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Rhode Island Veteran benefits

22 benefits from Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 401-921-2119 State agency website

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

Find a service officer near you
Your VA disability rating
Who is it for?

22 benefits

Property tax

  • No rating needed

    Veterans' Property Tax Exemption

    Rhode Island law authorizes cities and towns to exempt part of the value of a veteran's real and personal property from local property tax. The exact dollar amount is set locally, so it differs from one city or town to the next.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Covers veterans discharged other than dishonorably who served during a recognized wartime period such as WWII, Korea, or Vietnam, or, for later service, in a conflict listed in the law; unremarried widow(er)s of qualifying veterans also qualify.
    How to apply
    Apply at the local city or town tax assessor's office and provide a DD-214.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Parents Property Tax Exemption

    Parents of service members killed in the line of duty may receive property tax exemptions. Exemption amounts vary by municipality.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Parents of service members who were killed in the line of duty under circumstances including war, armed hostilities, military operations with armed conflict, peacekeeping operations, or international terrorist attacks.
    How to apply
    Apply at your town tax assessor's office with appropriate documentation of service member's death.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemption

    Unmarried surviving spouses (widows/widowers) of qualifying veterans may receive property tax exemptions. Exemption amounts vary by municipality. The benefit may continue even if the remarriage is later voided, ended by death, or dissolved.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who received an honorable discharge and served during wartime (WWII, Korea, Vietnam) or in a recognized conflict after Vietnam. Survives with same eligibility requirements as veteran.
    How to apply
    Apply at your town tax assessor's office with veteran's DD214.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Military Retirement Pay Income Tax Exemption

    Rhode Island fully exempts military service pension income from state personal income tax, allowing a subtraction of military retirement pay that was included in federal adjusted gross income.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to taxpayers receiving military service pensions that were included in their federal adjusted gross income, beginning with tax years starting January 1, 2023.
    How to apply
    Claim the modification for taxpayers receiving military service pensions on the Rhode Island personal income tax return.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • 100%+

    Disabled Veteran Driver's License Fee Exemption

    Veterans with a 100% service-related disability can obtain a special Disabled Veteran license, and the holder never has to pay any fee for that license again for the rest of their life.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Available to veterans with a 100% service-related disability; this special license does not include commercial driving privileges (CDL).
    How to apply
    Apply at the Division of Motor Vehicles with documentation of the 100% service-related disability rating.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • Any rating

    Disabled Veteran License Plate and Registration Fee Exemption

    Rhode Island issues a no-charge "Disabled Veteran" license plate and waives the vehicle registration fee for qualifying disabled veterans.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Any VA service-connected rating, even 0%. Available to a veteran who owns or leases a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating up to 12,000 lbs; a DD-214 showing honorable discharge must be provided to the DMV.
    How to apply
    Submit a completed Application for Registration along with a DD-214 to the Division of Motor Vehicles.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Prisoner of War License Plate

    Rhode Island issues a no-charge "Prisoner of War" license plate to former POWs of WWI, WWII, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to former Prisoners of War of those conflicts on vehicles with a GVWR of 12,000 lbs or less; only one set per eligible veteran.
    How to apply
    Provide proof of POW status to the Division of Motor Vehicles when registering the vehicle.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Purple Heart License Plate

    Rhode Island offers a free "Purple Heart" license plate, and eligible veterans may obtain two sets at no charge for the plates or registration.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to veterans whose DD-214 shows award of the Purple Heart medal.
    How to apply
    Furnish a DD-214 showing the Purple Heart award to the Division of Motor Vehicles when registering the vehicle.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Designation on Driver's License or ID

    Rhode Island lets veterans add a "Veteran" designation to their driver's license or ID card at no cost, making military service visible on the credential.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Any veteran who presents a DD-214 or other acceptable documentation of military service to the DMV may add the designation.
    How to apply
    Present a DD-214 or other proof of service to the Division of Motor Vehicles to add the designation to an existing credential.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Family License Plate

    Rhode Island offers a "Gold Star Family" license plate for family members of a service member whose death was determined to be in the line of duty.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to a person eligible to receive a gold star lapel button whose family member's death was determined to be in the line of duty; RIOVA must certify eligibility.
    How to apply
    Submit the Gold Star Families Plate Application with a copy of the DD Form 1300 or death notice to RIOVA for certification, then register the plate with the DMV.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • 100%+

    Goddard Memorial Park Golf Course Fee Exemption

    Totally disabled veteran residents of Rhode Island can play golf at the Goddard Park Golf Course without paying any greens fee.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Available to a Rhode Island resident veteran determined by the VA to be totally disabled through a service-connected disability.
    How to apply
    Contact the Goddard Memorial State Park Clubhouse to reserve a tee time and present VA disability documentation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+

    No-Cost Hunting and Fishing License for 100% Disabled Veterans

    Rhode Island issues a permanent, no-cost hunting, fishing, or combination license to veterans with 100% disability status, and exempts them from needing a separate saltwater fishing license.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Available to veterans with current 100% disability status; the license is reissued each year after confirming the disability status remains 100%.
    How to apply
    Obtain the license in person or by mail at DEM's Boating Registration and Licensing Office with a current original disability decision document.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • 100%+

    State Park and Beach Disability Pass for Disabled Veterans

    Rhode Island offers a no-cost beach parking and admission pass for veterans with a current 100% VA disability certification.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating. Available to individuals presenting a current-year 100% Disabled Veteran's Administration certificate (or Social Security disability certification).
    How to apply
    Present the required current-year documentation at the DEM Parks Headquarters office to obtain the disability pass.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

School and tuition

  • 10%+

    Disabled Veterans Tuition Waiver

    Rhode Island resident veterans with a service-connected disability can have tuition waived at Rhode Island's public colleges and universities, though required fees are still charged separately.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: VA rating of 10% or higher. Rhode Island residents with a VA service-related disability rating of at least 10 percent may apply; financial aid and scholarships are applied first and reduce the waiver amount.
    How to apply
    Submit a request for the Disabled Veterans Tuition Waiver with supporting VA documentation to the school's Bursar Office; matriculated students must also file a FAFSA.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (STAP)

    STAP provides a tuition waiver for current Rhode Island National Guard members taking classes at the state's public colleges and universities.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to active Rhode Island Army and Air National Guard members attending Rhode Island public colleges and universities; the RIANG/RIARNG Education Liaison must sign the waiver form.
    How to apply
    Complete the STAP form with your school ID, have it signed by the RIANG or RIARNG Education Liaison, then submit it to the school's Bursar's Office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • No rating needed

    CDL Military Skills Test Waiver

    Rhode Island lets qualified service members skip the commercial driver's license skills test based on recent military driving experience, though the written knowledge test is still required.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. For currently licensed service members who were employed within the past 12 months in a military position requiring operation of a vehicle equivalent to a Commercial Motor Vehicle; school bus and passenger endorsement transfers are not allowed under this waiver.
    How to apply
    Submit the CDL Military Skills Test Waiver form, signed by your commanding officer, to the Division of Motor Vehicles.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    State Civil Service Veterans' Hiring Preference

    Rhode Island law gives veterans extra points on state competitive civil service exams, improving their standing on employment lists for state jobs.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans with an other-than-dishonorable discharge and 30+ days of active duty (other than training), or discharged due to a service-connected disability, or National Guard/Reserve retirees with 20+ years qualify for 5 points; war veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating qualify for 10 points.
    How to apply
    Achieve a passing score on the relevant state civil service exam; the preference points are then applied automatically by the Division of Human Resources.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE) Certification

    Rhode Island certifies small businesses owned and controlled by disadvantaged veterans as Veteran Business Enterprises, allowing them to participate in state purchasing and public works set-asides.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. The business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged veterans who served at least 180 days of active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
    How to apply
    Submit the required certification documents to the Minority Business Enterprise Compliance Office within the Department of Administration.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Rhode Island Veterans Home

    The Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol is a state-run residential and skilled-nursing facility offering housing, medical, and rehabilitative care to Rhode Island's wartime veterans.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to veterans of any age who served during wartime, were honorably discharged, and either enlisted from Rhode Island or have been a Rhode Island resident for at least two consecutive years before applying.
    How to apply
    Submit an application with a DD-214 to the Rhode Island Veterans Home; call (401) 253-8000 for assistance with the application process.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery Burial

    The state operates a veterans' memorial cemetery in Exeter that provides burial with military honors at no cost to eligible veterans, with some spouses and dependents also eligible.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to those honorably discharged after at least two years of active service, National Guard/Reserve members with at least six years of RI service (or out-of-state Guard/Reserve members meeting residency rules), and eligible spouses and dependents.
    How to apply
    Apply in person at the RI Veterans Cemetery in Exeter or the Warwick Resource Center with a DD-214 or equivalent proof of service.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Toll Reimbursement for Veteran Funeral Procession

    Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services bears the cost of all tolls for motor vehicles in a veteran's funeral procession originating from Aquidneck Island to the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Funeral processions for eligible veterans being buried at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery originating from Aquidneck Island.
    How to apply
    Administered by the Turnpike and Bridge Authority in coordination with the Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Money, grants and bonuses

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Rhode Island Military Family Relief Fund

    This state-created fund gives one-time emergency grants to Rhode Island National Guard, Reserve, and active-duty members and their families facing a financial crisis such as rent, utilities, or medical bills.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to members in good standing with a Rhode Island military unit or with Rhode Island as home of record, who have served at least one year of satisfactory service and have an emergency financial need; immediate family members may also apply.
    How to apply
    Submit a grant application to the Rhode Island Military Family Relief Fund Board of Directors describing the emergency financial need.
    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.