State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Texas

Texas offers disabled-veteran and survivor property tax exemptions, Hazlewood tuition benefits, and state veterans homes. It has no individual income tax and provides state-park entry benefits. State and county officers provide free claims assistance.

Checked against official state sources on October 3, 2026.

Free help in Texas

Texas Veterans Commission

Helps veterans and their families establish claims and obtain federal, state and local benefits.

Agency website (opens in a new tab)

Free help with VA claims

The Texas Veterans Commission and county veterans service officers help prepare and pursue benefit claims without charging a fee. Use the commission's map of local offices to find help near you.

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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

Disabled veteran and surviving spouse property exemption

Who qualifies
Texas residents with a service-connected disability certified by VA or their military branch who own the property. The usual minimum rating is 10%. An eligible deceased veteran's surviving spouse may retain the veteran's exemption while unmarried.
What you get
Reduces assessed value on one designated property by up to $5,000 for a rating of 10% to less than 30%, $7,500 for 30% to less than 50%, $10,000 for 50% to less than 70%, or $12,000 for 70% or more. The $12,000 tier also applies at age 65 with at least a 10% rating, or for total blindness in one or both eyes or loss of use of a limb.
How to apply
File an exemption application with the property's appraisal district by April 30. Late applications under section 11.22 may be filed up to five years after the taxes' delinquency date.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tex. Tax Code 11.22, 11.43 and 11.439; Tex. Const. art. VIII, sec. 2(b)

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Total homestead exemption for disabled veterans and surviving spouses

Who qualifies
Veterans awarded VA compensation at the 100% rate for service-connected disability and rated 100% disabled or individually unemployable. The home must be their residence homestead. An unremarried surviving spouse can continue the exemption on the same homestead if the veteran qualified, or would have qualified had the exemption existed at death, and the spouse lived there at death and continues to do so.
What you get
Exempts the residence homestead's entire appraised value from property tax.
How to apply
Apply to the property's appraisal district by April 30. A qualifying veteran may file late up to five years after the taxes' delinquency date; this five-year provision does not cover the veteran's surviving spouse.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tex. Tax Code 11.131, 11.43 and 11.439

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Surviving spouse homestead exemptions for line-of-duty and PACT Act deaths

Who qualifies
Unremarried spouses of U.S. servicemembers killed or fatally injured in the line of duty. A separate exemption covers unremarried spouses of veterans who died from a condition or disease presumed service-connected under the PACT Act or its regulations, regardless of the veteran's disability rating or date of death.
What you get
Exempts the surviving spouse's residence homestead's entire appraised value from property tax. The PACT Act route took effect January 1, 2026. The exemption transferred to a later homestead is capped at the prior exemption’s dollar amount.
How to apply
File an exemption application with the property's appraisal district by April 30.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tex. Tax Code 11.133, 11.136 and 11.43

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State income tax

Military retirement pay: No income tax

Texas has no individual income tax, so it does not tax military retirement pay.

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Education and tuition

Hazlewood Act for veterans

Who qualifies
Veterans discharged under honorable conditions after more than 180 days of active military duty, excluding initial entry training. At entry, they must have been Texas residents, entered service in Texas or declared Texas their home of record. They must currently reside in Texas, with an exception for their own or a spouse's military orders. Continuing students must meet the school's satisfactory-progress GPA and undergraduate excess-credit rules. No default on a Texas education loan is allowed.
What you get
Up to 150 cumulative credit hours of tuition and required-charge exemptions at Texas public institutions. General deposits, student services fees, lodging, board and clothing are excluded. Tuition-only federal benefits offset the exemption; no Hazlewood award is available when those benefits cover its full value. State-funded courses qualify; other courses depend on the school's choice.
How to apply
Submit the completed Hazlewood application and supporting eligibility documents to the institution by the last class date of the semester or term.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tex. Educ. Code 54.341 and 54.2001; 40 TAC 461.20, 461.30 and 461.40

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Hazlewood family and Legacy benefits

Who qualifies
Texas-resident spouses and children of U.S. servicemembers who entered service in Texas, declared Texas their home of record, or were Texas residents at entry, and who were killed in action, died in service or from service-related illness or injury, are missing in action, or became VA-rated totally and permanently disabled or individually unemployable from service-related injury. Continuing disability-benefit students must meet school GPA and undergraduate excess-credit rules. Those academic requirements do not apply to spouses or children of veterans who died from service-related injury or illness, or were classified as missing in action or killed in action. Legacy children use an eligible veteran's unused hours, must be Texas residents and normally 25 or younger, and meet the academic rules. The veteran must reside in Texas, subject to military-orders exceptions. No Texas education-loan default is allowed.
What you get
Direct spouse and child benefits provide up to 150 credit hours per eligible student. Legacy transfers use the veteran's remaining hours, assigned to one child at a time. Tuition and required charges are exempt, excluding general deposits, student services fees, lodging, board and clothing. Tuition-only federal benefits can reduce or eliminate Hazlewood assistance.
How to apply
Apply through the Texas public institution with the Hazlewood application and eligibility evidence by the semester's last class date. Legacy transfers also require the assignment forms submitted to the institution.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tex. Educ. Code 54.341; 40 TAC 461.50, 461.60 and 461.70

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State Tuition Assistance

Who qualifies
Actively drilling Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard and eligible Texas State Guard members in good standing. Eligible ranks are E1 to E9, W1 to W3 and O1 to O5; SMP ROTC cadets also have a route. Complete Basic Training or its equivalent, or Military Science 2 with a GRFD control number. Applicants need an eligible accredited nonprofit Texas institution, at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and service continuing beyond the semester or an approved extension.
What you get
Needs-based tuition and mandatory-fee assistance for 3 to 12 credit hours per fall or spring semester, for at most five academic years or ten semesters, whichever comes first. Awards depend on funding and cannot exceed eligible charges. Private and non-formula awards generally use the estimated average public-school award. Other aid that fully covers eligible costs leaves no STA eligibility.
How to apply
Apply online for each semester and submit the Statement of Understanding, authorized release, proof of any required Federal Tuition Assistance application, and any required records. For spring 2027, the priority window runs September 15 to November 15, 2026. Submit an official transcript after each funded semester by the published deadline.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tex. Gov't Code 437.226; TMDI 1322.02

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State jobs and hiring preference

Military employment preference

Who qualifies
Honorably discharged veterans, including veterans with service-connected disabilities; unremarried surviving spouses; orphans of veterans killed on active duty; spouses of active-duty U.S. armed-forces or Texas National Guard members; and spouses who provide the household's primary income when the veteran has a total disability rating based on at least 70% service-connected disability or individual unemployability.
What you get
Preference for state-agency employment over applicants who are not better qualified. A qualified applicant who passes a required competitive examination receives 10 added points; a disabled veteran receives five additional points.
How to apply
Claim the preference when applying for a state job. For TPWD vacancies, attach the required preference documents to the application using the linked agency instructions.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tex. Gov't Code 657.002, 657.003 and 2308.251

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Licenses, plates and parks

Disabled Veteran Super Combo hunting and fishing package

Who qualifies
Resident and nonresident veterans receiving U.S. disability compensation for a VA-defined service-connected disability involving loss of use of a lower extremity or a disability rating of at least 50%.
What you get
A hunting and fishing license package without license fees. The Federal Duck Stamp is separate and remains required for waterfowl hunting.
How to apply
Obtain the package in person at a license retailer. Show VA disability proof stating the rating; it should have been issued within the last 12 months. Applicants age 17 or older also need accepted identification. An unexpired Texas driver's license or ID is one option, unless marked Limited Term or Temporary; other document options are listed in the adopted rule.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tex. Parks & Wildlife Code 42.012 and 46.004; 31 TAC 55.1

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Texas Parklands Passports

Who qualifies
Honorably discharged U.S. veterans and active-duty servicemembers. Gold Star passes cover surviving spouses, parents, children and siblings of people who died while serving. The disabled-veteran pass applies at 60% or more service-connected disability or loss of a lower extremity.
What you get
Qualifying veterans, active-duty members and Gold Star relatives receive free state-park entrance. The disabled-veteran pass also covers one companion.
How to apply
Obtain the passport at a state park. Use the linked program page to check the proof required for your passport category.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tex. Parks & Wildlife Code 13.018

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Veteran driver license and ID designation

Who qualifies
Veterans of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Texas National Guard with an honorable discharge. DPS also accepts a general discharge under honorable conditions under its published policy.
What you get
Adds a VETERAN designation to a Texas driver license or personal identification certificate.
How to apply
Request the designation and provide proof of military service and honorable discharge. VA veteran identification cards and Department of Defense identification cards are accepted proof.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Tex. Transp. Code 521.102 and 521.1235

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Emergency financial help

We could not confirm this from an official source yet. Ask Texas Veterans Commission 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.