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Oregon Veteran benefits

21 benefits from Oregon 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 Oregon

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

Call 503-373-2085 State agency website

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

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

21 benefits

Property tax

  • No rating needed

    Active Duty Service Member Residential Property Tax Exemption

    Oregon National Guard and reserve members called to extended federal active duty may qualify for a residential property tax exemption while serving.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to active-duty service members, including Oregon National Guard and Reserve members, called to qualifying extended active duty.
    How to apply
    Contact your county assessor; forms are also available from the Oregon Department of Revenue.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Property Tax Deferral for Disabled or Senior Homeowners

    Qualifying disabled or senior homeowners, including many disabled veterans, can have the Oregon Department of Revenue pay their county property taxes each year, with the amount repaid later through a deferred lien.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must own and occupy the home; for the disability track, must be eligible for or receiving federal Social Security disability benefits; household income must be under the state's annual limit.
    How to apply
    File an application with your county assessor by April 15, or file late (with a fee) from April 16 through December 1.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 40%+For family or survivors

    Disabled Veteran or Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption

    Oregon exempts part of a home's assessed value from property tax for veterans certified as having a disability rating of 40% or more, or for their surviving spouse or partner. The exempt amount is larger for service-connected ratings and grows 3% every year.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 40% or higher. Must be an Oregon resident who owns and lives in the home; veteran must have an honorable or general-under-honorable-conditions discharge and a VA/military disability certification of 40% or more (or annual physician certification for non-service-connected disability); unremarried surviving spouses/partners also qualify.
    How to apply
    File Form 150-303-086 with your county assessor, attaching a disability certificate dated within three years; new filers must generally file by April 1.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Federal Pension Subtraction for Military Retirement Pay

    Oregon lets retired service members subtract from state taxable income the portion of military retirement pay earned for service performed before October 1, 1991; pay earned on or after that date stays taxable.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to anyone receiving military retirement pay treated as a federal pension; if service spans both periods, the subtraction is prorated by months or points earned before versus after October 1, 1991.
    How to apply
    Claim the subtraction on the Oregon personal income tax return using the worksheet in Publication OR-17.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military Active-Duty Pay Subtraction

    Oregon residents serving in the Armed Forces can subtract up to $6,000 per year of active-duty military compensation from their Oregon taxable income, separate from the retirement pay subtraction.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to resident service members for active-service pay (not retirement pay); pay earned by a resident stationed outside Oregon may not be taxed at all.
    How to apply
    Claim the subtraction on Oregon Form OR-40 following Department of Revenue instructions.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • No rating needed

    "Veteran" Designation on Driver License or ID Card

    Oregon DMV will print the word "Veteran" on a driver license, instruction permit, or ID card at no extra designation charge, giving veterans an easy way to show proof of service.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a U.S. veteran as defined in ORS 408.225 and provide a DD214/DD215 or a VA Summary of Benefits Letter showing honorable discharge.
    How to apply
    Request the designation when applying for, renewing, or replacing a license or ID at any DMV office, and pay the normal license fee.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Disabled Veteran License Plate and One-Time Registration

    Oregon DMV issues a Disabled Veteran license plate with a one-time permanent vehicle registration fee, so qualifying disabled veterans never have to renew that vehicle's registration again.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Vehicle owner must qualify as a disabled veteran under ORS 805.100, meaning a service-connected disability certified by the VA or a branch of the Armed Forces; commercial vehicles do not qualify.
    How to apply
    Apply at an Oregon DMV office with proof of disabled veteran status; one such registration is issued per qualifying household member.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • 25%+

    Free Combination Hunting, Angling and Shellfish License for Disabled Veterans

    Oregon residents who are veterans with a disability rating of at least 25 percent get a free combination license covering hunting, fishing, and shellfish, plus a Columbia River Basin Endorsement, and can also buy a discounted elk tag.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 25% or higher. Must have lived in Oregon for at least six consecutive months before applying and provide written certification from the VA or a branch of the Armed Forces showing a disability rating of at least 25 percent.
    How to apply
    Mail or bring a completed application and VA/military disability letter to any ODFW office that sells licenses.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 65%+

    Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit

    A free permit (not a license) that gives hunters and anglers with qualifying disabilities, including many disabled veterans, extra accommodations such as fishing from an anchored boat or use of accessible blinds; valid for five years.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 65% or higher. For veterans, the qualifying disability is an official VA or Armed Forces certification of at least 65 percent disability under ORS 496.018; the permit does not replace the underlying hunting, fishing, or shellfish license.
    How to apply
    Submit the Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit application, available at any ODFW license office or by phone.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Special Access Pass for Veterans with Disabilities

    Oregon State Parks issues a Special Access Pass giving veterans with a service-connected disability free day-use parking and a set number of free camping nights at state parks; the pass itself is valid for 10 years.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Must obtain and submit a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stating a service-connected disability, along with proof of identity/address.
    How to apply
    Complete the online Special Access Pass application and attach the VA disability letter; contact OPRD by phone or email for help.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance (ONGSTA)

    Provides funding for up to 100% of resident tuition, certain fees, and a book allowance for current Oregon National Guard members earning an undergraduate degree or certificate at Oregon public colleges, universities, OHSU, or eligible private schools.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a currently drilling member of the Oregon Army or Air National Guard in good standing, not subject to adverse action, and apply each year with a FAFSA.
    How to apply
    Submit the ONGSTA application in the OSAC Student Portal and file a FAFSA by the term deadline.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Educational Bridge Grant

    A financial grant of up to $10,000 lifetime to help Oregon veterans finish a degree or training program when a required class isn't available, when a small student-account debt blocks enrollment, or when they hit documented financial hardship.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to any veteran as defined in ORS 408.225, including disabled veterans; must show inability to complete a program on schedule due to course unavailability, student debt of $5,000 or less, or qualifying financial hardship.
    How to apply
    Submit the Veteran Educational Bridge Grant application (VS1032) to ODVA; funds are paid toward the veteran's educational costs.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Nonresident Veteran and Dependent Fee Remission

    Lets veterans and their dependents who are not Oregon residents pay in-state resident tuition and fees at Oregon public universities and community colleges.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applicant must have served in the Armed Forces of the United States (or be a dependent of someone who did) and be attending an Oregon public university or community college.
    How to apply
    Apply through the registrar or veterans' services office at the Oregon public institution you plan to attend.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Veterans' Dependent Tuition Waiver

    Waives tuition at Oregon public universities, community colleges, and OHSU for spouses or children of veterans who died, became disabled, or received a Purple Heart in combat, up to a first bachelor's or master's degree.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Qualifying children generally must be 23 years old or younger at application; spouses or unremarried surviving spouses of eligible veterans also qualify; student must meet Oregon residency requirements.
    How to apply
    Apply directly to the financial aid or veterans' office of the Oregon public institution you plan to attend, with proof of the veteran's qualifying status.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • Any rating

    Veterans' Preference in Public Employment

    Oregon law requires state, county, and local public employers to give hiring preference to qualifying veterans and disabled veterans who meet a job's minimum and special qualifications, and to interview veterans who show they meet those qualifications.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Applies to any "veteran" or "disabled veteran" as defined in ORS 408.225; preference can be claimed for a civil service position at any time after discharge, and, since January 1, 2022, up to 120 days before discharge or release under honorable conditions.
    How to apply
    Submit a DD Form 214/215 or a VA letter showing a non-service-connected pension with your job application to claim the preference.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • Any rating

    Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) Certification

    Business Oregon's Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) certifies veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses so they can compete for state, county, and city set-aside contracting opportunities.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Business must be owned and controlled by a veteran or a service-disabled veteran and meet COBID's ownership and control standards; COBID is the sole agency authorized to certify these businesses statewide.
    How to apply
    Apply for certification online through the COBID certification portal with required ownership and service documentation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Military Funeral Honors

    Oregon Army National Guard provides military funeral honors at no cost to eligible veterans. This includes an honor guard detail of at least two uniformed service members, folding and presenting the U.S. flag to next of kin, and playing of Taps.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Active duty service members and veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable
    How to apply
    Families should make requests through the funeral director or by completing the Army MFH Request Form and emailing it with one of the eligibility documents (DD-214, Statement of Service, or Honorable certificate of discharge)
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    ODVA Veteran Home Loan Program

    The Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs offers its own fixed-rate mortgage loan to eligible veterans for buying an owner-occupied primary residence in Oregon, separate from the federal VA loan guaranty.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran must establish ODVA loan eligibility separately from any federal VA Certificate of Eligibility; the home must be in Oregon and occupied within 60 days of closing; the benefit may be used up to four times in a lifetime, with only one loan open at a time.
    How to apply
    Submit the Veterans Home Loan Eligibility (HL0409) form with a DD-214 to ODVA, then apply through an ODVA-approved lender.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Oregon Veterans' Homes Long-Term Care

    ODVA owns and operates two skilled-nursing Veterans' Homes, in The Dalles and Lebanon, offering long-term, memory, and rehabilitative care to veterans, their spouses, and parents who lost a child in wartime service.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran must have served as defined by the federal VA and received an honorable discharge (spouses and Gold Star parents also eligible); admission requires a physician's recommendation that skilled nursing care is needed.
    How to apply
    Contact the specific Veterans' Home (The Dalles or Lebanon) to begin the admissions and cost-of-care process.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Money, grants and bonuses

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Oregon Veterans' Emergency Financial Assistance Program (OVEFAP)

    A one-time emergency grant, paid directly to creditors, that helps Oregon veterans and their immediate family cover urgent needs like housing, utilities, medical or dental bills, and transportation.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to veterans (as defined in ORS 408.225) discharged under honorable conditions and their unremarried surviving spouse, dependent child, or stepchild, who are Oregon residents with an immediate financial need; limited to one grant per lifetime.
    How to apply
    Submit application VS1024 with a cover letter through a Veteran Service Officer or Veteran Advocate; payments go only to the creditor, not the applicant.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Other help

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    ODVA Conservatorship and Representative Payee Services

    ODVA can be appointed conservator or federal representative payee for veterans or their dependents who have been found unable to manage their own finances, handling bills, benefit claims, and property on their behalf.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. The veteran or dependent must be deemed incompetent to manage their own finances by a court or by the federal VA.
    How to apply
    Contact ODVA's Aging Veteran Services Division to request conservatorship or representative payee services.
    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.