Veteran Benefits in Nebraska

Disabled veteran and surviving spouse homestead exemption

Who qualifies

Veterans with honorable or general discharge receiving VA compensation for 100% permanent or temporary service-connected disability, or a total rating under 38 C.F.R. 4.16, unless eligible for the separate specially adapted housing exemption. Qualifying surviving spouses remain eligible if unremarried or remarried at age 57 or older.

What you get

Exempts the full taxable value of the qualifying homestead.

How to apply

Apply to the county assessor after February 1 and by June 30. Permanent-disability and specified survivor categories do not need annual reapplication; temporary-disability claims do. Late filing may be available when VA certification arrives after June 30.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Neb. Rev. Stat. 77-3506, 77-3501.01 and 77-3512

Military retirement benefits exclusion

Who qualifies

Military retirees receiving retirement benefits included in federal adjusted gross income.

What you get

Excludes 100% of qualifying military retirement benefit income.

How to apply

Use Form 1040N instructions for the required documentation.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Neb. Rev. Stat. 77-2716(15)

Waiver of Tuition for veterans' dependents

Who qualifies

Nebraska residents meeting in-state tuition requirements whose parent, stepparent or spouse died on active duty, died from qualifying service-related causes, is permanently and totally disabled from service, or was classified as MIA or POW during hostilities. Children and stepchildren must be under 26, with a limited extension for their own active service.

What you get

Waives tuition and remaining fees after federal aid grants and state grants or scholarships at Nebraska's public universities, state colleges and community colleges. Covers one community-college credential followed by one bachelor's degree.

How to apply

Submit the prescribed waiver form early enough for processing before the term begins.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Neb. Rev. Stat. 80-411

Reservist Tuition Credit

Who qualifies

Nebraska residents in a Nebraska-based Active Selected Reserve unit who agree to at least three years of reserve service and pursue a qualifying credential.

What you get

Credits 75% of resident tuition for diploma, certificate, associate or bachelor's study, or 50% for graduate or professional study at covered public institutions. Limited to 200 new entitlements per calendar year.

How to apply

Complete the application with your Reserve Unit and submit it to NDVA.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Neb. Rev. Stat. 80-901 and 80-902

Nebraska National Guard tuition assistance

Who qualifies

Nebraska National Guard members attending covered Nebraska colleges who maintain satisfactory Guard and academic performance. Available federal tuition assistance must be exhausted. Recipients must agree to three more years of Guard service after assisted courses.

What you get

Credits 100% of resident tuition for diploma, certificate, associate or bachelor's programs, or 50% for graduate or professional programs. Private-college assistance is capped at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln amount. The program is limited to 1,200 members per fiscal year.

How to apply

Obtain your commanding officer's satisfactory-performance certificate and present it to the school at enrollment each term.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Neb. Rev. Stat. 85-505, 85-505.01 and 85-506

Veterans' preference for public jobs

Who qualifies

Preference-eligible veterans and qualifying spouses. Disabled veterans receive the additional preference.

What you get

Adds 5% to a passing examination or numerical score, plus another 5% for disabled veterans. Without numerical scoring, preference applies when candidates are equally qualified.

How to apply

Claim preference on the application. Veterans must provide DD Form 214 to the hiring authority.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Neb. Rev. Stat. 48-225 and 48-227

Disabled veteran license plates

Who qualifies

Veterans with an honorable or general discharge and a VA service-connected disability rating of at least 10%.

What you get

Provides disabled veteran plates. Alphanumeric plates have no license-plate fee; personalized plates cost $40 for initial issuance and renewal in 2026.

How to apply

Register with NDVA so DMV can verify eligibility, then apply to DMV.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-3,124

Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund

Who qualifies

Veterans meeting Nebraska's statutory definition, their spouses and eligible dependent children who are legal Nebraska residents when applying and need aid.

What you get

Temporary assistance for food, shelter, fuel, transportation, clothing, medical or surgical care, and funeral expenses.

How to apply

Apply through a State Service Officer, County Veterans Service Officer or recognized veterans organization's Post Service Officer.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Neb. Rev. Stat. 80-403

State veterans homes

Official page (opens in a new tab)