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Nebraska Veteran benefits

24 benefits from Nebraska 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 Nebraska

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

Call 402-471-2458 State agency website

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

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

24 benefits

Property tax

  • 100% P&T

    Homestead Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans (Category 4V)

    A veteran who is drawing compensation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs because of one hundred percent service-connected permanent disability, or assignment of total disability rating for compensation can have their home fully exempted from property tax under Nebraska's homestead exemption program.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T), or paid at the 100% rate through TDIU (also called IU). Veteran discharged honorably or under honorable conditions, VA-rated 100% permanent service-connected disability (or IU rating), owns and occupies the home as primary residence.
    How to apply
    File Form 458 with the county assessor; Category 4V does not need to file a Form 458 unless there is a change, and a Form 458 must be filed for other categories between February and June 30.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Certain disabilities

    Homestead Exemption for Paraplegic Veterans/Multiple Amputees (Category 5)

    Veterans who are paraplegic or multiple amputees and whose home value was substantially contributed to by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs qualify for a full homestead property tax exemption with no income test.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Certain serious disabilities (see who qualifies). Paraplegic veteran or multiple amputee whose home was substantially funded by a VA specially adapted housing grant; must own and occupy the home.
    Paraplegic veteran or multiple amputee whose home was substantially funded by a VA specially adapted housing grant
    How to apply
    File Form 458 with the county assessor with required VA certification.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Homestead Exemption for Wartime Veterans Totally Disabled (Non-Service-Connected) - Category 2

    Nebraska provides a partial, income-limited homestead exemption for Veterans Totally Disabled by a Non-Service-Connected Accident or Illness who served during a recognized wartime period.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran served during a recognized war, is totally disabled by a non-service-connected illness/accident, owns and occupies the home, and meets household income limits.
    How to apply
    File Form 458 and Schedule I income statement with the county assessor after February 1 and by June 30 each year; VA or Form 458B disability certification required in the first year and years ending in 0 or 5.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+For family or survivors

    Homestead Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Veterans (Category 4S)

    An unremarried surviving spouse of a qualifying disabled or deceased veteran, or one who remarries after attaining the age of fifty-seven years, may keep the full homestead property tax exemption.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died of a service-connected disability, died on active duty, or was rated 100% service-connected disabled; or surviving spouse who remarried after age 57.
    How to apply
    File Form 458 with the county assessor; VA certification required in the first year and in years ending in 0 or 5.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Military Retirement Benefits Income Tax Exclusion

    Nebraska allows military retirees to exclude 100% of military retirement benefits from Nebraska taxable income to the extent included in federal adjusted gross income (AGI) for tax years beginning in 2022 or later.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Any retiree of the uniformed services who reports military retirement income in federal AGI; applies to Nebraska residents and includes certain spousal/child annuity payments reported on Form 1099-R.
    How to apply
    No election or form is required; no election or form submission is needed to claim the exclusion.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • Any rating

    Disabled Veteran License Plate

    Nebraska issues Disabled Veteran license plates, and applicants for the personalized version pay a fee of forty dollars for initial issuance and a fee of forty dollars for renewal of such plates.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Veteran registered on the NDVA registry showing a qualifying service-connected disability rating; available for motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, semitrailers, and cabin trailers.
    How to apply
    Apply through the Nebraska DMV Driver and Vehicle Records Division; standard registration fees and taxes also apply at the county treasurer's office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Disabled/Blind Veteran Motor Vehicle Tax and Fee Exemption

    Nebraska exempts one motor vehicle owned and used for his or her personal transportation by a disabled veteran or blind veteran from the state motor vehicle tax and motor vehicle fee, starting January 1, 2026.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Veteran discharged with honorable characterization, has a VA-recognized service-connected disability or blindness, and vehicle is owned/used for the veteran's personal transportation; only one vehicle qualifies.
    How to apply
    Submit an application approved by the DMV; other fees such as plate fee, sales tax, and wheel tax still apply.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Purple Heart License Plate

    Nebraska's Department of Veterans' Affairs registry tracks residents eligible for Purple Heart license plates under section 60-3,125, honoring recipients of the Purple Heart medal.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Currently serving service members and veterans discharged honorably or under honorable conditions who were awarded the Purple Heart.
    How to apply
    Register with the NDVA Military and Veterans' Registry, then apply for the plate through the Nebraska DMV.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Designation on Driver's License or State ID

    Qualifying Nebraska veterans can have a veteran designation displayed on the operator's license or state identification card after DMV verifies eligibility through the NDVA registry.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must first register with the Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs Military and Veterans' Registry; active duty service (not for training) with honorable or general (under honorable conditions) characterization.
    How to apply
    Register with NDVA's Veterans' Registry, then request the designation at license renewal or via replacement card at a DMV licensing office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Family License Plate

    Nebraska maintains a registry for residents who qualify for Gold Star Family license plates under section 60-3,122.02, recognizing family members of service members who died in service.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Family members of a service member who died while serving, as defined for Gold Star Family plates under Nebraska law; must register with the NDVA registry.
    How to apply
    Register with the NDVA Military and Veterans' Registry, then apply through the Nebraska DMV for the plate.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • 50%+

    Disabled Veteran Hunting, Fishing, and Fur-Harvesting Permit

    Nebraska issues a free combination permit to disabled veteran residents who are rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as fifty percent or more disabled as a result of service in the armed forces of the United States, or receiving a pension from the department as a result of total and permanent disability.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 50% or higher. Legal Nebraska resident veteran, honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge, VA rating of 50% or more service-connected disability, or a VA pension for total/permanent non-service-connected disability.
    How to apply
    Submit the Veteran Permit Application, certified by a VA/Veteran Service officer, to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Permit Section.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 50%+

    Disabled Veteran's Lifetime Annual Park Entry Permit

    Nebraska resident disabled veterans who are deemed 50 percent disabled or more (service-related) or 100 percent disabled (non-service connected) and receive a pension from the Veterans Administration are eligible for one free perpetual lifetime park entry permit.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 50% or higher. Legal Nebraska resident veteran with honorable/general discharge and a 50% or greater service-connected disability rating, or a VA pension for total non-service-connected disability.
    How to apply
    Complete the Disabled Veteran Permit Application, have it certified, and mail to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Permit Section.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Age 64+ Annual Hunt/Fish/Fur Harvest Permit ($5)

    Nebraska resident veterans age 64 or older can buy an annual combination hunting, fur-harvesting, and fishing permit with all stamps for payment of a fee of five dollars to any Nebraska resident who is a veteran, who is sixty-four years of age or older.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Nebraska resident veteran age 64 or older, discharged with honorable or general (under honorable conditions) characterization.
    How to apply
    Present a DD-214 or Veteran Indicator on a Nebraska driver's license at a Game and Parks office or renew online annually for $5.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    Nebraska National Guard Tuition Credit

    Nebraska National Guard members receive a tuition credit of one hundred percent of the resident tuition charges for a diploma, certificate, associate degree, or baccalaureate degree program or fifty percent of the resident tuition charges for a graduate or professional degree program at eligible Nebraska schools.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Current member of the Nebraska National Guard in satisfactory standing pursuing a qualifying course of study; number of recipients capped annually by law.
    How to apply
    Apply through the Nebraska National Guard's tuition assistance portal; federal tuition assistance must be exhausted first.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Reservist Tuition Credit Program

    Nebraska-based Active Selected Reserve members get a tuition credit of seventy-five percent of the resident tuition charges for a diploma, certificate, associate degree, or baccalaureate degree program or fifty percent of the resident tuition charges for a graduate or professional degree program at state schools.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Nebraska resident who is a member of a Nebraska-based unit of the Active Selected Reserve, in satisfactory standing, enrolled in a state-supported university, college, or community college.
    How to apply
    Apply to the Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs (NDVA), which checks that you meet the rules. Up to 200 people can get the tuition credit each year, and you must re-certify each term.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    In-State Tuition Residency for Veterans and Dependents

    A veteran who was discharged or released from a period of not fewer than ninety days of service in the active military, naval, air, or space service, or their spouse/dependent, is treated as a resident student for tuition at Nebraska public colleges.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran (or spouse/dependent of veteran) meeting the 90-day service requirement, registered to vote in Nebraska, and demonstrating objective intent to reside in the state.
    How to apply
    Provide proof of veteran status, voter registration, and residency intent to the enrolling institution's registrar.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Waiver of Tuition - Surviving Spouses

    State education benefit waiving 100% of tuition charges and tuition-related fees at University of Nebraska, state colleges, and community colleges for surviving spouses of eligible veterans. Valid for one baccalaureate degree.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Surviving spouse of veteran who died of service-connected disability, died after discharge from injury/illness sustained in service, or is 100% permanently disabled. Student must be Nebraska resident meeting in-state tuition requirements.
    How to apply
    Enroll at participating institution. Download Waiver of Tuition Application (NDVA Form 3), complete with DD-214 and marriage certificate, have school complete Part VI, submit to NDVA before term begins via mail, fax, email, or confidential document portal.
    Official page

    Last checked October 3, 2026.

  • 100% P&TFor family or survivors

    Waiver of Tuition for Dependents of Certain Veterans

    Nebraska public colleges must waive all tuition and all fees remaining due after subtracting awarded federal financial aid grants and state scholarships and grants for eligible dependents of certain deceased, disabled, MIA, or POW veterans.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Nebraska-resident dependent (spouse, child, or stepchild) of a veteran who is 100% permanently and totally disabled, died of service-connected causes, or was MIA/POW; spouses eligible until a bachelor's degree, children until age 26 (extendable to 31 with active duty service).
    How to apply
    Submit NDVA Form 3, Application for Waiver of Tuition, to NDVA before the term begins; director certifies eligibility to the school.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • Any rating

    Veterans Preference in State Hiring

    Preference eligibles who pass a state job exam get five percent added to their passing score, with an additional five percent added to the passing score or numerical scoring of any disabled veteran when applying for Nebraska state jobs.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Veterans discharged honorably or under honorable conditions, disabled veterans with a service-connected disability, and in some cases spouses of 100% disabled or deceased-in-service veterans or active servicemembers.
    How to apply
    Claim veterans preference on the state job application and provide DD-214 and, if applicable, VA disability documentation to State Personnel.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Military Funeral Honors

    Full military funeral honors available for all veterans buried in Nebraska state cemeteries. Includes folding and presentation of U.S. flag to next of kin and playing of Taps.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. All veterans buried in Nebraska state veterans cemeteries.
    How to apply
    Honors are provided at time of burial service at the cemetery.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Nebraska State Veterans' Homes

    Nebraska operates four state veterans' homes located in Bellevue, Norfolk, Kearney and Scottsbluff, providing nursing, hospice, and memory care, with veterans who are rated 70% to 100% service-connected able to receive care at no cost.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applicant served on active duty (or NE National Guard active duty) with honorable/general discharge, has been a Nebraska resident at least two years, and needs long-term care; spouses and some surviving spouses/parents also eligible.
    How to apply
    Apply directly to a home, through a County Veterans Service Officer, or through a recognized veterans service organization using NDVA Form 2.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Nebraska Veterans Cemetery System

    Nebraska maintains state veterans cemeteries where burial fields are available for casket or cremation remains for veterans and their eligible dependents, currently located at Alliance and Grand Island.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Eligibility follows federal cemetery eligibility rules incorporated into Title 38 for veterans with qualifying discharge and their eligible dependents.
    How to apply
    Contact the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery Administration or complete a Request for Interment Form; pre-planning available.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    NIFA Military Home Program

    The Military Home Program is a NIFA home loan program for Active Military (active duty or reserves), or Qualified Veterans (discharged under conditions other than "dishonorable"), offering competitive rates without the first-time buyer requirement for veterans. 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. Active duty/reserve military members (must be first-time buyers) or veterans/qualified surviving spouses discharged under conditions other than dishonorable (no first-time buyer requirement).
    How to apply
    Apply through a NIFA-participating mortgage lender; complete required homebuyer education course before closing.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Money, grants and bonuses

  • No rating needed

    Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund (NVA)

    The NVA is a temporary emergency aid fund that assists veterans, their spouses, and dependents when an emergency occurs disrupting their normal method of living and when other resources are not immediately available.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran (or spouse/dependent) discharged honorably or under honorable conditions, or who died in/because of service, facing an unforeseen financial emergency with insufficient other resources.
    How to apply
    Apply through a County Veterans Service Officer, State Service Officer, or recognized veterans organization Post Service Officer; forwarded to NDVA for a decision.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Also check

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