as a 100% schedular rating.

You are blind in both eyes as a result of a service-connected injury or disease (visual acuity of 5/200 or less, or a visual field narrowed to 5 degrees or less).

You have lost the use of two or more limbs as a result of a service-connected injury or disease (through amputation, ankylosis, muscular dystrophy, or paralysis).

You are the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who qualified during their lifetime, who would have qualified as of January 1, 1977, or who died from a service-connected injury or disease. Remarriage ends this eligibility.

California does not use a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) certificate as a separate, standalone qualifying path here; it recognizes the 100% schedular rating, the 100%-rate Individual Unemployability equivalent, statutory blindness or loss of use of limbs, and the surviving-spouse continuation above. If your SAH grant is tied to a 100% rating or to Individual Unemployability, you already qualify through those paths.

Other requirements for both tiers:

You must have been discharged under other-than-dishonorable conditions.

The home must be your principal place of residence, owned and occupied by you as of the January 1 lien date (there's a grace-period rule if you buy or get rated after that date; see Step 2 below).

For the low-income tier only, your household income (including your VA compensation) must be under the current-year threshold, and you must re-file every year between January 1 and February 15 to keep it.

Steps to file:

Step 1 — Get your VA disability rating letter (or your Individual Unemployability award letter) confirming your rating and effective date. Download your Benefit Summary Letter at VA.gov, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 — Find your county assessor's office using the California State Board of Equalization county contacts list, and note their filing deadline. A first-time claim filed within 90 days of the qualifying event (or by the next January 1 lien date, whichever gives you more time) gets you the full 100% exemption for that year. File late and the exemption drops to 85% of the amount for that year, so file as soon as you're eligible.

Step 3 — Download form BOE-261-G, Claim for Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption, from your county assessor's website (most counties post it, or use the statewide CAA e-Forms BOE-261-G as a reference copy), then come back here and continue with Step 4.

Step 4 — Fill out BOE-261-G with your name, property address/parcel number, discharge status, and disability rating information. If you're applying for the low-income tier, also complete the household income certification section.

Step 5 — Gather your documents: your VA disability rating letter or Individual Unemployability award letter, proof of honorable/other-than-dishonorable discharge (DD-214), and proof you own and occupy the home (deed, tax bill, or utility bill).

Step 6 — If claiming the low-income tier, add proof of household income (tax return, Social Security/VA award letters, W-2s) for everyone in the household.

Step 7 — If you are a surviving spouse claiming the exemption, add a copy of the veteran's death certificate and, if the death was service-connected, the VA determination showing that.

Step 8 — File the completed BOE-261-G and your documents with your county assessor's office by mail, in person, or through their online portal if offered. This is the final step; the exemption applies to your next property tax bill once the assessor processes your claim.

Step 9 — If you're on the low-income tier, mark your calendar to re-file between January 1 and February 15 every year to keep the full exemption. Filing between February 16 and December 10 still gets you 90% for that year, and filing after December 10 gets you 85%, but earlier is always better.

State income tax

Your VA disability compensation is never taxable income at the federal or California state level, so you never report it on your tax return. Beyond that, California offers a specific break for military retirement pay: for tax years 2025 through 2029, California allows a Uniformed Services / Survivor Benefit Plan income exclusion of up to $20,000 of military retirement or Survivor Benefit Plan income, as long as your federal adjusted gross income is under $125,000 (single filers) or $250,000 (joint/surviving-spouse filers). There is no additional broad state income tax exemption specific to service-connected disability beyond these two items as of this writing, so confirm current-year rules each filing season.

Steps to claim the military retirement exclusion:

Step 1 — Confirm your federal AGI is under the $125,000 (single) / $250,000 (joint or surviving spouse) limit for the year you're filing.

Step 2 — When you file your California return, use Form 540 (or 540NR if you're a nonresident/part-year resident).

Step 3 — Follow the current-year instructions on the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) — Military page for exactly which line/schedule captures the up-to-$20,000 exclusion; the FTB updates the specific line each year.

Step 4 — Keep your 1099-R (military retirement) and VA award letter with your tax records in case the FTB asks for support. This is the final step for this benefit; no separate filing is needed beyond your regular return.

Vehicle / DMV benefits

California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers Disabled Veteran (DV) license plates that come with a fee waiver, plus separate disabled-parking and toll benefits.

Every way to qualify for DV plates (any ONE of these):

You have a single service-connected disability rated 100% by the VA.

You are rated for Individual Unemployability and paid at the 100% rate.

You meet specific medical criteria certified by a physician (or by a County Veterans Service Officer or VA representative in lieu of a physician): loss of use of one or more limbs, inability to move without an assistive device, or legal blindness.

Note: a combined rating that only adds up to 100% from multiple lower-rated conditions does not, by itself, satisfy DV plate eligibility. The underlying medical certification criteria above control, so check the specific criteria on the DMV's page before assuming you qualify.

What you get: a waiver of registration and license fees (except duplicate plate/sticker fees) on one passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or light commercial vehicle not used for hire; use of disabled/accessible parking and blue curb spaces; free metered parking statewide; and free or discounted travel on many toll bridges/roads with an active FasTrak transponder account (this generally excludes express/high-occupancy toll lanes like the I-15 and 405 Express Lanes unless a separate program applies).

Steps to apply:

Step 1 — Get your VA disability rating letter or Individual Unemployability award letter. Download it at VA.gov, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 — Get form REG 256 (Miscellaneous Certifications), including the REG 256V Certification for Disabled Veteran License Plates section, from the California DMV — Disabled Veteran (DV) License Plates page, which also has the current PDF link and any online-submission option. Grab the form, then come back here and continue with Step 3.

Step 3 — Have the medical certification section completed and signed by a licensed physician, surgeon, chiropractor, optometrist, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who knows your condition, OR by a County Veterans Service Officer or authorized VA representative in lieu of a physician.

Step 4 — Attach your current vehicle registration information and, if applying for the fee waiver, be ready to pay only the plate/sticker fee (not registration or license fees).

Step 5 — Submit the completed REG 256 packet online (if your county/DMV office offers digital upload) or in person/by mail to your local DMV field office; find your nearest office at the California DMV office locator. This is the final step; DMV will mail your DV plates once approved.

Step 6 — Once you have your DV plates, set up a FasTrak account if you want toll benefits, and confirm the discount rules with your specific toll operator (Bay Area FasTrak, San Diego-area SANDAG Veterans Toll Exemption Program, or Orange County's The Toll Roads), since rules and enrollment steps differ by agency.

Recreation

California offers two separate recreation benefits, each with its own eligibility path.

Distinguished Veteran Pass (California State Parks) — a free lifetime pass covering day-use, camping, and boating basic facility fees. Every way to qualify:

You are an honorably discharged California resident veteran with an overall/combined service-connected disability rating of 50% or greater, incurred during a qualifying wartime or combat-operations period (specific date ranges are listed on the official application page — for example WWII, Korea, Vietnam-era, and post-1975/1981 combat operations windows).

You are a former prisoner of war.

You are a Medal of Honor recipient.

A 50%+ rating alone from a non-qualifying (peacetime) period does not by itself qualify you, so check the date ranges on the official page carefully.

Steps to apply for the Distinguished Veteran Pass:

Step 1 — Get your VA disability rating letter showing your combined rating and confirm your period of service falls within a qualifying wartime/combat-operations date range listed at California State Parks — Distinguished Veteran Pass.

Step 2 — Review the exact application requirements and required documents at California State Parks — Distinguished Veteran Pass Application Requirements.

Step 3 — Complete and submit the application with your DD-214 and VA rating letter as instructed on that page. This is the final step; the pass is valid for 5 years once issued.

Reduced-fee and free hunting/fishing licenses (California Department of Fish and Wildlife, CDFW) — Every way to qualify:

You are an honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or greater: you qualify for a reduced-fee sport fishing and hunting license once your VA disability letter is on file with CDFW.

You are a veteran who is visually, mobility, or developmentally impaired: you qualify for a completely free license once prequalified by CDFW.

Steps to apply:

Step 1 — Get your VA disability rating letter. Download it at VA.gov, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 — Review the prequalification process and required documents at CDFW — Reduced-Fee Hunting License and Disabled Entitlements.

Step 3 — Submit your VA rating letter (and any medical documentation for the visually/mobility/developmentally impaired free license) to CDFW to get prequalified in their licensing system.

Step 4 — Once prequalified, purchase your reduced-fee or free license through the CDFW license sales portal or at an authorized license agent. This is the final step; check the current fee schedule each season since amounts adjust annually.

Education / dependents

The CalVet College Fee Waiver waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any California Community College, California State University (CSU), or University of California (UC) campus, for the dependents (children and/or spouses) of a qualifying disabled veteran. It does not cover books, parking, or room and board. Every way a dependent can qualify:

You are the unmarried child (generally age 14 to 27, extended to 30 if the dependent is also a veteran) of a veteran rated 100% service-connected disabled, or whose death was service-connected — under Plan A, no income test applies.

You are a dependent of a veteran with a lower disability rating, under one of the other CalVet Fee Waiver plans, which apply an income test — review the specific plan requirements on the official fact sheet since they vary by plan.

Steps to apply:

Step 1 — Get the veteran's VA disability rating letter (or death determination if the veteran is deceased and death was service-connected). Download it at VA.gov, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 — Review which Plan (A through the others) applies to your situation at CalVet — College Fee Waiver Program and the CalVet College Fee Waiver fact sheet (PDF).

Step 3 — Find your local County Veterans Service Office (CVSO) using the CalVet service provider locator to get help completing the application, or work directly with the admissions/veterans office of the college campus you (or your dependent) plan to attend.

Step 4 — Submit the fee waiver application with the veteran's DD-214, VA rating letter, and proof of the dependent relationship (birth certificate or marriage certificate) to the CVSO or college admissions office. This is the final step; renew or reconfirm eligibility each academic year as instructed by your campus.

Emergency help / other support

A few additional California benefits are worth knowing about if you hit a rough patch or are planning ahead.

Business license/peddler fee waiver — if you are honorably discharged and physically unable to earn a livelihood by manual labor due to your disability, you're exempt from municipal, county, and state business license taxes and fees to hawk, peddle, or vend goods (excluding alcohol), including from a fixed location.

Step 1 — Get your VA disability rating letter and DD-214 showing honorable discharge.

Step 2 — Contact your city or county business licensing office (search "[your city] business license office" or check your city/county government website) and request the disabled veteran fee waiver referenced at CalVet — Business License, Tax and Fee Waiver.

Step 3 — Submit your DD-214 and VA disability documentation with your license application. This is the final step; the waiver applies to that license once approved.

CalVet Veterans Homes — long-term care, memory care, and skilled nursing at state-run homes in Yountville, Barstow, Chula Vista, Fresno, Lancaster, Redding, Ventura, and West Los Angeles. Admission generally requires honorable discharge and age 55+, but the age requirement is waived for disabled or homeless veterans needing long-term care, and veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or greater, Medal of Honor recipients, former POWs, and homeless veterans get priority admission.

Step 1 — Review the homes and services at CalVet — Veterans Homes of California and the CalVet Veterans Homes Directory to pick the right location.

Step 2 — Follow the pre-admission clinical evaluation process described at CalVet — Applying for a CalVet Veterans Home.

Step 3 — Submit your application with your DD-214, VA rating letter, and medical records as instructed. This is the final step; the home's admissions team will contact you once your evaluation is reviewed.

State civil service hiring preference — if you're job-hunting with the State of California, disabled veterans (rated 10% or more service-connected disabled) get Rank 1 placement on civil service exam eligibility lists, ahead of bonus-point systems used in some other states. Widow(er)s of veterans, and spouses of 100%-disabled veterans, can also qualify for this preference.

Step 1 — Get your VA disability rating letter showing 10% or more service-connected disability.

Step 2 — Create an account and search for state jobs at CalCareers, then locate the Veterans' Preference application info at CalCareers — Veterans' Information.

Step 3 — Complete form CalHR 1093 and submit it with your DD-214 and VA rating letter as instructed on the CalCareers site. This is the final step; once approved, the preference stays on file with CalHR and applies automatically to future qualifying exams.

Burial benefits — California operates state veterans cemeteries, including the Yountville Veterans Home Cemetery and the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery in Seaside. Burial is free for eligible veterans (honorably discharged, California resident at death or at time of entering service); a fee waiver is available for dependents' burial fees in cases of financial hardship.

Step 1 — Review the cemeteries and eligibility rules at CalVet — State Veterans Cemeteries and the CalVet Burial Benefits fact sheet (PDF).

Step 2 — Have the family or funeral home contact the chosen cemetery directly to schedule interment and provide the veteran's DD-214. This is the final step; the cemetery staff will walk the family through the remaining paperwork.

Print-and-take checklist

☐ VA disability rating letter or Individual Unemployability award letter, downloaded from VA.gov

☐ DD-214 showing discharge status

☐ Proof of home ownership and occupancy (deed, tax bill, or utility bill) for the property tax exemption

☐ Household income documentation, if applying for the low-income property tax tier

☐ Form BOE-261-G filed with your county assessor by the deadline (get it from your county assessor's site; locate your county at the BOE county contacts list)

☐ Calendar reminder to re-file the low-income property tax exemption every January 1 to February 15

☐ Form REG 256 (with REG 256V medical/VSO certification) filed with DMV for Disabled Veteran plates

☐ FasTrak account set up if you want toll benefits, with the specific toll agency's discount program confirmed

☐ California FTB Form 540 or 540NR, claiming the military retirement pay exclusion if applicable

☐ Distinguished Veteran Pass application submitted to California State Parks, if 50%+ rated during a qualifying period, a former POW, or a Medal of Honor recipient

☐ VA rating letter on file with CDFW for reduced-fee or free hunting/fishing licenses

☐ CalVet College Fee Waiver application submitted through your CVSO or college admissions office, for qualifying dependents

☐ CalHR 1093 filed with CalCareers for state civil service hiring preference, if job-hunting with the state

☐ Local CVSO contact info saved (find yours at the CalVet service provider locator) in case you need help with any of the above

This page is for education only. Rated, Now What is not the VA, not a government agency, and not affiliated with any of them. Figures like the property tax exemption amounts and income limits change every year, so verify current numbers directly with your county assessor or the official source linked above before you rely on them. If you need help filing or increasing your VA disability rating or claim, that help is free: contact a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer (VSO) through your County Veterans Service Office or VA.gov. Never pay anyone to help you file a VA claim. And be careful of anyone who contacts you offering to help you "unlock" your benefits through a pension, annuity, or investment product, especially if they ask about your VA compensation or net worth first; that's a red flag for pension poaching, not a real benefit.

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Florida

In this section

Property tax exemption

State income tax

Vehicle and driver license (DMV)

Recreation

Education and dependents

Emergency help and other support

If you're a disabled veteran living in Florida, or thinking about moving here, this page is meant to be the only stop you need. Every benefit below, every way to qualify, the exact form, the office you file with, and the deadline. Florida is one of the most generous states in the country for a disabled veteran homeowner, and I want you to actually get what you're owed instead of leaving money on the table because nobody laid it out in one place.

A quick note on words I'll use throughout. VA means the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Your rating is the disability percentage the VA assigns you. P&T means "permanent and total," a VA designation meaning your disability is rated at the 100% level and not expected to improve. IU, sometimes written TDIU, means Individual Unemployability, a VA determination that pays you at the 100% rate even though your schedular (combined) rating is below 100%, because your service-connected conditions keep you from holding steady, gainful work.

Property tax exemption

What it is: Florida can reduce, or completely eliminate, the property tax bill on the home you own and live in, based on your VA disability rating. Property tax in Florida is assessed and administered at the county level by your county's Property Appraiser, and that's who you file with. There's no state income tax filing involved anywhere in this section, because Florida has none.

Every way to qualify, in Florida specifically:

(1) A 100% schedular Permanent and Total (P&T) rating. Under Florida Statute §196.081, an honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability gets a 100% exemption (zero dollars owed) on their homestead, the home they own and live in as their permanent residence. No income limit, no cap on the exemption amount.

(2) Individual Unemployability (IU/TDIU) paid at the 100% rate. Florida's statute doesn't require a schedular 100% number. What it requires is that your official VA letter or rating decision states your disability is permanent and total. If your IU/TDIU determination carries that P&T designation, it qualifies you for the same full §196.081 exemption as a schedular 100% rating. This is the detail people miss most. If your combined schedular rating is below 100% but you're paid at the 100% rate through IU, check whether your letter says "permanent and total" before assuming you don't qualify.

(3) Total disability with specially adapted housing assistance, confined to a wheelchair. Under Florida Statute §196.091, a separate all-taxes exemption exists for an honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected total disability who holds a VA certificate confirming they received special financial assistance for specially adapted housing (a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant) and who is required to use a wheelchair for mobility. If you're already covered under pathway (1) or (2), you don't need this one, but if your rating situation is unusual, this is a distinct statutory route to the same full exemption.

(4) A partial rating of 10% or more (a separate, smaller benefit). If you're not at the 100%/P&T level, Florida Statute §196.24 gives an honorably discharged, permanent Florida resident veteran with a VA-certified disability rating of 10% or greater a $5,000 exemption off your home's assessed value. This is a flat dollar reduction in the value the county taxes, not a percentage off your bill, and it's separate from and much smaller than the exemptions above. Unremarried surviving spouses of qualifying veterans also qualify.

(5) Age 65+ with a combat-related disability (a percentage discount, not a full exemption). Florida Statute §196.082 gives veterans who are age 65 or older, honorably discharged, and whose permanent service-connected disability is at least partially combat-related, a discount on their homestead tax bill equal to the percentage of their VA disability rating. A 40% combat-related rating at age 65+ means 40% off your homestead tax bill. This one specifically requires the disability be documented as combat-related by the VA, which is narrower than simply "service-connected."

(6) Statutory conditions open to any Florida resident, veteran or not. Florida has a separate exemption at §196.101 for quadriplegics, and for hemiplegics, paraplegics, wheelchair-dependent people, and the legally blind, regardless of military service. It carries a household income limit for everyone except quadriplegics. Because it isn't rating-based and comes with income rules the veteran-specific exemptions above don't have, most disabled veterans who are P&T are better served by pathway (1) or (2). If you have one of these specific conditions and aren't P&T, ask your county Property Appraiser to check both; they can run either for you.

(7) Surviving spouse continuation. For the §196.081 full exemption, when the veteran dies, the exemption carries over in full to the surviving spouse as long as they hold title and continue to live at the home as their permanent residence, until they remarry or sell the property. If they later move, they can transfer an exemption amount, capped at what was most recently granted, to a new primary residence in Florida. The §196.082 combat-related discount and the §196.091 wheelchair exemption carry over the same way. The §196.24 $5,000 exemption explicitly extends to unremarried surviving spouses too.

Income limits: None of the veteran-specific exemptions above (§196.081, §196.091, §196.24, §196.082) impose a household income limit. Only the separate civilian §196.101 exemption has an income test, and only for non-quadriplegic applicants.

Residency and ownership rules: every exemption above requires the property be your homestead, meaning your permanent Florida residence, with legal or beneficial title held as of January 1 of the tax year. You also need Florida's standard homestead exemption filed and in place; the applications below cover both at once.

Step 1 - Get your VA rating letter. Go to VA.gov — Download your VA benefit letters and sign in. Open the "Benefit summary and service verification letter." Before it generates, check the boxes for your combined rating, service-connected disability status, and, critically for Florida, the permanent and total (P&T) box if you have it. This single letter, showing P&T status, is what unlocks the full §196.081 exemption whether you're schedular 100% or IU/TDIU. Save the PDF, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - Find your county Property Appraiser. Florida has 67 counties, each with its own Property Appraiser's office, and that office, not the state, is who you file with. Use the Florida Department of Revenue's official directory at Find Your County Property Appraiser and select your county. Every county appraiser site has a "veteran" or "military exemptions" page listing their specific submission process (mail, in person, or an online portal). Note the office name and address, then come back here and continue with Step 3.

Step 3 - Get the right form for your pathway. For the 100% P&T exemption (§196.081), the wheelchair/SAH exemption (§196.091), or the $5,000 10%+ exemption (§196.24), use Florida Department of Revenue Form DR-501, "Original Application for Homestead and Related Tax Exemptions" (current revision 01/26), available at floridarevenue.com/property/Documents/dr501.pdf. The form lists exemption checkboxes on page 2, including "Service-connected totally and permanently disabled veteran or veteran's surviving spouse," "Disabled veteran confined to wheelchair, service-connected," and "Veteran disabled 10% or more"; check the one matching your situation. For the age 65+ combat-related discount (§196.082), use Form DR-501DV, "Application and Return for Homestead Tax Discount, Veterans Age 65 and Older with a Combat-Related Disability and Surviving Spouse", at floridarevenue.com/property/Documents/dr501dv.pdf. Both forms are also posted on your county appraiser's own site from Step 2. Download the one that fits, then come back here and continue with Step 4.

Step 4 - Gather your documents. You'll need your VA Benefit Summary letter from Step 1 (showing rating and P&T status if applicable), your DD-214 showing honorable discharge, proof this is your permanent residence (Florida driver license or voter registration at that address), and proof of ownership (deed or a recent tax bill). For §196.091, add your VA certificate confirming specially adapted housing assistance. For the §196.082 age 65+ discount, add proof of age and a VA letter that specifically identifies the disability as combat-related, not just service-connected.

Step 5 - File with your county Property Appraiser by March 1. That's the standard annual filing deadline for the tax year you want the exemption applied to. Submit your completed form and documents to the office you identified in Step 2, by mail, in person, or through their online portal.

Step 6 - If you missed the March 1 deadline, ask about a late filing. Some counties accept late filings with a hardship petition to the county's Value Adjustment Board; ask your appraiser's office directly whether that's an option for your year.

Step 7 - If your VA letter hasn't arrived yet, file anyway to protect your date. Under §196.24 the exemption can still apply retroactive to your application date once the letter is in, with refunds available for up to the prior 4 years of overpaid tax if you actually qualified earlier and simply hadn't filed. File the application now and provide the letter when it comes.

Step 8 - If you bought a new Florida home this year, ask about a prorated refund. If you acquire a new Florida homestead between January 1 and November 1 of any year and already qualify for the §196.081 veteran or surviving-spouse exemption on another property, you can apply for a prorated refund of that year's taxes on the new home. Raise this specifically with your appraiser if it applies to you.

Step 9 - Confirm it posted. Florida mails a TRIM notice (Truth in Millage) every August; check that notice for the exemption line, or call your appraiser's office directly to confirm it was applied. Ask whether you need to refile every year; most of these exemptions, once granted, renew automatically as long as your situation doesn't change, but confirm the rule for your specific county.

State income tax

What it is: Florida has no state personal income tax at all, for anyone.

Every way this applies to you: there isn't a pathway to qualify because there's nothing to file. Your VA disability compensation is already federally tax-free everywhere in the country under federal law (38 U.S.C. §5301), and in Florida there's also no state tax on military retirement pay, wages, business income, or investment income, because the state simply has no income tax. No form, no exemption application, no deadline.

Step 1 - There's nothing to file. There is no Florida state income tax return. If you're moving to Florida from a state that does tax income, your only action item is updating your withholding and residency paperwork with whoever pays you (employer, VA, brokerage, pension administrator), not filing anything with the state of Florida.

Vehicle and driver license (DMV)

What it is: Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, or FLHSMV, issues a free disabled-veteran license plate and a no-fee driver license or ID card to qualifying disabled veterans, processed through your local county tax collector.

Every way to qualify:

Free "DV" (Disabled Veteran) license plate. Under Fla. Stat. §320.084, a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability rating gets a standard DV plate at no charge, one per qualifying veteran, renewed annually or biennially with a certified statement of continued eligibility. A valid VA-issued ID card showing 100% status, or a VA letter certifying the 100% service-connected rating, is accepted as proof.

Disabled Veteran wheelchair-symbol plate, a separate and narrower option. If you also permanently use a wheelchair due to your service-connected disability (or otherwise qualify for a disabled-person parking permit under §320.0848), you can instead get a DV plate carrying the international wheelchair symbol under Fla. Stat. §320.0842. This version requires a licensed physician or other certifying practitioner to complete a medical certification section on the application, on top of your VA disability proof; it isn't needed if you just want the standard DV plate.

No-fee driver license or ID card. A veteran with a 100% service-connected disability can get a Florida driver license (with any needed endorsements) or state ID card at no fee, upon presenting VA documentation of the rating.

Free "Veteran" designation. Any honorably discharged veteran, disabled or not, can add a free "Veteran" designation to their driver license or ID card, which is useful for identifying yourself for merchant discounts. This one just needs your DD-214, no disability rating required.

No-fee ID card for homeless veterans, and their spouse and children, is also available regardless of disability rating.

What is not currently a Florida benefit, so you don't waste time chasing it: a bill to exempt 100%-disabled veterans from Florida tolls (HB 445 / SB 532, 2025 session) was filed and cleared a Senate committee, but died in a House subcommittee on June 16, 2025 and never became law. If you see a Florida veteran toll exemption claimed online, it isn't currently true; watch for it being refiled in a future session. SunPass does run a separate mobility-based disability exemption program, for people who are physically unable to reach a toll device, that isn't tied to a disability rating percentage; that's a narrower program you'd apply for directly with SunPass, not something your 100% rating alone triggers.

Step 1 - Get your VA rating letter or ID card. For the standard DV plate or the no-fee license, this is the same Benefit summary and service verification letter from VA.gov used above, showing your 100% service-connected rating, or your VA-issued Veteran ID card showing 100% status. Save it, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - Decide which plate you need. If you don't use a wheelchair, you don't need a special plate form; skip ahead to Step 4. If you also need the wheelchair-symbol version (§320.0842), continue to Step 3.

Step 3 - Get and complete the wheelchair-symbol plate form. Download Form HSMV 83007, "Application for a Disabled, Disabled Veteran or Motorcycle International Wheelchair Symbol License Plate" (current revision 05/25) at flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/83007.pdf, and have a physician, chiropractor, optometrist, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse complete the certification section. Once it's filled out, come back here and continue with Step 4.

Step 4 - Gather your documents. Bring your DD-214, your VA rating letter or ID card showing 100% service-connected disability, and your current vehicle registration and insurance information. If applying for the wheelchair-symbol plate, bring the completed HSMV 83007 too.

Step 5 - File at your county tax collector's office. Florida driver licenses, ID cards, and plates are issued through your county tax collector or a licensed plate agency, not a standalone state DMV counter. Find your nearest office through the FLHSMV office locator or the FLHSMV — Military & Veterans Information page.

Step 6 - No deadline, but don't double-pay. There's no filing deadline for this one; it's available whenever you're ready. If you already paid full registration or license fees this cycle, ask the tax collector whether a refund or credit applies once your DV status is on file for next renewal.

Recreation

What it is: free or discounted access to Florida State Parks, and a free hunting/fishing license, for disabled veterans.

Every way to qualify:

Free lifetime Florida State Parks military entrance pass. Honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability, of any percentage, get a free lifetime entrance pass, valid for admission for up to 8 people at most parks. This must be obtained in person at any Florida State Park.

State park camping fee discount. Florida residents who are either age 65+ or hold a 100% disability award certificate (from the VA/federal government or the Social Security Administration) get a 50% discount on the base camping fee. This is separate from the entrance pass above and doesn't waive fees for special-use activities like boat tours or tubing.

25% annual pass discount is available more broadly to active-duty service members and honorably discharged veterans, not disability-specific, if a paid annual pass fits your use better than the free lifetime pass.

Free 5-year hunting/saltwater/freshwater fishing license, officially the "Persons with Disabilities Resident Hunting/Fishing License," covering deer, archery, muzzleloading, crossbow, turkey, waterfowl, snook, and lobster permits (it excludes federal duck stamps, tarpon tags, and certain quota hunts), for honorably discharged veterans certified by the VA or a U.S. Armed Forces branch as having a service-connected disability rating of 50% or greater. Licenses issued after July 1, 2024 run 5 years and must be reissued on request afterward.

Step 1 - For the state park pass, find a park and go in person. Look up your nearest park at floridastateparks.org. The pass is issued on the spot with no advance application, so once you know which park you're headed to, continue to Step 2 to know what to bring.

Step 2 - Bring the right documents for the park pass. Take your photo ID, DD-214, and VA disability documentation to the park and ask for the military entrance pass.

Step 3 - For the camping discount, ask the park office directly. Bring your 100% disability award certificate (VA/federal or Social Security) or proof of age 65+ when you check in to camp.

Step 4 - For the hunting/fishing license, apply online or in person. Go to GoOutdoorsFlorida.com and apply for the Persons with Disabilities Resident Hunting/Fishing License, or apply in person at your county tax collector's office. You'll need a Florida driver license or ID card, plus VA or military-branch documentation showing a 50% or greater service-connected rating.

Education and dependents

What it is: tuition waivers for combat-decorated veterans, and scholarships for the dependents of severely disabled or deceased veterans.

Every way to qualify:

Purple Heart / combat-decoration tuition waiver. Florida waives undergraduate tuition at state universities, Florida College System schools, and career/technical centers for Florida veterans who received a Purple Heart or a combat decoration ranked above it, covering a degree or certificate program up to 110% of required credit hours. This one is tied to the decoration, not your disability rating.

Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (Fla. Stat. Ch. 295). Available to the dependent children and unremarried spouses of veterans who are 100% service-connected permanent and totally disabled, or who died of a service-connected disability, and to dependents of service members who are Missing in Action or Prisoners of War.

Step 1 - For the tuition waiver, gather your combat-decoration proof. You'll need discharge paperwork showing the Purple Heart or qualifying combat decoration. Background on the program is at Florida Dept. of Education — Military Tuition Waivers & Benefits; review it, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - For the tuition waiver, take your paperwork to your school. Contact your college or university's veteran services office directly and give them your discharge paperwork to apply the waiver to your enrollment.

Step 3 - For the dependent scholarship, file the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA). It opens October 1 each year; for priority consideration for the fall term, submit by April 1. Every question on the FFAA relating to the veteran must be answered accurately so the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs can certify eligibility on the back end.

Step 4 - For the dependent scholarship, confirm the current portal and get help if you need it. Questions go to the Office of Student Financial Assistance at (888) 827-2004 or osfa@fldoe.org; confirm the current application portal address with that office, since state financial-aid sites are renamed periodically.

Emergency help and other support

What it is: state veterans' nursing homes, no-cost burial, and a state hiring preference, if you need them.

Every way to access it:

State veterans' nursing homes and one domiciliary (assisted living) home. The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs runs eight nursing homes and one domiciliary home statewide, for honorably discharged, Florida-resident veterans who need skilled nursing or assisted-living level care as certified by a VA physician.

No-cost burial in a VA National Cemetery, a federal rather than state benefit, for honorably discharged veterans and eligible dependents, including gravesite, opening/closing, headstone or marker, burial flag, and Presidential Memorial Certificate. Cemeteries serving Florida include Bay Pines (Pinellas County), Florida National Cemetery (Bushnell), and Cape Canaveral National Cemetery (Brevard County).

Veterans' Preference in state and local government hiring. Disabled veterans with a present service-connected disability compensable by the VA receive Florida's top hiring-preference category, including 15 added preference points on a scored civil-service exam.

Step 1 - For a state veterans' home, start the conversation with FDVA. Contact the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs through floridavets.org — State Veterans' Homes; a VA physician's certification of the level of care needed is required for admission.

Step 2 - For burial benefits, coordinate through your funeral home or the VA directly. Your funeral home can coordinate with the VA National Cemetery Administration, or you can start at VA.gov — Find a VA National Cemetery.

Step 3 - For hiring preference, flag it on your job application. When applying for a Florida state or local government job, indicate veteran status and disability status on the application, and bring your DD-214 and current VA rating letter if asked. Details at Florida Dept. of Veterans' Affairs — Veterans' Preference.

Step 4 - If you're stuck on any of this, get free local help. Every Florida county has a County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO) who provides free, one-on-one help with VA claims, ratings, and paperwork questions, including pointing you to the right county office for any benefit on this page. Find yours through Florida Dept. of Veterans' Affairs — Benefits & Services, or call FDVA headquarters at (727) 319-7440 (State Veterans' Service Officer line, returns calls within 24 hours).

Print-and-take checklist

☐ Downloaded my VA "Benefit summary and service verification letter" from va.gov, with combined rating, service-connected status, and the P&T box checked if applicable

☐ Confirmed whether my IU/TDIU letter or rating decision states "permanent and total" (this qualifies me for the full §196.081 property tax exemption even without a schedular 100%)

☐ Checked whether §196.091 (wheelchair-confined, specially adapted housing) applies to me as an alternate route to the full exemption

☐ Found my county Property Appraiser at floridarevenue.com/property/Pages/LocalOfficials.aspx

☐ Downloaded Form DR-501 (100% P&T, wheelchair/SAH, or 10%+ exemption) or DR-501DV (age 65+ combat-related discount), whichever fits my situation

☐ Gathered my DD-214, VA rating letter, proof of Florida residence, and deed or tax bill

☐ Filed with my county Property Appraiser by March 1

☐ Confirmed the exemption posted on my next TRIM notice (mailed in August), or called the appraiser's office to verify

☐ If I acquired a new Florida homestead this year and already had the §196.081 exemption on a prior home, asked my appraiser about a prorated refund

☐ Applied for my free "DV" plate and no-fee driver license or ID card at my county tax collector's office, if rated 100%

☐ If I use a wheelchair, brought a completed Form HSMV 83007 with practitioner certification for the wheelchair-symbol plate instead

☐ Picked up my free lifetime Florida State Parks military entrance pass in person, since it's open to any service-connected disability rating

☐ Applied for my free 5-year hunting/fishing license at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com, if rated 50% or greater

☐ Checked the Purple Heart tuition waiver and the Ch. 295 dependent scholarship (FFAA, due April 1 for fall priority) if they apply to me or my family

☐ Saved my County Veteran Service Officer's contact info, and FDVA's line at (727) 319-7440, in case I get stuck on any step

This page is education, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and Rated, Now What has no affiliation with the VA, the State of Florida, or any government agency. Florida statutes and county procedures do change, and county-level administration of these exemptions can vary in small ways, so verify your specific numbers and current forms with your county Property Appraiser or FLHSMV before you count on anything here. If anything touches your VA rating itself, whether you think it should be higher, you're pursuing Individual Unemployability, or you want a permanent and total designation, that is VA claims work, and you should never pay anyone for it. A free, VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer, through DAV, VFW, American Legion, or your County Veteran Service Officer, will help you at no cost; find one through VA.gov or your county. Finally, a caution: once people learn a disabled veteran has tax-free income and a paid-off or exempted home, sales pitches tend to follow, particularly around annuities, "free dinner" seminars, or pension-poaching schemes that try to get at your VA compensation or retirement savings. None of the benefits on this page require buying a financial product from anyone, and no legitimate government office will ever ask you to purchase something to receive them. If a benefit claim comes with a sales pitch attached, slow down and verify it independently first.

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Georgia

In this section

Property tax exemption on your home

State income tax on VA disability pay and military retirement

Vehicle plates, registration, and title tax

Recreation: state parks, hunting, and fishing

Education for you, your spouse, and your children

Emergency help and other support

Purple Heart, former POW, and Medal of Honor perks

If you are a disabled veteran living in Georgia, the state offers real, money-saving benefits: a large property tax break on your home, income tax relief, free or discounted license plates, cheaper hunting, fishing, and state park access, education help for your family, and more. This page walks you through each one in plain steps. Spouses, dependents, and survivors are covered too, and we point out where they qualify. First-use terms: VA means the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. GDVS means the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, the state agency that helps Georgia veterans.

One rule for everything below: help with a VA disability claim, a rating, an appeal, or an Individual Unemployability decision is always free through a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer. Never pay anyone for that. We route you to a free Veterans Service Officer wherever a step depends on your VA rating.

Property tax exemption on your home

Georgia gives qualifying disabled veterans a homestead exemption that removes a large chunk of your home's value from property tax. It applies to the home you own and live in as your primary residence. There is no income limit on this exemption.

You qualify through any ONE of these pathways. You do not need to meet more than one.

You are rated 100 percent totally disabled by the VA (a 100 percent schedular rating).

You are rated less than 100 percent but the VA pays you at the 100 percent rate because of Individual Unemployability, also called Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

You have loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both feet.

You have loss, or permanent loss of use, of one or both hands.

You have loss of sight in one or both eyes, or permanent legal blindness (central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with corrective glasses, or a very narrow field of vision).

You hold a VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) certificate of eligibility, the same category that sizes the dollar amount of this exemption.

You are the unremarried surviving spouse, or the minor child, of a qualified deceased veteran, and you still live in the home. The exemption continues for you as long as you keep the home as your residence and do not remarry.

About the amount: do not guess it. The exemption equals the greater of $32,500 or the maximum federal Specially Adapted Housing grant amount, a number the VA resets every year. The official GDVS page listed it as $121,812 for the 2025 tax year, and it rises each year, so confirm the current figure at the link before you rely on it. Any value of your home above the exemption is still taxed. See Georgia Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Exemption (GDVS).

How to claim it, in order:

Ask the VA (or a free Veterans Service Officer) for a current benefits letter that states your qualifying disability or your 100 percent rate of pay. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Gather your documents to bring: the VA letter proving your qualifying disability, your military discharge document (Form DD-214), a photo ID, and proof the home is your primary residence.

File the Application for Homestead Exemption with your county tax commissioner's office (in some counties the board of tax assessors takes the application). Tell them you are applying for the disabled veteran homestead exemption.

Find your county office. Look up your county tax commissioner through the Georgia Department of Revenue at dor.georgia.gov, get the address there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

File by the deadline of April 1 for that tax year. Newer state rules also let some homeowners apply up to the end of their 45-day window to appeal an assessment notice, but treat April 1 as your target.

File only once. In most counties this exemption renews automatically each year as long as you still own and live in the home, so you do not have to reapply annually.

Note on lower ratings: Georgia does not offer a separate partial property tax exemption for VA ratings below the levels listed above. If you do not meet one of those pathways, you can still claim the regular homestead exemption, and senior or other local exemptions, through the same county office.

State income tax on VA disability pay and military retirement

This section is about Georgia income tax. It does not change your federal taxes.

VA disability compensation is not taxed. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not count VA disability compensation as income, and Georgia starts its income tax from your federal income, so Georgia does not tax it either. You do not report VA disability pay as income and you take no action to exempt it.

Military retirement pay is partly excluded from Georgia income tax through a retirement income exclusion that is tiered by age. As a structure, the exclusion is smaller under age 62, larger from age 62 to 64, and larger still at age 65 and up, and a separate military retirement exclusion can apply. The exact dollar amounts change, and a recent law expanded the treatment of military retirement pay, so confirm the current-year figures before you file.

Check the current military retirement exclusion at Military Retirement Income Tax Exemption (GDVS) and the general rules at Retirement Income Exclusion (Georgia Department of Revenue). Get the current amount there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

Claim the exclusion on your Georgia Form 500 (Individual Income Tax Return) when you file. If you use a tax preparer, tell them you have military retirement income so they apply the exclusion.

Survivor note: a service member who dies from wounds, disease, or injury incurred in a combat zone is exempt from Georgia income tax for the year of death and for prior combat-service years. A free Veterans Service Officer can help a survivor claim this.

Vehicle plates, registration, and title tax

Georgia does not use the term DMV. You handle plates and registration at your county tag office, which is part of the county tax commissioner's office. The state form is the same for most veteran plates.

The Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate is free. There is no registration fee, no manufacturing fee, and no annual fee. You can get the DV plate for up to two vehicles (passenger cars or motorcycles) for personal use.

The DV plate also lets you park in disability-accessible spaces, and it exempts one vehicle from the annual ad valorem tax and the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT).

You qualify for the DV plate the same way as the property tax exemption: 100 percent rating, paid at the 100 percent rate for Individual Unemployability, or the statutory loss-of-use, limb, or sight conditions. Unremarried surviving spouses of a qualified veteran can also qualify.

Get your proof from the VA first: a VA entitlement letter stating your qualifying disability. If you need it, a free Veterans Service Officer can request it. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

Complete Form MV-9W (Request for Manufacture of a Special Veteran License Plate). Download it at MV-9W (Georgia Department of Revenue). Get the form there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

Bring to your county tag office: the completed Form MV-9W, your VA entitlement letter, and your military discharge document (Form DD-214). Questions about specialty plates can also go to the Department of Revenue Special Tag Unit at 404-968-3880.

You can choose almost any Georgia veteran plate design (for example an Army Veteran or Navy Veteran plate) and still keep the one-vehicle TAVT and ad valorem exemption. See Military Veteran License Plates (Georgia Department of Revenue).

Sales tax break on an adapted vehicle: if the VA gives you a grant to buy and specially adapt a vehicle, that original grant purchase is exempt from Georgia state sales tax.

Recreation: state parks, hunting, and fishing

Georgia gives disabled veterans discounted outdoor access through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the state parks system.

State park discount card: Georgia resident veterans with an honorable discharge and a VA service-connected disability rating get 25 percent off entrance fees at state parks, historic sites, and recreation areas.

To get the park card, bring your military discharge document (Form DD-214), verification of your service-connected disability, and proof of Georgia residency to a GDVS Veterans Field Service Office. A service officer verifies you and forwards it to the GDVS central office, which mails your card. Details at ParkPass (Georgia State Parks).

Disability sportsman's license: veterans with a permanent and total disability rating from the VA (or another government agency) can buy a 3-year disability sportsman's license at a steep discount off the regular price.

The disability license cannot be bought online. Complete the disability license application and mail it with your supporting documents. Start at Disability Hunting and Fishing Licenses (Georgia DNR) or call the DNR at 1-800-366-2661. Get the form there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

One-time free veterans license: a free one-year full-privilege license is available to Georgia resident veterans who served at least 90 days of active federal duty and were honorably discharged on or after July 1, 2005. It can be issued only once. See One-Time Veterans License (Georgia DNR).

Lifetime discounts: after the one-time license, veterans can buy a discounted full-privilege veterans lifetime license, and honorably discharged residents can buy the Adult Lifetime Sportsman's License at a 20 percent discount.

For the full menu and to apply, see Hunting and Fishing Licenses (GDVS).

Education for you, your spouse, and your children

These are education programs only. They do not affect any VA claim or rating.

Georgia HERO Scholarship: pays up to $2,000 per school year to members of the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Military Reservists who served in a combat zone, and to their spouses and children, including cases where the member was killed or became 100 percent disabled from combat-zone injuries.

A HERO child must generally have been born before (or within nine months of the start of) the qualifying deployment and be 25 or younger during that service. A HERO spouse qualifies through the member's qualifying combat-zone service.

Apply for HERO through GAfutures and your school's financial aid office. Start at Georgia HERO Scholarship (GAfutures). File your first HERO application no later than two years after you become eligible, and renew every academic year. Apply there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance: spouses and children of a veteran who is permanently and totally disabled (100 percent) from a service-connected condition can receive months of education funding. A child can often start while still in high school.

Apply for Chapter 35 with help from a GDVS field office, which is free. Overview at Chapter 35 Benefits (GDVS). Get set up there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

In-state tuition: veterans and their dependents using GI Bill benefits are charged in-state tuition rates at Georgia public colleges. See Educational Benefits (GDVS).

Emergency help and other support

Georgia has state veterans homes, a hiring preference for state jobs, free claims help, and several smaller everyday benefits.

Free claims help: a VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer at a GDVS Veterans Field Service Office helps you file and appeal VA claims at no cost. This is the right place for any question about a rating, Individual Unemployability, or an appeal. Never pay for this.

Find your Veterans Service Officer at Find a Veterans Field Service Office (GDVS). Appointments are preferred and walk-ins are taken as time allows. Connect there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

State War Veterans Homes: Georgia runs two skilled nursing homes for eligible war veterans, one in Milledgeville and one in Augusta. A nominal daily fee applies, and the VA pays that fee in full for veterans rated 70 percent or higher service-connected, or admitted for a service-connected condition.

To be eligible for a veterans home you must be a Georgia-domiciled war veteran, have lived in Georgia at least two consecutive years (or five of the last fifteen) before applying, and be approved by the VA for skilled nursing care. See State War Veterans Homes (GDVS) and apply with help from a GDVS field office.

State employment hiring preference: on Georgia state jobs that use an exam or scored process, veterans get added points, generally 5 points for an honorable-discharge veteran and 10 points for a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 10 percent or more. Spouses of a 100 percent disabled veteran and unremarried surviving spouses can also get the 10-point preference.

Full-service gas at self-service price: a disabled veteran displaying qualifying disabled veteran plates who cannot pump alone must be served at the self-service price at attended stations.

Free vital records: veterans and their families can get copies of marriage, divorce, birth, and death records at no charge when needed for a VA disability or death claim.

More provisions, including driver's license renewal by mail while deployed and honorary high school diplomas for wartime service interruptions, are listed at Other Special State Provisions (GDVS).

Purple Heart, former POW, and Medal of Honor perks

Georgia gives special free plates and a vehicle tax break to these honorees. Use the same Form MV-9W and county tag office as above.

Purple Heart plate: free, with no registration, manufacturing, or annual fee, and it exempts one vehicle from ad valorem tax and the Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT). Qualify with your Purple Heart certificate or a discharge document (Form DD-214) that shows the Purple Heart award.

Former Prisoner of War plate: free for Georgia resident veterans, discharged under honorable conditions, who were captured and held by hostile forces while serving in World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. A second plate is available for a small manufacturing fee plus the annual fee.

Medal of Honor and other combat medal plates: the Military Medal Award plate is free (no registration, manufacturing, or annual fee) for eligible Georgia-resident recipients.

One-vehicle tax exemption: a vehicle registered to a Medal of Honor recipient, a former Prisoner of War, or a Purple Heart recipient qualifies for the same one-vehicle ad valorem and TAVT exemption. An unremarried surviving spouse can keep the plate benefit.

See the full list of special plates at License Plates: Special Categories (GDVS). Get the details there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

Print-and-take checklist

☐ Get a current VA benefits letter that states your rating and any qualifying disability (free from a Veterans Service Officer if you need help).

☐ Make copies of your military discharge document (Form DD-214) and a photo ID.

☐ File the Application for Homestead Exemption (disabled veteran) at your county tax commissioner's office by April 1, with your VA letter and proof the home is your residence.

☐ Confirm the current-year homestead exemption amount on the GDVS page before you rely on any figure.

☐ Confirm you are not reporting VA disability compensation as income, since Georgia does not tax it.

☐ Look up the current military retirement income exclusion and claim it on your Georgia Form 500.

☐ Complete Form MV-9W and take it, your VA letter, and your DD-214 to your county tag office for the free Disabled Veteran plate.

☐ Confirm your one-vehicle ad valorem and Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT) exemption is applied at the tag office.

☐ Bring your DD-214, disability verification, and Georgia residency proof to a GDVS field office to get the 25 percent state park discount card.

☐ Mail the disability sportsman's license application with your documents, or claim the one-time free veterans license if you qualify.

☐ If you have combat-zone service, apply for the HERO Scholarship for you, your spouse, or your children through GAfutures within two years of eligibility.

☐ If you are rated 100 percent permanent and total, have your spouse or children ask a GDVS field office about Chapter 35 education benefits.

☐ Find your nearest Veterans Field Service Office and save the contact for free claims and appeals help.

☐ Purple Heart, former POW, or Medal of Honor: file Form MV-9W for your free plate and confirm the one-vehicle tax exemption.

☐ If you may need long-term care, review State War Veterans Home eligibility with a GDVS field office.

Education only. Not the VA, not a government agency, and not financial, tax, or legal advice. Help with a VA claim or rating is always free through a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer. Rules and amounts change; verify with the official source before you act.

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Michigan

In this section

Property tax exemption

State income tax on VA and military pay

License plates and the Secretary of State

Recreation: parks, hunting, and fishing

Education for children, spouses, and survivors

Emergency help, veterans homes, jobs, and a free claims helper

Purple Heart, Ex-POW, and Medal of Honor perks

This page walks you, step by step, through the benefits Michigan offers disabled veterans and their spouses, children, and survivors. It covers property tax, state income tax, license plates, hunting and fishing, state parks, college help, emergency cash, and more. VA means the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Each step names the exact form, the office, and the official link so you can act today. When a step sends you to another website to get something, get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Property tax exemption

Michigan gives a full (100 percent) exemption from property tax on the home a qualifying disabled veteran owns and lives in. There is no income limit and there is no partial tier. You qualify through any one of the pathways below, confirmed by the VA.

Pathway 1: The VA rates you permanently and totally disabled and pays you at the 100 percent rate.

Pathway 2: The VA gives you a certificate showing you received or are receiving help for Specially Adapted Housing (SAH). This is the pathway that usually applies to veterans with legal blindness or the loss or loss of use of limbs, because those conditions are what qualify a veteran for a VA SAH grant.

Pathway 3: The VA rates you Individually Unemployable, also called Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), and pays you at the 100 percent rate.

Surviving spouse pathway: If the veteran qualified right before death, the unremarried surviving spouse keeps the exemption. It continues as long as the spouse does not remarry, and it covers a home the spouse buys later.

How to claim it:

Get your VA award or rating letter that shows one of the pathways above (100 percent permanent and total, TDIU, or the SAH certificate). Get it from the VA at VA.gov, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Get your DD214 (your military discharge paper) so you can prove an honorable discharge.

Fill out Form 5107, Affidavit for Disabled Veterans Exemption. Read the rules and open the form at Michigan Treasury: Disabled Veterans Exemption.

File Form 5107 with your local city or township assessor (this is the local assessing office where your home is, not the county, not the state, and not the VA). Call your city or township hall to find that office.

File any time after January 1 and before December 31 of the year you want the exemption. If you miss the assessor, you can file at the local Board of Review, which meets in March, July, and December. Ask your assessor for the exact meeting dates.

Bring these documents to file: Form 5107, your VA award or rating letter (or SAH certificate), and your DD214.

Surviving spouses, also bring the veteran's death certificate and be ready to state that you have not remarried.

Good news on renewals: once the exemption is granted, Michigan keeps it in place in later years without an annual re-file (a change that took effect for 2025 and forward). Tell your assessor if you move or your status changes.

The exact rule is in the state law. Read it at MCL 211.7b, Michigan Legislature.

Not sure if your VA rating counts (100 percent, TDIU, or SAH)? Do not guess. Call a free Veteran Service Officer at 800-642-4838 (800-MICH-VET) first. Help with a VA claim or rating is always free.

State income tax on VA and military pay

Michigan does not tax VA disability compensation, and it does not tax military retirement pay. There is also a special income tax exemption for qualified disabled veterans. Here is how to handle each on your Michigan return (the MI-1040).

Leave your VA disability compensation off your income entirely. It is not taxed by the federal government or by Michigan.

Subtract your military retirement pay so Michigan does not tax it. Confirm the current rule at Michigan Treasury: is military retirement exempt, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

Claim the disabled veteran special exemption on the MI-1040 if you qualify. Find the current amount and the line to use in the MI-1040 instruction booklet at Michigan Individual Income Tax.

A surviving spouse who has not remarried may still claim a veteran-related exemption. Check the same MI-1040 booklet for the current rule before you file.

License plates and the Secretary of State

The Michigan Secretary of State is the state motor vehicle office (like a Department of Motor Vehicles, or DMV). It issues special veteran plates, and several of them come with no registration fee.

Disabled Veteran plate: If the VA rates you totally and permanently disabled and you have an honorable discharge, you can get one Disabled Veteran plate for a private passenger vehicle. It has no registration fee and does not expire.

Purple Heart (Combat Wounded) plate: Veterans wounded in combat who received the Purple Heart can get this plate, and the first one issued is free of the annual registration tax.

Ex-Prisoner of War plate and Medal of Honor plate are also available at no registration fee to those who qualify.

Gather your proof: your DD214 and your VA disability rating letter (and, for the Purple Heart, Ex-POW, or Medal of Honor plate, proof of that award).

Get the current veteran and military plate application and the full list of what to bring at Michigan Secretary of State: military and veteran plates, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Apply in person at any Secretary of State branch office, or mail your application and proof to the Michigan Department of State, Internal Services Section, 7064 Crowner Drive, Lansing, MI 48918.

The law that makes these plates free is MCL 257.803f, Michigan Legislature if you want to read it.

Recreation: parks, hunting, and fishing

Michigan gives disabled veterans free hunting and fishing licenses and free entry to state parks. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) runs these programs.

Free hunting and fishing: If the VA rates you 100 percent permanently and totally disabled, or rates you Individually Unemployable (TDIU), you can get every resident hunting and fishing license that does not require a lottery, free of charge.

Get a letter from the VA that states you are 100 percent disabled or individually unemployable, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Bring that VA letter to any DNR license retailer, or buy online, and carry the proof with you when you hunt or fish. Start at Michigan DNR license info.

Free state park entry (Recreation Passport): A Recreation Passport lets your vehicle into state parks, recreation areas, state forest campgrounds, and most boat launches. It is free for resident veterans who hold a Michigan Disabled Veteran, Ex-Prisoner of War, or Medal of Honor license plate.

First get the qualifying plate from the Secretary of State (see the plates section above), then claim the free Recreation Passport. Details are at Michigan Recreation Passport and MVAA recreation benefits.

Education for children, spouses, and survivors

Michigan's main state education benefit is for the children of veterans who died or became totally and permanently disabled from service. It is the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant, run by MI Student Aid at the Michigan Department of Treasury.

Who qualifies: the natural or adopted child (older than 16 and younger than 26) of a Michigan veteran who died, is totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected cause, or is listed as Missing in Action.

The student must be a Michigan resident, enroll at least half time at a participating Michigan college, and file the FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year.

File the FAFSA first at studentaid.gov, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Submit the one-time Children of Veterans Tuition Grant application through MI Student Aid. Find the rules, the current award amount, and the application at Children of Veterans Tuition Grant.

Check other family and survivor education options at MVAA benefits for family members.

For a veteran's own college, and for many spouse and survivor education programs, the money is usually federal (the GI Bill, and Chapter 35 Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance). We only give education here, so ask a free Veteran Service Officer to line those up. Call 800-642-4838 (800-MICH-VET).

Emergency help, veterans homes, jobs, and a free claims helper

Michigan has a safety net for tough times, long-term care homes, a hiring preference, and free help filing VA claims through a county Veteran Service Officer (VSO).

Emergency cash (Michigan Veteran Trust Fund, MVTF): a one-time grant to get past a short-term emergency (for example, rent, utilities, or car repairs). A veteran or spouse may qualify with at least 180 days of active service and an honorable discharge (wartime era), and there is a separate program for peacetime veterans age 65 and older.

Apply for MVTF help through your county Veteran Service Officer, or call 800-642-4838 (800-MICH-VET). Start at MVAA emergency assistance.

State veterans homes: Michigan runs the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans and the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette for skilled nursing and long-term care. Honorably discharged veterans (and spouses and surviving spouses) may apply, and cost is based on ability to pay.

Apply by submitting the admission application with a copy of the discharge (DD214). See Michigan Veteran Homes: apply for admission.

Jobs (veterans' preference): Michigan gives veterans a hiring preference in public and civil service jobs, with added points for disabled veterans. Register with the Michigan Civil Service Commission and attach your DD214 and your VA disability documentation. Details are at Michigan veterans' preference guidance.

Find your free county Veteran Service Officer for any VA claim, rating, appeal, or unemployability question. Use the Find a Veteran Service Officer tool or call 800-642-4838 (800-MICH-VET). These VSOs never charge you.

Purple Heart, Ex-POW, and Medal of Honor perks

Michigan gives extra recognition to Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, and Medal of Honor recipients.

Free special license plate: the Purple Heart (Combat Wounded) plate, the Ex-Prisoner of War plate, and the Medal of Honor plate come with no registration fee. Apply at a Secretary of State branch with your DD214 and proof of the award. See Michigan military and veteran plates.

Free state park entry: holding a Medal of Honor, Ex-Prisoner of War, or Disabled Veteran plate qualifies you for a free Recreation Passport. See Michigan Recreation Passport.

Property tax: these veterans usually also meet one of the property tax exemption pathways above. Ask a free Veteran Service Officer if you are unsure.

Print-and-take checklist

☐ Property tax: get your VA award or rating letter (100 percent permanent and total, TDIU, or the SAH certificate) and your DD214, then file Form 5107 with your local city or township assessor before December 31.

☐ Surviving spouses: bring the veteran's death certificate and be ready to state you have not remarried when you file Form 5107 to keep the exemption.

☐ Not sure your VA rating qualifies? Call a free Veteran Service Officer at 800-642-4838 (800-MICH-VET) before you file anything.

☐ Income tax: leave VA disability compensation off your Michigan return, subtract military retirement pay, and check the MI-1040 booklet for the disabled veteran special exemption.

☐ Vehicle: gather your DD214 and VA disability rating letter, then apply for a free Disabled Veteran plate at a Secretary of State branch office.

☐ Purple Heart, Ex-POW, or Medal of Honor plate: apply with your DD214 and award proof at a Secretary of State branch, or mail to the Internal Services Section, 7064 Crowner Drive, Lansing, MI 48918.

☐ Hunting and fishing: bring a VA letter (100 percent or individually unemployable) to a DNR license retailer to get free non-lottery licenses.

☐ State parks: once you hold a Disabled Veteran, Ex-POW, or Medal of Honor plate, claim your free Recreation Passport.

☐ Education (children): file the FAFSA, then submit the one-time Children of Veterans Tuition Grant application through MI Student Aid.

☐ Education (veteran and spouse): ask a free Veteran Service Officer about the GI Bill and Chapter 35 survivor education.

☐ Emergency cash: contact your county Veteran Service Officer or call 800-642-4838 (800-MICH-VET) to apply for a Michigan Veteran Trust Fund grant.

☐ Long-term care: apply to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans or the D.J. Jacobetti Home with your DD214 if you or a spouse need it.

☐ Jobs: register for veterans' preference with the Michigan Civil Service Commission and attach your DD214 and VA disability documentation.

☐ Find your local free Veteran Service Officer at Michigan.gov/VSO or 800-642-4838 for any VA claim, rating, appeal, or unemployability question at no cost.

☐ Keep copies of your DD214, VA rating letter, and any award (Purple Heart, POW, Medal of Honor) together in one folder so every application is fast.

Education only. Not the VA, not a government agency, and not financial, tax, or legal advice. Help with a VA claim or rating is always free through a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer. Rules and amounts change; verify with the official source before you act.

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North Carolina

In this section

Property tax relief (Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exclusion)

State income tax on VA disability pay and military retirement

Vehicle plates and the DMV

Recreation (state parks, hunting, and fishing)

Education (Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans)

Emergency help and other support

Purple Heart, former POW, and Medal of Honor perks

This page is for North Carolina veterans who have a service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), plus their spouses, children, and survivors. It walks you through the state benefits you can claim, step by step, in plain language. Most of these steps start with a free North Carolina Veterans Service Officer (VSO), a trained person who certifies your paperwork at no cost. Nobody should ever charge you to file a VA claim or to certify these forms. First, spell out one thing you will see a lot below: DMV means the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, and DMVA means the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (the state agency that runs veteran benefits).

Property tax relief (Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exclusion)

North Carolina lets a qualifying disabled veteran (or an unremarried surviving spouse) exclude part of the value of a permanent home from property tax. This is called the Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exclusion. The official state page confirms the excluded amount is the first $45,000 of the home's assessed value. See the amount and rules on the official page: Veterans Property Tax Relief (DMVA). There is no age limit and no income limit for this veteran exclusion.

You may qualify through any one of these pathways. A free Veterans Service Officer will confirm which one fits you and will certify it on your form.

You have a VA permanent and total service-connected disability rated 100 percent (a schedular 100 percent rating).

You are paid at the 100 percent rate because of Individual Unemployability (the VA benefit that pays at the 100 percent rate when a service-connected condition keeps you from working), and the VA has found that condition permanent and total.

You receive VA benefits for specially adapted housing under federal law (38 U.S.C. 2101). This pathway covers veterans certified for statutory conditions such as legal blindness or the loss or loss of use of limbs.

You are the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who met one of the conditions above, or whose death resulted from a service-connected condition.

Follow these steps to apply.

Gather your documents: your VA award or benefits summary letter showing your rating, and your military discharge document (DD Form 214) showing an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge.

Contact your local county Veterans Service Officer to get Form NCDVA-9 (Certification of Disabled Veteran's for Property Tax Exclusion) certified. The Veterans Service Officer completes the certification section for free. Find your local office here: Find a County Veterans Service Office (DMVA). Bring your VA rating letter and DD Form 214, get the certified NCDVA-9 there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Get Form AV-9 (Application for Property Tax Relief) from the North Carolina Department of Revenue (the state tax agency, called NCDOR). The AV-9 and the NCDVA-9 instructions are here: NCDVA-9 and Form AV-9 (NCDOR). Download it, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

File the certified Form NCDVA-9 together with the completed Form AV-9 at your county tax office (the county tax assessor for the county where your home is). If you do not know your county tax office, search your county name plus tax assessor, or ask your Veterans Service Officer.

Meet the deadline. The official state page lists the filing deadline as June 1 of the tax year. File well before June 1 so certification is not rushed.

State income tax on VA disability pay and military retirement

North Carolina has a flat state income tax, and several military items are not taxed. Here is how the common ones work.

VA disability compensation is not counted as taxable income. It is not in your federal taxable income, so North Carolina does not tax it.

Military retirement pay is fully deductible on your North Carolina return, and this includes Survivor Benefit Plan payments received by a survivor. You claim it as a deduction on Form D-400, Schedule S, when you file your state return. Read the official rule here: Bailey Decision and retirement benefits (NCDOR).

The Bailey settlement is a separate, older protection. If you were vested in a qualifying federal, state, or local government retirement plan (including a military plan) as of August 12, 1989, those retirement distributions are exempt from North Carolina tax. The same NCDOR page above explains it.

If you are not sure which deduction applies to your pay, take your Form 1099-R and your VA award letter to a tax preparer or your Veterans Service Officer before you file. Do not guess on the return.

Vehicle plates and the DMV

North Carolina offers special license plates for disabled veterans, and the disabled veteran plate waives the plate fee. Every one of these plates uses the same application, Form MVR-33A, and every one must be certified by a DMVA accredited Veterans Service Officer before you take it to the DMV.

Disabled Veteran plate: for a veteran with a combined VA rating of 100 percent, or who is paid at the 100 percent rate because of Individual Unemployability. This plate is free (the plate fee is waived).

Partially Disabled Veteran plate: for a veteran with any other service-connected rating below 100 percent. This is the option to ask about if you are rated, for example, 30, 50, or 70 percent.

Get Form MVR-33A (Military and Veteran's Registration Plate Application). Download it here: Form MVR-33A (NC DMV), or see the full plate list here: Military and Veteran License Plates (DMVA).

Fill out your sections of Form MVR-33A, then take it to a DMVA accredited Veterans Service Officer (County or State) to certify. Bring your VA rating letter or benefits summary letter (dated within the last year and showing your name on the same page as the rating) and your DD Form 214. Get it certified there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Take the certified Form MVR-33A to a North Carolina DMV license plate office to get your plate. You cannot skip the Veterans Service Officer certification step.

Recreation (state parks, hunting, and fishing)

North Carolina gives disabled veterans a free state parks annual pass and a low-cost lifetime hunting and fishing license.

Free State Parks Annual Pass: veterans with a service-connected disability can request a free annual pass each calendar year (day-use entry, boat launches, and more). You must request it again every calendar year; it does not renew automatically. See the program and get the request form here: Free Annual Pass for Veterans with Disabilities (NC State Parks).

To get the parks pass, fill out the parks request form, attach a copy of your VA Summary of Benefits letter, and email it to the state parks web store address listed on that page. Send it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License for Resident Disabled Veterans: for a North Carolina resident who is a 50 percent or more disabled veteran as determined by the VA. This is a one-time, reduced-cost lifetime license (fees vary by license type; the state does not publish a single fixed number, so confirm the current fee when you apply).

Get the disabled veteran lifetime license application from the DMVA and submit it with your VA disability certification. Start here: Hunting and Fishing License Application (DMVA). You can also buy it online or by mail through the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (the state agency for hunting and fishing): Disabled Licenses (NC Wildlife). Apply there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Education (Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans)

North Carolina offers the Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans (also called the Children of War Veterans Scholarship). It is for the child of a wartime veteran, and eligibility is grouped into classes based on the veteran's disability, death, prisoner of war status, or combat service. Rated, Now What helps only with the education steps below. For any question about the veteran's VA rating or claim, use a free Veterans Service Officer.

Basic rules: the applicant is the veteran's child, is under age 25 at the time of application, and is a North Carolina resident. The veteran's qualifying service must have been during a wartime period.

The classes are, in short: Class I-A (veteran died in wartime service or from a service-connected condition), Class I-B (veteran rated 100 percent disabled by the VA from wartime service), Class II (veteran rated 20 to 99 percent from wartime service, or awarded the Purple Heart), Class III (veteran receiving a VA pension for total and permanent disability, deceased, or served in a combat zone with a campaign badge or medal), and Class IV (veteran was a prisoner of war or missing in action). A Veterans Service Officer can tell you which class fits.

Apply through the state scholarship portal. Read the program details and start the application here: Scholarships for Children of Wartime Veterans (DMVA) and apply at the portal: Scholarship application portal. Apply there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Watch the deadlines, because they differ by class. The state lists a February 14 deadline for Class II and Class III, and a June 1 or December 1 window for Class I-A, Class I-B, and Class IV. Confirm the exact current-year dates on the portal before you apply, since funding and dates can change.

Emergency help and other support

North Carolina runs state veterans homes, gives veterans a hiring preference for state jobs, and staffs free Veterans Service Officers in the counties. Start every one of these with your county Veterans Service Officer if you are unsure.

Find your free county Veterans Service Officer first. They help you find and file for federal, state, and local benefits at no charge. Locate the nearest office here: Find a County Veterans Service Office (DMVA) or start at Benefits and Claims (DMVA).

State Veterans Homes: North Carolina operates state veterans homes providing skilled nursing care (locations include Fayetteville, Salisbury, Black Mountain, and Kernersville). Learn about eligibility and how to apply here: NC State Veterans Homes (DMVA).

State job hiring preference: veterans get a preference in North Carolina state government hiring, and eligible veterans get 10 points added to a scored application. Read the policy here: Veterans and National Guard Preference Policy (NC OSHR).

Job search help: register free on NCWorks, the state job site, where veterans get early access to new job postings and free career help. Register here: NCWorks Online and see veteran employment services here: Employment (DMVA). Register there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Purple Heart, former POW, and Medal of Honor perks

North Carolina offers special license plates for these honored veterans. Like the disabled veteran plate, each uses Form MVR-33A and must be certified by a DMVA accredited Veterans Service Officer before the DMV issues it.

Purple Heart plate: for a Purple Heart recipient. No extra plate fee beyond the regular fee. This plate carries handicapped parking privileges and does not require any specific VA disability rating. Bring your DD Form 214 showing the Purple Heart award and an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge.

Ex-Prisoner of War plate: for a former prisoner of war. This plate is free (fee waived). Bring your DD Form 214 documenting prisoner of war status.

Congressional Medal of Honor plate: for a Medal of Honor recipient. This plate is free (fee waived). Bring your DD Form 214, certificate, or citation.

Apply the same way as the disabled veteran plate: complete Form MVR-33A, get it certified by a Veterans Service Officer, then take it to the DMV. See the full list here: Military and Veteran License Plates (DMVA).

Print-and-take checklist

☐ Find your free county Veterans Service Officer at milvets.nc.gov county offices; they certify most of the forms below at no cost.

☐ Gather your core documents: VA award or benefits summary letter (dated within the last year) and your DD Form 214 showing an honorable or under honorable conditions discharge.

☐ Property tax: get Form NCDVA-9 certified by your Veterans Service Officer, complete Form AV-9 from NCDOR, and file both at your county tax office by June 1.

☐ Property tax: confirm which pathway fits you (100 percent schedular, Individual Unemployability at the 100 percent rate, specially adapted housing, or unremarried surviving spouse) with your Veterans Service Officer.

☐ State income tax: claim the military retirement deduction on Form D-400, Schedule S if it applies; verify against NCDOR Bailey Decision.

☐ Disabled veteran plate: complete Form MVR-33A from NC DMV, get it certified by a Veterans Service Officer, then take it to a DMV plate office (plate fee waived at 100 percent or Individual Unemployability paid at the 100 percent rate).

☐ Partially disabled veteran plate: ask your Veterans Service Officer about the Partially Disabled Veteran plate if your rating is below 100 percent.

☐ State parks: request your free annual pass and attach your VA Summary of Benefits letter at NC State Parks free pass; remember to request it again every calendar year.

☐ Hunting and fishing: if you are 50 percent or more disabled, apply for the resident disabled veteran lifetime license at DMVA or NC Wildlife.

☐ Education: if you have a child under 25, apply for the Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans at the DMVA scholarship portal and check the deadline for your class.

☐ State job preference: read the NC OSHR veterans preference policy and register on NCWorks Online for early access to job postings.

☐ State veterans home: if you or your veteran needs skilled nursing care, review eligibility at NC State Veterans Homes.

☐ Honored plates: if you hold the Purple Heart, are a former prisoner of war, or are a Medal of Honor recipient, apply with Form MVR-33A through your Veterans Service Officer at Military and Veteran License Plates.

☐ Any VA claim, rating, appeal, or Individual Unemployability question: take it to a free VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer. Never pay anyone to file or certify a VA claim.

Education only. Not the VA, not a government agency, and not financial, tax, or legal advice. Help with a VA claim or rating is always free through a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer. Rules and amounts change; verify with the official source before you act.

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Ohio

In this section

Property tax exemption

State income tax

Vehicle and BMV

Recreation

Education and dependents

Emergency help and other support

If you are a disabled veteran living in Ohio, or thinking about moving here, this page is the one-stop version of every state-level benefit tied to your VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) disability rating: the property tax exemption, state income tax breaks, vehicle and BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) perks, state park and hunting/fishing discounts, education benefits for your kids, and where to go for emergency help. I pulled every figure and rule below from an official Ohio source, and I link to that source so you can check it yourself. Nothing here is invented, and if a detail is genuinely unsettled at the state level right now, I say so instead of guessing.

One quick note before you dive in: there's a bill in the Ohio Senate, SB 92, that would turn the property tax break below into a full 100% exemption instead of a value deduction. It has not passed. I built this guide around the law as it actually stands today, and I flag SB 92 separately so you don't plan around something that isn't real yet. Property tax exemptions here are administered by your county auditor, not a state agency, so if your auditor tells you something slightly different, follow the auditor. They administer this, not me.

Property tax exemption

What it is: Ohio's Disabled Veteran Homestead Exemption removes a set amount of your home's market value from property taxation, with no income test. It's filed on Form DTE 105I with your county auditor. This is separate from, and larger than, Ohio's standard senior/disabled Homestead Exemption, which does carry an income cap and is filed on a different form (DTE 105A).

Every way to qualify, spelled out. Ohio's disabled-veteran track runs on your VA rating or compensation rate, and there are exactly two doors in:

(a) A 100% total service-connected VA disability rating. The VA's own rating decision shows your combined service-connected disability rating at 100% (100% permanent and total qualifies here).

(b) Individual Unemployability (IU), also called Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), paid at the 100% compensation rate. Ohio's DTE 105I form explicitly lists this as its own qualifying path: if the VA pays you at the 100% compensation rate through IU, even though your combined schedular rating is below 100%, you qualify here. You attach your DD-214, the award letter showing compensation at the 100% rate, and the document showing your IU determination was approved.

A few things that are NOT separate doors in Ohio, so you don't go hunting for a pathway that isn't here:

A Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) certificate is not an independent trigger. Ohio's statute and the DTE 105I instructions do not list a separate SAH pathway (a VA-issued certificate for a home purchased or modified with SAH grant funds) as its own route into this exemption. If you have SAH and are also rated 100% total or paid at the 100% rate through IU, you already qualify under (a) or (b).

Specific statutory conditions (legal blindness, loss or loss of use of limbs, paraplegia) are not a separate category. Ohio does not carve these out as their own qualifying path distinct from (a) and (b). Eligibility runs on your VA disability rating or compensation rate, not on a diagnosis list. If a condition like this is part of what drives your 100% or IU rating, you already qualify through those paths.

(c) Surviving spouse continuation (this one IS a real pathway). The surviving spouse of a veteran who was receiving this exemption may continue to claim it until the spouse dies or remarries, provided the spouse occupied the home at the time of the veteran's death and continues to occupy it as their homestead.

Ohio Dept. of Taxation - Form DTE 105I, Homestead Exemption Application for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses (PDF); Ohio Legal Help - Homestead Exemption

Exemption amount: the disabled-veteran track shields a fixed dollar amount of your home's appraised (market) value from taxation each year, and that figure is adjusted for inflation annually. Here is the honest state of the numbers: official and county sources report different current-year figures ($50,000, $52,300, and $58,000 have all been cited depending on the tax year and the source). Because of that spread, I am not going to hand you one number as gospel. Confirm the exact current-year dollar amount directly with your county auditor before you rely on it for planning. Fairfield County Auditor - Homestead Exemption Program

No income limit on this track. The disabled-veteran exemption has no household income test at all. Do not confuse it with Ohio's standard Homestead Exemption (Form DTE 105A, for seniors and non-veteran disabled homeowners), which shields a smaller amount, around $29,000 of home value, but only if household income is at or below an annually-set threshold, reported around $40,000 to $41,000 Ohio Adjusted Gross Income (OAGI) for the current year. That standard track is a different program: it does not require a service-connected disability rating, and a veteran who is not 100% or IU can still use it if they meet its own age/income/disability rules.

Residency and ownership: you must own and occupy the home as your principal residence (homestead) as of January 1 of the year you're applying for, and be a veteran discharged under honorable conditions. The exemption covers your homestead and up to one acre of land you own with it.

Filing deadline: applications are filed with your county auditor, generally accepted through December 31 of the year for which you're claiming the exemption. Ohio's homestead filing window traditionally opens each January and stays open through year-end, but check your specific county auditor's cutoff, since some process on a rolling basis tied to the tax year.

Pending legislation, not yet law: Ohio Senate Bill 92 (136th General Assembly) would convert this into a full, complete property-tax exemption (100% exemption, not just a value deduction) for totally disabled veterans and their surviving spouses, phased in for real property starting tax year 2025 and manufactured homes tax year 2026. As of this writing, SB 92 remains stalled in the Senate Ways and Means Committee and has not passed. Do not plan around a full exemption; check the bill's actual status before assuming it applies to you. Ohio Legislature - SB 92 bill tracker

Step 1 - Download your VA Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter at VA.gov - Download your VA benefit letters, sign in, and generate the letter showing your service-connected disability status and either your 100% total rating or your Individual Unemployability (IU) determination at the 100% pay rate, whichever applies to you. Then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - Gather your DD-214 (or other discharge document showing honorable discharge) to attach alongside your VA letter.

Step 3 - If you qualify through IU rather than a 100% total rating, also gather the document showing your application for Individual Unemployability was approved, since DTE 105I asks for this specifically on the IU path.

Step 4 - Find your county auditor's office. Ohio administers this program through each of its 88 county auditors, so search "[your county] Ohio auditor homestead exemption," or start from the Ohio Dept. of Taxation's real property page, find your county auditor's homestead page, then come back here and continue with Step 5.

Step 5 - Download Form DTE 105I from the Ohio Dept. of Taxation's DTE 105I PDF, or pick it up directly from your county auditor's office, then come back here and continue with Step 6.

Step 6 - Fill out DTE 105I, checking the box for whichever pathway applies: 100% total rating, or 100% compensation rate through IU.

Step 7 - Attach your DD-214 and your VA award letter (plus the IU approval document if applicable) to the completed form.

Step 8 - File the completed DTE 105I and attachments with your county auditor by December 31 of the tax year you're claiming, but ask your specific auditor about their preferred filing window since some counties process earlier in the year.

Step 9 - Confirm the exact current-year exemption dollar amount with your auditor at the time you file, since it adjusts for inflation annually and sources disagree on the figure.

Step 10 - Confirm it posted. Watch your next property tax bill for the exemption line, or call your auditor's office a few weeks after filing to confirm it was applied.

Step 11 - If your surviving spouse will need to continue the exemption someday, make sure they know it requires them to have occupied the home at the time of your death and to keep occupying it as their homestead, unmarried, going forward.

Step 12 - Check the status of SB 92 at the Ohio Legislature's bill tracker periodically; if it passes, it would move you from a value deduction to a full exemption, but don't file or plan as if that's already true.

State income tax

What it is: Ohio does not add state tax on top of your already federally tax-free VA disability compensation, and it separately exempts military retirement pay in full.

Every way this helps you:

VA disability compensation is federally tax-free income, and since Ohio's income tax starts from your federal figures, it is not taxed by Ohio either.

Military retirement pay is fully exempt from Ohio individual income tax, with no cap, income limit, or age restriction, covering retired pay from all uniformed services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, NOAA Corps, Public Health Service).

Military (service-connected) disability retirement pay, received as a pension or annuity for injury or sickness resulting from active service, is likewise excluded from Ohio taxable income.

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component SBP (RCSBP), and Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) annuities are also not taxed by Ohio.

Ohio Dept. of Taxation - Individual Income Tax

Step 1 - Confirm your VA disability compensation never shows up as income anywhere on your Ohio IT 1040. It shouldn't appear on your federal return either, since Ohio starts from your federal adjusted gross income.

Step 2 - If you receive military retirement pay (including service-connected disability retirement pay, SBP, RCSBP, or RSFPP), find the deduction line on the current Ohio IT 1040 Schedule of Adjustments for military retirement income and deduct it there.

Step 3 - Check the current-year Ohio IT 1040 instructions at tax.ohio.gov/individual for the exact line numbers, since form layouts change year to year, then come back here and continue with Step 4.

Step 4 - If anything looks off on a prior return (VA compensation or military retirement pay showing as taxable, for instance), talk to a tax preparer familiar with military filings or contact the Ohio Department of Taxation directly; this is a filing mechanic, not a claims matter, so it's fine to handle yourself or with a paid preparer.

Vehicle and BMV

What it is: the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) issues Veteran with Disabilities license plates and Purple Heart plates, with a full fee waiver for qualifying veterans, under Ohio Revised Code section 4503.41.

Every way to qualify:

A service-connected disability rated or compensated at 100% by the VA. A letter from the VA stating this, dated within the past year, qualifies you for the Veteran with Disabilities plate.

A VA monetary allowance toward the purchase of a motor vehicle (the VA's automobile grant program) also qualifies you for the plate, independent of your rating percentage.

Purple Heart recipients qualify for the Purple Heart plate with a DD-214 or award certificate documenting the award, regardless of disability rating.

Fee waiver: an eligible veteran is not required to pay the registration fee, service fee, local motor vehicle tax, or transfer fee on the qualifying plate. Ohio's Veteran with Disabilities plate program covers passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, motorhomes, and non-commercial trailers. Confirm at the counter whether the waiver extends to more than one vehicle in your specific situation, since this can vary by transaction. Ohio Revised Code section 4503.41; Ohio BMV - Military/Veterans with Disabilities Plates

Step 1 - Download your VA disability rating or Benefit Summary letter at VA.gov - Download your VA benefit letters, making sure it's dated within the past year, since Ohio requires a current letter at each transaction. Then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - If you're applying as a Purple Heart recipient instead, gather your DD-214 or award certificate documenting the Purple Heart.

Step 3 - Find your nearest BMV deputy registrar or license agency using the Ohio BMV office locator, then come back here and continue with Step 4.

Step 4 - Visit in person with your VA letter (or Purple Heart documentation) and your vehicle title or registration information.

Step 5 - Confirm at the counter that the registration fee, service fee, local motor vehicle tax, and any transfer fee are waived before you pay anything.

Step 6 - Allow 7 to 10 business days for your plates to arrive by mail.

Step 7 - If you have questions on the process, call Ohio BMV Registration Support Services at (614) 752-7518.

Step 8 - Ohio has not confirmed a specific Ohio Turnpike toll discount tied to this plate in this research; if that matters to you, contact the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission directly.

Recreation

What it is: the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) offers free camping at Ohio State Parks and a free 5-year hunting and fishing license bundle to qualifying disabled veterans.

Every way to qualify:

Free camping: an Ohio-resident veteran, honorably discharged, who is receiving VA pension or compensation as permanently and totally disabled (100% P&T), or a former prisoner of war (POW), qualifies for a free campsite pass. The pass covers one campsite per reservation and is valid for 5 years before renewal.

Free 5-year hunting/fishing license bundle: under Ohio Revised Code section 1533.12, an Ohio resident (6+ months residency), honorably discharged, and rated by the VA as 100% permanently and totally disabled, or a former POW, qualifies for a free 5-year bundle covering the fishing license, hunting license, fur taker permit, deer permit, wild turkey permit, and wetlands habitat stamp, in any combination.

Mobility-impairment license (a separate, narrower track): a distinct application exists for veterans or residents with a qualifying mobility disability, covering a free or discounted fishing license, independent of the 100% P&T track above.

ODNR - Camping and Lodging Discounts; ODNR - 5-Year Free License Application, Form DNR 9032-B (PDF); ODNR - Free Fishing License Application (mobility), Form DNR 9032-A (PDF)

Step 1 - Download your VA Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter at VA.gov - Download your VA benefit letters, confirming it shows your 100% permanent and total (P&T) status. Then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - For free camping, apply online at reserveohio.com or call the state park reservation center at (866) 644-6727, and upload or present your Benefit Summary letter.

Step 3 - Bring proof of Ohio residency (driver's license or state ID) when you check in at the campsite, since it's required at arrival even after your pass is approved.

Step 4 - For the free 5-year hunting/fishing bundle, get Form DNR 9032-B from the ODNR PDF link above, then come back here and continue with Step 5.

Step 5 - Have the form certified by the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, as the form requires, before submitting it for your license bundle.

Step 6 - If your disability is a qualifying mobility impairment rather than a 100% P&T rating, use Form DNR 9032-A instead, the separate mobility-specific application.

Step 7 - For questions on license status, call 1-800-WILDLIFE (1-800-945-3543).

Education and dependents

What it is: Ohio's War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship Program (WOS) provides tuition assistance to the children of certain Ohio veterans. This is a dependent benefit, not a tuition benefit paid directly to the veteran.

Every way to qualify:

The applicant is the child of an Ohio veteran who died in service or of a service-connected cause, or of a veteran rated severely disabled, from a period of declared war or conflict.

The child must be an Ohio resident, generally applying between ages 16 and 24, enrolled full-time in an undergraduate associate's or bachelor's program at an eligible Ohio institution, and maintain a minimum cumulative 2.00 GPA to continue receiving the award.

Award amounts: at Ohio public institutions, funding covers roughly 77% of tuition and general fees; at eligible private institutions, an annual award amount (reported around $6,330 per year) applies instead. Maximum benefit duration is 15 quarters or 10 semesters. Confirm the current-year figures on the program page below, since award levels are set annually.

Deadline: the complete application is generally due May 15 each year for the following academic year; the application window for the next cycle typically opens the prior spring. Confirm exact open and close dates for the year you're applying, since they shift slightly year to year.

I could not independently confirm a general in-state tuition guarantee or fee waiver for the disabled veteran personally (separate from the federal GI Bill/Yellow Ribbon Program and this WOS dependent scholarship). If that matters to you, check directly with the Ohio Dept. of Higher Education and your target university's veteran-services office. Ohio Dept. of Higher Education - WOS Program

Step 1 - Confirm your child meets every eligibility requirement above (relationship to you, age, residency, enrollment status, GPA) before applying.

Step 2 - Go to the Ohio Dept. of Higher Education - WOS Program page to confirm the current application cycle's open and close dates and the current award amount, then come back here and continue with Step 3.

Step 3 - Complete and submit the WOS application, attaching documentation of your death, service-connected cause of death, or severe-disability rating, as instructed on the application.

Step 4 - If you have questions on the program, contact the WOS Program Manager at cbrandy@highered.ohio.gov or 614-752-9481.

Step 5 - Once your child is awarded, coordinate with their school's financial aid office so the award applies against actual tuition owed.

Step 6 - If you're looking for a veteran-facing (not dependent) benefit, check Ohio's separate "Education for Veterans" campus-support initiative at the Ohio Dept. of Higher Education and your school's veteran-services office for credit-for-military-training and related support.

Emergency help and other support

What it is: beyond the benefits above, Ohio runs state veterans homes for long-term nursing care, county-level emergency financial assistance through your County Veterans Service Office (CVSO), a state civil-service hiring preference, and a few smaller fee waivers.

Ohio Veterans Homes: state-run domiciliary and nursing home care, including memory care, in Sandusky and Georgetown, administered by the Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS). Eligibility generally requires at least one year of Ohio residency, honorable (or under-honorable-conditions) discharge, service during a period of war or declared armed conflict (or receipt of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or Vietnam Service Medal), and a disability that leaves the applicant unable to earn a living.

County Veterans Service Office (CVSO) emergency financial assistance: each of Ohio's 88 counties operates a CVSO that can provide short-term emergency financial assistance for needs like rent, mortgage, food, utilities, vehicle payments, and insurance. Amounts and eligibility are set at the county level.

State civil service exam preference: an Ohio-resident veteran honorably discharged from active duty (or transferred to a reserve component after 180+ days active duty) receives 20% added to a passing score on an Ohio civil service exam; current reserve-component members completing initial entry-level training may receive 15% added.

Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists provide individualized employment services through OhioMeansJobs centers statewide, and veterans receive priority of service for federally funded employment and training programs there.

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) offers vocational rehabilitation, job placement, and career counseling specifically for veterans with service-connected disabilities.

Concealed Handgun License (CHL) fee waiver for honorably discharged veterans, and a separate educator licensing fee waiver for honorably discharged veterans, are both reported by secondary sources; confirm the current fee and waiver directly with your county sheriff's office (CHL) or the Ohio Dept. of Education and Workforce (educator licensing) before relying on either.

Ohio Dept. of Veterans Services - Georgetown Veterans Home; Ohio Revised Code section 5903.15 - Veterans' preference in civil service examinations; Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities - Veteran Services

Step 1 - If you're facing a housing, utility, or other financial emergency right now, find your local CVSO through the Ohio Dept. of Veterans Services - Find a CVSO locator and call them directly.

Step 2 - For an Ohio Veterans Home inquiry, contact ODVS at (614) 644-0898 or toll-free 877-OHIO-VET (877-644-6838) to be routed to the Sandusky or Georgetown home admissions process.

Step 3 - Complete the Ohio Veterans Homes admission application, physician's statement, and discharge documents as instructed, and expect a pre-admission interview to determine eligibility and placement.

Step 4 - For the state hiring preference, apply through Ohio's state job portal and claim veteran status at time of application, with your DD-214 ready to verify service and discharge status.

Step 5 - For employment help, visit your nearest OhioMeansJobs center and ask for a DVOP specialist, or contact Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) if your service-connected disability is a barrier to employment.

Step 6 - For the CHL fee waiver, ask your county sheriff's office directly what documentation they require and confirm the current fee before applying.

Print-and-take checklist

☐ Download your VA Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter (showing your 100% total rating or your IU determination at the 100% rate) at va.gov/records/download-va-letters

☐ Gather your DD-214 (and, if applicable, your IU approval document) to attach to any Ohio state benefit application

☐ Find your county auditor and get Form DTE 105I from the Ohio Dept. of Taxation PDF or your auditor's office

☐ File DTE 105I with your county auditor by December 31 of the tax year, with your DD-214 and VA award letter attached

☐ Confirm this year's exact homestead exemption dollar amount with your county auditor before you rely on a figure

☐ Confirm the exemption posted on your next property tax bill

☐ Check SB 92's status at the Ohio Legislature's bill tracker before assuming a full property tax exemption applies to you

☐ Confirm your VA disability compensation and any military retirement pay are not showing as taxable income on your Ohio IT 1040

☐ Bring a VA letter dated within the past year (or Purple Heart documentation) to a BMV deputy registrar for your Veteran with Disabilities or Purple Heart plate

☐ Confirm the registration fee, service fee, local motor vehicle tax, and transfer fee are all waived before you pay anything at the BMV counter

☐ Apply for your free camping pass at reserveohio.com or by calling (866) 644-6727, uploading your Benefit Summary letter

☐ Get Form DNR 9032-B, certified by ODVS, for your free 5-year hunting/fishing license bundle (or Form DNR 9032-A if it's a mobility-impairment-based license)

☐ If your child qualifies for the WOS scholarship, apply through highered.ohio.gov by the May 15 deadline

☐ Save your county CVSO's contact info, and ODVS's toll-free line 877-OHIO-VET (877-644-6838), for anything above that needs a local, free counselor

☐ If anything here touches your actual VA rating (a new claim, an appeal, or confirming Individual Unemployability status), route it to a free accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO), never a paid company

This is education, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and Rated, Now What has no affiliation with the VA, the State of Ohio, or any other government agency. Every program above is free to apply for through the official state, county, or federal office linked. If anything here touches your actual VA disability rating (filing a new claim, appealing a decision, arguing for a higher percentage, or sorting out an Individual Unemployability question), that is claims work, and a free, VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO) handles it at no cost. Find one through your local County Veterans Service Office, the Ohio Department of Veterans Services at (614) 644-0898 or 877-OHIO-VET (877-644-6838), or VA.gov's accredited representative search. Never pay anyone for basic claims preparation or filing help. Be alert to "benefits planners," pension-poaching schemes, and annuity or insurance salespeople who use free seminars about veteran benefits, including this property tax exemption, as a lead-in to sell you an annuity, trust, or long-term-care insurance product, sometimes falsely implying government affiliation. No legitimate program described here ever requires you to buy a financial product, sign over part of your benefit stream, or pay a "processing fee" to a private company. If someone offers to buy out your future VA payments for a lump sum, or pressures you to restructure your finances around one of these benefits, treat it as a red flag and report it to the VA Office of Inspector General hotline.

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Pennsylvania

In this section

Property tax exemption

State income tax

Vehicle and PennDOT registration

Recreation

Education and dependents

Emergency help and other support

Purple Heart, former POW, and Medal of Honor perks

If you are a disabled veteran living in Pennsylvania, or thinking about moving here, this is the one-stop version of every state-level benefit tied to your VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) disability rating. It covers the property tax exemption, state income tax breaks, vehicle and license plate perks through PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the state Driver and Vehicle Services agency), state park, hunting, and fishing discounts, education money for you and your children, emergency cash help, and special perks for Purple Heart, former prisoner of war, and Medal of Honor recipients. Every figure and rule below comes from an official Pennsylvania or federal source, and each is linked so you can check today's number yourself. If a detail is genuinely unsettled right now, this page says so instead of guessing.

One thing to know up front. Almost everything here runs through your County Director of Veterans Affairs, not a state office in Harrisburg. That is normal in Pennsylvania. These county directors work for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), they are free, accredited Veteran Service Officers (people trained and approved to help you with veteran paperwork at no cost), and helping you file exactly this paperwork is their whole job. Find yours on the Pennsylvania DMVA County Director locator, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and keep working the steps below.

Property tax exemption

Pennsylvania's Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption Program exempts a qualifying veteran's home from county tax, township or borough tax, and school district tax. For most homeowners that is the entire property tax bill, wiped to zero. The Commonwealth's State Veterans' Commission makes the final decision, based on a recommendation from your county. The legal basis is 43 Pa. Code Chapter 5, Subchapter C and 51 Pa. C.S. Chapter 89. Pennsylvania DMVA veterans hub; 43 Pa. Code Subchapter C

To qualify you need an honorable or under-honorable-conditions discharge, wartime or armed-conflict service (or an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal), and one of the disability pathways below. You only need to meet one.

Pathway 1, a 100% schedular VA disability rating. The VA has rated you total or 100% permanently disabled as a result of your service.

Pathway 2, Individual Unemployability paid at the 100% rate. This is also called Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability, or TDIU. If the VA pays you at the 100% rate because your service-connected conditions keep you from steady, gainful work, you qualify here even though your combined rating on paper is below 100%. Pennsylvania's own application asks the VA directly whether you have a permanent 100% or permanent Individual Unemployability rating and treats the two the same. Montgomery County's official page says it plainly: if you are not 100% but are paid at 100% due to Unemployability, you can still get the exemption. Montgomery County Real Estate Tax Exemption FAQs

Pathway 3, statutory blindness, paraplegia, or loss of two or more limbs, as a result of your service. This is its own pathway, separate from your rating percentage. The state's application defines blind as visual acuity of 3/60 (20/200) or less, paraplegic as bilateral paralysis of the upper or lower extremities, and amputee as loss of two or more limbs. You do not need a 100% schedular rating if one of these three applies.

Pathway 4, surviving spouse continuation. The exemption can continue for an unmarried surviving spouse who lives in the home as their principal residence, as long as the veteran met one of the pathways above and the spouse keeps meeting the residency and program conditions. The spouse applies on MA-VA Form 40ss instead of the veteran's MA-VA Form 40.

Note. Unlike some states, Pennsylvania does not list a Specially Adapted Housing certificate as its own separate qualifying pathway. If you hold one, check whether your rating also meets Pathway 1 or Pathway 2.

The financial-need test, explained. As of August 16, 2024, Pennsylvania dropped the blanket need requirement that used to apply to everyone. Here is how it works now. If your gross annual income is at or below the state's published presumptive-need level, currently $114,637 as of January 1, 2025, you are presumed to have financial need and there is no further test. If your income is above that figure, you can still qualify, but you must show the State Veterans' Commission that your allowable household expenses (mortgage, utilities, medical bills, and the other categories on the application) exceed your income. A separate state law excludes 100% of your VA disability compensation from counting as income in this test, so those payments do not push you over the line. Confirm the live income figure at the official source, because some county-hosted copies of the form still print an older number ($95,279). Pennsylvania DMVA veterans hub

The home must be your principal residence in Pennsylvania, owned by you alone, jointly with your spouse, or as an estate by the entireties (51 Pa. C.S. section 8902). A second home, rental, or vacant land does not qualify. Once granted, the county reviews the exemption roughly every five years to confirm you still qualify.

On the horizon, not yet law. House Bill 1257 would remove the wartime-service-date requirement so more veterans rated 100% (or paid at the 100% rate) could qualify. The Pennsylvania House passed a version in March 2026, but because it amends the state constitution it must pass both chambers in the 2025 to 2026 session and again in the 2027 to 2028 session, then be approved by voters at the ballot box. That is years away at best. Do not wait on it if you already qualify under the rules above.

Step 1. Download your VA benefit summary letter or rating decision letter at VA.gov benefit letters, showing your 100% schedular rating, your Individual Unemployability status paid at the 100% rate, or your certified blindness, paraplegia, or limb loss. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 2. Find your County Director of Veterans Affairs on the Pennsylvania DMVA County Director locator. Get their contact information there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 3. Ask your County Director for the application packet: MA-VA Form 40 (for veterans) or MA-VA Form 40ss (for an unmarried surviving spouse), plus VA Form 3288 (Request for and Consent to Release of Information from Claimant's Records), which the VA uses to certify your rating.

Step 4. Fill out MA-VA Form 40 (or MA-VA Form 40ss) and check every eligibility box that applies to you: wartime or armed-conflict service, 100% permanent disability or Individual Unemployability at the 100% rate, and blindness, paraplegia, or loss of two or more limbs if any apply.

Step 5. Complete VA Form 3288 and submit it with your application. Your County Director can route it to the VA for certification, or you can submit it yourself using the instructions on the form.

Step 6. Gather your supporting documents: a copy of your property deed, your DD-214 showing wartime service, and, only if your income is above the current presumptive-need level, your expense documents (mortgage statement, utility bills, medical bills, and the other categories on the application).

Step 7. If you are an unmarried surviving spouse applying on MA-VA Form 40ss, also attach your marriage certificate and the veteran's death certificate.

Step 8. Sign the affidavit on the application, then have your County Director or a county Veteran Service Officer co-sign it, because it legally has to be processed through that office.

Step 9. Take the completed application to your County Tax Assessment Office to get it date-stamped. New applications must be date-stamped there before they can move forward. Do this there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 10. Submit the completed packet through your County Director's normal process, or mail it to Office of Veterans Affairs, ATTN: Real Estate Tax Exemption, Bldg 9-26, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003-5002. Call 1-800-547-2838 with questions about where your county sends packets.

Step 11. After the State Veterans' Commission approves you, check your next county, township or borough, and school district tax bills to confirm the exemption applied to all three.

State income tax

Pennsylvania does not add state tax on top of your already federally tax-free VA disability compensation, taxes the income it does tax at a single low flat rate, and fully exempts military retirement pay and Social Security. Pennsylvania does not have a separate veteran income-tax credit beyond these exclusions.

VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal level under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, and Pennsylvania's income tax covers only a narrow list of income types that does not include it. It is not taxed by Pennsylvania. IRS Publication 907

Military retirement pay is fully exempt from Pennsylvania personal income tax, with no age cutoff and no income limit.

Social Security benefits, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), are not taxed by Pennsylvania.

The income Pennsylvania does tax (wages, a business, rental income, and the like) is taxed at a single flat rate, and Pennsylvania has no standard deduction. Confirm the current-year rate at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

Step 1. Confirm your VA disability compensation does not appear as income anywhere on your Pennsylvania return. It should not appear on your federal return either.

Step 2. If you receive military retirement pay, confirm with the PA-40 instructions at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue that it is excluded from your Pennsylvania taxable income. Check it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 3. Confirm your Social Security or SSDI income is likewise left off your Pennsylvania taxable income.

Step 4. If you take Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) distributions, verify the current-year Pennsylvania treatment with the Department of Revenue or your tax preparer, since it can depend on the plan type and timing.

Step 5. If something looks wrong on a return you already filed, this is a filing question, not a claims question, so it is fine to use a Pennsylvania-licensed tax preparer or contact the Department of Revenue directly.

Vehicle and PennDOT registration

PennDOT waives registration and title fees for one qualifying vehicle for certain disabled veterans, and issues Disabled Veteran and Severely Disabled Veteran license plates. Purple Heart, former prisoner of war, and Medal of Honor plates are covered in their own section below.

Free registration and title fees, one passenger vehicle or truck of 9,000 pounds or less. Available to a veteran who lost a limb or an eye or became partially paralyzed while serving; a former prisoner of war in a conflict for which the U.S. Department of Defense authorized a campaign medal; a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient; or a Purple Heart recipient. The license plate fee itself still applies and is not waived. The form is PennDOT Form MV-371DV. Apply for Free Registration for Eligible Veterans

Disabled Veteran or Severely Disabled Veteran license plate. Available to a disabled veteran, with the Severely Disabled Veteran plate for a veteran certified by a VA Regional Office as having a severe mobility impairment (generally tied to a 100% service-connected disability). The form is PennDOT Form MV-145V. PennDOT Form MV-145V

Step 1. Download your VA disability rating letter or benefit summary letter at VA.gov benefit letters. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 2. Gather your DD-214, and, for the Severely Disabled Veteran plate, ask your VA Regional Office (Philadelphia or Pittsburgh) for a certification of severe mobility impairment.

Step 3. For free registration, download Form MV-371DV from the Apply for Free Registration for Eligible Veterans page. For a Disabled Veteran or Severely Disabled Veteran plate, download Form MV-145V. Get the form there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 4. Complete the form, have it notarized if the form requires it, and attach your VA documentation and DD-214.

Step 5. Submit the completed application and documents to PennDOT by mail or at a PennDOT-authorized agent, or ask your County Director of Veterans Affairs to confirm the packet is complete first.

Step 6. When your registration and plate arrive, confirm the registration and title fees were waived, and remember that the plate fee itself is not waived under the free-registration program.

Recreation

Pennsylvania offers free or reduced-fee hunting and fishing licenses to disabled veterans through the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and its state parks charge no general day-use admission fee to anyone.

Fishing license, free tier. Pennsylvania resident veterans certified by the VA as 100% service-connected disabled qualify for a free annual or lifetime fishing license, plus a free Combination Trout and Lake Erie Permit. Apply for a Fishing License as a Disabled Veteran

Fishing license, reduced-fee tier. Pennsylvania resident veterans rated 60% to 99% service-connected disabled qualify for a reduced-fee license. Permits such as the trout and Lake Erie stamp are bought separately at full cost.

Hunting and furtaker license, free tier. The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers a free annual hunting or furtaker license to eligible disabled veterans based on documented service-connected disability. Permits for Hunters with Disabilities

Hunting and furtaker license, reduced-fee tier. Veterans rated 60% to 99% service-connected disabled because of a wartime or armed-conflict injury or illness may buy a hunting or furtaker license at a reduced fee. Confirm the current dollar amount with the Pennsylvania Game Commission before relying on any figure you see elsewhere.

State parks. Pennsylvania's state parks charge no general day-use admission fee to any visitor. A disabled-veteran camping-fee discount is not confirmed as a statewide policy, so ask the specific park directly if you are booking a campsite.

Step 1. Download written certification of your service-connected disability rating from the VA (your benefit summary letter works) at VA.gov benefit letters. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 2. For a fishing license, take that certification and proof of Pennsylvania residency to your county treasurer's office or the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, or apply online. Confirm the current options on the Apply for a Fishing License as a Disabled Veteran page.

Step 3. If you are rated 100%, ask for the free license and free Combination Trout and Lake Erie Permit. If you are rated 60% to 99%, ask for the reduced-fee license and pay separately for any permits.

Step 4. For a hunting or furtaker license, take your VA documentation to the Pennsylvania Game Commission and confirm the current application method and fee on the Permits for Hunters with Disabilities page.

Step 5. Renew each year, and check whether your county or the commissions want your VA documentation again at renewal.

Education and dependents

Pennsylvania runs the Educational Gratuity Program for the children of severely disabled or deceased wartime veterans, and federal law gives you and your family in-state tuition rates at Pennsylvania public schools.

In-state tuition, a federal right. If you, your spouse, or your dependent child uses Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill), Chapter 35 (Dependents' Educational Assistance), or Fry Scholarship benefits, Pennsylvania's public colleges must charge in-state tuition rates no matter your formal residency, under federal law.

Educational Gratuity Program, for your child rather than you. It pays up to $500 per term or semester, up to $4,000 total across eight terms (four school years), toward tuition and fees at an approved Pennsylvania school. The qualifying child must generally be age 16 to 23, have lived in Pennsylvania for the five years before applying, and attend school in Pennsylvania. The veteran-parent must have a 100% total and permanent service-connected disability from wartime or armed-conflict service, or have died in service or of a service-connected cause during a period of war or armed conflict. As of August 16, 2024, the blanket financial-need requirement was removed from this program. Educational Gratuity Program (PHEAA); Pennsylvania DMVA newsroom

Step 1. Confirm your child meets every requirement (age, five years of Pennsylvania residency, Pennsylvania school) and that your own 100% total and permanent disability or in-service death meets the parent requirement.

Step 2. Get your child's letter of admission or current enrollment confirmation from the Pennsylvania school, trade school, or apprenticeship.

Step 3. File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Pennsylvania State Grant application for the school year, since the Educational Gratuity Program coordinates with other aid.

Step 4. Contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs on the County Director locator to get the current Educational Gratuity Program application and the list of documents your county needs. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 5. Attach documentation of your 100% total and permanent service-connected disability, or of your death-in-service or service-connected death, as the application instructs.

Step 6. If you or a family member is using Chapter 33, Chapter 35, or Fry Scholarship benefits at a Pennsylvania public school, ask the school's veterans or registrar office to confirm in-state tuition is already applied. This is a federal right and should not need a separate state form.

Emergency help and other support

Beyond the benefits above, Pennsylvania runs emergency cash grants for veterans in hardship, six state veterans' homes, county burial help, and a hiring preference for state government jobs.

Veterans Temporary Assistance. An emergency grant of up to $1,600 in any 12-month period for the necessities of life (food, shelter, fuel, clothing), for honorably discharged Pennsylvania-resident veterans, or the unmarried surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran, who can show a direct and immediate need. Apply through your County Director of Veterans Affairs. Veterans Temporary Assistance

Military Family Relief Assistance Program. A grant of up to $5,000 for Pennsylvania service members, veterans, and their families with a direct and immediate financial need from circumstances beyond their control. It cannot be paid at the same time as Veterans Temporary Assistance for the same event. Ask your County Director what is currently open and funded.

State veterans' homes. Pennsylvania operates six: Delaware Valley Veterans' Home (Philadelphia), Gino J. Merli Veterans' Center (Scranton), Hollidaysburg Veterans' Home (Hollidaysburg), Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home (Erie), Southeastern Veterans' Center (Spring City), and Southwestern Veterans' Center (Pittsburgh). Admission and cost can depend on your VA disability rating and income. Veterans Homes Locations

State hiring preference. Qualified veterans get 10 extra points added to a passing civil service exam score under the Veterans' Preference Act. For non-civil-service Commonwealth jobs, a qualifying veteran who meets the minimum requirements must be granted an interview, and if they meet all requirements afterward, must get a conditional job offer. Preference applies to initial hiring, not promotions. Veterans' Preference

County burial allowance and burial honors. Many counties provide a supplemental burial allowance to eligible veterans or surviving spouses (amount varies, usually due within one year of death). Pennsylvania also runs a Burial Honors Program at its national cemeteries. Burial Honors Program

Step 1. If you are facing an immediate housing, utility, food, or clothing emergency, contact your County Director of Veterans Affairs first, since they process the Veterans Temporary Assistance grant. Find yours on the County Director locator. Reach them there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 2. Gather proof of your immediate need (an eviction notice, a shutoff notice, or similar) before you apply, because the program requires you to show a clear and immediate need.

Step 3. Ask your County Director whether Veterans Temporary Assistance or the Military Family Relief Assistance Program fits your situation, and which one is currently funded.

Step 4. For a state veterans' home, contact the specific home from the Veterans Homes Locations page, or ask your County Director for a warm handoff.

Step 5. For a state job, apply through Pennsylvania's state jobs portal, claim veteran status when you apply, and have your DD-214 ready. Details are on the Veterans' Preference page.

Step 6. For burial help, contact your County Director for county amounts and deadlines, and compare a federal VA national cemetery option using the VA National Cemetery finder for Pennsylvania.

Purple Heart, former POW, and Medal of Honor perks

Pennsylvania gives extra recognition to Purple Heart, former prisoner of war, and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, on top of everything above.

Free vehicle registration and title fees. Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war (in a conflict for which the U.S. Department of Defense authorized a campaign medal), and Congressional Medal of Honor recipients qualify for waived registration and title fees on one vehicle, using PennDOT Form MV-371DV. The plate fee itself still applies. Apply for Free Registration for Eligible Veterans

Special commemorative license plates. Pennsylvania issues Purple Heart (Combat Wounded Veteran), Prisoner of War, and Congressional Medal of Honor registration plates through its U.S. Military registration plate program, using the U.S. Military Service Registration Plates application (PennDOT Form MV-150P). Apply for Military Registration Plates

Extra recognition. Congressional Medal of Honor recipients receive additional state recognition administered by state agencies. Confirm the current specifics with your County Director of Veterans Affairs.

Step 1. Gather your proof of the award: a copy of your DD-214, the general order, the Certificate of Award, or a certification of the award from the VA.

Step 2. For free registration, complete Form MV-371DV from the Apply for Free Registration for Eligible Veterans page and attach your award proof. Get the form there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 3. For a Purple Heart, Prisoner of War, or Congressional Medal of Honor plate, complete the U.S. Military Service Registration Plates application (Form MV-150P) from the Apply for Military Registration Plates page and attach your award proof.

Step 4. Submit both to PennDOT by mail or at a PennDOT-authorized agent, or ask your County Director of Veterans Affairs to check your packet first.

Print-and-take checklist

☐ Download your VA benefit summary letter, rating decision, or Individual Unemployability documentation at va.gov/records/download-va-letters

☐ Find your County Director of Veterans Affairs at the Pennsylvania DMVA County Director locator

☐ Request MA-VA Form 40 (or MA-VA Form 40ss for a surviving spouse) and VA Form 3288 from your County Director

☐ Check every eligibility box that applies on MA-VA Form 40: wartime service, 100% permanent disability or Individual Unemployability at the 100% rate, blindness, paraplegia, or loss of two or more limbs

☐ Gather your property deed copy, DD-214, and, if your income is above the current presumptive-need level, your expense documents

☐ If applying as a surviving spouse, attach your marriage certificate and the veteran's death certificate

☐ Get the application date-stamped by your County Tax Assessment Office, then submit through your county or mail it to the Fort Indiantown Gap address

☐ Confirm the exemption posted on your next county, township or borough, and school district tax bills

☐ Confirm your VA disability compensation, military retirement pay, and Social Security are not showing as Pennsylvania taxable income

☐ Bring your VA rating letter and DD-214 to PennDOT with Form MV-371DV (free registration) or Form MV-145V (Disabled Veteran plate)

☐ Bring your VA disability certification to a county treasurer's office or the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for your free or reduced-fee fishing license

☐ Bring your VA disability certification to the Pennsylvania Game Commission for your free or reduced-fee hunting or furtaker license

☐ If your child qualifies for the Educational Gratuity Program, file the FAFSA and Pennsylvania State Grant application, then apply through your County Director

☐ For an emergency, call your County Director about Veterans Temporary Assistance (up to $1,600) or the Military Family Relief Assistance Program (up to $5,000)

☐ For a Purple Heart, Prisoner of War, or Medal of Honor plate, gather your award proof and use Form MV-371DV plus the U.S. Military Service Registration Plates application

☐ If anything here touches your actual VA rating (a new claim, an appeal, or confirming Individual Unemployability), route it to a free accredited Veteran Service Officer at VA.gov, never a paid company

Education only. Not the VA, not a government agency, and not financial, tax, or legal advice. Help with a VA claim or rating is always free through a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer. Rules and amounts change; verify with the official source before you act.

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Tennessee

In this section

Property tax relief for disabled veterans and surviving spouses

State income tax

Vehicle plates and registration

State parks, hunting, and fishing

Education for veterans and their families

Support, veterans homes, and jobs

Purple Heart, former POW, and Medal of Honor perks

Tennessee gives disabled veterans and their families real help with property taxes, vehicles, recreation, and college. This page walks you through each benefit in plain steps: what you get, who qualifies, the exact form, the office, and what to bring. Tennessee has no state income tax on your wages, so several of these benefits are about lowering your other costs. Free help with any VA (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) claim or rating is always available from a Veterans Service Officer, and we show you how to find one below.

Property tax relief for disabled veterans and surviving spouses

Tennessee does not fully exempt a disabled veteran's home from property tax. Instead, the state reimburses the tax on part of your home's value. The relief is calculated on the first $175,000 of your home's market value, and there is no income limit for a qualifying disabled veteran or a qualifying surviving spouse. You still get the county bill, and the relief pays you back or credits it. Confirm the current amount at the official links below before you act.

You qualify if any ONE of these is true. You only need one.

You have a service-connected permanent and total (P and T) disability as determined by the VA.

The VA pays you at the 100% rate through Individual Unemployability (TDIU, meaning Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability) and has determined your disability is permanent and total. If you are not sure whether your rating is permanent and total, a Veterans Service Officer can confirm it for free (see the Support section).

You have paraplegia, or permanent paralysis of both legs and the lower body, from injury or disease to the spinal cord or brain.

You have lost, or lost the use of, two or more limbs.

You are legally blind from a service-connected cause.

You have a 100% total and permanent disability rating as a former prisoner of war (POW).

Surviving spouse: you are the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who qualified (or would have qualified), you own the home alone or jointly, and you live in it as your main home.

How to apply:

Find your county trustee (the local tax office that runs this program) using the Tennessee Trustee directory. Get your county office there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Ask the trustee's office for the Property Tax Relief application. The office provides the form and helps you fill it out. This is a state program delivered through your county trustee.

Bring your VA award letter showing your disability rating (and that it is permanent and total, or your POW status), a photo ID, and proof you own and live in the home.

Surviving spouses: also bring the veteran's death certificate, and if the veteran had not yet applied, proof the veteran met one of the pathways above.

Apply and pay the property tax by the deadline, which is 35 days after your county's tax delinquency date. Miss it and you lose that year's relief. Confirm your exact dates with your trustee and on the Tennessee Comptroller Property Tax Relief page.

Read the official rules and current amount on the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services property tax relief page before you apply.

State income tax

Tennessee has no state income tax on your wages, salary, military retirement pay, Social Security, or pension. The old Hall tax on interest and dividends was fully repealed as of 2021, so there is no state income tax at all now. There is nothing to file and no veteran form to submit for this. Confirm on the Tennessee Department of Revenue Hall income tax page.

Vehicle plates and registration

Tennessee issues free or reduced-fee veteran plates and waives the county wheel tax (the motor vehicle privilege tax) for some veterans. You apply at your county clerk, the local office that registers vehicles. Pick the option that matches you.

Free Disabled Veteran plate: if the VA rates you 100% permanent and total, you get one Disabled Veteran plate free, with no registration fee. Use form VR-13 (Application for Disabled Veteran License Plate).

Half-fee Disabled Veteran plate: if you have a service-connected disability at any rating and you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you pay one-half of the regular registration fee and one-half of the specialty plate fee. This also uses form VR-13.

Wheel tax exemption: if you are 100% permanent and total, or a former prisoner of war (POW), you are exempt from the county wheel tax. Bring proof of your status to the county clerk.

Purple Heart plate: free to Purple Heart recipients. If you are also a disabled veteran, you get one free plate total, so choose either the Purple Heart plate or the Disabled Veteran plate.

Former POW plate and Medal of Honor plate: a former prisoner of war specialty plate is available, and the Medal of Honor plate is issued free for one vehicle to Tennessee recipients.

How to apply:

Get form VR-13 (Application for Disabled Veteran License Plate) from the Tennessee Department of Revenue VR-13 page. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Bring your DD-214 (your discharge paper) and your VA award letter showing your rating (or your Purple Heart, POW, or Medal of Honor proof) to your county clerk. General plate info is on the Revenue military and memorial plates page.

Ask the county clerk to apply the free or half-fee plate, and, if you qualify, the wheel tax exemption.

State parks, hunting, and fishing

Tennessee gives disabled veterans a low-cost lifetime hunting and fishing license plus state-park discounts.

Disabled veteran hunting and fishing license: if you are a Tennessee resident who is 100% permanent and total service-connected disabled, or 30% or more disabled by reason of war service, you can get a combination hunting and fishing license for a one-time $10 fee. Confirm the current fee on the official page below.

Get the TWRA (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) miscellaneous licenses application from the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services hunting and fishing page. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Attach proof of Tennessee residency and your VA disability rating letter, then send it to the TWRA license office at the address on the form.

State-park camping and cabin discount: Tennessee-resident veterans with a 100% total service-connected disability get 50% off camping and cabin fees for reservations made within 30 days of arrival. Details are on the Tennessee State Parks veterans page.

Free day: on Veterans Day, and on each service branch's founding anniversary, Tennessee-resident veterans get one free night of camping and waived golf green fees. Book through the reservation line listed on the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services free day page.

Education for veterans and their families

This is the one area we help with directly. We never touch VA claims or ratings. Those go to a free Veterans Service Officer (see the Support section). Tennessee has two state education programs, one for the veteran and one for family members.

Helping Heroes Grant (for the veteran): a state grant for post-9/11 Tennessee veterans who earned a qualifying campaign medal, for example the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, or the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. It pays a set amount per semester based on your course load. Confirm the current award and rules on the official page.

Apply for the Helping Heroes Grant through the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation on the CollegeForTN Helping Heroes Grant page. Get the application there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Have your DD-214 ready and note the term deadlines. Fall, spring, and summer each have their own cutoff, listed on the official Helping Heroes Grant page.

Dependents Tuition Waiver (for family): free tuition and required fees at Tennessee public colleges and universities for the spouse, or a child under age 23, of a Tennessee veteran who was killed or died from service-connected injuries, or who is a prisoner of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA).

Apply for the Dependents Tuition Waiver through the financial aid office of the Tennessee public college or university you want to attend. Bring the U.S. government certification of the veteran's death, POW, or MIA status. Details are on the Dependents Tuition Waiver page.

See every Tennessee veteran and dependent education program on the Department of Veterans Services education page.

Support, veterans homes, and jobs

A county Veterans Service Officer is your best free starting point for any of these benefits, and the only right place for anything about a VA claim, rating, or appeal.

Find your county Veterans Service Officer, a trained advocate who files VA claims and helps with these state benefits at no cost, using the county lookup on the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services site. This help is always free.

State veterans homes: Tennessee runs skilled-nursing veterans homes in Clarksville, Cleveland, Humboldt, Knoxville, and Murfreesboro. Start admission by contacting a home through the Tennessee State Veterans Homes site and provide the veteran's DD-214. Spouses and Gold Star parents may be admitted on a space-available basis.

State hiring preference: honorably discharged veterans who meet the minimum qualifications for a state job are guaranteed an interview, and get the tie-breaker over an equally qualified non-veteran. The spouse of a 100% permanent and total disabled veteran, and the unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died in the line of duty, also qualify. Submit your DD-214 with your application. See the state jobs for veterans page.

Job help: a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist gives one-on-one career help to veterans with employment barriers. Find it through the Tennessee workforce job placement for veterans page.

Purple Heart, former POW, and Medal of Honor perks

Tennessee gives extra plate and tax perks for valor and captivity awards. All of these plates are issued through your county clerk.

Purple Heart: a free Purple Heart license plate. If you are also a disabled veteran, you get one free plate total. Apply at your county clerk with your DD-214 showing the award.

Former POW: a former prisoner of war specialty plate, plus exemption from the county wheel tax. A 100% permanent and total POW disability rating also opens the property tax relief and the free Disabled Veteran plate described above.

Medal of Honor: a free Medal of Honor plate for one vehicle, issued at your county clerk.

See all of these on the Revenue military and memorial plates page.

Print-and-take checklist

☐ Gather your DD-214 (discharge paper) and your most recent VA award letter showing your disability rating.

☐ Property tax: find your county trustee at tennesseetrustee.org and ask for the Property Tax Relief application.

☐ Property tax: confirm you meet one pathway (100% permanent and total, TDIU paid at the 100% rate and permanent and total, paraplegia or paralysis, loss or loss of use of two limbs, legal blindness, or former POW).

☐ Property tax: apply and pay your tax within 35 days after your county's delinquency date.

☐ Surviving spouse: bring the veteran's death certificate and proof the veteran qualified, then apply through the trustee.

☐ Income tax: nothing to file. Tennessee has no state income tax on your wages.

☐ Vehicle: get form VR-13 and take it, plus your DD-214 and VA letter, to your county clerk.

☐ Vehicle: ask the county clerk about the free or half-fee plate and the wheel tax exemption.

☐ Recreation: send the TWRA license application with your Tennessee residency and VA rating proof for the $10 hunting and fishing license.

☐ Recreation: use your 100% disabled veteran state-park camping and cabin discount, and the Veterans Day free night.

☐ Education (veteran): apply for the Helping Heroes Grant at CollegeForTN before your term deadline.

☐ Education (family): apply for the Dependents Tuition Waiver through your Tennessee college's financial aid office.

☐ Support: look up your free county Veterans Service Officer for any VA claim, rating, appeal, or Individual Unemployability question.

☐ Jobs: submit your DD-214 with any state job application to claim veterans preference.

☐ Valor: apply for your Purple Heart, former POW, or Medal of Honor plate at the county clerk.

☐ Veterans home: if you need skilled care, contact a Tennessee State Veterans Home and provide the DD-214.

Education only. Not the VA, not a government agency, and not financial, tax, or legal advice. Help with a VA claim or rating is always free through a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer. Rules and amounts change; verify with the official source before you act.

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Texas

In this section

Property tax exemption

State income tax

Vehicle plates and registration (TxDMV)

Recreation: state parks and hunting and fishing

Education: the Hazlewood Act and Hazlewood Legacy

Emergency help and other support

Purple Heart, former prisoner of war, and Medal of Honor perks

If you are a disabled veteran in Texas, or thinking about moving here, this page is the one-stop version of every state-level benefit tied to your U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability rating. It covers the property tax exemption, state income tax (there is none), vehicle and license plate perks through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), state parks and hunting and fishing licenses, education for you and your children, emergency help, and the extra perks for Purple Heart, former prisoner of war, and Medal of Honor recipients. Every figure and rule below comes from an official Texas or federal source, and each one is linked so you can check today's number yourself. One thing to know up front: any question about your actual VA rating (a new claim, an appeal, a higher percentage, or an Individual Unemployability decision) is free through an accredited Veteran Service Officer, so never pay a company for that part.

Property tax exemption

Texas gives disabled veterans some of the strongest property tax relief in the country, and it comes in three separate pieces. Which one applies depends on your rating and which property you are asking about. Property tax is billed and collected by your county, so you always file with your local county appraisal district, never with the state Comptroller directly.

The full exemption (Tax Code Section 11.131) wipes out 100 percent of the appraised value of your residence homestead, the home you actually live in, so the county property tax bill on that home becomes zero. Here is every way to qualify.

A 100 percent schedular service-connected disability rating, with the VA paying you compensation at the 100 percent rate. See Texas Comptroller: 100 Percent Disabled Veteran FAQ.

Individual Unemployability, a VA decision that pays you at the 100 percent rate even though your combined schedular rating is lower. Texas treats a 100 percent schedular rating and an Individual Unemployability determination paid at the 100 percent rate the same way for this exemption, so bring your VA award letter showing the 100 percent compensation rate either way. See Texas Comptroller: 100 Percent Disabled Veteran FAQ.

Surviving spouse continuation. A surviving spouse who has not remarried keeps the full exemption if the home was the surviving spouse's residence homestead when the veteran died and remains their homestead. If the surviving spouse later moves, the exemption on the new home is capped at the dollar amount received in the last year on the old home, not a fresh full exemption. See Texas Comptroller: 100 Percent Disabled Veteran FAQ.

Surviving spouse of a service member killed in the line of duty. A surviving spouse who has not remarried since the service member's death qualifies for a total residence homestead exemption on their own, separate from the disabled-veteran paths above. See Texas Comptroller: Disabled Veteran and Surviving Spouse FAQ.

Scope limit. This full exemption reaches only your residence homestead, not a rental, a second home, or vacant land. Other property you own may still get the tiered exemption below.

The tiered exemption (Tax Code Section 11.22) knocks a flat dollar amount off the value of any one property you own, not just your homestead, and it is for veterans rated below the full-exemption threshold. The amount rises with your rating. Source for this table: Texas Comptroller: Disabled Veteran and Surviving Spouse FAQ.

10 percent to 29 percent rating: 5,000 dollars off the property's value.

30 percent to 49 percent rating: 7,500 dollars off.

50 percent to 69 percent rating: 10,000 dollars off.

70 percent to 100 percent rating (partial, not qualifying for the full homestead exemption): 12,000 dollars off.

Alternate path into the top tier: age 65 or older with at least a 10 percent rating, OR totally blind in one or both eyes, OR having lost the use of one or more limbs, gets 12,000 dollars off regardless of the exact percentage.

Surviving spouse who has not remarried, or a surviving child under 18 and unmarried, may receive this partial exemption tied to the veteran's tier. See Texas Comptroller: Disabled Veteran and Surviving Spouse FAQ.

The donated-home exemption (Tax Code Section 11.132) is a separate path for a veteran rated below 100 percent whose residence homestead was donated by a charitable nonprofit (for example Homes for Our Troops or Tunnel to Towers) for free, or for no more than 50 percent of the home's market value. The exemption equals your disability rating percentage of the home's appraised value, and it can carry to an unremarried surviving spouse. Flag it to your appraisal district if it applies to you. See Texas Tax Code Section 11.132.

There is no income limit and no household income test on any of these veteran property tax exemptions.

Step 1 - Download your VA rating proof. Go to VA.gov: Download your VA benefit letters, sign in, and generate your Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter showing your combined rating (and your Individual Unemployability status if you have it). Save the PDF, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 2 - Decide which exemption fits: the full homestead exemption (100 percent schedular or Individual Unemployability paid at the 100 percent rate, on the home you live in) or the tiered exemption (any lower rating, or any other property you own).

Step 3 - Get Form 50-114, Residence Homestead Exemption Application, from the Texas Comptroller: Property Tax Forms page under Exemption Forms. The disabled veteran homestead section is built into this form.

Step 4 - If you are filing for the tiered exemption or as a survivor, also get Form 50-135, Application for Disabled Veteran's or Survivor's Exemption, from that same Property Tax Forms page.

Step 5 - Attach your VA Benefit Summary letter as proof of rating, and have your Texas driver's license or ID showing the property address plus your deed or a recent tax bill ready in case the appraisal district asks. A driver's license alone does not replace the VA proof of rating.

Step 6 - Find your county appraisal district (property tax is local, not run by the Comptroller) at the Texas Comptroller: Local Property Appraisal and Tax Information directory, or search your county name plus appraisal district.

Step 7 - File the completed form with your county appraisal district by April 30 of the tax year to get it applied that year.

Step 8 - If you missed April 30, file anyway. Texas allows these disabled-veteran exemption applications up to five years after the taxes' delinquency date, so back-filing a year you qualified but never claimed is genuinely possible.

Step 9 - Confirm it posted by checking your next property tax statement for the exemption line, or call your appraisal district a few weeks after filing.

State income tax

Texas has no state personal income tax of any kind, so there is no state income tax return to file and no state income tax step to work.

Texas does not tax wages, retirement account withdrawals, business income, investment income, or military retirement pay, because there is no state income tax structure to apply to any of it. This is not a veteran-only carve-out; it applies to every Texas resident. See Texas Comptroller: Property Tax Exemptions overview for the state's tax context.

Your VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal level too, in every state including Texas, under federal law. Confirm the current-year rule in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income.

There is no Texas veteran income tax credit, because there is no state income tax to credit against.

Step 1 - File nothing at the state level for Texas income tax; there is no return.

Step 2 - If you still owe a return in another state (income sourced there, or a recent move), confirm with that state's tax agency how your Texas residency affects it. A multi-state situation is worth a paid preparer's time if it is not simple.

Vehicle plates and registration (TxDMV)

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) issues a Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate, which you apply for at your county tax assessor-collector's office. Separately, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) waives tolls for qualifying veterans on the toll roads it operates.

You qualify for the DV plate with a service-connected disability rating of at least 50 percent, and the VA paying you compensation for it.

You also qualify at a lower threshold, at least 40 percent, if the disability is due to amputation of a lower extremity. Source for both: TxDMV: Disabled Parking, Placards and Plates.

Parking add-on. A plain DV plate does not by itself let you park in disabled spaces. For that you need a disabled parking placard, or a DV plate that carries the International Symbol of Access (ISA), so check that box if you want parking privileges. See TxDMV: Disabled Parking, Placards and Plates.

Step 1 - Get your VA proof. Download your Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter at VA.gov: Download your VA benefit letters, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 2 - Get Form VTR-615, Application for Disabled Veteran License Plates and Parking Placards, from TxDMV: Disabled Parking, Placards and Plates.

Step 3 - If you also want a separate parking placard, get Form VTR-214, Application for Persons with Disabilities Parking Placard, from that same TxDMV page.

Step 4 - Attach your VA proof of rating to the form.

Step 5 - File the application at your county tax assessor-collector's office, not at TxDMV directly. Find yours at the Texas Comptroller: county directory, or search your county name plus tax assessor-collector.

Step 6 - Before you pay, ask the clerk to confirm which registration and plate fees are waived on your plate and what still applies this year, since those amounts change.

On TxDOT-operated toll roads, tolls are waived for eligible veterans with a qualifying Texas DV plate, with no separate sign-up for those roads. This does not cover privately or regionally run toll roads and managed lanes. See TxDOT Veterans Discount Program.

Step 7 - Before assuming a toll road is free, check whether it is TxDOT-operated (covered automatically) or privately or regionally managed such as the Dallas-Fort Worth area LBJ TEXpress and North Tarrant Express lanes (not covered).

Step 8 - If you regularly drive a regional toll road, enroll in that authority's own veteran program, for example the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority Qualified Service Member Program, or Harris County's HCTRA veteran discount, by searching your toll authority's name plus disabled veteran discount.

On the horizon, not law yet: a proposed bill, House Bill 235, would create a Texas sales and use tax exemption on up to 25,000 dollars per year in purchases for a veteran rated 100 percent. It has not passed and is not in effect, so do not plan around it. Check its current status at the Texas Legislature Online bill lookup before assuming it applies to you.

Recreation: state parks and hunting and fishing

Texas Parks and Wildlife offers free state park entry passports and a free hunting and fishing license package for qualifying veterans.

Disabled Veterans Parklands Passport: for a service-connected rating of 60 percent or more, or loss of a lower extremity. It covers free entry for the veteran and one companion. See Texas Parks and Wildlife: Texas Parklands Passports.

Veterans Passport: for any honorable discharge, no rating required. It covers the veteran only. Same source: Texas Parks and Wildlife: Texas Parklands Passports.

Disabled Veteran Super Combo hunting and all-water fishing package: for a service-connected rating of 50 percent or more with compensation, or loss of use of a foot or leg. It is a free resident hunting and all-water fishing license bundled with five endorsements, and it is available to qualifying veterans whether or not they are Texas residents. See Texas Parks and Wildlife: Disabled Veteran Super Combo.

Step 1 - For a park passport, gather your ID: a Department of Defense veteran ID card, a Texas license or ID with a veteran designation, your DD-214 showing honorable discharge, or a VA Veteran Health Identification Card. For the Disabled Veterans version, also bring one of: your Disabled Veteran Texas plate receipt, your VA award letter showing your rating, or your Texas veteran property tax exemption letter.

Step 2 - Take that ID plus a photo ID to any Texas State Park and ask for the passport at the entrance. Both passports are issued in person; there is no online application.

Step 3 - For the Super Combo license, get VA proof of your rating dated within the last 12 months, or a Texas driver's license marked with a Disabled Veteran designation.

Step 4 - Take that proof in person to a licensed license retailer (any sporting goods store that sells Texas hunting and fishing licenses); this package is not sold online.

Education: the Hazlewood Act and Hazlewood Legacy

The Hazlewood Act is a Texas exemption of up to 150 credit hours of tuition and most fees at Texas public colleges and universities. The Hazlewood Legacy provision lets a qualifying veteran transfer unused hours to a child. This is an education benefit only; it does not touch your VA claim or rating.

The veteran's own Hazlewood eligibility: an honorable discharge (or discharge under honorable conditions), at least 181 days of active duty (training generally excluded), and the Texas residency conditions. You do not need any particular VA rating to use your own 150 hours. See Texas Veterans Commission: Hazlewood Act.

Residency condition: for exemptions first received in fall 2011 or later, you generally must have entered active duty from Texas (or designated Texas as your home of record) and must live in Texas during each term you claim it.

Hazlewood Legacy transfer: available if you are rated 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disabled (or Individual Unemployability due to service), or if the veteran died from a service-connected cause or in the line of duty, and you have unused hours to transfer. See Texas Veterans Commission: Hazlewood Act.

The Legacy child must be your biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or a claimed tax dependent, and must be 25 years old or younger on the first day of the term (the benefit ends at age 26).

What it covers: tuition and most mandatory fees at Texas public institutions. It does not cover living expenses, books, or supply fees.

Step 1 - Gather your DD-214, proof of Texas residency, and (for a Legacy transfer) your VA letter showing the 100 percent permanent and total rating dated within the last year.

Step 2 - Create an account at the Texas Veterans Commission Hazlewood student portal using your Social Security number or Department of Defense ID, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Step 3 - Complete Form TVC-ED-1, the Texas Hazlewood Act Exemption Application, through that portal or from Texas Veterans Commission: Hazlewood Act. For a Legacy transfer, you and your child complete the transfer documentation the portal describes.

Step 4 - Submit the application and documents to your school's Veterans Affairs certifying official, since the school certifies your enrollment each term, not the Commission directly.

Step 5 - Submit before your school's semester enrollment deadline, and re-file each term you or your child uses the benefit, because it is certified per term, not once.

Step 6 - If you get stuck, email hazlewood@tvc.texas.gov or call the Texas Veterans Commission Education program at 512-463-3168.

Emergency help and other support

If you need help fast, or you want the rest of the state-level support, start with the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), the state's central veterans agency. Below are the emergency grant network, state veterans homes and cemeteries, hiring preference, a business fee waiver, and how to reach a free county Veteran Service Officer.

Fund for Veterans' Assistance emergency help. The Texas Veterans Commission runs the Fund for Veterans' Assistance, which funds local nonprofits and veteran service organizations that then provide temporary emergency financial help for basic needs (rent, utilities, and similar) to veterans, dependents, and surviving spouses in Texas. Important: the Fund awards grants to organizations, not directly to individuals, so you apply for help through a funded local organization, not to the state. Find the program and its grantees at Texas Veterans Commission: Grants.

Texas Veterans Commission help line. Call 1-800-252-8387 or visit tvc.texas.gov to be pointed to the right emergency resource near you.

Texas State Veterans Homes (skilled nursing care), run by the Texas Veterans Land Board within the Texas General Land Office (GLO). A veteran with a 70 percent or higher service-connected rating can generally live there at no cost. Spouses, unremarried surviving spouses, and Gold Star Parents who meet residency can also qualify. See Texas General Land Office: Texas State Veterans Homes.

Texas State Veterans Cemeteries. Burial of an eligible veteran, spouse, and dependents is at no charge, with no Texas residency requirement, at locations including Abilene, Killeen, Mission, and Corpus Christi. See Texas General Land Office: Burial Benefits.

State hiring preference. Under Texas Government Code Chapter 657, a qualifying veteran gets preference in state-agency hiring over equally qualified applicants; it expands for a disabled veteran and for certain spouses. It is a qualifications-based tiebreaker, not the added-points system used in federal hiring. See Texas Government Code Chapter 657.

Veteran-owned new business waiver. A new business verified as 100 percent owned by honorably discharged veterans can have the state formation fee waived and receive a waiver of state franchise tax for its first five years, made permanent in 2025. See Texas Veterans Commission: verify a veteran-owned business and Texas Secretary of State: Business Information for Veterans.

Free claims help from a county Veteran Service Officer. For anything about your VA rating, this help is free and you should never pay a company. Find your county officer or a Texas Veterans Commission claims counselor through Texas Veterans Commission: Claims, or the VA accredited representative search.

Step 1 - For emergency financial help, call the Texas Veterans Commission at 1-800-252-8387 and ask which funded local organization near you provides emergency assistance, then apply directly to that organization.

Step 2 - For a state veterans home, contact the Texas General Land Office: Texas State Veterans Homes page to start an application and ask about bed availability nearest you.

Step 3 - For state hiring preference, apply through the specific state agency's job posting, mark your veteran and disability status where asked, and have your DD-214 and current VA rating letter ready.

Step 4 - For the business waiver, get your business verified as veteran-owned through the Texas Veterans Commission before you file your formation papers with the Secretary of State, so the fee waiver applies from day one.

Step 5 - For any VA claim, appeal, higher rating, or Individual Unemployability question, book a free county Veteran Service Officer through Texas Veterans Commission: Claims, then come back to ratednowwhat.com for the rest of your state benefits.

Purple Heart, former prisoner of war, and Medal of Honor perks

Texas offers special recognition license plates for combat-decorated and captured veterans, most with the plate fee waived, plus parking benefits. These are separate from the Disabled Veteran plate and can be held alongside it.

Medal of Honor and Prisoner of War Medal plates carry no specialty plate fee for the first set, under the state's military meritorious service plate rules. Additional sets require the normal county registration fee. See TxDMV: For Our Troops.

Purple Heart, Former Prisoner of War, and Legion of Valor plates are available to eligible recipients, and these honor plates generally exempt the holder from municipal (city) parking meter fees. Confirm current details at TxDMV: For Our Troops.

A surviving spouse of a veteran may be eligible to keep certain military plates; see TxDMV Form VTR-425, Application for Surviving Spouse of a Veteran License Plates.

Step 1 - Gather proof you received the medal or honor (for example your DD-214 showing the award, or the award citation) plus proof of honorable discharge.

Step 2 - Get the correct military specialty plate application from TxDMV: For Our Troops, for example Form VTR-421 for meritorious service plates, or call TxDMV at 1-888-368-4689 to confirm which form fits your award, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue.

Step 3 - File the application at your county tax assessor-collector's office and ask them to confirm the fee waiver on your first set of plates before you pay.

Print-and-take checklist

☐ Downloaded my VA Benefit Summary and Service Verification Letter at va.gov/records/download-va-letters

☐ Decided whether I qualify for the full homestead exemption (100 percent, or Individual Unemployability paid at the 100 percent rate) or the tiered exemption (a lower rating, or another property I own)

☐ Downloaded Form 50-114 (Residence Homestead Exemption) and, if needed, Form 50-135 (Disabled Veteran's or Survivor's Exemption) from the Texas Comptroller forms page

☐ Found my county appraisal district at the Comptroller county directory

☐ Filed my exemption with the county appraisal district by April 30, or checked the five-year back-file window

☐ Confirmed the exemption posted on my next property tax statement

☐ If a charity donated my home and I am rated under 100 percent, asked my appraisal district about the Section 11.132 donated-home exemption

☐ Confirmed there is no Texas state income tax return to file, and that my VA disability compensation is not taxed

☐ Downloaded Form VTR-615 (Disabled Veteran plate) and, for parking, Form VTR-214 (placard), and filed at my county tax assessor-collector

☐ Asked my county tax office to confirm current plate and registration fees before paying

☐ Checked whether the toll road I drive is TxDOT-operated (automatic waiver) or regional (needs its own enrollment)

☐ Got my Texas Parklands Passport in person at any state park with my ID and VA award letter or DD-214

☐ Picked up my Disabled Veteran Super Combo hunting and fishing license in person, with VA proof dated within 12 months

☐ If I have kids and I am rated 100 percent permanent and total, registered at hazlewood.tvc.texas.gov and started my own or my child's Hazlewood application

☐ Saved the Texas Veterans Commission line, 1-800-252-8387, for emergency help and to find a funded local assistance organization

☐ If starting a veteran-owned business, got it verified through the Texas Veterans Commission before filing formation paperwork

☐ If I hold a Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, or Former Prisoner of War award, applied for the honor plate through TxDMV and asked about the fee waiver

☐ Routed any VA claim, appeal, higher-rating request, or Individual Unemployability question to a free accredited Veteran Service Officer, never a paid company

Education only. Not the VA, not a government agency, and not financial, tax, or legal advice. Help with a VA claim or rating is always free through a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer. Rules and amounts change; verify with the official source before you act.

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Virginia

In this section

Property tax exemption on your home

Car tax exemption for one vehicle

State income tax on your military pay

Virginia DMV plates and vehicle benefits

Hunting, fishing, and state parks

College tuition for your spouse and children (VMSDEP)

Emergency help, care centers, and jobs

Purple Heart, former POW, and Medal of Honor perks

Virginia gives veterans who have a service-connected disability, and their families, some of the strongest state benefits in the country. This page walks you through each one in plain, numbered steps. First, a quick note on names. In this guide, Virginia always means the state. The VA always means the federal U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which sets your disability rating. Almost every benefit below asks for proof of that rating, so keep a current VA benefit summary letter (sometimes called your VA award letter) handy. You can download it any time from VA.gov. Getting a rating, raising it, or appealing a denial is always free through a Veterans Service Officer, and you should never pay for it.

Property tax exemption on your home

If the VA rates you 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total, Virginia exempts your home and up to one acre of land from local real estate tax. You do not pay that tax at all. Here is who qualifies and how to claim it.

You qualify if the VA rates you 100 percent service-connected, permanent and total, and the home is your main residence. See Va. Code 58.1-3219.5.

You also qualify if the VA pays you at the 100 percent rate because of individual unemployability (called total disability based on individual unemployability, or TDIU) and treats that rating as permanent and total. See the Virginia Department of Veterans Services tax exemptions page.

A surviving spouse keeps the exemption if the veteran died on or after January 1, 2011, and the spouse has not remarried.

A surviving spouse can move to a different Virginia home and take the exemption with them, and it applies with no restriction on the new residence. See Va. Code 58.1-3219.5.

A surviving spouse of a member of the U.S. armed forces who was killed in action, or who died of wounds, may qualify under a separate law even if the member was never rated disabled. See Va. Code 58.1-3219.9.

Steps to claim it:

Download your VA benefit summary letter showing the 100 percent permanent and total rating from VA.gov. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Find the Commissioner of the Revenue for the county or city where you live (in a few cities this is the assessor). Search your local government website for Commissioner of the Revenue, or use the overview on the Virginia Department of Veterans Services tax exemptions page. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Ask that office for its disabled veteran real estate tax exemption application. Each locality supplies its own form.

Fill in your name, your spouse's name if they also live there, and a statement that the home is your main residence.

Attach your VA benefit summary letter (or, for a surviving spouse, proof of the veteran's death and the date of death).

Turn the form in to the Commissioner of the Revenue. By law they must approve or deny within 20 business days. See Va. Code 58.1-3219.6.

You do not refile every year. Under state law you only refile if you move to a new main residence, but ask your local office whether it wants a first-time application in by a certain date.

Car tax exemption for one vehicle

Virginia also exempts one personal vehicle from the local car tax (the yearly personal property tax your county or city charges on your vehicle) for veterans rated 100 percent permanent and total.

One car, pickup, or panel truck registered for your personal use is exempt. Motorcycles, leased vehicles, and business vehicles do not count. See Va. Code 58.1-3668.

You qualify at a 100 percent permanent and total rating, or when the VA pays you at the 100 percent rate for individual unemployability.

The exemption starts the day you get the vehicle or January 1, 2021, whichever is later. It ends when the veteran dies and does not pass to a surviving spouse.

Use the same VA benefit summary letter from the home tax steps above.

Contact your local Commissioner of the Revenue and ask for the disabled veteran vehicle (personal property) tax exemption application, then file it with your VA letter.

State income tax on your military pay

Virginia does not tax your VA disability compensation at all. It also lets many military retirees subtract military retirement pay from Virginia taxable income, and that subtraction has been growing each year.

Your VA disability compensation is not taxed by the federal government or by Virginia. You do not report it as income.

Virginia has a Military Benefits Subtraction that lets qualifying retirees subtract military retirement pay and Survivor Benefit Plan payments from Virginia income. The amount you can subtract is being phased in and can change from year to year, so check the current limit rather than guess. See the Military Benefits Subtraction page at Virginia Tax.

Medal of Honor recipients can subtract their military retired pay from Virginia income. See the Virginia Tax subtractions page.

Read the current rules and dollar limit on the Military Benefits Subtraction page. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Claim the subtraction on your Virginia Form 760 (Resident Individual Income Tax Return) when you file, using the subtraction code that page lists. Do not report VA disability compensation as taxable income.

Virginia DMV plates and vehicle benefits

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers special plates and a veteran status marker. Here are the ones that matter most for disabled veterans and their spouses.

You get one free set of Disabled Veteran plates if you lost, or lost the use of, a leg, arm, or hand; are blind; or are rated permanently and totally disabled by the VA. See the Disabled Veteran plates page at the Virginia DMV.

An unremarried surviving spouse of such a veteran can also get one free set.

Any other veteran with a service-connected disability can buy Disabled Veteran plates for a special plate fee plus the normal fees.

Steps to get Disabled Veteran plates:

Get form VSA 54 (Veteran Certification of Disability) signed for free by a Veterans Service Officer, or use your VA benefit summary letter that shows the disability is service-connected. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Apply for the plates through the Disabled Veteran plates page at the Virginia DMV, and ask the DMV about registration fee relief when you order.

Purple Heart plate: Purple Heart recipients get one free set of Purple Heart plates, and unremarried surviving spouses can apply. Bring a copy of your DD214, the award certificate, or other official proof. See the Virginia DMV veteran and armed forces plates page.

Veteran marker: you can add a Veteran indicator to your Virginia driver's license or identification card as easy proof of service for discounts. Ask the DMV to add it when you renew or replace your card.

Hunting, fishing, and state parks

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) both give disabled veterans free or discounted access to the outdoors.

If you are a Virginia resident rated 50 percent or higher service-connected by the VA, you get a free lifetime hunting license and free lifetime freshwater fishing license. Residents rated below 50 percent can get the lifetime license at a reduced price. See the Virginia DWR Veterans page.

Download the Resident Disabled Veteran's Lifetime License application from the Virginia DWR Veterans page. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Attach your VA benefit summary letter or a Veterans Certificate of Disability that shows your rating, then mail or bring the application to the DWR as the form directs.

State parks: if the VA rates you 100 percent service-connected, you can get a Virginia State Parks Veteran Disability Passport. It gives free parking and admission for you and anyone helping you, free boat launch and horse trailer parking, and a discount on camping, shelters, and rentals. See the Virginia State Parks passes page.

Fill out the Veteran Disability Pass application (form DCR199-036) from the Virginia State Parks passes page, attach your VA paperwork showing the 100 percent rating (you may black out payment or medical details), and email both to resvs@dcr.virginia.gov. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

College tuition for your spouse and children (VMSDEP)

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) waives tuition and mandatory fees at Virginia public colleges and universities for the spouse and children of veterans who were killed, went missing, were taken prisoner, or became seriously disabled from military service.

The spouse, or a child between ages 16 and 29, of a qualifying veteran or service member may apply. See the VMSDEP page at the Virginia Department of Veterans Services.

The veteran or service member must have been killed in action, died of a service-connected cause, be listed as missing in action, be a prisoner of war, or be rated by the VA at least 90 percent disabled as a result of military service in an armed conflict or military operation.

Virginia must be the veteran's home of record, and the program has residency requirements it will explain when you apply.

The waiver covers tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight semesters at a Virginia public two-year or four-year school. It does not cover room, board, books, or supplies.

Confirm eligibility and start an application in the VMSDEP Portal, which is run by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (use the Chrome browser). Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Upload the veteran's VA rating or casualty documents the portal asks for, and update your enrollment in the portal every semester you want to use the benefit.

Emergency help, care centers, and jobs

Virginia runs a statewide support network for veterans and families, plus free help with your federal VA claims.

Free claims help: getting a VA rating, raising it, appealing a denial, or asking about individual unemployability is always free. A VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer at the Virginia Department of Veterans Services will do it for you at no cost, and you should never pay anyone for it.

Find your nearest Virginia Department of Veterans Services benefits office (there are dozens across Virginia) using the office locator on the Benefits and Services page, or call 1-844-838-7838. Get it there, then come back to ratednowwhat.com and continue with the next step.

Virginia Veteran and Family Support gives free help with mental health, post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, and connecting to community resources for service members, veterans, and their families. Start at the Veteran and Family Support page or call 1-844-838-7838.

Virginia runs state Veterans Care Centers that provide long-term and skilled nursing care for veterans. Ask your local benefits office or call the main line to learn about admission.

State jobs: Virginia gives veterans a hiring preference for state jobs, and when a hiring test is scored, extra points are added to a qualifying veteran's passing score. Spouses of certain disabled, deceased, or missing veterans may also qualify. See the Virginia veteran hiring resources page.

The free Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program helps you find and land a job. Start at the V3 program page.

Purple Heart, former POW, and Medal of Honor perks

Purple Heart recipients get one free set of Purple Heart license plates from the Virginia DMV, and unremarried surviving spouses can apply with a copy of the DD214 or award certificate. See the Virginia DMV veteran and armed forces plates page.

Former prisoners of war, and their spouses and children, may qualify for the VMSDEP tuition waiver described above. See the VMSDEP page.

Medal of Honor recipients can subtract their military retired pay from Virginia income tax. See the Virginia Tax subtractions page.

Ask your Virginia Department of Veterans Services benefits office about other special plates and honors for Purple Heart, former prisoner of war, and Medal of Honor recipients.

Print-and-take checklist

☐ Download your current VA benefit summary letter from VA.gov. It proves your rating for almost every benefit below.

☐ Home tax: get your county or city Commissioner of the Revenue's disabled veteran real estate exemption form and file it with your VA letter.

☐ Car tax: ask the same Commissioner of the Revenue for the one-vehicle disabled veteran exemption and file it.

☐ Surviving spouse: if the veteran died on or after January 1, 2011, or was killed in action, ask the local office about continuing the home tax exemption, even if you move.

☐ Income tax: read the Virginia Military Benefits Subtraction rules before you file your Form 760, and do not report VA disability pay as income.

☐ DMV plates: get form VSA 54 signed by a Veterans Service Officer (or use your VA letter) and order your free Disabled Veteran plates.

☐ DMV marker: add the Veteran indicator to your driver's license or identification card.

☐ Purple Heart: order your free Purple Heart plates with your DD214 or award certificate.

☐ Hunting and fishing: send the Resident Disabled Veteran's Lifetime License application to the Virginia DWR with your VA rating letter.

☐ State parks: email the Veteran Disability Pass application (form DCR199-036) and your 100 percent VA paperwork to resvs@dcr.virginia.gov.

☐ College: start a VMSDEP application in the Virginia Department of Veterans Services portal for your spouse or child, and re-check enrollment each semester.

☐ Jobs: sign up with the free Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program and claim your state-job hiring preference.

☐ Support: save the Virginia Department of Veterans Services toll-free line, 1-844-838-7838, for benefits help and Virginia Veteran and Family Support.

☐ Free claims help: for any new rating, increase, appeal, or individual unemployability question, book a free VA-accredited Veterans Service Officer at your local Virginia Department of Veterans Services office. Never pay for claim help.

Education only. Not the VA, not a government agency, and not financial, tax, or legal advice. Help with a VA claim or rating is always free through a VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer. Rules and amounts change; verify with the official source before you act.

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Washington

In this section

Property tax exemption for disabled veterans

State income tax

Vehicle and Department of Licensing benefits

Recreation

Education, for you and your dependents

Emergency and financial assistance

If you're a disabled veteran living in Washington, this page walks you through every state-level benefit tied to your VA disability rating, step by step. We start with the property tax exemption because it's the biggest dollar benefit and the one with the most confusing eligibility rules, then cover state income tax (there isn't one), vehicle and Department of Licensing benefits, recreation passes, education benefits for you and your dependents, and emergency financial help. Every step below tells you exactly which office to contact and links you to the real, official page to do it. This is education, not legal or financial advice, and we're not affiliated with the VA, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), or any government agency.

Property tax exemption for disabled veterans

What it is: Washington offers a property tax exemption (and a related deferral program) for qualifying seniors, people retired due to disability, and disabled veterans who own and occupy their home as their primary residence. For veterans specifically, Washington recognizes two ways to qualify on disability grounds, confirmed directly against the Washington Department of Revenue (DOR):

Pathway 1: Schedular rating of 80% or higher. You qualify if the VA has given you a service-connected disability evaluation of at least 80%, even if you are not paid at the 100% rate.

Pathway 2: Paid at the 100% rate. You qualify if you are receiving VA compensation at the 100% rate for a service-connected disability. The DOR's own program language uses the phrase "100% rate" and "total disability rating for a service-connected disability without regard to evaluation percent," which is broad enough to cover a schedular 100% rating and Individual Unemployability, also written Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (Individual Unemployability / Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability), when it is paid at the 100% rate. If your award letter shows you are compensated at the 100% rate for any reason, bring that letter and let the county assessor apply this pathway.

No separate statutory pathway for blindness, loss of limbs, or paraplegia. Unlike some states, Washington's DOR page for this exemption does not list a separate qualifying condition for legal blindness, loss of use of limbs, or paraplegia below the 80% threshold. If you have one of those conditions, your VA rating itself is almost certainly 80% or higher (or paid at the 100% rate), so you'll still qualify through Pathway 1 or 2 above. There is also no distinct Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant pathway to this specific property tax exemption; SAH is a separate federal home-modification benefit (see the Vehicle and Recreation sections below for other state benefits tied to adaptive needs).

Surviving spouse continuation. If you were the surviving spouse or domestic partner of a qualifying veteran and were already enrolled in this exemption at the time of the veteran's death, you can continue to receive it if you are at least 57 years old.

Separate surviving-spouse grant program. Washington also runs a Property Tax Assistance Program for Widows/Widowers of Veterans, a grant (not a loan) for a surviving spouse or domestic partner of a veteran who died from a service-connected disability, was rated 100% disabled by VA for 10 years before death, was a former prisoner of war rated 100% disabled for one year before death, or died while on active duty or in training status. You must be age 62 or older (or retired from regular work due to disability), not remarried, own and occupy a Washington home, and have combined disposable income at or below the program's limit. This program has its own March 31 application deadline and its own form. Confirm the current income limit directly with the DOR (link in the steps below), since it is set by statute and can be revised.

Income limit: both the exemption and the deferral programs require your household's "combined disposable income" to fall under a threshold set per county, tied to that county's median household income (DOR calls these Income Threshold 1/2/3). Two rules matter a lot for veterans: VA disability compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) are excluded from this income calculation, which helps many otherwise-qualifying veterans stay under the cap, but military retirement pay does count toward it. Because the exact dollar thresholds vary by county and are being revised for tax years 2027 to 2029 under a 2026 state law (Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6162), don't rely on a number you saw somewhere else. Get your county's current threshold directly from your county assessor or the Washington DOR income threshold page.

What you actually get: depending on which income tier you land in, the program provides some combination of exemption from regular property tax on part of your home's assessed value, exemption from voter-approved special levies, and a freeze on your home's assessed value for tax purposes. The lowest-income tier gets the most complete relief. The exact tier mechanics are set by county-specific threshold tables, not one flat statewide number, so your county assessor will tell you which tier you land in and what it's worth in dollars.

Step 1 - Confirm which pathway you qualify under. Download your current VA Benefit Summary Letter (it shows your combined rating and whether you're paid at the 100% rate) at VA.gov, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - Find your county assessor's office using the Washington DOR county assessor directory and interactive map, which lists all 39 counties with direct links, then come back here and continue with Step 3.

Step 3 - Download the Application for Property Tax Exemption, form REV 63 0001, from the Washington DOR forms page, then come back here and continue with Step 4.

Step 4 - Download the Combined Disposable Income Worksheet, form REV 63 0036, from the Washington DOR forms page; this is what your county uses to check you against the income threshold. Then come back here and continue with Step 5.

Step 5 - Gather your proof of disability rating: your VA Benefit Summary Letter (from Step 1) showing your rating percentage and/or that you're paid at the 100% rate. Some counties will also accept a Washington DOR Proof of Disability Statement in place of a VA letter; ask your county assessor which they need.

Step 6 - Gather proof of income for the disposable-income calculation (Social Security statements, retirement income statements, and the like), remembering that your VA disability compensation and DIC do not count but military retirement pay does.

Step 7 - Gather proof you own and occupy the home as your primary residence in Washington (deed or title, plus something showing you live there).

Step 8 - Confirm your specific county's income threshold tier and application deadline directly with your county assessor's office (found via the Step 2 link), since deadlines and dollar thresholds vary by county and Washington is transitioning to new thresholds for 2027 to 2029.

Step 9 - Submit the completed REV 63 0001 application, the REV 63 0036 worksheet, and your supporting documents to your county assessor by December 31 of the assessment year, unless your county assessor gives you a different specific deadline.

Step 10 - If you are not currently eligible for the outright exemption because of income, ask your county assessor about the separate deferral program, which lets you defer part of your property tax as a lien against the property instead of paying it now.

Step 11 - If you are a surviving spouse or domestic partner of a qualifying veteran, ask your county assessor whether you qualify to continue the exemption (age 57+, already enrolled at time of death) or should instead apply for the separate Property Tax Assistance Program for Widows/Widowers of Veterans grant (its own form, due by March 31); find the current form and instructions on the Washington DOR property tax exemptions and deferrals page.

You can also reach the WDVA Property Tax Relief page for a veteran-focused summary, or call the DOR Property Tax Division at (360) 534-1400 with questions before you file.

State income tax

What it is: Washington has no state personal income tax at all, for veterans or anyone else. There is no state tax on military retirement pay, no state tax on VA disability compensation, and no state income tax return to file, because there is no tax base for the state to tax. Your VA disability compensation is also federally tax-free everywhere in the country, which is a federal rule, not something Washington grants you.

Step 1 - There is nothing to file or apply for at the state level. If you moved to Washington from a state with an income tax, stop filing that state's return once you've established Washington residency and confirm the cutover with a tax preparer.

Step 2 - Keep claiming the federal exclusion of VA disability compensation on your federal return; if you need documentation, your VA Benefit Summary Letter at VA.gov is the standard proof.

Vehicle and Department of Licensing benefits

What it is: Washington offers a Disabled American Veteran (DAV) license plate, a fee exemption tied to that plate, a disabled veteran parking permit, and narrower sales tax exemptions for VA-reimbursed adaptive equipment. Here is every qualifying path:

DAV plate eligibility: you qualify for the DAV plate if you meet any one of these: loss of use of both hands or one foot; blindness in both eyes resulting from military service; or a 100% VA or military disability rating with service-connected compensation expected to last more than one year.

Fee exemption: once you have DAV plates, one vehicle (car, truck, motor home, or motorcycle used for personal, non-commercial use, regardless of weight) is exempt from license fees for your lifetime.

Parking permit eligibility: a disabled veteran parking permit is available if you have a 70% or higher combined disability rating and use a federally defined service animal; this is a separate program from the plate and lasts five years before renewal.

Adaptive equipment sales tax relief: Washington exempts certain VA-reimbursed adaptive housing modifications and VA-reimbursed automotive adaptive equipment from sales/use tax. This is narrower than a blanket vehicle sales tax exemption, so confirm the current scope and any dollar cap with the Washington Department of Revenue before you rely on it for a specific purchase.

Step 1 - Download your current VA Benefit Summary Letter or rating decision letter at VA.gov showing your rating and/or qualifying condition, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - For the DAV plate, download the Military Services and Veterans License Plate Application from the Washington Department of Licensing forms page and mark the Disabled American Veteran plate or tabs box, then come back here and continue with Step 3.

Step 3 - Mail the completed application, your VA rating letter, and any required fee to the Special Plate Unit, Department of Licensing, PO Box 9909, Olympia, WA 98507-8500, or bring it to a Washington vehicle licensing office. You cannot get DAV plates issued on the spot at a local licensing office; this application goes to the Special Plate Unit. Call 360-902-3770 with questions.

Step 4 - For the parking permit, download the Disabled Parking Application for Veterans from the Washington Department of Licensing forms page and attach your VA or military letter showing a 70% or higher rating, then come back here and continue with Step 5.

Step 5 - Bring the completed parking application and documents to a vehicle licensing office, or mail it to Department of Licensing, PO Box 9043, Olympia, WA 98507. Plan on roughly 7 to 10 days for the placard or tabs and 2 to 3 weeks for the ID card, and renew every five years.

Step 6 - If you have a VA-reimbursed home modification or vehicle adaptive equipment purchase coming up, ask the retailer about the sales tax exemption at time of purchase, and confirm current terms with the Washington Department of Revenue beforehand so the paperwork is ready at checkout.

Step 7 - Optional: ask your local licensing office to add a "Veteran" designation to your standard Washington driver's license or ID card at the same visit.

Recreation

What it is: Washington gives disabled veterans a free lifetime state parks pass, reduced-rate hunting and fishing licenses, and access to the federal lifetime recreation pass.

Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass (Washington State Parks) eligibility: a Washington resident veteran with a 30% or greater combined service-connected disability rating. It covers free day-use parking (no Discover Pass needed), free camping and moorage, and free boat launch/trailer dump at State Parks, plus free day-use parking at Department of Fish & Wildlife and Department of Natural Resources sites. It does not cover Sno-Parks or federal sites. Camping stays free, but as of October 1, 2025 an $8 online (or $10 phone) reservation/change fee applies.

Reduced-rate hunting/fishing license eligibility: a Washington resident, honorably discharged veteran with at least a 30% service-connected disability, or a veteran age 65+ with any service-connected rating. Additional reduced or free options exist for wheelchair users, the visually impaired, and residents with developmental disabilities.

Federal America the Beautiful Access Pass: a free lifetime federal pass for veterans with a permanent disability (any rating that meets the federal permanent-disability standard), covering entrance and amenity fees at National Parks and other federal lands, including Washington's own Olympic, Mount Rainier, and North Cascades.

Step 1 - Confirm your current combined rating is 30% or higher and download your VA Benefit Summary Letter at VA.gov, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - Gather proof of at least 3 consecutive months of current Washington residency (a valid Washington driver's license, state ID card, or voter registration card).

Step 3 - Download the Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass Application from Washington State Parks, or call (360) 902-8844 or email infocent@parks.wa.gov to have one mailed or emailed to you, then come back here and continue with Step 4.

Step 4 - Mail the completed application with your VA award letter and residency proof to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, Information Center, PO Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504. Do not send original documents, and submit only one application. Allow up to 30 days for processing.

Step 5 - For reduced-rate hunting/fishing licenses, bring your discharge paperwork and VA rating letter to a Washington Fish and Wildlife licensing location or licensed vendor and ask for the disabled veteran license category.

Step 6 - For the federal Access Pass, apply online, by mail, or in person at a federal recreation site through the official America the Beautiful pass program, which requires documentation of a permanent disability (a VA award letter showing a permanent rating typically qualifies).

Education, for you and your dependents

What it is: Washington law authorizes public colleges and universities to waive tuition for veterans and, separately, requires them to waive undergraduate tuition and fees for dependents of the most severely disabled or deceased veterans.

Veterans' tuition waiver (Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 28B.15.621): state law authorizes, but does not universally mandate at a fixed rate, community colleges, technical colleges, colleges, and universities to waive all or part of tuition and fees for eligible veterans or National Guard members. Each institution runs its own program and sets its own scope.

Dependents of a 100% disabled veteran, or of a service member who died from military service: eligible dependents get all undergraduate tuition and fees waived at Washington public colleges and universities, up to 200 quarter credits (or the semester equivalent). Graduate-level waivers are encouraged but not required by state law. A book stipend of $500 per year applies when funded by the Legislature, divided across terms.

Step 1 - Confirm your rating status; the dependent waiver requires the veteran-parent (or the deceased service member) to meet the 100% disabled, or died-from-service, standard. Pull your VA Benefit Summary Letter at VA.gov to document this, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - Find the school your veteran or dependent plans to attend using the Washington Student Achievement Council's list of participating colleges and institutions, then come back here and continue with Step 3.

Step 3 - Contact that school's veterans services or financial aid office directly (each institution runs its own waiver program) to get its specific application, deadline, and documentation checklist.

Step 4 - Submit the veteran's VA rating documentation (or the service member's death-from-service documentation) along with the school's own application by the deadline that office gives you.

Step 5 - In parallel, check your eligibility for federal education benefits, GI Bill, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), or federal student loan discharge for total and permanent disability, at VA.gov education and training benefits, since these run alongside the state waiver, not instead of it.

Emergency and financial assistance

What it is: WDVA and your county veteran service office administer emergency financial assistance grants for veterans and families in need, covering things like food, rent, utilities, transportation, medical costs, burial or cremation, home/appliance/auto repair, and clothing. Specific dollar caps vary by county program, so don't assume a number until your county office confirms it.

Step 1 - Find your county veteran service office using the WDVA County Services directory, then come back here and continue with Step 2.

Step 2 - Call or visit that office and describe your specific need (rent, utilities, food, medical, burial, repair, or clothing) so they can point you to the right fund and current dollar caps.

Step 3 - Bring your DD Form 214 (or equivalent discharge document), a copy of your VA award letter if the request relates to your disability, and documentation of the specific expense (bill, estimate, or invoice).

Step 4 - If your county office cannot fully meet the need, ask them to refer you to the statewide WDVA Financial Assistance program or call WDVA directly at 1-800-562-2308.

Print-and-take checklist

☐ VA Benefit Summary Letter or current rating decision letter, downloaded and printed

☐ DD Form 214 or equivalent discharge document

☐ Deed or title proving you own your Washington home, plus proof you occupy it as your primary residence

☐ Proof of income for the Combined Disposable Income Worksheet (Social Security statement, retirement income statements; remember VA compensation and DIC don't count, military retirement pay does)

☐ REV 63 0001, Application for Property Tax Exemption, filled out

☐ REV 63 0036, Combined Disposable Income Worksheet, filled out

☐ Your county assessor's confirmed income threshold and deadline for this tax year (call ahead, don't guess)

☐ If surviving spouse: age and remarriage status confirmed, plus the Property Tax Assistance Program for Widows/Widowers of Veterans application if pursuing the grant (due March 31)

☐ Military Services and Veterans License Plate Application, if applying for DAV plates

☐ Disabled Parking Application for Veterans, if applying for a parking permit (70%+ rating and service animal)

☐ Proof of 3 months current Washington residency (driver's license, state ID, or voter registration), if applying for the Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass

☐ Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass Application, if 30%+ rated

☐ School-specific dependent tuition waiver application, if pursuing the education benefit for a dependent

☐ Local county veteran service office contact info saved, in case you need emergency assistance later

This page is education only. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice, and Rated, Now What is not affiliated with the VA, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. If you're trying to file a new VA disability claim or get your rating increased, do that through a free, VA-accredited Veteran Service Officer (VSO), never a paid claims agent; find one through the WDVA County Services directory or VA's accredited representative search. Be careful of anyone who contacts you offering to help with your VA claim for a fee, or who pitches you an annuity or investment product as a way to protect your disability compensation; those are red flags for pension-poaching and predatory sales schemes targeting veterans, and legitimate help with your rating is always free.

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