State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Kansas

Kansas exempts military retirement benefits from income tax and offers property tax refunds for qualifying disabled veterans. State programs also provide tuition assistance, veterans homes, public employment preference, and permanent hunting and fishing licenses.

Checked against official state sources on October 3, 2026.

Free help in Kansas

Kansas Office of Veterans Services

Kansas' state office for veterans services.

Agency website (opens in a new tab) · Phone: 785-296-3976

Free help with VA claims

Accredited Veteran Service Representatives help veterans and family members at no cost. Use the state's field-office directory to find an office.

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.

Open the Benefits Finder

Property tax relief

Property Tax Relief for Seniors and Disabled Veterans

Who qualifies
For the disabled-veteran pathway, Kansas residents with an honorable or general-under-honorable discharge and a service-connected disability rating of at least 50%. Claimants must have been domiciled in Kansas throughout the claim year and own and occupy the homestead. For 2025, household income cannot exceed $58,041; base-year home value cannot exceed $350,000. A qualifying deceased claimant's surviving spouse remains eligible until remarriage.
What you get
Refunds the increase in homestead property tax over the qualifying base year. It cannot be combined with the regular homestead refund or SAFESR credit for the same property and year.
How to apply
File the property tax refund claim with the Department of Revenue by April 15 following the tax year, subject to statutory exceptions. The ordinary deadline for 2025 claims was April 15, 2026.

Official page (opens in a new tab) K.S.A. 79-4502, 79-4505, 79-4508a

Sources (4)

State income tax

Military retirement pay: Exempt

Military retirement income subtraction

Who qualifies
Recipients of military retirement benefits included in federal adjusted gross income.
What you get
Military retirement benefits are exempt from Kansas income tax.
How to apply
Subtract the federally taxable benefits in Part A of Kansas Schedule S with Form K-40.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (2)

Education and tuition

Kansas Military Service Scholarship

Who qualifies
Kansas residents with qualifying military service overseas or in international waters after September 11, 2001, normally at least 90 days, or less because of service injuries. An honorable or general-under-honorable discharge, or current service, is required. Deployment records must show hostile-fire-pay service. Students must be admitted or enrolled in a Kansas postsecondary program and demonstrate scholastic ability.
What you get
A scholarship up to tuition and fees, subject to funding, normally for four undergraduate academic years or five for a qualifying five-year program. Financial need receives priority.
How to apply
Complete the FAFSA and the State of Kansas Student Aid Application. The FAFSA priority deadline published for 2026 to 2027 was April 1.

Official page (opens in a new tab) K.S.A. 74-32,228 and 74-32,229

Sources (3)

Kansas Hero's Scholarship

Who qualifies
Eligible dependents and unremarried spouses of Kansas residents who died in military service, sustained a service-connected injury or disability preventing continued military service, or are entitled to VA compensation for a service-connected disability of at least 80%.
What you get
Tuition and fee waivers at covered Kansas public postsecondary institutions for up to 10 undergraduate semesters, subject to appropriated funding.
How to apply
Apply through the Kansas Board of Regents. The published spring 2027 application deadline is February 1, 2027.

Official page (opens in a new tab) K.S.A. 75-4364

Sources (3)

Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance

Who qualifies
Current Kansas National Guard members in good standing, or an eligible sponsored dependent. Participants need a high school diploma or equivalent, enrollment at a Kansas institution, and no bachelor's or higher degree. They must submit FAFSA and apply for other eligible federal tuition aid, maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, and meet academic progress requirements. The member must complete the current service obligation and serve at least 24 additional months after the last funded semester.
What you get
Subject to funding, pays tuition and required fees for up to 15 credit hours per semester, capped at the state-institution rate and offset by federal Guard tuition aid. Dependent awards follow full funding of eligible members.
How to apply
Submit the State of Kansas Student Aid Application for each semester and follow the program's required documentation process.

Official page (opens in a new tab) K.S.A. 74-32,146, 74-32,148, 74-32,149

Sources (4)

State jobs and hiring preference

Veterans' preference in government employment

Who qualifies
Competent qualifying veterans discharged honorably or generally under honorable conditions. Also includes spouses of veterans rated 100% permanent and total service-connected, surviving spouses of members who died in line of duty, and POW spouses. Retirees at pay grade O-4 or above are excluded unless retired for combat wounds or rated at least 10% service-connected disabled.
What you get
Preference in initial employment and first promotion in Kansas state, county, and city government.
How to apply
Give the hiring authority the applicable DD Form 214, DD Form 1300, NGB Form 22, or other recognized discharge document.

Official page (opens in a new tab) K.S.A. 73-201

Sources (1)

Licenses, plates and parks

Disabled veterans permanent hunting and fishing licenses

Who qualifies
Kansas residents with an honorable or general-under-honorable discharge, a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, and a service-connected evaluation of at least 30%.
What you get
A free permanent hunting and fishing license. Hunting and fishing rules still apply.
How to apply
Submit satisfactory proof of disabled-veteran status to the Secretary of Wildlife and Parks or the secretary's designee.

Official page (opens in a new tab) K.S.A. 32-934

Sources (1)

Emergency financial help

We could not confirm this from an official source yet. Ask Kansas Office of Veterans Services 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 3, 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.