Maryland veterans benefits

Full exemption from state and local real property taxes on the dwelling house and surrounding yard (lot/curtilage) for veterans the VA has rated 100% service-connected, permanent and total. The dwelling must be the veteran's principal residence. Disabled active-duty members may also qualify. Apply via SDAT (form AT3-45/disabled-veteran form). 100% P&T is mandatory, no partial exemption exists for lower ratings at the state level (some counties offer separate local credits).

An un-remarried surviving spouse of a qualifying 100% P&T disabled veteran, or surviving spouse of a service member killed in the line of duty, may continue/receive the full dwelling property tax exemption if they own and reside in the dwelling.

Maryland lets eligible individuals subtract military retirement income (active duty, reserves, MD National Guard, PHS/NOAA/Coast & Geodetic Survey commissioned) from federal AGI before computing Maryland tax. The amount is age-tiered, not a full exemption. Cannot exceed actual retirement income received.

VA disability compensation is not subject to Maryland income tax (it is excluded from federal AGI, which is Maryland's starting point). No income limit.

Provides aid for tuition and other educational expenses to qualifying veterans (including disabled and deceased/POW/MIA categories) and their family members attending Maryland institutions of higher learning. Administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). The DVMF page does not publish a specific dollar value or single disability threshold (eligibility spans multiple veteran/dependent categories), so the exact award amount should be confirmed with MHEC.

Financial assistance for U.S. armed forces personnel who served in the Afghanistan or Iraq conflicts and their son/daughter/stepchild/spouse attending a Maryland postsecondary institution. Per MHEC, the award may not exceed 50% of annual tuition, mandatory fees, and room & board of the highest-cost USM four-year public resident undergraduate (excluding UMGC and UMB). Exact current cap should be confirmed via MHEC.

Veterans with an honorable discharge and a 30% or greater service-connected disability rating may be eligible for appointment to certain Maryland state positions without competitive selection. Governed by MD State Personnel & Pensions Article 7-203.

Eligible veterans receive credit (commonly cited as up to 10 additional points) on selection tests/rankings for Maryland state employment; in non-scored processes military service is a positive determining factor when qualifications are otherwise equal. Governed by MD State Personnel & Pensions Article 7-207.

Veterans rated 100% disabled, or compensated at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability (TDIU), permanent and total, receive disabled veteran license plates free of charge with no registration fee. Plates available with or without the wheelchair symbol, for passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, and trucks one ton or less. Issued with permanent cards/stickers.

Maryland residents certified by the VA as 100% service-connected disabled, or certified former prisoners of war, qualify for a complimentary lifetime hunting and/or fishing license (includes bow, muzzleloader, and furbearer stamps/permits; excludes the annual Migratory Game Bird Stamp). VA documentation required; issued at DNR Licensing & Registration Service Centers.

All applicable day-use entrance charges at Maryland State Parks are waived for all veterans of the uniformed services, resident or out-of-state. The waiver applies to the veteran (per-vehicle fees may apply where charged). An annual State Park & Trail Passport ($75 resident / $100 non-resident) is an alternative for whole-vehicle entry.

Maryland's state veterans home (assisted living and skilled nursing). Eligibility: honorable discharge with full-time active duty (DD214/WD AGO 53-55); Maryland resident; and either age 62+ or deemed disabled by SSA or the VA (a service connection of 70% or higher qualifies a veteran under age 62). Residency rules apply (3 months for skilled nursing, 2 years for assisted living, or MD home of record). Eligible spouses may also be served.