State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Louisiana

Louisiana exempts military retirement pay and provides additional homestead relief for qualifying disabled veterans. The state also offers veteran and dependent education benefits, National Guard tuition support, veterans homes, employment preference, and need-based financial assistance.

Checked against official state sources on October 2, 2026.

Free help in Louisiana

Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs

Louisiana's state department serving veterans.

Agency website (opens in a new tab) · Phone: 225-219-5000

Free help with VA claims

LDVA veterans assistance counselors file VA claims for Louisiana veterans at no charge. Use the official parish service-office locator.

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

Disabled veteran homestead property-tax exemption

Who qualifies
Veterans who own and occupy a qualifying homestead and have a VA service-connected rating of at least 50%. Surviving spouses qualify at the deceased veteran's rating level while continuing to own and occupy the property, whether or not the exemption had been claimed before the veteran died.
What you get
In addition to the $7,500 assessed-value homestead exemption, exempts another $2,500 for a rating of 50% to below 70%, or $4,500 for 70% to below 100%. For the constitutional category of 100% unemployability or total disability, the remaining assessed homestead value is exempt from ad valorem taxation.
How to apply
Start with a veterans assistance counselor through LDVA's service-office directory.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Louisiana Constitution Article VII, section 21(K)

Sources (2)

State income tax

Military retirement pay: Exempt

Military retirement income exemption

Who qualifies
Recipients of federal military retirement benefits.
What you get
Military retirement benefits are excluded from Louisiana taxable income.
How to apply
For the verified 2025 resident return, report federal retirement benefits using Schedule E code 04E.

Official page (opens in a new tab) R.S. 47:44.2

Sources (2)

Education and tuition

Disabled veterans tuition and fee exemption

Who qualifies
Louisiana residents with a VA service-connected disability who attend a public postsecondary institution in a program eligible under 38 U.S.C. 3313 and qualify below the 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill tier. Students must remain full-time and meet the institution's academic and attendance rules.
What you get
Exempts the tuition and fees left after the applicable federal education benefits, for up to 10 semesters or equivalent academic units.
How to apply
Contact the institution's Veteran Affairs office about the exemption and required federal education benefits.

Official page (opens in a new tab) R.S. 17:1688

Sources (2)

Title 29 tuition exemption for children of disabled veterans

Who qualifies
Children ages 16 through 25 of living veterans rated 90% to 100% service-connected disabled by VA or determined unemployable because of a service-connected disability. The veteran must have lived in Louisiana for at least 12 months before the child's admission. Students receiving the separate R.S. 17:1686 benefit cannot also receive this exemption.
What you get
Exempts tuition and school-imposed fees at Louisiana public postsecondary institutions, including registration, laboratory, athletic, medical, and nonresident fees.
How to apply
Schedule an appointment with a veterans assistance counselor at the parish veterans service office.

Official page (opens in a new tab) R.S. 29:288(A), (C)

Sources (2)

National Guard tuition exemption and Patriot Scholarship

Who qualifies
Louisiana-domiciled National Guard members age 17 or older attending a Louisiana public institution, in good standing throughout the semester. The Patriot Scholarship additionally requires eligibility for the tuition exemption.
What you get
The ordinary tuition exemption covers up to five separate academic years or completion of a degree, whichever comes first. The separately funded Patriot Scholarship covers mandatory fees at public postsecondary institutions for eligible members.
How to apply
Contact the LANG Education Services Office if the school cannot verify eligibility.

Official page (opens in a new tab) R.S. 29:36.1; R.S. 17:4101

Sources (3)

State jobs and hiring preference

Civil service veterans' preference

Who qualifies
Honorably serving veterans of a declared war, qualifying campaign or expedition, at least 90 nontraining days after September 11, 2001, or other statutory conflict dates. Honorably discharged veterans with VA-recognized service-connected disabilities qualify for the higher preference. Minimum testing and eligibility ratings remain required.
What you get
Adds a five-point preference for qualifying service or ten points for qualifying service-connected disability in original state and covered city civil service appointments. Certain family-member pathways also exist.
How to apply
Claim veterans' preference in the employment application.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Louisiana Constitution Article X, section 10(A)(2)

Sources (2)

Licenses, plates and parks

Disabled veteran state park entrance permit

Who qualifies
Louisiana-resident veterans with a Social Security or VA disability classification of total and permanent disability or at least 50%. The statute also provides limb-amputation and automobile-allowance pathways.
What you get
Exempts day-use state park entrance fees for the qualifying veteran and people accompanying the veteran in the same private, noncommercial vehicle.
How to apply
Apply to the Office of State Parks for an entrance permit. LDVA verifies eligibility.

Official page (opens in a new tab) R.S. 56:1694

Sources (1)

Disabled veteran driver's-license or identification-card fee exemption

Who qualifies
Honorably discharged U.S. Armed Forces veterans with a service-related disability of at least 50%, receiving federal compensation for it, who are not subject to the registration requirements in Title 15, Chapter 3-B.
What you get
Exempts covered driver's-license and special-identification-card issuance fees. The fee in R.S. 32:668(B)(1)(a)(i) is expressly excluded.
How to apply
Provide the entitlement proof required by the department's rules.

Official page (opens in a new tab) R.S. 32:412.2

Sources (1)

Emergency financial help

Military Family Assistance Fund

Who qualifies
The discharged-veteran pathway covers honorably discharged Louisiana-domiciled veterans meeting these service rules: 24 continuous active-duty months or the full ordered period of at least 90 nontraining days; certain 90-day early-discharge or compensable-disability cases; or shorter service ended by a service-connected disability. Need must create undue hardship, other funding must be unavailable, and reasonable attempts to obtain alternative assistance are required. Activated military and eligible family pathways also exist.
What you get
The board may approve up to $10,000 for one need-based claim in a 12-month period, subject to available funds, for necessary hardship expenses.
How to apply
Mail the completed application and required supporting documentation to LDVA, ATTN: MFA Administrator, P.O. Box 94095, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9095.

Official page (opens in a new tab) R.S. 46:121 and 46:123

Sources (4)

State veterans homes

Changes on the way

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.