Pennsylvania Veteran Benefits

Military retired pay is not taxable in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania taxes the difference between military pay and civilian wages when an employer compensates a reserve component service member. However, differential pay is not taxed for service members serving on active duty in a combat zone or hazardous duty area.

Military disability retirement pay received as a pension, annuity or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income. Some of the payments which are considered disability benefits include:

A nonresident service member's spouse may be exempt from paying Pennsylvania taxes on income earned while stationed in Pennsylvania.

DIC is a tax free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.

SBP, RCSBP and RSFPP annuities are not taxed in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania provides a real estate tax exemption for honorably discharged, resident Veterans who are 100% disabled. Who is eligible for a Pennsylvania Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption? To be eligible for the exemption Veteran must meet the following requirements:

Pennsylvania does not tax Social Security benefits.

"Operation Recognition" is a state law that authorizes school districts to grant honorary high school diploma to an honorably discharged Veteran who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

PEGP provides a waiver for tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board costs charged by public postsecondary institutions for the children of deceased Pennsylvania National Guard Service members.

The Pennsylvania Educational Gratuity Program provides financial assistance to children of honorably discharged Veterans who have service-connected disabilities or died during established war service dates .

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency offers a state educational grant to the children of a service member serving in the U.S. Armed Forces who has been declared a POW, or MIA. The maximum award amount is $1,200 (dependent on state funding).

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) manage the Pennsylvania EAP that provides educational grants to service members who enter a six year service commitment in the Pennsylvania National Guard.

The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) administers MEFP for dependents (spouses and children) of Pennsylvania National Guard Service members who enter an additional six year service commitment with the Pennsylvania

PHEAA offers special processing when Veterans apply for Pennsylvania State Grant Program .

Nonresident service members serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who are stationed in Pennsylvania and live in Pennsylvania as well as their dependents are authorized residency for tuition purposes at Pennsylvania public colleges and universities.

Honorably discharge resident Veterans are authorized to register early for classes at a Pennsylvania public institution of higher learning.

UCX is a federal program that authorizes UC payments to former U.S. Armed Forces service members who meet eligibility requirements under state and federal law. To be eligible former service members must live in Pennsylvania and meet the following requirements:

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) offers a Veteran Designation on driver's licenses and ID cards to Veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Immediate ​family members of a service member who was killed while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for the Pennsylvania Gold Star Family license plate. Eligible family members include:

Veterans who have a 100% service-connected disability rating are eligible for the Pennsylvania Severely Disabled Veteran License Plate. A Veteran may self-certify by providing a legible copy of their VA Benefit Summary Letter indicating they have a 100% service-connected disability rating.

The Pennsylvania driver's license of a service member serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces will remain valid while the service member is stationed outside Pennsylvania. Licenses will remain valid until 45 days after they return to Pennsylvania, or after discharge.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation offers CDL test waivers for resident service members serving in an active or reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces, or Veterans who received an honorable discharge within the past year.

The Bureau of Finance and Risk Management provides benefits to eligible surviving family members of Pennsylvania National Guard Service members who die in the line of duty. All claims for death benefits must be submitted within three years from the date of death.

Pennsylvania provides eligible blind Veterans a pension of $150 per month. Who is eligible for Pennsylvania Blind Veterans Pension? To be eligible for the Pennsylvania Blind Veterans Pension, Veterans must meet the following requirements:

Pennsylvania provides eligible Veterans who are amputees or paralyzed a pension of $150 per month. Who is eligible for Pennsylvania Amputee and Paralyzed Veteran Pension? To be eligible for the Pennsylvania Amputee and Paralyzed Veteran Pension, Veterans must meet the following requirements:

MFRAP provides financialgrants to eligible resident service members and their families. The amount of a grant is based on proven financial need up to a maximum of $5,000. Examples of financial need include:

Pennsylvania National Guard Service members who served for nine years in the Pennsylvania National Guard or served for nine months or longer on active duty in the U.S.

Pennsylvania National Guard Service members may not be arrested on any warrant, except for treason or a felony, while going to, at, or returning from their place of duty.

No civil process can be issued or enforced against any service member serving in the Pennsylvania National Guard while they are on state active duty, or until 30 days after they have been released from active duty.

Disabled Veterans may be eligible for a free lifetime Pennsylvania fishing license (must be renewed annually). Who is eligible for Free Pennsylvania Fishing Licenses for Severely Disabled Veterans? To be eligible Veterans must be a Pennsylvania resident and have a service-connected 100% disability r

Partially disabled Veterans maybe eligible for an annual Pennsylvania fishing license for $2.97. Who is eligible for Discounted Pennsylvania Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans? Resident disabled Veterans who have a service-connected disability rating between 60% - 99% from the VA.

Pennsylvania offers a free fishing license to recently deployed reserve component service members. Only one license may be issued for each qualifying deployment.

Nonresident service members who are stationed in Pennsylvania under permanent change of station orders for six months or more can purchase a fishing license for the resident price.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers free lifetime hunting and furtakers licenses (must be renewed annually) to eligible disabled Veterans.

Resident Veterans who have a service-connected disability rating from the VA, between 60% and 99%, due to injuries or illness they received during a war or armed conflict can purchase an annual hunting or furtakers license for $2.97 each.

Resident active duty service members who are stationed outside Pennsylvania can purchase reduced fee hunting licenses for $2.97.

National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve service members who recently returned from a deployment can purchase general hunting licenses for $2.97. Only one license may be issued for each qualifying deployment.

Resident former POWs can purchase reduced fee annual hunting licenses for $2.97. Who is eligible for Reduced Fee Pennsylvania Hunting Licenses for Former POWs: Reduced fee general hunting licenses are available to Pennsylvania residents who were declared POWs.

State employees who are reserve component service members are authorized 15 days paid military leave per year for training or other military duty under orders authorized by federal or state law.

When an employee is a service member serving in the Pennsylvania National Guard or the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves and is ordered to federal or state duty active duty (other than active duty for training) their employer must continue health insurance and other benefits for at least the first 30 days

Pennsylvania offers a Veterans' preference when hiring for state employment. Eligible applicants receive the following preference benefits:

Pennsylvania CareerLink offices provide a full range of employment services to help Veterans while they search for meaningful employment. Veterans who create a Pennsylvania CareerLink account receive access to a resume building tool, new job alerts, job tracking tools and much more.

Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of spouses, surviving spouses, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a spouse (including surviving spouse) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran's service if they both meet the requirements.

Health and pension plan coverage for service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium.

The Pennsylvania Hilton Honors Military Program helps make the career transition from service in the U.S. Armed Forces to civilian employment easier for current and former service members. The Hilton Honors Military Program provides hotel accommodation for required employment related travel.

The VA provides valuable life insurance benefits to Veterans, active and reserve component service members and their families to provide financial security given the extraordinary risks involved in military Service. The VA provides the following life insurance benefit programs:

TRICARE Reserve Select is a premium-based plan, available worldwide for Selected Reserve, (U.S. Armed Forces Reserve and National Guard service members) and their families who meet the following qualifications:

Pennsylvania counties will provide a burial allowance toeligible Veterans and their surviving spouses. These amounts may vary by county. County burial allowances are provided whether the person died in the county or was buried in the county.

The Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Cemetery (also known as Veterans Memorial Cemetery), managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, provides a dignified final resting place for Pennsylvania Veterans.

The Pennsylvania Veterans Registry is an online application that allows Veterans, family members and people who work with Veterans to connect with the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to request information related to state benefits, programs and services offered.

The Veterans Temporary Assistance Program provides temporary financial aid in an emergency to Veterans and their surviving spouse who live in Pennsylvania. If eligible, a Veteran or their surviving spouse can qualify for up to $1,600 in a twelve-month period.

A county grave marker is provided free of charge to deceased Veterans. Who is eligible for Pennsylvania County Grave Markers? Deceased Pennsylvania resident Veterans are eligible for a county grave marker.

A county headstone allowance is provided by the county where a Veteran has legal residence. Who is eligible for the Pennsylvania Headstone Allowance? The families of deceased Veterans are eligible for the headstone allowance. There is no time limit to apply for this benefit.

The VA has numerous resources and locations throughout the state available to assist Veterans and family members. To find a VA location in Pennsylvania enter Pennsylvania in the location field and choose the facility type you are searching for from the drop down menu at the "Learn more…" link below.