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31% of Kentucky’s veterans receive VA disability compensation (80,856 according to the VA’s 2024 Annual Benefits Report) and many are still trying to increase their benefits. If you’re not sure about what you’re entitled to receive for a specific rating or based on your family situation, this guide is for you.

The state offers its own benefits to supplement federal VA programs, from property and vehicle tax relief and free hunting and fishing licenses for veterans to free college tuition for qualifying dependents.

This guide breaks down the benefits available to disabled veterans in Kentucky, explains the eligibility requirements, and points to the resources and legal assistance that can help veterans and their families claim everything they deserve.

Disabled Veteran Tax Exemptions and Financial Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Property Taxes in Kentucky?

Kentucky veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating qualify for the Homestead Exemption, which deducts $49,100 from the assessed value of their primary residence before property taxes are calculated. This figure is adjusted every two years for inflation.

Unlike the civilian version of the exemption, veterans with service-connected disabilities are not required to reapply each year. The exemption is permanent once granted.

To apply, veterans submit Form 62A350 to the local Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) with a VA disability award letter confirming the permanent and total rating and proof of Kentucky residency.

Kentucky does not offer a tiered property tax exemption based on lower disability ratings. Veterans rated below 100% P&T do not qualify unless they also meet the Social Security or state retirement system criteria for total disability.

If you were underrated and are trying to get the 100% P&T rating, get in touch with us for a free case evaluation.

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Income Tax in Kentucky?

Active duty military pay is fully exempt from Kentucky state income tax for all service members, regardless of where they are stationed. Military retirement pay earned before 1998 is also fully exempt.

For post-1997 retirees, up to $31,110 per year may be excluded from state income tax. Veterans who have some pre-1998 creditable service may be able to exclude a larger portion using Kentucky Schedule P.

VA disability compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments are exempt from federal income tax and are not included in Kentucky state taxable income.

Transportation Benefits

Kentucky offers a free Disabled Veteran license plate to veterans who receive a 100% service-connected disability rating from the VA, who received VA financial assistance to purchase a vehicle, or who are Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.

There is no initial fee and no annual renewal fee for this plate. Optional personalization (up to 6 characters) is available for $25 per year. Find out more.

Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or higher may apply for a fee-based Disabled Veteran plate at standard registration costs. To obtain either plate, veterans submit their VA disability rating letter to the County Clerk’s office.

Education Benefits

Does Kentucky Offer College Benefits to Disabled Veterans?

Yes. Kentucky veterans who are honorably discharged and meet residency requirements may qualify for various education programs, including the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) and in-state tuition protections.

Veterans discharged due to a service-connected disability may qualify even if they served less than the standard minimum period.

Purple Heart recipients receive a tuition waiver at all state-supported Kentucky postsecondary institutions.

Kentucky public colleges and universities also award academic credit for military training and education in accordance with American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations. Find out more.

Veterans and active duty members retain in-state tuition status even if they transfer during enrollment, and within three years of an honorable discharge. Spouses and dependents of service members who relocate on military orders maintain in-state tuition status as well.

Do Disabled Veterans’ Dependents Get Free Tuition in Kentucky?

Yes. Kentucky offers a dependent tuition waiver covering tuition and mandatory fees at all state-funded two-year and four-year colleges for up to 45 months of undergraduate study.

Eligible dependents include spouses (any age) and dependent children (up to age 26) whose veteran parent or spouse:

  • Died on active duty or as a direct result of a service-connected disability
  • Is permanently and totally disabled due to military service
  • Is a prisoner of war (POW) or missing in action (MIA)

Applications are submitted through Kentucky public postsecondary institutions. For more information, contact the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs at veterans.ky.gov or call the KDVA field office nearest to you.

Employment Benefits

Kentucky State Veterans Hiring Preference

Kentucky grants hiring preference points to veterans applying for state government positions. These points are added to a veteran’s passing examination score for state civil service positions.

  • 10 points: Veterans with a service-connected disability rating
  • 5 points: All other qualifying veterans, including National Guard and Reserve members

The state must offer an interview to a minimum of five qualified veteran applicants for any state position. Wartime service is not required for Kentucky’s hiring preference.

Preference also extends to spouses of active duty service members and dependent parents of veterans who died from a service-connected cause or whose disability prevents them from qualifying for civil service employment.

KyVETS Employment Program

The KyVETS (Kentucky Veterans Employment Training and Support) program provides career assessments, resume assistance, and interview preparation for veterans.

Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER) and Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists are available at career centers statewide. Contact the program at KyVets@ky.gov.

Opportunities for Veteran-Owned Businesses

Kentucky’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Contract Compliance administers the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) program, which promotes the growth of SDVOSBs and allows certified businesses to compete for state contracts.

Kentucky also provides reciprocal occupational licensure for veterans and military spouses transitioning to civilian careers, accepting military training and experience toward state licensing requirements.

Recreation Benefits

Are Kentucky State Parks Free for 100% Disabled Veterans?

Yes. Kentucky veterans with a 100% disability rating receive free overnight accommodation at any Kentucky State Park (room, cottage, or campsite). This applies to up to three nights per visit and up to three visits per calendar year.

During Memorial Day through Labor Day and throughout October, stays must begin and end Sunday through Thursday. Outside that period, reservations can begin on any day of the week, subject to availability. Find out more.

Proof of disability must be presented at check-in. The free accommodation applies only to the space occupied by the disabled veteran.

Active duty military personnel and retired veterans can access seasonal discounts of 10 to 15 percent on lodge rooms and cottages.

Do Kentucky Veterans Get Discounts for Fishing and Hunting Licenses?

Kentucky veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 50% or higher qualify for the Disabled Sportsman’s License at a cost of $12 per year. The license covers hunting, fishing, and all standard permits, including deer, turkey, waterfowl, and trout.

Health Care Benefits

In addition to the federal VA healthcare system, Kentucky provides state-operated veterans care facilities offering long-term skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services.

VA Medical Facilities in Kentucky

Federal VA healthcare is provided through two systems in Kentucky. The VA Louisville Healthcare System serves western and central Kentucky, and the VA Lexington Healthcare System serves eastern and central Kentucky.

Both systems offer a full range of inpatient and outpatient services, including mental health and specialty care. For information on all state healthcare resources, visit the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Centers page.

  • Robley Rex VA Medical Center, 800 Zorn Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206 | 502-287-4000
  • Franklin R. Sousley Campus, 2250 Leestown Road, Lexington, KY 40511 | 859-233-4511
  • Troy Bowling Campus, 1101 Veterans Drive, Lexington, KY 40502 | 859-233-4511

Community Based Outpatient Clinics

  • Carrollton VA Clinic, 1911 Highway 227, Carrollton, KY 41008 | 502-287-6060
  • Fort Knox VA Clinic, 282 Brule St, Building 875, Fort Knox, KY 40121 | 502-287-6481
  • Grayson County VA Clinic, 619 West Main Street, Clarkson, KY 42726 | 866-653-8232
  • Greenwood VA Clinic, 7410 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40258 | 502-287-6000
  • Newburg VA Clinic, 3430 Newburg Road, Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40218 | 502-287-6223
  • Stonybrook VA Clinic, 9208 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40299 | 502-287-6986
  • Berea VA Clinic, 209 Pauline Drive, Berea, KY 40403 | 859-986-1259
  • Hazard VA Clinic, 160 Nautilus Drive, Hazard, KY 41701 | 606-436-2350
  • Morehead VA Clinic, 333 Beacon Hill Road, Suite 100, Morehead, KY 40351 | 606-784-3004
  • Somerset VA Clinic, 300 Medpark Drive, Somerset, KY 42503 | 606-676-0786

Kentucky State Veterans Homes

KDVA operates five state veterans care facilities offering 24/7 skilled nursing care. Veterans rated 70% or higher for a service-connected disability receive the full VA per diem, which means no out-of-pocket cost for care.

To be eligible, a veteran must have received an honorable or general discharge, be a Kentucky resident, and submit an application with all required documentation to the KDVA Admissions Board. Find out more at veterans.ky.gov.

  • Thomson-Hood Veterans Center, Wilmore, KY (285 beds) | (859) 858-2814
  • Paul E. Patton Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center, 200 Veterans Dr., Hazard, KY 41701 | (606) 435-6173
  • Joseph Eddie Ballard Western Kentucky Veterans Center, Hanson, KY (156 beds) | (270) 322-8002
  • Carl M. Brashear Radcliff Veterans Center, Radcliff, KY (120 beds)
  • Robert E. Spiller Bowling Green Veterans Center, Bowling Green, KY | (270) 535-2346

Burial and Survivor Benefits

Kentucky’s veterans cemeteries provide burial space for eligible veterans and their immediate family members. The free burial services for veterans include the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, and a government-furnished headstone or marker.

  • Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – North, 205 Eibeck Lane, Williamstown, KY 41097 | (859) 823-0720
  • Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – Central, 2501 N Dixie Boulevard, Radcliff, KY 40160 | (270) 351-5115
  • Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – Northeast, 100 Veterans Memorial Drive, Grayson, KY 41143 | (606) 929-5354
  • Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – Southeast, 1280 Kentucky Highway 118, Hyden, KY 41749 | (606) 672-2750
  • Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – West, 5817 Fort Campbell Boulevard, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 | (270) 889-6106

To be eligible for burial, veterans must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Spouses of eligible veterans may be interred for a fee of $500 and both veterans and spouses can pre-apply for burial eligibility. Find out more.

Surviving spouses and dependents could also receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the VA, continued property tax exemption, and education benefits through the Kentucky dependent tuition waiver. Learn more about survivor benefits.

Federal Benefits Available to Kentucky Veterans

  • Medical care, including mental health services and counseling 
  • Monthly tax-free compensation payments based on disability rating (calculate it here)
  • Special compensation, Aid & Attendance and other financial benefits 
  • Home loans and housing benefits 
  • Vocational rehabilitation and employment services 
  • Education benefits through the GI Bill 
  • 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 Kentucky veterans can get with a rating of 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, etc.

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits

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 Kentucky veteran →

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for Spouse and Dependents

Spouses and family members of 100% disabled veterans may also be eligible for several benefits:

  • CHAMPVA healthcare  
  • DIC eligibility  
  • Education benefits  
  • Property tax exemption continuation  
  • Dependent tuition waiver at Kentucky public colleges  

Benefits for Toxic Exposure

Kentucky veterans and veterans who served at a military base in Kentucky and developed disabilities may be eligible for compensation and VA benefits. Kentucky military bases with known toxins include:

If you served at a base in a different state, find yours on the Military Base Toxic Exposure Map. Hill & Ponton has decades of experience in helping veterans get compensation for conditions caused by exposure to dangerous substances, from Agent Orange to burn pits, jet fuel, and PFAS.

Getting VA Disability in Kentucky

The VA Regional Benefits Office serving all Kentucky veterans is in Louisville, at 321 W Main Street. Several local and national resources are available to help guide applicants through the VA disability claims process.

How to Apply for VA Benefits in Kentucky – Free Guide

Attorney Matthew Hill has written THE book on how to get VA disability compensation and benefits. Get it here free of charge. We also offer a free downloadable version for easy, immediate access.

Legal Resources for Disabled Veterans

Attorneys Specialized in VA Disability Law

Our VA-accredited lawyers proudly represent Kentucky veterans who were denied or underrated by the VA, with no upfront costs. Contact us for a free evaluation. Even if we don’t take your case, we’ll point you in the right direction.