State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Tennessee

Tennessee offers property tax reimbursement for eligible disabled veterans and surviving spouses, education assistance, and state veterans homes. It does not levy an individual income tax, and qualifying veterans receive state employment preference.

Checked against official state sources on October 3, 2026.

Free help in Tennessee

Tennessee Department of Veterans Services

Serves veterans through benefits advocacy, outreach, and burial services.

Agency website (opens in a new tab) · Phone: 615-741-2345

Free help with VA claims

State veterans service officers help veterans and families file federal claims. Use the TDVS county lookup to locate local support. Accredited VSO claims services are 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.

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Property tax relief

Property Tax Relief for Disabled Veterans and Surviving Spouses

Who qualifies
Veterans who own and use their primary home and were not dishonorably discharged. Qualifying disabilities include service-connected paraplegia, specified paralysis, legal blindness, loss or loss of use of at least two limbs, VA service-connected permanent and total disability, or 100% permanent total disability from POW service. Unremarried surviving spouses who own and use the home may qualify through an eligible disabled veteran or specified service-connected combat or deployment deaths.
What you get
For 2026, tax relief is calculated on up to $175,000 of home market value. This program reimburses qualifying property taxes rather than exempting the property itself.
How to apply
Obtain the application from the county trustee or city collecting official. Apply or present the credit voucher within 35 days after the jurisdiction's tax delinquency date.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tenn. Code §§ 67-5-701, 67-5-704

Sources (4)

State income tax

Military retirement pay: No income tax

Tennessee has no individual income tax. The former Hall tax on investment income was repealed for tax periods beginning January 1, 2021 or later.

Sources (2)

Education and tuition

Helping Heroes Grant

Who qualifies
Honorably discharged veterans without a bachelor's degree who have lived in Tennessee for at least one year before applying. Qualifying medals include the Iraq Campaign, Afghanistan Campaign, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary, and Inherent Resolve medals. Students must meet the state's other financial aid eligibility requirements and enroll in an eligible degree program.
What you get
$1,000 per semester for completing at least 12 semester hours, or $500 for six to 11 hours, as published in 2026.
How to apply
Submit a Helping Heroes Grant application to TSAC for each academic year by the published deadline.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (4)

Veterans' Dependents' Post-Secondary Education Program

Who qualifies
Dependent children must begin full-time enrollment before age 23; eligible spouses are also covered. The veteran must have served honorably during a qualifying armed conflict and died from the specified service circumstances, or be a current or former POW or MIA. State residency and admission requirements apply. Spouse eligibility ends on remarriage or after the applicable ten-year period. Degree and attempted-credit limits apply.
What you get
Waives tuition, maintenance, student activity, and required registration or matriculation fees at state institutions.
How to apply
Ask the institution's veterans affairs office to determine eligibility and provide application forms. Supply official military or VA documentation.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tenn. Code § 49-7-102; MTSU Policy 643

Sources (1)

Tennessee STRONG Act tuition reimbursement

Who qualifies
Tennessee National Guard members in good standing, subject to the program's additional education and academic eligibility rules.
What you get
State tuition reimbursement used alongside Federal Tuition Assistance.
How to apply
Use the current reimbursement instructions. Submit the application within 45 days after course completion; completed applications are emailed as PDFs to the Army or Air program mailbox.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (4)

State jobs and hiring preference

Veterans' preference in preferred-service state hiring

Who qualifies
Qualified honorably discharged service members, including reserve members with active federal service. Eligible spouses and unremarried surviving spouses can receive interview preference when state residency or voter requirements and qualifying disability or line-of-duty death conditions are met.
What you get
Invitation to complete first-round interview questions for appointment or promotion. When qualifications and job-related skills are equal, the veteran receives hiring preference.
How to apply
Submit DD214, a Statement of Service, or other official honorable-discharge evidence with the application. Spouses must also provide the required disability, death, and residency documentation.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tenn. Code § 8-30-307; DOHR Policy 12-007

Sources (1)

Licenses, plates and parks

Resident Disabled Veteran Hunting and Fishing License

Who qualifies
Tennessee residents who are at least 30% disabled due to war service or 100% permanently and totally service-connected disabled.
What you get
A hunting and fishing license with a one-time $10 fee, as listed in 2026.
How to apply
Use the Resident Disabled Veteran application under Customer Applications in GoOutdoorsTennessee.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tenn. Code § 70-2-104

Sources (3)

Veteran designation on driver licenses and photo IDs

Who qualifies
Honorably discharged veterans.
What you get
A designation recognizing military service on a driver license or photo identification card. Normal issuance or renewal fees apply.
How to apply
At renewal or reissue, request the veteran designation and provide a certified DD214.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tenn. Code § 55-50-354

Sources (2)

Emergency financial help

We could not confirm this from an official source yet. Ask Tennessee Department 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.