State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Kentucky

Kentucky offers a homestead exemption for qualifying totally disabled homeowners and partial or full military-pension exclusions. State benefits also include dependent tuition waivers, National Guard tuition assistance, veterans homes, discounted recreation licenses, and state hiring preference.

Checked against official state sources on October 2, 2026.

Free help in Kentucky

Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs

The department supports veterans through healthcare, benefits, and cemeteries.

Agency website (opens in a new tab) · Phone: 502-564-9203

Free help with VA claims

KDVA provides free help with federal and state veterans benefits. Find a representative through the official directory.

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

Homestead exemption for totally disabled homeowners

Who qualifies
Homeowners classified as totally disabled by a federal agency or retirement system on January 1. They must own and maintain the home as their personal residence, receive disability payments, and retain the disability classification throughout the tax period. The general exemption also covers homeowners age 65 or older.
What you get
Deducts $49,100 from assessed home value for assessment years 2025 and 2026.
How to apply
File the prescribed application with the county property valuation administrator and document eligibility. Service-connected totally disabled veterans do not have to reapply annually once the disability is documented.

Official page (opens in a new tab) KRS 132.810

Sources (2)

State income tax

Military retirement pay: Partly exempt

Military retirement pension exclusion

Who qualifies
Recipients of federally taxable military retirement income.
What you get
Kentucky's general retirement-income exclusion is up to $31,110. Military pensions can qualify for a larger exclusion based on the retirement date and pre-1998 service. The published 2025 instructions describe full exemption for retirement before January 1, 1998, and partial exemption for retirement after December 31, 1997.
How to apply
Report the pension exclusion on Schedule M. Use Schedule P to calculate additional eligible pension exclusion.

Official page (opens in a new tab) KRS 141.019(1)(g); 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 161, sec. 7

Sources (4)

Education and tuition

Dependent tuition waiver for disabled or deceased veterans

Who qualifies
The disabled-veteran pathway covers spouses of any age and children, stepchildren, or orphans under 26 of qualifying Kentucky veterans, including veterans rated 100% service-connected disabled or permanently and totally disabled war veterans. Discharge must be under honorable conditions. A stepchild must belong to the veteran's household. The deceased-veteran pathway covers an unremarried spouse or child under 26 if the veteran served during a national emergency, congressionally declared war, or United Nations action; died on active duty; or died from a service-connected disability acquired on active duty. At death, the veteran must have been a Kentucky resident or married to one. Any discharge must have been under honorable conditions.
What you get
Waives tuition at state-supported schools, generally for up to 45 months toward a diploma or the shorter time required for a certificate. The statute addresses matriculation or tuition fees; KDVA says its waiver does not cover other fees, books, room, or board.
How to apply
Email the completed KDVA tuition waiver application and supporting documentation in PDF format to [email protected].

Official page (opens in a new tab) KRS 164.507 and 164.515

Sources (4)

Kentucky National Guard Tuition Award Program

Who qualifies
Kentucky National Guard members meeting satisfactory membership requirements. Basic training is normally required, except for simultaneous ROTC membership participants. The award period must end before the service term expires, unless the member signs an intent to extend service. Eligibility ends upon a bachelor's degree or reaching the applicable lifetime funding cap.
What you get
Pays up to the in-state tuition rate at an in-state institution. Private-school awards are limited to the average public tuition rate and the statutory funding condition. Other tuition-restricted aid can reduce the award.
How to apply
Apply each award period through the unit commander. Applications are due April 1 for terms beginning May through December and October 1 for terms beginning January through April.

Official page (opens in a new tab) KRS 164.5161; 106 KAR 3:010

Sources (2)

State jobs and hiring preference

State classified-service interview preference

Who qualifies
Applicants meeting the job's minimum qualifications who are current military, Reserve, or National Guard members, or former members with an honorable, under-honorable-conditions, or general discharge. Eligible spouses and unmarried surviving spouses are also included.
What you get
Interview preference for initial competitive classified-service appointments. Agencies must interview all preference applicants when fewer than five qualify, or at least five when five or more qualify.
How to apply
Submit the required military documentation to the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet to establish preference.

Official page (opens in a new tab) KRS 18A.150

Sources (2)

Licenses, plates and parks

Disabled Sportsman's License

Who qualifies
Kentucky residents with a service-connected veteran disability of at least 50%.
What you get
The disabled resident combination hunting and fishing license costs $12 under the current fee regulation.
How to apply
Use the My Profile account's Disability Authorization option to submit disability paperwork before purchasing the license.

Official page (opens in a new tab) 301 KAR 3:022

Sources (2)

Emergency financial help

Military Family Assistance Trust Fund

Who qualifies
Regular active-duty members deployed outside the United States, or National Guard or Reserve members, who name Kentucky as their military home of record, and eligible family members. Need must cause undue hardship; no reasonable other funding source may be available and this fund must be the last resort.
What you get
Need-based emergency grants for necessary expenses such as housing, utilities, groceries, health insurance copays, and child care, subject to available funds.
How to apply
The service member or Kentucky-resident spouse can submit the DMA 43-1 application. Send it to the Department of Military Affairs using the official program page's email or mailing instructions.

Official page (opens in a new tab) KRS 36.474; 106 KAR 2:021

Sources (3)

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.