Pennsylvania Veteran Benefits
13 state benefits for veterans in Pennsylvania.
Property Tax
View all Property Tax in Pennsylvania →Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption
Pennsylvania grants a full exemption from real estate (property) taxes on the principal residence of qualifying 100% disabled wartime veterans, and to certain surviving spouses.
Eligibility: Honorable (or under honorable conditions) discharge; wartime service or Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; VA-rated 100% permanent and total service-connected disability (or blind, paraplegic, or loss of two or more limbs); must own and occupy the home as a principal residence; must demonstrate financial need (as of Jan 1, 2025 the presumptive income threshold is $114,637, and veterans' benefit income is excluded).
Estimated value: 100% exemption of county, municipal, and school property taxes on the primary residence
How to apply: Apply through your County Director of Veterans Affairs; the State Veterans' Commission makes the final determination. Questions: [email protected].
Education
View all Education in Pennsylvania →Educational Gratuity Program
Provides financial assistance for higher education to children of honorably discharged wartime veterans who have a service-connected total and permanent disability, or who died in service during a period of war or armed conflict.
Eligibility: Child (age 16–23) of a qualifying wartime veteran with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability, or who died in service; child must have lived in Pennsylvania for five years and attend an approved Pennsylvania school.
Estimated value: Up to $500 per semester (up to eight semesters), maximum $4,000 per child
How to apply: Apply through the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Educational Gratuity Program.
PA National Guard Education Assistance Program (EAP)
Tuition assistance for Pennsylvania National Guard members who commit to a six-year service obligation, administered by DMVA and PHEAA.
Eligibility: Active members of the Pennsylvania National Guard who enter a six-year service commitment; used toward an approved undergraduate (or, at reduced rates, graduate) program.
Estimated value: Up to 100% of tuition at a Pennsylvania public institution (capped at the state rate for other schools)
How to apply: Enlist/commit through your PA National Guard unit and apply via PHEAA; see PHEAA's Aid for Military and National Guard page.
Employment
View all Employment in Pennsylvania →Veterans' Preference in State Employment
Under the Pennsylvania Veterans' Preference Act, eligible veterans receive hiring preference for Commonwealth and other public employment, including a points bonus on civil service exams.
Eligibility: Veteran meeting the definition in the Veterans' Preference Act (51 Pa.C.S. §7101 et seq.), including wartime/qualifying service and honorable discharge; certain spouses and surviving spouses may also qualify. Preference does not apply to promotions.
Estimated value: 10 additional points added to a passing civil service examination score; mandatory consideration/interview for qualifying non-civil-service positions
How to apply: Claim veterans' preference when applying for Commonwealth positions; questions to the State Civil Service Commission or [email protected].
Recreation/Hunting & Fishing
View all Recreation/Hunting & Fishing in Pennsylvania →Disabled Veterans' Hunting and Furtaker License
The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers free or reduced-fee resident hunting and furtaker licenses to disabled veterans.
Eligibility: Resident veterans with a 100% service-connected disability qualify for a free license; resident veterans with a 60%–99% wartime service-connected disability qualify for a reduced-fee license.
Estimated value: Free (100% disabled) or $2.97 per license (60%–99% disabled)
How to apply: Provide VA certification of the qualifying disability to a county treasurer or issuing agent; see the PA Game Commission page on permits/licenses for hunters with disabilities.
Disabled Veterans' Fishing License
The PA Fish and Boat Commission offers free or reduced-fee resident fishing licenses (including a free Combination Trout/Lake Erie permit for those eligible for the free license) to disabled veterans.
Eligibility: Bona fide Pennsylvania residents with VA certification of a qualifying service-connected disability; 100% disabled veterans qualify for a free license, and partially disabled veterans (60%–99%) qualify for a reduced-fee license.
Estimated value: Free (100% disabled) or $2.97 (partially disabled); free Combination Trout/Lake Erie permit for those getting the free license
How to apply: Obtain the initial license from a county treasurer or a Fish and Boat Commission office with VA disability certification; renewals available from any issuing agent or online.
Vehicle/DMV
View all Vehicle/DMV in Pennsylvania →Free Vehicle Registration for Eligible Veterans
PennDOT waives registration (and title) fees for one passenger vehicle or light truck owned by a qualifying disabled veteran.
Eligibility: Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, or who lost a limb or eye or became paralyzed in service, former POWs, Medal of Honor recipients, and Purple Heart recipients; for one vehicle of 9,000 lbs or less.
Estimated value: $0 registration and title fees (fees fully waived)
How to apply: Submit the appropriate PennDOT application (e.g., Form MV-145V) with certification of eligibility; see the PennDOT free-registration service page.
Disabled Veteran and Military Registration Plates
PennDOT issues Disabled Veteran, Severely Disabled Veteran, and a range of other military and honor (e.g., Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, POW) registration plates.
Eligibility: Varies by plate; the Disabled Veteran plate requires a qualifying service-connected disability, and the Severely Disabled Veteran plate (which carries handicapped-parking privileges) requires VA certification of severe mobility impairment.
Estimated value: Special recognition plates; qualifying disabled veterans pay no registration fee
How to apply: Apply to PennDOT using the appropriate military plate application (e.g., Form MV-145V) with required certification.
Healthcare
View all Healthcare in Pennsylvania →Pennsylvania Veterans' Homes
The Commonwealth operates six state veterans' homes providing long-term skilled nursing, personal care, memory care, and domiciliary care to eligible veterans and, in some cases, their spouses.
Eligibility: Wartime or eligible veterans who are Pennsylvania residents (residency and service requirements vary by home and level of care); some homes also admit eligible spouses.
Estimated value: Subsidized long-term care; VA per-diem and benefits may offset costs
How to apply: Contact the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs or the specific veterans' home for admission requirements and applications.
Financial
View all Financial in Pennsylvania →Veterans' Temporary Assistance (VTA)
Provides temporary financial assistance to Pennsylvania veterans (or their surviving spouses/dependents) facing a financial emergency, to cover the necessities of life such as food, shelter, fuel, and clothing.
Eligibility: Pennsylvania resident veteran with wartime service (or surviving spouse/dependent) experiencing temporary financial hardship due to circumstances beyond their control.
Estimated value: Up to $1,600 within a 12-month period
How to apply: Apply through your County Director of Veterans Affairs; questions to [email protected].
Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans' Pension
A monthly state pension for Pennsylvania veterans who suffered a service-connected loss (or loss of use) of two or more extremities.
Eligibility: Pennsylvania resident at the time of entering the U.S. Armed Forces; service-connected injury or disease resulting in the loss or loss of use of two or more extremities; VA disability rating of at least 40% in each affected limb.
Estimated value: $150 per month
How to apply: Apply through your County Director of Veterans Affairs / the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Blind Veterans' Pension
A monthly state pension for Pennsylvania veterans who incurred a service-connected loss of vision.
Eligibility: Gave Pennsylvania as their place of residence when entering service; service-connected injury or disease resulting in visual acuity of 3/60 or 10/200 (or less) in the better eye with best correcting lens.
Estimated value: $150 per month
How to apply: Apply through your County Director of Veterans Affairs / the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Military Family Relief Assistance Program (MFRAP)
Provides need-based financial grants to eligible Pennsylvania service members and their families experiencing a direct and immediate financial hardship.
Eligibility: Pennsylvania resident members of the PA National Guard, PA residents in a reserve component, PA-resident active-duty members, and certain recently separated veterans and their immediate family members; must show a direct and immediate financial need.
Estimated value: Grants based on proven financial need, up to $5,000
How to apply: Submit an MFRAP application to the PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (see the state service page for the form and instructions).