Wyoming veterans benefits

Reduces the assessed value of a qualifying veteran's primary residence (or, at the veteran's option, can be applied to motor-vehicle registration fees). Qualifying veterans include honorably discharged wartime/expeditionary-medal veterans (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, or a foreign-conflict expeditionary/campaign medal), their unremarried surviving spouses, and any veteran with a compensable (10%+) service-connected disability certified by the VA. Disabled veterans qualify regardless of combat service. Applicant must be a current Wyoming resident and have lived in the state at least three years; must re-apply/confirm annually with the county assessor. Deadline is the fourth Monday in May.

Wyoming imposes no individual income tax. Military retirement pay, VA disability compensation, wages, Social Security, and investment income are all free of state income tax because the state has no income tax at all.

Free tuition (and, for those enrolled before summer 2018, mandatory fees) at the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges for overseas combat veterans, and for surviving spouses and dependents of veterans who died in active service. Capped at 8 semesters within an 8-year period for participants from summer 2018 forward (older enrollees had up to 10 semesters). Tuition-only for the 2018-forward cohort; fees no longer covered for them.

In every Wyoming public department (state, counties, municipalities, school districts, special districts, community colleges, and the University of Wyoming), qualified veterans and their surviving spouses receive a preference prior to the interview process. Disabled veterans whose disabilities do not materially interfere with the duties are given preference over able-bodied veterans. No preference applies to a veteran already employed by that public department.

Wyoming issues a Disabled Veteran specialty plate to veterans with a 50% or greater service-connected disability rating from the VA. Apply via Form MV-100 through the county treasurer. Per WYDOT, the disabled-veteran plate itself does not exempt the standard registration fee, and it does not authorize handicap parking (a separate placard is required). Some county/military-benefit summaries describe a registration-fee exemption tied to the property-tax exemption being applied to vehicle registration instead of real property; confirm fee treatment with the county treasurer.

Wyoming Game & Fish issues free lifetime licenses to resident veterans: (1) 100% VA-disabled honorably discharged residents get free lifetime game bird, small game, and fishing licenses; (2) residents with a 50%+ disability get a free lifetime fishing license; (3) Purple Heart recipients (resident) get free lifetime game bird, small game, and fishing licenses regardless of rating; (4) resident active-duty members in combat zones may receive free general elk/deer, bird/small game, and daily fishing licenses. Veterans hospitalized in a VA hospital in Wyoming may fish free while under the hospital's control.

State veterans home in Buffalo, WY operated under the Wyoming Department of Health, offering an Assisted Living (domiciliary) Community and a Skilled Nursing Community (36-bed 'Greenhouse'-model facility opened Oct 2022). Open to veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses, and Gold Star Family members who qualify for the level of care. No specific VA disability rating is published as a precondition; eligibility is care-need and service based (verify with admissions).