Benefits for Disabled Veterans in the District of Columbia

The Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs runs VetsRide, a free transportation program that takes DC veterans to medical appointments, educational programs, job interviews, housing appointments, food distribution sites, grocery stores, and pharmacies. Service runs from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week.

To qualify, a veteran must be a District resident with annual income under $45,000 or recently unemployed. Veterans register online and then schedule rides by phone. Find out more.

WMATA Reduced Fare for Veterans with Disabilities

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority offers 50% off Metrorail and Metrobus fares to veterans with a 60% or higher service-connected disability rating from the VA. The discount also applies to the seven-day regional bus pass and to selected partner bus services.

Eligible veterans must apply in person at the Metro Transit Accessibility Center (655 Virginia Avenue SW, Washington, DC) or the TRIPS Commuter Store (8404 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD), and bring a photo ID and a VA Benefit Summary Letter. Find out more.

How to Get Disabled Veteran License Plates in Washington DC

Veterans with a total and permanent service-connected disability from the VA can receive one set of DC Disabled American Veteran (DAV) plates or DC Veteran plates with no annual registration fee. To apply, the veteran must visit a DC DMV Service Center with a copy of the VA Benefit Summary Letter confirming total and permanent disability status.

DC offers four veteran license plate options:

• Disabled American Veteran (DAV) plate – requires DC residency, DAV organization membership, and a VA letter confirming total and permanent disability
• DC Veteran plate – available to veterans with an honorable discharge, their spouse, or unremarried surviving spouse
• Woman Veteran plate – for women with an honorable or general discharge
• Veterans Specialty plate – branch-specific designs available for Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard veterans

Disabled veterans needing a wheelchair symbol must also submit the DC DMV Application for Disability Parking Tags and Placard. Find out more.

“Veteran” Designation on DC Driver’s Licenses

DC veterans with an honorable discharge can request a veteran designation on their driver’s license or non-driver ID card at any DC DMV Service Center by presenting a DD214, WD AGO, or DD256. The designation makes it easier to access discounts and services that recognize veteran status. Find out more.

DC Veterans Hiring Preference

Under DC Code § 1-607.03, eligible veterans receive extra points added to their numerical examination scores when applying for initial District government employment:

• 5 points for veterans with an honorable or general discharge and 180+ days of active duty (within five years of discharge); veterans entering after October 14, 1976 must have served during a time of war
• 10 points for veterans with a 30% or higher service-connected disability rating who are receiving VA disability compensation, pension, or retirement benefits
• Unremarried surviving spouses receive the same preference the deceased veteran would have qualified for
• Spouses of disabled veterans who cannot work due to a service-connected disability are also eligible for preference

Veterans eligible to receive military retired pay are not eligible for the 5-point preference.

DOES Veterans Employment Services

The DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) provides priority of service at all American Job Centers for eligible veterans and spouses. Priority of service means early access to employment programs and resources, and first access when services are limited.

Disabled veterans, veterans rated 100% service-connected, and surviving spouses of veterans who died from a service-connected disability also qualify. Services include one-on-one case management, skills assessments, job search counseling, and referrals to medical and counseling services. Find out more.

Paid Military Leave for DC Government Employees

DC government employees who serve in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces receive 15 days of paid military leave per fiscal year for active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty training. Service members called up to assist civil authorities, federal active duty, or a contingency operation receive 22 days of paid leave with no loss of pay, time, performance, or efficiency rating.

Retired veterans who become DC government employees may also receive credit for active duty service (faster annual leave accrual) if they were retired due to a service-connected disability incurred in the line of duty during a period of war.

For medical care, prescriptions, mental health services, and outpatient treatment, DC veterans can access the VA Washington DC Healthcare System, anchored by the Washington VA Medical Center at 50 Irving Street NW.

Washington DC Vet Center

The Washington DC Vet Center at 1296 Upshur Street NW provides confidential, no-cost counseling for combat-related PTSD, depression, and military sexual trauma in a non-medical setting. The center serves veterans, service members, and their families and offers referrals to community and VA resources. Find out more.

Washington DC Veterans Homes

The Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) Washington is a federal retirement community for retired service members, veterans, and eligible spouses. The campus offers independent living, assisted living, long-term nursing care, and memory support, plus on-site amenities including a fitness center, theater, 9-hole golf course, dental and vision care, and shuttle service to nearby military and VA healthcare facilities.

To qualify, applicants must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces (with at least half of that service not as a commissioned officer) and received an honorable discharge. Applicants must also meet one of these conditions:

• Discharged after 20 or more years of active service
• Have a service-connected disability
• Served in a war theater or received hostile fire pay and suffer from injury, disease, or disability
• Are eligible for military retired pay

Married couples may apply together if the spouse is enrolled in DEERS. Applicants must initially be able to live independently; advanced care is provided once they become a resident. Find out more about AFRH Washington.

• Armed Forces Retirement Home Washington – 140 Rock Creek Church Road NW, Washington, DC 20011 | Phone: 800-422-9988
• Washington VA Medical Center – 50 Irving Street NW, Washington, DC 20422 | Phone: 202-745-8000
• Washington DC Vet Center – 1296 Upshur Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 | Phone: 202-726-5212

The District of Columbia does not operate a state veterans cemetery, and its only VA national cemetery – the Congressional Cemetery Government Lots – is closed to new burials. Most DC veterans who choose burial in a national cemetery are interred at Arlington National Cemetery or Quantico National Cemetery in nearby Virginia, both of which provide the gravesite, headstone, and opening/closing services at no cost.

National Cemeteries Serving DC Veterans

• Congressional Cemetery Government Lots – 1801 East Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 | Phone: 410-644-9696 (closed to new burials)
• Arlington National Cemetery – Memorial Avenue, Arlington, VA 22211 | Phone: 877-907-8585 (operated by the U.S. Army)
• Quantico National Cemetery – 18424 Joplin Road, Triangle, VA 22172 | Phone: 703-221-2183

For details on eligibility and pre-need application, see the VA National Cemetery Administration directory.

Federal Survivor Benefits

Surviving spouses and dependents of DC veterans are eligible for federal death and burial benefits, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and accrued benefits. The Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs assists DC families with VA burial and death benefit claims at no cost.

Learn more about getting survivor benefits and veterans benefits for widows.

In addition to DC’s specific benefits, disabled veterans also get 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.

• 50% VA disability benefits
• 60% VA disability benefits
• 70% VA disability benefits
• 80% VA disability benefits
• 90% VA disability benefits

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits

DC 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 DC 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:

• CHAMPVA healthcare  
• DIC eligibility  
• Education benefits  
• Federal hiring preference for spouses  
• Access to DC state resources

Veterans who served at military installations in the District of Columbia and developed disabilities may be eligible for compensation and VA benefits. Several DC bases have documented histories of toxic exposure, including burn pits, PFAS chemicals, lead, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and industrial solvents.

Washington DC Military Bases with Known Toxins

• Washington Navy Yard
• Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
• Walter Reed Army Medical Center (former)
• Fort Lesley J. McNair
• Marine Barracks Washington
• Naval Research Laboratory

If you served at a base in a different state, you can find yours using the Military Base Toxic Exposure Map.