Pennsylvania Veteran Benefits

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Benefits organized by category so you can quickly compare tax relief, education support, recreation perks, and more.

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How Pennsylvania compares

Pennsylvania offers a solid middle-tier package with 15 tracked benefits and decent support in Property Tax, Income Tax, Education, Employment.

Quick categories

🏠 Property Tax 💰 Income Tax 🎓 Education 💼 Employment 🎣 Recreation 🚗 Vehicle 🏥 Healthcare ⭐ Other 🏘️ Housing

🏠 Property Tax

2 tracked items

Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption

Rating: 100% P&T

Eliminates ALL property taxes (county, municipality, school district) on primary residence and up to 5 acres. Income threshold: $114,637 gross annual (as of Jan 1, 2025). Veterans above threshold may still qualify if expenses exceed income.

Eligibility: 100% total and permanent service-connected disabled veterans with honorable discharge, wartime service or Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Unremarried surviving spouses also eligible. Source

Proposed Graduated Property Tax Relief (SB 831)

Rating: Varies (graduated by rating)

Proposed bill to expand property tax relief to veterans below 100% with graduated reductions of $7,500-$15,000 based on disability severity. Would remove wartime service requirement. Still in committee as of early 2026.

Eligibility: Veterans with disability ratings below 100% (if passed). Source

💰 Income Tax

1 tracked item

Military Retirement Pay Exemption

Rating: None

Military retired pay is not taxable in Pennsylvania. Includes retirement pensions, SBP annuities, and Reserve Component SBP payments. Note: TSP distributions are generally subject to PA state income tax.

Eligibility: All military retirees. Source

🎓 Education

3 tracked items

PHEAA Veterans State Grant Enhancement

Rating: None

Special processing disregards veteran's Expected Family Contribution and Pell eligibility, resulting in highest possible Pennsylvania State Grant based on allowable college costs.

Eligibility: Veterans applying for PA State Grants through PHEAA. Source

Military Family Education Program (MFEP)

Rating: N/A (Guard family)

Up to 5 years of tuition assistance at approved PA institutions for spouses and children of PA National Guard members. Combined benefits potentially exceeding $60,000. Expanded under Act 32 of 2025.

Eligibility: Spouses and children of Pennsylvania National Guard members. Source

Educational Gratuity Program

Rating: 100% or deceased (parent)

Provides $500 per semester (up to $4,000 total) for children of veterans who died or were permanently disabled from wartime service.

Eligibility: Children (ages 16-23) of deceased or permanently disabled wartime veterans. Source

💼 Employment

1 tracked item

Absolute Veterans' Preference in State Civil Service

Rating: None

10-point addition to exam scores for all honorably discharged veterans applying for state civil service positions.

Eligibility: All honorably discharged veterans. Source

🎣 Recreation

3 tracked items

Free Hunting License + Free Lifetime Fishing License (100%)

Rating: 100%

Pennsylvania resident veterans rated 100% get a free lifetime fishing license (Fish & Boat Commission) and a free hunting/furtaker license (Game Commission; the disability must have been incurred in a war or armed conflict).

Eligibility: Veterans with 100% service-connected disability. Source

Reduced-Fee Hunting & Fishing Licenses (60-99%)

Rating: 60-99%

Pennsylvania resident veterans rated 60-99% can buy a reduced-fee hunting license ($2.97, wartime disability) and a reduced-fee fishing license.

Eligibility: Resident disabled veterans with 60-99% service-connected disability. Source

Free/Discounted State Parks Admission

Rating: Varies

Free or discounted admission to Pennsylvania state parks for disabled veterans.

Eligibility: Disabled veterans. Source

🚗 Vehicle

2 tracked items

Veteran Designation on Driver's License

Rating: None

Free 'Veteran' designation on driver's license. Available when applying, renewing, or requesting duplicate through PennDOT with DD-214.

Eligibility: Honorably discharged veterans. Source

Disabled Veteran License Plates

Rating: Varies

Special disabled veteran license plates available through PennDOT.

Eligibility: Disabled veterans. Source

🏥 Healthcare

1 tracked item

Pennsylvania State Veterans Homes (6 locations)

Rating: None

Six state veterans homes: Gino J. Merli (Scranton), Hollidaysburg (Duncansville), PA Soldiers' & Sailors' (Erie), Southeastern (Spring City), Southwestern (Pittsburgh), Delaware Valley (Philadelphia). Services: skilled nursing, personal care, domiciliary care, dementia care, rehab therapies, dental, and social services.

Eligibility: Pennsylvania veteran residents. Source

⭐ Other

1 tracked item

State Veterans Cemeteries & Burial Benefits

Rating: None

State cemeteries provide burial with full military honors. County burial allowances available (amounts vary by county). Free county grave marker for deceased veterans.

Eligibility: Veterans with qualifying discharge. Eligible spouses and dependents for cemetery burial. Source

🏘️ Housing

1 tracked item

PA VETConnect Program

Rating: None

Refers homeless veterans to resources to acquire stable housing, connecting them with community services.

Eligibility: Homeless or at-risk veterans. Source
⚠️ Verify Before You Rely: State veteran benefits change frequently. The information above is summarized for general guidance and may not reflect the most current laws, amounts, or eligibility requirements. Always verify with your state VA office or state Department of Veterans Affairs before making financial decisions. Last reviewed: April 2026.