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Are you receiving all the benefits available to disabled veterans and their families? In addition to monthly payments and healthcare, Connecticut offers various state and federal programs designed to support veterans.

Connecticut grants 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans a full property tax exemption on their home, plus tiered exemptions for those with lower VA disability ratings.

Other benefits include a 100% tuition waiver at state universities, a free state parks pass for life, 10 preference points for state hiring, and access to supportive housing and skilled nursing care.

According to the latest VA Annual Report, Connecticut provides VA disability benefits to 36,798 veterans, at all disability levels. If you haven’t yet accessed the entire range of benefits you’re entitled to, this guide is for you.

Property Tax Exemptions and Housing Assistance

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Property Taxes in Connecticut?

For veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the VA, no. A state law that took effect October 1, 2024 requires every Connecticut municipality to grant a full property tax exemption on a 100% P&T veteran’s primary residence.

Veterans who don’t own a home instead receive the exemption on one motor vehicle garaged in Connecticut. The change is expected to deliver about $4.9 million in tax relief to roughly 1,209 qualifying veterans statewide.

Veterans rated below 100% still receive a tiered state-minimum assessment exemption tied to their VA rating, on top of the basic wartime exemption every honorably discharged wartime veteran receives. Read more about the 2024 expansion.

Basic Wartime Property Tax Exemption

Connecticut Sec. 12-81(19) grants every honorably discharged veteran with at least 90 days of active wartime service a basic property tax exemption of $1,000, applied to a home or motor vehicle.

A separate income-based additional exemption under Sec. 12-81g doubles the basic exemption (from $1,000 to $2,000) for veterans whose income falls below the annual OPM-published limits, currently $46,300 single and $56,500 married for 2025.

Qualifying wartime service includes World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, the Persian Gulf War, and operations in Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Towns may vote to increase the basic exemption beyond the state minimum.

Disability Rating Exemption

Disabled veterans receive an additional state-minimum assessment exemption tied to their VA rating, on top of the basic wartime exemption. The state minimums range from $2,000 to $3,500 under CGS Sec. 12-81(20). Many municipalities have voted to adopt higher local amounts under Sec. 12-81f:

  • 10% to 25% disability rating: $2,000 exemption
  • 26% to 50% disability rating: $2,500 exemption
  • 51% to 75% disability rating: $3,000 exemption
  • 76% to 100% disability rating: $3,500 exemption

Veterans whose income falls below the OPM-published limits ($46,300 single or $56,500 married for 2025) qualify to have these exemptions doubled. For example, a veteran rated 76% or higher who is below the income threshold can receive a $7,000 exemption instead of $3,500.

Municipalities may also adopt a local option that extends the new full P&T exemption to veterans rated Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), or to Gold Star spouses. Application deadlines are tied to the assessor’s annual filing window, so contact your town assessor before October 1 of the assessment year. See the CGA explainer of the new exemption.

Residential Programs

The Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs runs two temporary supportive housing programs for veterans needing rehabilitation and recovery on its Rocky Hill campus (287 West Street):

  • The Residential Facility, which provides structured housing and case management
  • Patriots’ Landing, a transitional housing program

Both are designed to help veterans regain stability and move toward permanent housing. Eligibility requires Connecticut residency, an other-than-dishonorable discharge, and the ability to live independently with supportive services. Find out more about the residential program.

Connecticut Income Tax Exemptions

Connecticut does not tax military retired pay, military disability retirement pay, or VA disability compensation and pension. Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component SBP, and Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan annuities are also fully exempt from Connecticut income tax. A nonresident military spouse stationed in Connecticut under military orders is exempt from state tax on wages earned in the state under the federal Military Spouses Residency Relief Act.

Transportation Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Sales Tax on Vehicles in Connecticut?

Connecticut does not offer a stand-alone sales tax exemption tied to a veteran’s VA disability rating. Nonresident active-duty servicemembers stationed in Connecticut may purchase or lease a motor vehicle at a reduced sales tax rate of 4.5% (versus the standard 6.35%) by filing Department of Revenue Services Form CERT-135 with a Connecticut licensed dealer.

A Connecticut resident on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (including Reserves or the Connecticut National Guard) on the October 1 assessment date is entitled to a full property tax exemption on one motor vehicle. Disabled veterans rated 100% P&T who do not own a home receive the same one-vehicle property tax exemption under the October 1, 2024 expansion.

Disabled Veteran License Plates in Connecticut

The Connecticut DMV issues several veteran specialty plates. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) plate is reserved for members of the Disabled American Veterans organization and is the standard plate for veterans with a service-connected disability who want a visible DV designation on their vehicle.

Connecticut also offers the Military Order of the Purple Heart plate for Purple Heart recipients (members of MOPH), a Gold Star Family plate, and a Pearl Harbor Survivor Plate

The vehicle must be currently registered in Connecticut and titled to the qualifying veteran. See the full list of Connecticut veteran plates.

Education Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Get Tuition Assistance in Connecticut?

Yes. The Connecticut Veterans Tuition Waiver covers 100% of tuition for qualifying veterans at any Connecticut State College and University (CSCU) institution, including Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Connecticut State University, the University of Connecticut and its regional campuses, and the state community colleges.

The waiver applies to undergraduate and graduate credit courses during the fall and spring semesters, with a 50% waiver on Extension Fund courses during summer and intersession. To qualify, a veteran must:

  • Have an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, or Coast Guard (or National Guard members activated under Title 10)
  • Have served at least 90 cumulative days of active duty during wartime (or less if separated earlier due to a VA-rated service-connected disability)
  • Be domiciled in Connecticut at the time of acceptance (no minimum residency length)
  • Be formally admitted to an undergraduate or graduate degree program

The waiver applies to tuition only – it does not cover books, student activity or course fees, parking, or room and board. Find out more from CSCU.

Does Connecticut Waive Tuition for Children of Disabled Veterans?

Connecticut does not have a stand-alone tuition waiver tied to a parent’s VA disability rating, but does offer a 100% tuition waiver at any Connecticut public college or university to dependent children and surviving spouses of Connecticut servicemembers who were killed in action (on or after September 11, 2001), POW or MIA.

Children of veterans rated permanently and totally disabled by the VA are still eligible for the federal VA Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35), which provides up to 45 months of education benefits between ages 18 and 26 and can be used at any approved Connecticut institution.

Employment Benefits

Connecticut State Veterans Hiring Preference

Connecticut awards veteran preference points on competitive state hiring exams. Eligible veterans receive 5 preference points added to their passing score, and disabled veterans (with a documented VA service-connected disability) receive 10 preference points.

To qualify, the veteran must have an honorable discharge and must have served in time of war as defined by Connecticut General Statutes. Documentation (DD-214 and, for disabled veterans, a VA disability letter) must be submitted with the application. Find out more.

American Job Centers and DVOP Services

Veterans receive priority of service at every American Job Center (AJC) in Connecticut. The state runs five comprehensive AJCs and several affiliate sites. Two specialist roles funded by the federal Jobs for Veterans State Grant operate at these centers:

  • DVOP Specialists (Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program) provide intensive case management to veterans with significant barriers to employment, including service-connected disabilities and veterans in VA Vocational Rehabilitation
  • LVER Staff (Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives) advocate with employers, conduct hiring seminars, and coordinate job referrals for veterans

The Connecticut Department of Labor’s Office for Veterans’ Workforce Development also operates the Hire Vets First program, which connects qualified veterans with private employers across the state. Learn more about CT Department of Labor veteran services.

Recreation Benefits

Do Connecticut State Parks Offer a Disabled Veterans Pass?

Yes. Connecticut residents with a VA service-connected disability (any rating) qualify for a free lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass to all Connecticut state parks and forests, plus admission to Gillette Castle, Dinosaur, and Fort Trumbull State Parks. The pass does not cover camping, special events with separate admission, or commercial use, and is non-transferable.

To apply, mail a legible photocopy of your Connecticut driver’s license (or other legal proof of residency) and your VA card or VA Benefits Letter showing a service-connected disability to the DEEP State Parks Division, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106. Find out more about the Disabled Veteran Pass.

Do Connecticut Disabled Veterans Get a Free Fishing License?

Connecticut offers a free inland fishing license to any resident who has lost a limb, or has the permanent loss of use of one or more limbs. Many veterans rated for amputation, loss of use, or paralysis qualify under this rule. The free license covers freshwater fishing, but stamps and permits (such as the Trout & Salmon Stamp) must be purchased separately.

Applicants submit a Loss of Limb Certificate to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) with VA documentation of the qualifying condition. Find out more about Connecticut fishing licenses.

What Fees Do Disabled Veterans Pay for a Hunting License in Connecticut?

Connecticut residents who have lost a limb or permanently lost the use of one or more limbs qualify for a free small-game hunting license. Stamps (such as the Pheasant Tag or Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp) and the Firearms or Archery Deer/Turkey permits must be purchased separately at standard rates. Find out more about licenses and hunting seasons.

DEEP also authorizes qualified 501(c)(3) organizations to host fishing or hunting events for veterans with service-related or other disabilities, expanding access for veterans who don’t meet the limb-loss criteria.

Health Care Benefits

For medical care, prescriptions, mental-health services, and outpatient treatment, Connecticut veterans can access the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, which operates the West Haven VA Medical Center and community-based outpatient clinics in Newington, New London, Stamford, Waterbury, Winsted, Danbury, Orange, and Willimantic.

The Sgt. John L. Levitow Healthcare Center

The Sgt. John L. Levitow Healthcare Center on the Rocky Hill DVA campus is a state-run 125-bed skilled nursing facility licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and certified by both CMS and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The facility provides 24/7 long-term skilled nursing care for veterans with medical conditions that require ongoing clinical care, plus medication management and chronic disease management. Since transitioning to a skilled nursing facility in March 2020, the center has held Medicare’s highest 5-Star quality rating.

Veterans rated 70% to 100% service-connected may receive nursing care at no out-of-pocket cost through the VA Higher Per Diem Program, which pays the daily rate at qualifying state veterans homes. Find out more about the Levitow Healthcare Center.

Burial and Survivor Benefits

Connecticut operates one state veterans cemetery and is also served by VA national cemeteries. Eligible veterans receive free burial, with no charge for the grave plot, opening and closing, government headstone or marker, and perpetual care.

Middletown State Veterans Cemetery

The Middletown State Veterans Cemetery at 317 Bow Lane, Middletown, CT 06457 accepts any honorably discharged veteran, their spouse, and eligible minor children. It has the same eligibility rules as VA national cemeteries plus a Connecticut residency requirement.

For arrangements, contact the VA Cemetery and Memorial Services office at 287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 or call (860) 616-3688. Pre-registration is available and recommended.

Surviving spouses and dependents of Connecticut veterans may also be eligible for federal Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and other survivor benefits.

If a veteran was 100% service-connected disabled at the time of death, the unremarried surviving spouse may retain the full property tax exemption under Connecticut’s expanded 2024 law if the local municipality has adopted the Gold Star option.

Federal Benefits Available to Connecticut Veterans

In addition to Connecticut’s state-specific benefits, disabled veterans also receive a wide range of federal VA disability benefits, including:

  • Monthly tax-free compensation payments based on disability rating (calculate it here)
  • Medical care, including mental health services and counseling
  • Special compensation, Aid & Attendance and other financial benefits
  • Home loans and housing benefits
  • Vocational rehabilitation and employment services
  • Survivor benefits
  • Federal hiring preference

Eligibility for some of these benefits depends on the disability rating percentage. Use the links below to see what federal benefits disabled veterans can get with a rating of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, etc.

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits

Connecticut veterans with a 100% disability rating receive the highest level of federal VA benefits, including:

  • Full monthly VA compensation
  • Full VA healthcare coverage
  • Dental care
  • Adaptive equipment grants

See all federal benefits for a 100% disabled Connecticut veteran →

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for Spouse and Dependents

Spouses and family members of 100% disabled veterans may also be able to get several benefits:

  • Continuation of the Connecticut property tax exemption (where the local Gold Star option is adopted)
  • CHAMPVA healthcare
  • Chapter 35 education benefits
  • DIC eligibility
  • Access to Connecticut state resources

Benefits for Toxic Exposure

Veterans who served at military installations and later developed serious illnesses may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Several Connecticut bases have documented histories of contamination with PFAS (from firefighting foam), asbestos in older submarine and shipyard work, TCE and other industrial solvents, lead, PCBs, etc.

Connecticut Military Bases with Known Toxins

  • Naval Submarine Base New London (Groton, CT) – EPA Superfund site with documented asbestos, PCBs, and PFAS contamination
  • Stone’s Ranch Military Reservation (East Lyme, CT)
  • Bradley Air National Guard Base (East Granby, CT) – PFAS groundwater contamination identified
  • Camp Hartell / Windsor Locks Army Aviation Support Facility (Windsor Locks, CT) – documented PFAS groundwater contamination

If you served at a base in a different state, check its history of toxic contamination and potential health effects using the Military Base Toxic Exposure Map or get in touch with us for a free evaluation of your claim.

Getting VA Disability in Connecticut

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Legal Resources for Disabled Veterans

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