State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Virginia

Virginia provides property-tax exemptions for qualifying disabled veterans and surviving spouses, plus a partial subtraction for military retirement income. Education assistance, state veterans homes, hunting and fishing benefits, and state hiring preference offer additional support.

Checked against official state sources on October 3, 2026.

Free help in Virginia

Virginia Department of Veterans Services

Administers benefits claims processing and state medical care centers for veterans.

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Free help with VA claims

DVS provides free benefits services and claims assistance through state service offices. Contact DVS to find the nearest office.

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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

Real property exemption for disabled veterans

Who qualifies
Veterans with a VA 100% service-connected, permanent and total disability who occupy the property as their principal home. A qualifying veteran's unremarried surviving spouse also qualifies if the veteran died on or after January 1, 2011.
What you get
Exempts the qualifying home and up to one acre. A locality allowing a larger acreage exemption under its elderly or disabled program must use that larger acreage here.
How to apply
File the locality's form with its commissioner of the revenue or designated officer. Provide VA disability documentation; a surviving spouse must also document the qualifying date of death.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Va. Code §§ 58.1-3219.5 and 58.1-3219.6

Sources (2)

Real property exemption for line-of-duty surviving spouses

Who qualifies
Unremarried surviving spouses of U.S. armed forces members who died in the line of duty with a Department of Defense Line of Duty determination, and who occupy the property as their principal home.
What you get
Exempts the home's assessed value up to the locality's average assessed value for dwellings on single-family residential property. Value above that average remains taxable. Qualifying land is generally limited to one acre, with a larger allowance where the locality provides one.
How to apply
File the locality's form with its commissioner of the revenue or designated officer and provide Defense Department documentation of the line-of-duty death.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Va. Code §§ 58.1-3219.9 and 58.1-3219.10

Sources (2)

State income tax

Military retirement pay: Partly exempt

Military Benefits Subtraction

Who qualifies
Recipients of qualifying military benefits included in federal adjusted gross income, including military retirement pay. The current subtraction has no minimum age.
What you get
For tax year 2026, subtract up to $40,000 of qualifying military benefits. The same income cannot receive another Virginia or federal credit, exemption, subtraction, or deduction.
How to apply
Claim the subtraction when computing Virginia taxable income. See Virginia Tax's military benefits guidance.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Va. Code § 58.1-322.02(18)

Sources (1)

Education and tuition

Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program

Who qualifies
Spouses or children (children normally ages 16 to 29) of qualifying service members or veterans. Covered pathways include a veteran with a service-related total and permanent disability or at least 90% permanent disability, discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. DVS must certify the applicable Virginia domicile or physical-presence pathway under subsection C; admission to a Virginia public institution is required.
What you get
Waives tuition and mandatory fees at Virginia public institutions for certified eligible survivors and dependents.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Va. Code § 23.1-608

Sources (1)

Virginia National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program

Who qualifies
Virginia National Guard members with the required two-year remaining service obligation, completed initial active duty, satisfactory duty performance, and good standing at an eligible public or accredited nonprofit private higher-education institution.
What you get
Subject to appropriations, grants cover the difference between full tuition and other education benefits available through National Guard membership. Eligible applications are funded in receipt order if demand exceeds appropriations.
How to apply
Apply to the Department of Military Affairs no later than 30 days before the academic semester begins.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Va. Code § 23.1-610

Sources (1)

State jobs and hiring preference

State employment veterans' preference

Who qualifies
Honorably discharged veterans with more than 180 consecutive days of full-time active duty, or with a VA service-connected disability rating. Qualifying line-of-duty surviving spouses and surviving children under 27 are also covered.
What you get
Passing written examination scores increase by 5%, or 10% for veterans with VA service-connected disabilities. Non-examination hiring gives preference to covered applicants who meet all knowledge, skill, and ability requirements.
How to apply
Claim the applicable preference when applying for employment with the Commonwealth.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Va. Code § 2.2-2903

Sources (1)

Licenses, plates and parks

Disabled veteran lifetime hunting and freshwater fishing licenses

Who qualifies
Virginia resident veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities. VA-rated total and permanent disability qualifies for the no-cost license; partial-disability tiers begin at 30%.
What you get
Lifetime hunting and/or freshwater fishing license. Statutory prices are no cost for total and permanent disability, $50 for 70% or greater but below total and permanent disability, $75 for 50% to less than 70%, and $100 for 30% to less than 50%. The license does not cover designated trout-stocked waters.
How to apply
Apply to the Department of Wildlife Resources for the applicable disabled-veteran lifetime license.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Va. Code § 29.1-302

Sources (1)

Emergency financial help

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