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Kentucky Veteran benefits

22 benefits from Kentucky 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 Kentucky

Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 502-564-9203 State agency website

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

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

22 benefits

Property tax

  • 100%+

    Homestead Exemption for Totally Disabled Homeowners (including Disabled Veterans)

    Kentucky reduces the taxable assessed value of a qualifying homeowner's primary residence. A veteran with a service-connected total disability qualifies under the 'totally disabled' path and, once approved, does not have to reapply every year like other disabled applicants.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Homeowner must be at least 65 years old or classified as totally disabled; a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces with a service-connected disability qualifies without needing to reapply annually.
    How to apply
    File Form 62A350 (Application for Exemption Under the Homestead/Disability Amendment) with the Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) in the county where the home is located.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Active Duty Military Pay Exemption from State Income Tax

    Kentucky does not tax military pay earned by active duty members of the Armed Forces, reserve components, or the National Guard. This applies regardless of where the servicemember is stationed.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, reserve components, and National Guard members with military pay included in federal adjusted gross income.
    How to apply
    Subtract active duty military pay on Kentucky Schedule M (full-year residents) or the Adjustments to Income section of Form 740-NP (part-year residents); label the subtraction 'active duty military pay.'
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military Retirement Pay Pension Income Exclusion

    Kentucky allows retired servicemembers to exclude a set amount of military retired pay from state taxable income each year, with additional exclusion possible depending on service dates. Military disability retirement pay for injury or sickness is also excluded.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Retired servicemembers whose military retired pay is reported as taxable and included in federal adjusted gross income; those who retired before certain dates may exclude more.
    How to apply
    Complete the Kentucky Pension Income Exclusion worksheet/Schedule P when filing a Kentucky individual income tax return to determine the taxable portion of pension income.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • 100%+

    Disabled Veteran Free Certificate of Registration and License Plate

    Kentucky issues a free certificate of registration and disabled veteran license plate to a resident veteran who received vehicle-purchase assistance from the VA or who is 100% service-connected disabled. Usage tax is still owed at initial licensing.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Kentucky resident disabled veteran who either received VA financial assistance to purchase a vehicle or has been declared 100% service-connected disabled by the VA.
    How to apply
    Complete Form TC 96-217 (Application for Disabled Veterans Free Certificate of Registration and License Plate) with a copy of the VA award/rating letter and present it to the County Clerk.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Exemption from Local Motor Vehicle License Fees for Disabled Veterans

    No city, county, or other political subdivision of Kentucky may charge a disabled veteran (or a Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross recipient) a local license or fee to operate a motor vehicle if the vehicle displays a special military-related plate.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Disabled veteran, or recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, or Air Force Cross, who has been issued a special military-related license plate under KRS 186.041.
    How to apply
    No separate application; the exemption applies automatically once the qualifying special military-related plate under KRS 186.041 is issued.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Special Military-Related License Plates

    Kentucky offers dozens of special military-related license plate designs (including Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart, Ex-POW, and Gold Star plates) for eligible service members, veterans, retirees, and family members through their County Clerk.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Persons associated with the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Kentucky National Guard, qualifying Merchant Marine service, or Civil Air Patrol as an active member, retired member, veteran with honorable-conditions discharge, or qualifying family member.
    How to apply
    Apply to the County Clerk in the county where the applicant lives, on a form prescribed by the Transportation Cabinet, with required proof of service/status.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Designation on Driver's License or ID Card

    Kentucky prints the word 'VETERAN' on driver's licenses and ID cards for honorably discharged veterans, allowing easy proof of veteran status to businesses and organizations offering veteran discounts.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Honorably discharged veterans; proof of eligibility (such as a DD-214) must be provided.
    How to apply
    Apply in person at any Kentucky Driver Licensing Regional Office with qualifying discharge documentation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star License Plate

    Kentucky offers special Gold Star license plates to immediate family members of service members who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Immediate family members of service members who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
    How to apply
    Contact Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs at 502-564-9203 or 800-572-6245 for eligibility verification and documentation requirements, then apply at County Clerk's office.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • 50%+

    Disabled Sportsman's Hunting and Fishing License

    Kentucky resident veterans with a significant service-connected disability qualify for a reduced-fee combination hunting and fishing license that bundles deer, turkey, migratory bird/waterfowl, and trout permits.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 50% or higher. Kentucky resident veterans at least 50% disabled as the result of a service-connected disability (or otherwise declared permanently disabled by SSA or comparable authority).
    How to apply
    Obtain a Disability Authorization Card from the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, then purchase the Senior/Disabled combination license from a licensed vendor.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+

    Free State Park Accommodations for 100% Disabled Veterans

    Kentucky-resident veterans, National Guard members, and Reserve members with a 100% service-connected disability can stay free at Kentucky State Parks (lodge room, cottage, or campsite) for their own occupancy, subject to seasonal booking rules.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Kentucky resident Veteran, National Guard, or U.S. Armed Forces Reserve member with a 100% service-connected disability determined by the VA or Department of Defense (National Guard disability determined under KRS Chapter 342).
    How to apply
    Call the chosen state park to reserve (no more than 10 days before arrival); present a disability letter and proof of Kentucky residency at check-in.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Tuition Waiver for Dependents/Spouse of Members Killed in Service (KRS 164.505)

    Waives matriculation or tuition fees at Kentucky state-supported universities, junior colleges, or vocational training institutions for dependents or the widow/widower of a member of the Armed Forces or National Guard killed in service or who died of a service-connected disability.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Dependents, widow, or widower of a member of the Armed Forces or National Guard killed while in service or who died as a result of a service-connected disability, verified by VA or DoD records.
    How to apply
    Submit the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Tuition Waiver Application to KDVA; the certified application is then provided to the chosen public institution.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Tuition Waiver for Disabled Child of Veteran (KRS 164.512)

    Waives tuition at Kentucky public postsecondary institutions for a disabled child who acquired the disability as a direct result of a parent veteran's military service (for example, service-connected birth defects such as spina bifida).

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. A disabled child of a veteran, where the disability was acquired as a direct result of the veteran's service.
    How to apply
    Submit the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Tuition Waiver Application with supporting documentation of the service-connected disability.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+For family or survivors

    Tuition Waiver for Spouse/Child of 100% Disabled Veteran or Service Member (KRS 164.515)

    Kentucky waives tuition at state-supported colleges and technical schools for the spouse or child of a veteran who is 100 percent service-connected disabled or permanently and totally disabled for VA pension.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Spouse, child, stepchild, or adopted child of a veteran rated 100 percent disabled for VA compensation, or permanently and totally disabled for VA pension. Children can use it for 45 months, until they earn a degree, or until age 26, whichever comes first. There is no age limit for the spouse. The veteran must be a current Kentucky resident.
    How to apply
    Submit the KDVA Tuition Waiver Application; KDVA verifies eligibility and issues a certificate that is submitted each semester to the institution's financial aid office.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Tuition Waiver for Spouse/Child of Deceased Wartime Veteran (KRS 164.507)

    Provides a tuition waiver at Kentucky public postsecondary institutions for the spouse or child under 26 of a veteran who died during a wartime period, if the veteran was a Kentucky resident at the time of death.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Child or stepchild under age 26, or non-remarried spouse, of a deceased veteran who was a Kentucky resident (or married to one) at death and served during a wartime period.
    How to apply
    Submit the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Tuition Waiver Application; KDVA determines eligibility and issues a certificate to the institution.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • No rating needed

    Veterans' Preference in State Merit System Hiring

    Kentucky adds preference points to civil service entrance exam scores for veterans and, in some cases, spouses, surviving spouses, and dependent parents, and requires state agencies to grant a certain number of interviews to those with this preference status.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Persons who served in the active military, military reserves, or National Guard and were discharged with an honorable, general (under honorable conditions), or (for some provisions) other qualifying discharge; some spouses/surviving spouses/dependent parents also qualify.
    How to apply
    Submit required discharge/disability documentation to the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet so Veterans' Preference status is assigned on your applicant profile before applying to classified positions on careers.ky.gov.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • Any rating

    Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Certification Program

    Kentucky certifies businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans who live in Kentucky, enhancing opportunities for small purchase and construction contracts with the Commonwealth and allowing certified firms to compete for work in other states requiring statewide certification.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Business must be owned and controlled by a service-disabled military veteran who resides in Kentucky.
    How to apply
    Apply through the Finance and Administration Cabinet's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Contract Compliance SDVOSB program.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Burial in Kentucky State Veterans Cemeteries

    Kentucky operates five state veterans cemeteries offering a gravesite, opening/closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government headstone/marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate at no cost to the family for eligible veterans; spouses and dependents may also be buried, often at no cost.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. A veteran who did not receive a dishonorable discharge, a service member who died on active duty/training, or the spouse/minor child (in some cases unmarried adult dependent child) of a veteran; Kentucky residency is not required.
    How to apply
    Submit the Kentucky Veterans Cemeteries Eligibility Application with a copy of the veteran's DD Form 214 or discharge document to the KDVA Cemetery Office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Indigent Veterans' Burial Program

    Kentucky provides state funds to defray funeral expenses for an indigent veteran who died in Kentucky and whose estate lacked the money or other resources to pay for burial, with priority given to veterans who established Kentucky residency before death.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. The person who died must be a veteran (as VA defines it), have died in Kentucky, and had no money at death (no estate, no one legally required to pay, and no other funding found after a careful search).
    How to apply
    Funeral home, cemetery, or veteran service organization applies to the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs for reimbursement under the program's administrative regulation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026. Law: 38 U.S.C. 101(2).

  • 70%+

    Kentucky Veterans Centers (State Veterans Homes) Long-Term Care

    Kentucky operates state veterans centers providing skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, and other long-term care services to eligible veterans. Veterans with a 70% or higher VA disability rating receive full per diem coverage from the VA with no out-of-pocket cost.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 70% or higher. Must be a veteran with a discharge that is not of a dishonorable nature; some centers require Kentucky residency; applicant must not be diagnosed as acutely mentally ill, an acute alcoholic, addicted to drugs, continuously disruptive, or dangerous to self/others.
    How to apply
    Contact the Admissions Coordinator at the desired Kentucky Veterans Center or complete the online admission application through KDVA; the Admission Committee reviews all admissions based on facility capacity to meet the veteran's needs.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military Funeral Honors with Stipend

    Kentucky provides military funeral honors including flag folding and presentation ceremony and taps for eligible veterans. Veteran Service Organizations receive state stipends to help provide these honors at no cost to families.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans who served on active duty, received discharge under other than dishonorable conditions, and have never been convicted of federal or state capital offense; or individuals honorably serving in U.S. Reserves or Air or Army National Guard at time of death without prior capital offense conviction. Also eligible if previously interred or cremated regardless of date of death.
    How to apply
    Family member or authorized representative notifies funeral director of desire to have Military Funeral Honors rendered at interment.
    Official page

    Last checked October 3, 2026.

Money, grants and bonuses

  • No rating needed

    Veterans Program Trust Fund (VPTF)

    Established by the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans' Bonus Act, the VPTF directs state funding to veteran projects and programs (such as behavioral health services) for which no other funding is available, overseen by a governor-appointed board.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Kentucky veteran programs/projects lacking other funding sources may apply for VPTF grants; individuals and organizations may also donate to the fund.
    How to apply
    Submit an application to the KDVA at least thirty calendar days before a scheduled VPTF Board meeting.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    KDVA Homeless Veterans Program (Rental/Utility Assistance)

    KDVA's Homeless Veterans Program helps veterans currently experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness with rental, electric, gas, and water assistance, paying landlords, property managers, or utility companies directly.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans currently experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
    How to apply
    Contact the KDVA Homeless Veterans Program; payments are issued directly to the landlord/property manager/utility company via the Commonwealth Finance Department.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Also check

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