Wyoming Veteran Financial Benefits
State Income Taxes: Wyoming does not impose individual income taxes, meaning distributions from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) are tax-free.
Property Tax Exemption: Eligible Veterans can receive a $3,000 exemption on the assessed value of their primary residence. If not applied to real property, the exemption may instead be used toward vehicle registration fees.
Eligibility for Property Tax Exemption: To qualify, Veterans must have been Wyoming residents for at least three years and meet one of the following conditions:
- Served during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War
- Served overseas in a conflict and received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (or an equivalent award)
- Be a Disabled Veteran with a compensable VA service-connected disability rating
- Be the un-remarried surviving spouse of an eligible Veteran
Applications are submitted through the local County Assessor’s Office between January 1 and the fourth Monday in May each year. A DD214 or equivalent document is required.
Sales Tax:
- Statewide rate: 4.0%
- Counties may add up to 2% (lodging may be taxed 2–4%)
- Current average combined sales tax: 5.36%
Recreation
Wyoming Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Benefits for Veterans and Service Members
Free Lifetime Hunting and Fishing Licenses for 100% Disabled Veterans
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department provides eligible Veterans with a free lifetime license covering bird hunting, small game hunting, and fishing. The license is valid as long as the Veteran maintains Wyoming residency.
Eligibility:
- Must be a Wyoming resident
- Must have an honorable discharge
- Must hold a 100% VA disability rating (based on rating, not compensation)
- Proof of disability rating and honorable discharge required
Licenses can be obtained in person at the Wyoming Game and Fish Headquarters in Cheyenne or any of the regional offices (Jackson, Pinedale, Cody, Sheridan, Green River, Laramie, Lander, or Casper), or by mailing an application to those offices.
Free Lifetime Fishing Licenses for 50% Disabled Veterans
Veterans with at least a 50% VA service-connected disability rating are eligible for a free lifetime fishing license, valid as long as they remain Wyoming residents.
Eligibility:
- Wyoming residency
- Honorable discharge
- At least 50% VA disability rating with compensation
The application process is the same as above.
Complimentary Licenses for Active Duty Service Members in Combat Zones
Wyoming resident Service members on leave from active duty in a combat zone may receive free licenses for general elk, general deer, bird/small game, and daily fishing.
Documentation Required:
- Current military ID
- Military leave orders
- Leave and Earnings Statement showing hostile fire pay
- Proof of residency
Available in person or by mail through Game and Fish offices.
Free Lifetime Licenses for Purple Heart Recipients
Wyoming resident Veterans awarded the Purple Heart Medal are eligible for a lifetime hunting and fishing license at no cost.
Proof of Eligibility (one required):
- DD214
- VA ID card with Purple Heart designation
- Purple Heart Medal certificate
Other Hunting & Fishing Benefits
- Hunter Safety Requirement Exemption: Service members and honorably discharged Veterans are not required to present a hunter safety certificate when purchasing hunting licenses.
- Special Fishing Permits for Hospitalized Veterans: Free licenses are issued for Veterans participating in fishing events coordinated by VA hospitals, the Wyoming Department of Health, Department of Family Services, or residents of the Wyoming Veterans’ Home.
- Resident Pricing for Nonresident Active Duty: Nonresident Service members stationed in Wyoming for at least 90 days may purchase hunting and fishing licenses at resident rates.
Wyoming State Park Lifetime Veterans Permit
Wyoming resident Veterans with a 50% or greater VA service-connected disability rating are eligible for a Lifetime Veterans Permit that provides free day use and camping privileges at all Wyoming State Parks.
Education Programs
Wyoming Education Benefits for Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families
Tuition Assistance for Veterans and Surviving Dependents
Wyoming covers tuition at community colleges or the University of Wyoming for overseas combat Veterans, their surviving spouses, and dependents. Assistance is available for up to eight semesters within an eight-year period.
Eligibility:
- Veteran must have been a Wyoming resident for at least one year prior to entering active duty
- Must have an honorable discharge
- Must have received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (or equivalent campaign/service medal for overseas conflict)
- Surviving spouses and children are eligible if the Service member died on active duty (children must have been under age 22 at the time of death)
Tuition Assistance for Families of Wyoming National Guard Members
If a Wyoming National Guard Service member dies or is permanently and totally disabled while serving on state active duty or authorized training, their spouse and children may receive free tuition and matriculation fees at Wyoming universities, community colleges, or vocational schools.
Wyoming National Guard Educational Assistance Plan (WYNG EAP)
The WYNG EAP covers 100% resident tuition and mandatory fees at Wyoming community colleges and the University of Wyoming for eligible Guard members. It may be applied toward one specialized certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.
For Service members attending private institutions in Wyoming or schools partnered with the DoD, the plan pays the average tuition of Wyoming public colleges/universities.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a Wyoming National Guard member in good standing and eligible for reenlistment/continuation
- Maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher
- Courses must apply to the current degree program
- Program must be completed within 10 years
- Service obligation: Guard members must serve under a 6-year contract and have at least 2 years remaining after the last term funded
Operation Recognition – High School Diplomas for Wartime Veterans
Veterans who left high school early to serve during wartime may qualify for a retroactive high school diploma.
Eligible Service Periods:
- Dec 8, 1941 – Dec 31, 1946 (WWII)
- Jun 27, 1950 – Jan 31, 1955 (Korean War)
- Feb 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)
Wyoming Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3)
This compact helps military families overcome challenges related to frequent moves and deployments. It ensures military children receive fair treatment in:
- Enrollment and record transfers
- Placement, attendance, and grading
- Eligibility for programs and extracurriculars
- On-time graduation
It also promotes coordination between schools, states, and military families to reduce barriers to educational success.
Wyoming Purple Star School Designation
Schools that go above and beyond in supporting military families can earn the Purple Star School designation. Requirements include:
- Appointing a trained liaison for military-connected students
- Training teachers to understand unique military family challenges
- Creating a dedicated webpage with resources for military families
Housing: Below are the available Veterans Homes in Wyoming
Veterans’ Home of Wyoming (VHW): Nestled in the scenic foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, the VHW provides both assisted living and skilled nursing care for Veterans and eligible family members. The facility features private rooms for individuals and two-room suites designed for married couples.
Wyoming State Veterans Home at Port Orchard
VHW Services and Programs
- Primary healthcare services
- Skilled nursing care
- Social and recreational activities
- Nutritional and dietary support
- Laundry assistance
- Fitness and wellness programs
- Financial guidance
- Veterans’ benefits assistance
- General support services
- Chaplaincy and spiritual care
Eligibility for Admission to VHW
To qualify for care at the Veterans’ Home of Wyoming, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces with an honorable discharge
- Have been a Wyoming resident for at least one year prior to application or show intent to establish residency
- Be unable to support themselves due to injury, illness, age, or other conditions, or lack sufficient financial resources
- Be a dependent of a qualified Veteran
- Non-veterans may be considered if the facility is under 90% capacity
Resident fees are determined according to each individual’s financial ability.
Employment and Job Training for Wyoming Veterans
Paid Military Leave for State Employees
Wyoming state employees who are members of the Reserve Components are entitled to 15 days of paid military leave per calendar year. This benefit ensures no loss of seniority, status, vacation, sick leave, or other employment benefits.
Eligibility:
- National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserve members
- Must have worked as a Wyoming state employee for at least one year
- Applies to orders for drill, annual training, or active duty
Wyoming Department of Workforce Services – Veterans Program
The Department of Workforce Services provides priority of service to Veterans and eligible spouses through its Employment and Training Workforce Centers. Services include:
- Job search assistance
- Resume building
- Skills assessment
- Labor market information
- Supportive and training services
Eligibility:
- Veterans with active-duty service (other than training) and an honorable or general discharge
- Eligible spouses of Service members who:
- Died from a service-connected disability
- Are listed as MIA, POW, or detained for 90+ days
- Have a 100% VA disability rating
- Died while a disability was in existence
Wyoming Veterans’ Hiring Preference in State Employment
Wyoming provides hiring preference for qualified Veterans and their Surviving spouses in state employment.
- 5% advantage for Veterans and Surviving spouses
- 10% advantage for disabled Veterans
This preference applies only to new hires and is adjusted based on whether a scoring system is used in the hiring process.
Eligibility:
- Wyoming resident for at least one year prior to application
- Honorably discharged U.S. Armed Forces Veteran
- Disabled Veteran with a service-connected disability of 10% or more
- Surviving spouse of a Veteran, receiving federal survivor benefits
Federal Veterans’ Hiring Preferences
At the federal level, Veterans receive preference in civil service hiring and retention during workforce reductions. Depending on service and disability status, Veterans may qualify for 5-point or 10-point hiring preferences.
- 5-Point Preference: For service during wars, certain conflict periods, or overseas campaigns with a campaign medal
- 10-Point Preference: For Veterans with service-connected disabilities, Purple Heart recipients, and eligible family members
USERRA – Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
USERRA protects employment rights for Service members who leave civilian jobs for military service.
Key Protections:
- Reemployment rights for up to 5 years of military service (with some exceptions)
- Job reinstatement with same pay, benefits, and seniority as if uninterrupted
- Employer obligation to provide training or retraining when necessary
- Protection for disabled Veterans requiring reasonable accommodations
- Option to extend employer-sponsored health care for up to 24 months during service
Eligibility:
- Veterans, National Guard, and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve members who leave civilian employment for military training or service
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) helps Veterans and Service members file and resolve USERRA claims.
Burials and Memorials
It is important to record your wishes regarding burial in a national cemetery and the use of a VA-provided headstone, ensuring these preferences are included with your personal documents and medical records.
The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) honors qualified Veterans and their loved ones by offering a dignified final resting place and a permanent memorial that reflects the Veteran’s service to the nation.
Burial benefits include a gravesite in any national cemetery with space available, grave opening and closing, perpetual maintenance, a government-issued headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate — all provided at no cost to the family. Certain Veterans may also qualify for a burial allowance. Cremated remains receive the same respectful interment or inurnment as casketed remains within national cemeteries.
These benefits also extend to eligible spouses and dependents, allowing for burial alongside the Veteran with perpetual care of the site. The spouse’s or dependent’s name, along with birth and death dates, is inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone at no charge. Notably, spouses and dependents can be interred even if they pass away before the Veteran, and burial is not limited to the same national cemetery as the Veteran.
National Cemeteries include:
Grafton: Grafton National Cemetery
Grafton: West Virginia National Cemetery
Wyoming VA Benefit Resources
Wyoming offers Veterans access to a Regional Benefits Office along with VA Medical Centers.
Wyoming VA Regional Benefits Office
Wyoming VA Medical Centers
- Cheyenne: Cheyenne VA Medical
- Sheridan: Sheridan VA Medical Center
Important Details on Wyoming Veteran Benefits:
Veterans applying for VA benefits for the first time must provide a copy of their DD 214 (discharge document). This record confirms discharge status, full name, Social Security number, branch of service, and service dates. In most cases, an honorable or general discharge makes a Veteran eligible for VA benefits.
It’s essential to keep all military paperwork and medical records secure and accessible. Store them in a safe or another protected location where they cannot be lost, destroyed, or altered, ensuring both you and your family can access them when needed.
Eligibility for the majority of VA benefits depends on discharge from active military service under conditions other than dishonorable. Active duty refers to full-time service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard, as well as commissioned officers in the Public Health Service, Environmental Services Administration, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Veterans discharged under “Dishonorable” conditions from a general court-martial may be barred from benefits. However, certain benefits may still be available to Veterans who are incarcerated or on parole. VA regional offices can assist in reviewing eligibility for individuals with multiple discharges under different conditions, as well as those in prison or parole.
Information current as of November 2023
Wyoming Veteran Benefits
Disabled Veterans in Wyoming with a VA disability rating of 90% or lower may qualify for extra benefits. You can reach out to Veterans Guardian for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation. Their team can review your claim to see if you may be entitled to a higher VA compensation rating and additional benefits.
