State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in North Carolina

North Carolina offers disabled-veteran property tax relief, a deduction for qualifying military retirement, education assistance, state veterans homes and recreation benefits. Its state hiring preference changed on October 1, 2026.

Checked against official state sources on October 3, 2026.

Free help in North Carolina

North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Supports military and veteran communities and their families.

Agency website (opens in a new tab) · Phone: 844-624-8387

Free help with VA claims

State Veterans Service Centers and county veterans offices help with claims and benefits. Accredited VSO representation on VA benefit claims is free.

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 exclusion

Who qualifies
North Carolina resident owners occupying a permanent residence who were honorably discharged or discharged under honorable conditions and have a VA-certified service-connected permanent and total disability or received federal specially adapted housing benefits. An unremarried surviving spouse may qualify, including when the veteran died from a certified service-connected condition. Required disability or benefit status must exist by January 1 preceding the tax year.
What you get
Excludes the first $45,000 of appraised residence value from property tax. This exclusion cannot be combined with other property tax relief.
How to apply
Obtain certification on Form NCDVA-9, then submit it with Form AV-9 to the county tax office by June 1. The normal 2026 deadline has passed.

Official page (opens in a new tab) G.S. 105-277.1C

Sources (2)

State income tax

Military retirement pay: Exempt

Qualifying military retirement deduction

Who qualifies
Retirees with at least 20 years in the uniformed services or medical retirement under 10 U.S.C. Chapter 61, and qualifying Survivor Benefit Plan beneficiaries.
What you get
Deducts qualifying retirement or survivor payments included in adjusted gross income. Chapter 61 severance pay is excluded, and the same income cannot also receive the Bailey deduction.
How to apply
Deduct the qualifying amount included in adjusted gross income when calculating North Carolina taxable income.

Official page (opens in a new tab) G.S. 105-153.5(b)(5a)

Sources (1)

Education and tuition

In-state tuition for qualifying veterans

Who qualifies
Veterans with at least 90 days of active duty and an Honorable Discharge who either graduated from a North Carolina high school on or after January 1, 2004, were permanently stationed in North Carolina for at least 90 continuous active-duty days, or received a Purple Heart.
What you get
In-state tuition and applicable mandatory fees at covered institutions without the normal 12-month residency wait.
How to apply
Provide proof of entitlement when requesting the in-state rate.

Official page (opens in a new tab) G.S. 116-143.3B

Sources (1)

Children of Wartime Veterans Scholarship, Classes I-A and I-B

Who qualifies
North Carolina domiciled resident children applying before age 25, with high school completion and Selective Service compliance when applicable. The veteran parent must have been a North Carolina legal resident at entry into the qualifying service, or the child must have been born and continuously resident in the state, subject to a statutory birth exception. This item covers qualifying wartime death and VA 100% wartime service-connected disability cases; honorable-condition service or a current second or subsequent enlistment is required.
What you get
Class I-A covers public-institution tuition, standard room and board allowances and required fees. Class I-B covers tuition and required fees but not room and board. Both may cover short-term workforce training or a private-school monetary allowance. Maximum four academic years within eight years; maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Other grants can reduce the award to avoid exceeding attendance cost.
How to apply
The Fall 2026 new-applicant portal is closed. Check the DMVA scholarship page for the next announced application period.

Official page (opens in a new tab) G.S. 143B-1224 to 143B-1226

Sources (4)

North Carolina National Guard Tuition Assistance

Who qualifies
Active North Carolina Guard members attending an approved North Carolina institution, with at least two years of service remaining after the academic period or a qualifying extension commitment. No unit flags and a 2.0 term GPA are required.
What you get
Tuition assistance paid to the school, limited by appropriations and the statutory state-institution annual cap. Renewal is discretionary; any remaining award may reimburse required books and materials.
How to apply
Use the NCTAP application and include the invoice or class schedule.

Official page (opens in a new tab) G.S. 127A-190 to 127A-195

Sources (2)

State jobs and hiring preference

State employment preference

Who qualifies
Veterans with active service other than training and an other-than-dishonorable discharge; disabled veterans' spouses; deceased veterans' surviving spouses or dependents; qualifying North Carolina National Guard members or survivors; and active-duty service members' spouses. Current Guard members must be state residents in good standing; former members must be state residents with honorable-condition discharge and at least six creditable years.
What you get
Employment preference for covered state-agency positions. The updated statute took effect October 1, 2026; preference is not a guarantee of appointment.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Session Law 2026-40; G.S. 126A-57.3

Sources (1)

Licenses, plates and parks

Disabled veteran lifetime sportsman license

Who qualifies
North Carolina residents with a VA disability rating of at least 50%, or eligibility established under Wildlife Resources Commission rules.
What you get
Discounted lifetime sportsman license for hunting and inland or joint-water fishing, including public mountain trout waters. Trapping and coastal fishing are not included under this sportsman license.
How to apply
Apply by mail or in person with VA disability certification. Use the current official application for payable fees.

Official page (opens in a new tab) G.S. 113-270.1D

Sources (2)

Free state parks annual pass

Who qualifies
Veterans separated honorably or under honorable conditions who have federal specially adapted housing benefits or a VA or other federal certification of service-connected disability.
What you get
Fee exemption for an approved State Parks Annual Pass Program pass, including the four-wheel-drive beach-access type. This is not a blanket waiver of every park or camping charge.
How to apply
Request the veterans pass through the official Annual Passes page and supply disability certification or evidence of qualifying housing benefits.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Session Law 2024-45, section 15

Sources (1)

Emergency financial help

We could not confirm this from an official source yet. Ask North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs or a free veterans service officer what applies to you.

State veterans homes

State veterans homes

Who qualifies
Veterans seeking skilled care, subject to individual admission assessment and eligibility confirmation.
What you get
State-operated veterans homes provide skilled care. The official directory links current locations and home contacts.
How to apply
Use the home and operations contacts in the official directory to ask about admission, current availability, and application requirements.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (2)

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.