Texas Veteran Benefits

There are no individual state income taxes in Texas. Distributions received from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) are not taxed.

Property tax in Texas is a locally assessed and locally administered tax by local Appraisal Districts and Tax Assessors or Collectors.. The Comptroller's publication Texas Property Tax Exemptions offers a short summary of the available property tax exemptions.

An unremarried surviving spouse of a service member who died from a VA recognized Presumptive Condition is eligible for 100% property tax exemption on their homestead.

The Texas Hazlewood Act provides qualified Veterans, spouses and dependent children a fee and tuition exemption up to 150 credit hours at Texas institutions of higher education . This does not include living expenses, books, or supply fees.

Texas school districts will issue high school diplomas to Veterans who left school before receiving their diploma to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Who is eligible for Texas High School Diplomas for Wartime Veterans? Veterans must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) administers the UI program that provides temporary financial assistance for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own.

Eligible disabled Veterans can receive a fee exemption for Texas driver licenses and ID cards This exemption does not apply to commercial driver licenses. Application must be made prior to the expiration of the Veteran's license or ID Card.

The Texas VLB provides low-interest real-estate related loans to Veterans and service members in Texas.

Active and reserve component service members can receive an age waiver which allows service members under age 21 to receive an LTC, (those without a waiver must be 21 years old). Service members under 21 still cannot purchase handguns, but they can legally possess them.

Resident and nonresident disabled Veterans are eligible for the Super Combo Hunting and All-Water Fishing Package at no cost. This license includes:

Service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty anywhere (and their dependents) are eligible to purchase Texas Parks and Wildlife Department licenses for resident prices.

Texas offers the Parklands Passport for service members, Veterans, disabled Veterans and Gold Star Families free of charge. The Parklands Passport authorizes free entry to Texas state parks for the eligible pass holder.

Texas state, county, municipality or political subdivision employees who are service members serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for paid leave to attend authorized training or duty for 15 workdays per fiscal year.

A state or localgovernment employee who leaves their job to enter active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces is entitled to be reemployed to the same position or a position of similar seniority, status and pay.

Veterans who have served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, for any length of time, and have since been discharged.

The Texas Veterans Commission OJT program helps Veterans to learn a trade or skill while training on the job rather than by attending a formal program of classroom-based instruction.

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.

Non-retired Veterans may claim their active duty service time toward state retirement. After a Veteran's first retirement contribution has posted in the Employees Retirement System (ERS) of Texas, they can buy up to 60 months of eligible active duty service in the U.S.

New Texas businesses that are 100% owned by honorably discharged Veterans are eligible for a $300 registration fee waiver and a five-year franchise tax waiver.

TWC provides employment,training and related services to Veterans through a network of partnerships, Workforce Solutions offices and dedicated staff. Veterans are given priority of service for all employment, job training and related services provided by TWC.

The Texas 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. This includes:

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:

The VA National Cemetery Administration maintains six national cemeteries in Texas. Please see the local location listing for the nearest cemetery.

Resident Veterans, who are out of the state, may request the 'Veteran' or 'Disabled Veteran' designation by mailing the following:

Resident active duty service members, their spouse and dependents, who are stationed outside of Texas receive an automatic extension of the expiration date of their driver license or ID card until 90 days after discharge.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offers 323 distinctive license plate designs to honor the service and sacrifice of service members, Veterans, retired service members and eligible family members.

Army Medal of Honor recipients are eligible for free Texas Army Medal of Honor license plates. Applicants must provide a written request with a copy of their DD214, or a copy of their award certificate to:

Purple Heart recipients are eligible for the Texas Purple Heart license plate. Applicants must provide official documentation they received an honorable discharge and were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. This plate may be personalized.

The Texas Army Disabled Veterans license plate is available for honorably discharged Army Veterans who have a service-connected VA disability rating of 50% or more, or 40% due to amputation of a lower extremity. This plate may be personalized.

Honorably discharged Soldiers are eligible for the Texas U.S. Army Honorably Discharged license plate. Applicants must provide official documentation they received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army. This plate may be personalized.

Texas Gold Star license plates are available for free to the family members of a service member who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. These license plates are available in the following designs for specific family members:

The county clerk in each county is required to record, free of charge, the official discharge papers (DD214) of a Veteran who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Texas County Clerk Directory

Texas Veterans are eligible for free copies of their medical or mental health records when they are needed to file a claim for a disability with the VA. The health care provider or health care facility is only required to provide one complete copy free of charge.

The Texas Purple Heart Medal is available for those who, after September 11, 2001, were inducted into federal service from the Texas National Guard and meets the criteria for an award of the federal Purple Heart Medal or were killed or wounded at Fort Hood on November 5, 2009.

The Texas Veterans Portal, sponsored by the Texas Veterans Commission, connects service members, Veterans, their families and caregivers to benefits and services earned through military service. It is a one stop shop offering links to categories such as:

TLTV provides free civil legal assistance to Veterans and their families who otherwise cannot afford legal services.

The Texas Veterans Commission, Women Veterans Program's mission is to ensure that women Veterans of Texas, have equal access to federal and state Veterans' benefits and services.

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