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Idaho Veteran benefits

21 benefits from Idaho for Veterans and their families, on top of what VA gives. Many need no disability rating.

Each one says who qualifies, how to apply, the official link, and the date we last checked it. Rules change, so the official page has the final word.

Free help in Idaho

Idaho Division of Veterans Services is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 208-780-1300 State agency website

A Veterans service officer (VSO) helps with VA claims and state benefits for free.

Find a service officer near you Idaho's list of local offices
Your VA disability rating
Who is it for?

21 benefits

Property tax

  • 10%+

    Property Tax Reduction ("Circuit Breaker") for Veterans with 10%+ Disability

    Idaho's income-based Property Tax Reduction program includes veterans with a service-connected disability of 10% or more, or those receiving a VA pension for a non-service-connected disability, as a qualifying category alongside seniors and other disabled homeowners.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 10% or higher. Idaho homeowner who occupies the home as primary residence, meets an income limit set annually, and is a veteran with a 10% or more service-connected disability or receiving a VA non-service-connected pension (or qualifies under another listed category).
    How to apply
    Apply through the county assessor's office or the Tax Commission between January 1 and April 15 of the qualifying year.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+

    Special Property Tax Reduction for 100% Disabled Veterans

    Idaho gives veterans who are rated 100% service-connected disabled, or paid at the 100% rate for individual unemployability, a special reduction in property taxes on their home. There is no income test for this benefit.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating, or paid at the 100% rate through TDIU (also called IU). Veteran certified by the VA as 100% service-connected disabled or compensated at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability, who owns and lives in the Idaho homestead.
    How to apply
    File an application with the county assessor's office (or online) between January 1 and April 15, with a current VA letter confirming the 100% rating as of January 1.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+For family or survivors

    Surviving Spouse Property Tax Reduction for 100% Disabled Veterans

    A surviving spouse of a veteran with 100% service-connected disability rating may continue to receive property tax reduction up to $1,500 annually on their homestead. Benefit continues until remarriage, death, or loss of property tax liability.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating, or paid at the 100% rate through TDIU (also called IU). Surviving spouse of a veteran who had a 100% service-connected permanent and total disability rating or 100% individual unemployability rating. Spouse must be unmarried and retain property tax liability on the homestead.
    How to apply
    Spouse is eligible to continue receiving the benefit automatically in subsequent years if the veteran had applied and received the reduction before dying, until remarriage or loss of property eligibility.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Idaho Retirement Benefits Deduction for Military Retired Pay

    Idaho allows retired service members (or their unremarried surviving spouse) to deduct qualifying military retirement pay from Idaho taxable income if they meet an age, disability, or employment-income test set in state law.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Retired member of the U.S. military (or unremarried widow/widower) who is classified as disabled, has attained age 62 by year end, or was employed and required to file a federal return; the deduction amount is capped at the Social Security maximum benefit and reduced by Social Security received.
    How to apply
    Claim the subtraction on Idaho Form 39R or 39NR when filing the Idaho individual income tax return.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • 100%+

    Disabled Veteran License Plate (No Fee)

    Idaho charges no registration or plate fee for a vehicle owned by a veteran who qualifies as a disabled veteran under federal law, identified with a "D.V." plate, limited to one vehicle at a time.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Veteran who has established rights to benefits as a disabled veteran (100% service-connected disability, or specified loss of limb/vision) under federal law; does not apply to vehicles over 26,000 lbs.
    How to apply
    Submit ITD Form 3397 with required VA documentation to the Idaho Transportation Department Special Plates unit.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Purple Heart Recipient License Plate

    Idaho offers a Purple Heart recipient license plate; a Purple Heart recipient who also qualifies for the disabled veteran fee exemption may choose between the Purple Heart plate or the disabled veteran plate and pay no plate or registration fee.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran, or active/retired member of the armed forces, reserves, or Idaho National Guard, who furnishes proof of the Purple Heart award (DD-214, certificate, or award order); surviving spouse of a deceased recipient may also qualify.
    How to apply
    Submit ITD Form 3398 with proof of the Purple Heart award to the Idaho Transportation Department.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Designation on Idaho Driver's License or ID Card

    Idaho can add a "Veteran" designation to a driver's license or ID card for individuals who show proof of honorable discharge, active-duty ID, or a veteran license plate, at no extra charge when done at renewal or issuance.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Individual who presents proof of honorable discharge from military service, valid active-duty ID, or proof of holding a veteran license plate.
    How to apply
    Present acceptable proof at an Idaho driver's license office; there is no additional charge when added at new issuance or renewal, but a duplicate fee applies if added at another time.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • 40%+

    Disabled American Veteran (DAV) Reduced Hunting and Fishing Fees

    Idaho Fish and Game offers steeply reduced-fee combination hunting/fishing licenses and reduced-fee tags to disabled veterans with a qualifying VA disability rating, for both residents and nonresidents.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 40% or higher. Veteran with an official VA Disability Percentage Rating letter verifying a service-connected disability rating of 40% or greater (or, for residents, a nonservice-connected VA pension letter for certain license types).
    How to apply
    Purchase the DAV license through Idaho Fish and Game license vendors, regional offices, or online, presenting the required VA disability letter.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Disabled Veterans Special Big Game Tag Program

    Idaho Fish and Game makes five special big game tags available each year, free of charge and exempt from normal licensing requirements, to screened disabled veteran applicants for a once-in-a-lifetime hunt.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Disabled veteran applicants screened and prioritized by the Idaho Division of Veterans Services; tags are valid for deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, or mountain lion (excluding very limited controlled hunts).
    How to apply
    Apply during the application period of January 2 through January 31 of the hunt year; IDVS screens applicants and provides a priority list to Idaho Fish and Game.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Idaho State Parks Disabled Veteran Pass Program

    Idaho Parks and Recreation issues a free pass to eligible disabled veterans that waives the state park vehicle entrance fee and one campsite's usage fee (reservation fees still apply), based on a VA eligibility letter.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Idaho resident veteran determined to have a qualifying service-connected disability, verified by a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    How to apply
    Complete the Veteran Pass Program Application and mail or email it with a VA eligibility letter to Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    Idaho National Guard State Education Assistance Program (SEAP)

    SEAP reimburses tuition and registration fees at Idaho schools for eligible Idaho National Guard soldiers and airmen, used after federal Tuition Assistance is exhausted, funded on a state-fiscal-year basis.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Active drilling members of the Idaho Army or Air National Guard in good standing who have exhausted applicable federal Tuition Assistance.
    How to apply
    Apply through the GKO portal (gko.portal.ng.mil) or the unit Education Services Officer before the semester begins.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    University of Idaho Operation Education Scholarship

    The University of Idaho's Operation Education program provides an individualized scholarship to veterans who sustained a severe, permanent, service-connected disability since September 11, 2001, covering costs such as tuition, books, housing, and childcare; spouses may also qualify.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. U.S. military personnel with a permanent disability sustained in service since September 11, 2001 (and their spouses), enrolling in a degree program at the University of Idaho.
    How to apply
    Contact University of Idaho Military and Veteran Services / Operation Education to apply and receive an individualized scholarship plan.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Armed Forces and Public Safety Officer Dependent Scholarship

    Idaho waives tuition and fees and provides a book stipend for the spouse or children of Idaho military members or public safety officers who were killed, are POW/MIA, or are permanently disabled to the point of unemployability in the line of duty.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Spouse or child of an Idaho service member/public safety officer determined by VA to be individually unemployable, or by SSA to be totally and permanently disabled from service-connected injury, or who was KIA/POW/MIA; enrolling as an Idaho undergraduate.
    How to apply
    Apply through the Next Steps Idaho scholarship portal with required disability/death determination documentation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    In-State Tuition Residency for Service Members, Veterans, and Dependents

    Idaho Code sets residency rules for tuition purposes at public colleges and universities, including special pathways so qualifying service members, veterans, and their dependents can be classified as Idaho resident students for tuition.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Service members who entered as Idaho residents and their dependents, nonresident service members stationed in Idaho and dependents, Idaho National Guard members and dependents, and certain separated veterans, as defined in the residency law.
    How to apply
    Apply for residency classification through the admissions/registrar office of the Idaho public institution, providing military orders, DD-214, or other required proof.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • No rating needed

    Veterans Preference for Public Employment

    Idaho law requires public employers to add preference points to civil-service exam scores for qualifying veterans, with a larger bonus for veterans with a service-connected disability or Purple Heart, plus preference for certain spouses and widow(er)s.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans discharged under honorable conditions as defined by Idaho Code Title 65, Chapter 5; disabled veterans (10% or more service-connected disability) or Purple Heart recipients get the higher preference; unremarried widow(er)s and spouses of disabled veterans may also qualify.
    What you get at each level
    • standard veteran preference points
    • higher preference points for service-connected disabled veterans or Purple Heart recipients
    How to apply
    Indicate veteran/disabled-veteran status and submit DD-214 when applying to a public employer covered by Idaho Code Title 65, Chapter 5.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Government-Furnished Headstone or Marker

    The U.S. government provides at no cost an upright granite headstone, flat marker, or niche cover for eligible veterans and spouses buried at Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Eligible veterans and spouses interred at Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries. Government-furnished markers available for gravesites at state veterans cemeteries.
    How to apply
    Submit Marker Inscription Request form by day of interment. Cemetery staff will place order with National Cemetery Administration.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries (Boise and Blackfoot)

    Idaho operates two state veterans cemeteries offering burial and inurnment for eligible veterans, spouses, and dependents at no cost to the family, with eligibility following national cemetery rules plus Idaho law. There is no Idaho residency requirement.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Eligibility follows National Cemetery Administration standards and Idaho law; a veteran's minor child or disabled dependent may also be interred under certain conditions.
    How to apply
    Contact the Boise or Blackfoot cemetery office, or submit a Request for Burial/Inurnment form with DD-214 and, if applicable, marriage certificate.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Idaho State Veterans Homes (Long-Term Care)

    The Idaho Division of Veterans Services operates four State Veterans Homes in Boise, Lewiston, Pocatello, and Post Falls providing skilled nursing, residential/assisted living, and domiciliary care for veterans who can no longer care for themselves.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applicants for nursing care must be a wartime or peacetime veteran, or the spouse/widow(er) of an eligible veteran; applicants for residential or domiciliary care must be a veteran with proof of honorable service, generally a minimum of 90 days active duty.
    How to apply
    Submit the Idaho State Veterans Home Application for Admission, along with DD-214, insurance/Medicare/Medicaid cards, and financial documentation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    IHFA Home Loan Products Including VA Loans

    Idaho Housing and Finance Association, the state's housing finance agency, offers mortgage loan products through participating lenders that include VA-backed loans for eligible veterans and service members, sometimes paired with down-payment assistance. Assistance amounts, rates, and funding availability change often, so confirm the program is still offered and get current terms from the agency before relying on it.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Eligibility follows standard VA loan and IHFA program requirements administered through IHFA-approved participating lenders.
    How to apply
    Contact an IHFA-approved participating lender to apply for a VA loan product through Idaho Housing and Finance Association.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military Funeral Honors

    Free military funeral honors coordinated by Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries for eligible veterans. Honors include playing of Taps, folding and presentation of flag to next-of-kin, and honor guard detail of at least two armed services members.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Eligible veterans buried at Idaho State Veterans Cemeteries who served honorably in the United States Armed Forces.
    How to apply
    Request military honors when scheduling committal service with cemetery staff. Families may request honors during the cemetery committal service or include them as part of funeral, church, or memorial service elsewhere.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

Money, grants and bonuses

  • No rating needed

    Joining Forces Idaho Emergency Assistance Grant

    The Idaho Division of Veterans Services can extend emergency financial relief to destitute veterans and their dependents to help pay for food, fuel, shelter, and other daily necessities during a temporary emergency.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Destitute veterans (or those dependent on a destitute veteran) facing a temporary emergency need, as determined by the Chief Administrator under Idaho Code authority.
    How to apply
    Complete the 2026 Joining Forces Idaho grant application and submit it through a county or Idaho Division of Veterans Services Service Officer.
    Official page

    Last checked October 14, 2026.

Also check

Education only. Helping The Brave is not a government agency. Confirm details with the agency before you apply.