State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Alaska

Alaska provides property tax relief for qualifying disabled veterans and surviving spouses. Other benefits include University of Alaska tuition programs, a veterans home, and outdoor recreation benefits.

Checked against official state sources on October 2, 2026.

Free help in Alaska

Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs

Provides information about veterans' education benefits and other benefits.

Agency website (opens in a new tab) · Phone: (907) 334-0874

Free help with VA claims

Veteran service officers provide free benefit counseling and claims help statewide. Use the state office's directory to find assistance.

Find a local office (opens in a new tab)

Not sure what applies to you?

Answer seven questions and the Benefits Finder builds a checklist of federal and state benefits, deadlines and free help.

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Property tax relief

Disabled veteran property tax exemption

Who qualifies
Alaska residents who own and occupy the property as their primary, permanent home, left U.S. military service under conditions other than dishonorable, and have a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty rated at least 50% by the VA or their service branch. A municipality may also require eligibility for the same year's Permanent Fund Dividend.
What you get
Exempts the first $150,000 of assessed value.
How to apply
Apply in writing under your municipality's procedures and deadline. Provide evidence of your disability rating.

Official page (opens in a new tab) AS 29.45.030(e), (f), (i)

Sources (1)

Surviving spouse property tax exemption

Who qualifies
An Alaska resident age 60 or older who has not remarried after the death of a person who qualified for the disabled veteran exemption. The survivor must own and occupy the property as a primary, permanent home. A municipality may also require eligibility for the same year's Permanent Fund Dividend.
What you get
Exempts the first $150,000 of assessed value.
How to apply
Apply in writing under your municipality's procedures and deadline.

Official page (opens in a new tab) AS 29.45.030(e), (f)

Sources (1)

State income tax

Military retirement pay: No income tax

Alaska has no state individual income tax, so it does not impose one on military retirement pay.

Sources (1)

Education and tuition

University of Alaska military resident tuition

Who qualifies
Active-duty U.S. military members, National Guard members, reservists, and their spouses and dependents. U.S. veterans eligible for VA education benefits and their spouses and dependents also qualify.
What you get
Pays the resident tuition rate at the University of Alaska.
How to apply
File the resident tuition application with the university admissions office before the published end of the add/drop period.

Official page (opens in a new tab) University Regulation R05.10.050(C)(5), (D)(1)(a)

Sources (1)

Military memorial tuition waiver: spouse branch

Who qualifies
This entry covers the spouse or financially interdependent partner at the time an eligible service member died in the line of duty, died from line-of-duty injuries, or was listed as a POW or missing in action. The member must have lived in Alaska for one year before service and recorded Alaska as the home of record, or have been an Alaska legal resident for one year at the time of death or listing. The student must remain in good academic, financial aid, and conduct standing.
What you get
Waives undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees for credit courses. Voluntary charges, noncredit courses, student-government fees, and charges unrelated to student status are excluded.
How to apply
Establish eligibility before the tuition payment deadline.

Official page (opens in a new tab) AS 14.43.085; Regents' Policy P05.10.080 and University Regulation R05.10.080

Sources (1)

State jobs and hiring preference

Disabled veteran state hiring preference

Who qualifies
This entry covers people honorably discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability who meet a position's minimum qualifications.
What you get
An interview for qualifying positions when a complete application is submitted.
How to apply
Answer the confidential veteran questions in the state job application.

Official page (opens in a new tab) AS 39.25.159

Sources (3)

Licenses, plates and parks

Resident disabled veteran hunting, fishing, and trapping card

Who qualifies
Disabled veterans who meet the Fish and Game residency definition, are certified at least 50% disabled, and are physically in Alaska when applying.
What you get
A complimentary permanent identification card for hunting, sport fishing, and trapping.
How to apply
Apply online and submit the disability certification letter to the licensing office.

Official page (opens in a new tab) AS 16.05.341

Sources (3)

Disabled veteran camping pass

Who qualifies
Veterans with proof of a service-connected disability.
What you get
One Alaska State Park camping pass at no charge.
How to apply
Present service-connected disability proof at the Anchorage or Fairbanks DNR Public Information Center.

Official page (opens in a new tab) AS 41.21.026(d)

Sources (2)

Emergency financial help

We could not confirm this from an official source yet. Ask Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs or a free veterans service officer what applies to you.

State veterans homes

Before you apply

This page summarizes state law and agency guidance as checked on October 2, 2026. It is general information, not legal or tax advice. Eligibility depends on your records, and laws change, so confirm the details on the official page linked with each benefit, or ask a free accredited representative. This page covers the main state programs. Your county veterans service officer can tell you about smaller or local benefits.

Federal VA benefits apply in every state. See the Veteran Resource Directory and the Benefits Finder.