Benefits for Disabled Veterans in Maine

Tax Exemptions

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Property Taxes in Maine?

Yes, but Maine offers two veteran property tax exemptions under 36 M.R.S. § 653 that reduce the just value of a qualifying veteran’s home, plus an expanded Property Tax Fairness credit administered through the state income tax. Applications must be filed with the local town assessor’s office by April 1 of the tax year.

The $6,000 Veteran Property Tax Exemption

A veteran who served during a federally recognized war period can deduct $6,000 from the just value of their home if they are at least 62 years old, are receiving a federal pension or compensation for total disability, or became 100% disabled while serving on active duty. Find out more about the veteran property tax exemption.

Qualifying wartime service includes World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn, plus the February 1955 to February 1961 period. Veterans who earned an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal also qualify regardless of dates.

Surviving spouses, minor children, and unremarried widowed parents of qualifying veterans are also eligible.

The $50,000 Specially Adapted Housing Exemption

A veteran who received a federal grant under 38 U.S.C. § 2101 for a specially adapted housing unit qualifies for an exemption of $50,000 from the just value of their home, regardless of age. The exemption is filed on the same Veteran Exemption Application as the standard $6,000 exemption and may also be claimed by the unremarried surviving spouse.

Property Tax Fairness Credit

Maine’s Property Tax Fairness credit refunds a portion of the property taxes (or rent equivalent) paid by Maine residents above income-based thresholds. The credit is administered through the individual income tax, separate from the § 653 exemptions, and was expanded for veterans by the Legislature in 2022. Learn more about the Property Tax Fairness credit.

Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Exemption

Under 36 M.R.S. § 1483(12), automobiles owned by veterans who are disabled by an injury or disease incurred or aggravated during active military service and who are receiving federal pension or compensation for a total, service-connected disability are exempt from Maine’s annual motor vehicle excise tax.

The exemption applies regardless of whether the veteran has a disabled veteran license plate, though the regular registration fee still applies for non-veteran plates. To qualify, the veteran must present a current VA Benefit Summary letter showing total, service-connected disability to their municipal office. Find out more about Maine tax benefits for veterans.

Maine Income Tax Exemption for Military Retirement

Maine fully exempts military retirement pay (as well as VA disability compensation and military disability retirement pay) from state income tax. Under 36 M.R.S. § 5122(2)(M-1), retirement plan benefits received as a result of service in the active or reserve components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, or Space Force, including Survivor Benefit Plan annuities, are subtracted in full from federal adjusted gross income.

There is no age cap, no income limit, and no maximum exclusion. Active-duty pay earned by a nonresident servicemember stationed in Maine is exempt from Maine income tax under federal law (the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act), and a qualifying nonresident military spouse may elect the same exemption on Maine-source wages under the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act.

Housing and Financial Assistance

SaluteME and Salute Home Again Mortgage Discount

MaineHousing’s SaluteME program offers active duty servicemembers, veterans, and retired military personnel a 0.50% discount on the standard First Home Loan 30-year fixed interest rate.

The companion Salute Home Again program extends the same 0.50% discount to veterans who have owned a home before, waiving the first-time-buyer requirement. Find out more about SaluteME and Salute Home Again.

Eligible borrowers include active duty servicemembers, veterans with an honorable discharge, retired military, and National Guard or Reserve members with 180 days of qualifying service. SaluteME can be paired with FHA, VA, USDA-RD, or conventional loans, and most loans require minimal down payment.

Veterans’ Emergency Financial Assistance Program (VEFAP)

VEFAP provides emergency grants of up to $2,000 to Maine veterans who experience a hardship and lack savings or other financial assistance. Eligible uses include:

• Preventing or resolving homelessness
• Vehicle repair required to maintain employment
• Illness of the veteran or family member resulting in hardship
• Damage to a veteran’s home from fire, flood, or hurricane not covered by insurance
• Dental emergencies involving pain or infection, up to $500

Applicants must have an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge. Veterans with other discharge statuses may qualify for philanthropic funding through Fedcap, Veterans Forward at 844-653-0316. Find out more about VEFAP.

Homeless Veteran Services and Resources

Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services Homeless Veterans Coordination Team works with state and federal partners to reduce veteran homelessness. The state-funded Veterans’ Homelessness Prevention Coordination Program provides reimbursements to volunteer organizations that deliver transitional housing for homeless veterans. The coordination team can be reached at 207-287-7019.

Transportation Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Sales Tax on Vehicles in Maine?

Maine does not offer a general sales tax exemption for disabled veteran vehicle purchases. However, veterans with a total, service-connected disability are exempt from Maine’s annual motor vehicle excise tax under 36 M.R.S. § 1483(12), regardless of whether they have a disabled veteran license plate.

Veterans who are granted free vehicle registration under Title 29-A § 523, including veterans who lost the use of both legs, also qualify for the excise tax exemption. To apply, present a current VA Benefit Summary letter to your municipal office.

Disabled Veteran License Plates in Maine

Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues a Disabled Veteran plate and several other veteran plates, including the Purple Heart, Gold Star Family, Ex-POW, and Pearl Harbor Survivor plates. Each plate has its own eligibility criteria and documentation requirements.

Free registration is available to veterans who lost the use of both legs and to certain other disabled veterans under 29-A M.R.S. § 523. The vehicle must be currently registered in Maine and titled to the qualifying veteran. See the full list1 of Maine veteran plates.

Education Benefits

Does Maine Offer Free College to Disabled Veterans’ Dependents?

Yes. Maine’s Veterans Dependents Educational Benefits Program provides a 100% waiver of tuition and all mandatory fees for spouses and dependents of veterans who meet the eligibility criteria under Title 37-B § 505.

The veteran must meet one of these conditions:

• 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating
• Died from a service-connected disability
• Totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected condition at the time of death (even if death was unrelated)
• Killed in action
• Is on active duty and has been listed for more than 90 days as missing in action, captured, or forcibly detained by a foreign government

The veteran must have entered service from Maine or have been a Maine resident for the five years immediately preceding application, and (if living) must continue to reside in Maine throughout the benefit period.

The waiver applies at all University of Maine System campuses, Maine Community Colleges, and the Maine Maritime Academy. Students must also apply for a Federal Pell Grant each academic year as a condition of eligibility.

GI Bill and Other Education Support

Dependent children of veterans rated permanently and totally disabled by the VA also qualify for the federal VA Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 35).

Veterans can access GI Bill benefits, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) services for veterans with service-connected disabilities, and counseling through the Maine State Approving Agency for Veterans Education Programs (MESAA). Find out more about Maine education benefits.

Employment Benefits

Maine State Veterans Hiring Preference

Under Public Law 2015, Chapter 438, qualified veterans who apply for vacancies in Maine’s classified state service are guaranteed an interview.

Under Executive Order 2016-002, the Bureau of Human Resources also provides ongoing guidance to veterans who were not selected, pointing them toward other State of Maine openings they may be qualified for. Find out more about Maine employment benefits.

Career Center Veterans Employment Services

Every Maine Career Center includes federally funded veteran specialists who give veterans priority service:

• DVOP Specialists (Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program) translate military skills into civilian job descriptions, identify training and education opportunities, and provide individualized case management for veterans with significant employment barriers
• LVER Staff (Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives) advocate with employers, facilitate job referrals, and coordinate counseling and training

Professional Licensing for Veterans

Maine’s Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR) streamlines occupational licensing for veterans by crediting military training and experience toward state licensure requirements. The program reduces duplicative training, shortens the path to licensure, and applies to both initial licensing and continuing education.

Veteran Readiness and Employment at Togus

The Togus VA Regional Office hosts a Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Division that helps veterans with service-connected disabilities achieve employment or function more independently at home and in the community. The office is located at 1 VA Center, Building 248, in Chelsea, ME. Phone: 207-623-8411.

Recreation Benefits

Do Maine State Parks Offer a Free Disabled Veterans Pass?

Yes. The Free Lifetime Veteran State Park and Museum Pass gives Maine veterans a free day-use pass valid for life at state parks and historic sites operated by the Maine Department of Conservation. The pass does not expire and is non-transferable.

The veteran must be a Maine resident with an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge, and must submit a copy of their DD-214 with the application. Maine veterans age 65 or older do not need the pass, they automatically receive free admission as Maine senior citizens.

The pass is not valid at Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, the Penobscot Corridor, the Penobscot Narrows Observatory, or the Maine Wildlife Park.

Free Family Camping for 100% Disabled Veterans

100% service-connected disabled Maine veterans, along with their spouse and unmarried children, are exempt from reservation and camping fees at Maine State Parks and Public Lands. State Park Rules limit family sites to six people, and the disabled veteran must be present for the duration of the trip. For group camping over six, only the disabled veterans in the group are exempt from fees.

Veterans must request to be added to the Disabled Veterans’ Camping List by writing to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry and submitting their Bureau of Motor Vehicles letter confirming a disabled veteran license plate. Find out more about free veteran camping.

Do Maine Disabled Veterans Get a Complimentary Fishing License?

Yes. Disabled veterans with a service-connected disability rated 50% or more qualify for a complimentary Disabled Veteran Hunting & Fishing License that covers fishing, trapping, hunting, and, if the holder meets the qualifications, a Maine guide license.

The license is valid for the life of the holder as long as residency requirements continue to be met. Eligible residents include those living in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Texas, and any other state with a reciprocal agreement. Applicants must show a driver’s license or proof of residency when applying.

What Hunting License Can Disabled Veterans Get in Maine?

The complimentary Disabled Veteran Hunting & Fishing License includes a comprehensive set of hunting permits at no additional cost:

• Archery, muzzleloader, and crossbow hunting
• Bear, migratory bird, and pheasant hunting
• Spring and fall wild turkey hunting
• Coyote night hunt
• One expanded archery antlerless deer permit and one expanded archery either-sex permit

Permits that are normally purchased separately are now bundled into the license, holders no longer renew them yearly. Lottery permits such as moose and antlerless deer must still be applied for separately.

Maine Disabled Veterans’ Controlled Moose Hunt

The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW), and Smoldering Lake Outfitters run two annual opportunities for veterans rated 50% or higher who have completed hunter safety training or hold a Maine hunting license:

• Maine Disabled Veterans’ Controlled Moose Hunt, a five-week hunt in Central Aroostook County that includes permits, a registered Maine guide, lodging, meals, and equipment at no cost to participants
• Donated Moose Permit Lottery, open to qualifying disabled veterans when a general-lottery permit holder donates an unused permit

Veterans who have previously participated in the controlled hunt are ineligible. Find out more about the disabled veteran moose hunt.

Health Care Benefits

Maine is served by a single VA health care system, anchored at the Togus VA Medical Center near Augusta, and a network of community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) and Vet Centers across the state. The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services helps veterans enroll in VA health care and connect with state-level services.

Maine VA Medical Center

The primary medical center serving Maine veterans is Togus VA Medical Center at 1 VA Center, Augusta, ME 04330. It provides primary care, surgery, specialty care, mental health treatment, rehabilitation, and dedicated programs for PTSD, Military Sexual Trauma, Gulf War illnesses, and substance use disorder.

Maine VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

CBOCs let Maine veterans access routine primary care, mental health services, and telehealth visits closer to home. Maine CBOCs include:

• Bangor VA Clinic, 35 State Hospital Drive, Bangor, ME 04401
• Calais VA Clinic, 50 Union Street, Calais, ME 04619
• Fort Kent VA Clinic, 197 East Main Street, Fort Kent, ME 04743
• Houlton VA Clinic, 20 Hartford Street, Houlton, ME 04730
• Lewiston VA Clinic, 15 Challenger Drive, Lewiston, ME 04240
• Lincoln VA Clinic, 99 River Road, Lincoln, ME 04457
• Portland VA Clinic, 141 West Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04102
• Presque Isle VA Clinic, 732 Main Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769
• Rumford VA Clinic, 10 Railroad Street, Rumford, ME 04276

Maine also operates Vet Centers in Bangor, Lewiston, Caribou (Northern Maine), South Portland, and Springvale (Sanford) that offer readjustment counseling, family counseling, and outreach for combat veterans and survivors. Find a Maine VA location.

Maine Veterans’ Homes

Maine Veterans’ Homes (MVH) operates six skilled-nursing and rehabilitative facilities for veterans, spouses, and Gold Star family members. Each home provides long-term care, short-term skilled rehabilitation, memory care for veterans with Alzheimer’s or dementia, and on-site therapy services.

The six MVH locations are in Augusta, Bangor, Caribou, Machias, Scarborough and South Paris. Find out more about Maine Veterans Homes.

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.

Burial and Survivor Benefits

Maine operates four state veterans’ cemeteries through the Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery System and is also served by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

The state cemeteries provide gravesite, grave liner, and opening/closing services at no cost for eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependent children. Survivors are responsible only for the funeral home’s services and transportation to the cemetery.

Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemeteries

• Central Maine Veterans’ Cemetery – Civic Center Drive: 143 Blue Star Avenue, Augusta, ME | Phone: 207-287-3481
• Central Maine Veterans’ Cemetery – Mt. Vernon Road: 163 Mt. Vernon Rd., Augusta, ME 04330 | Phone: 207-287-3481
• Northern Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery: 37 Lombard Rd., Caribou, ME 04736 | Phone: 207-490-4612
• Southern Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery: 83 Stanley Rd., Springvale, ME 04083 | Phone: 207-490-4612

The Civic Center Drive cemetery is at full capacity for new casketed burials and currently accepts only reservations and new cremation niche inurnments. Casketed burials continue year-round at the Mt. Vernon Road cemetery. The Northern and Southern cemeteries close to casketed burials between November 15 and April 30 due to winter conditions, but cremation niche inurnments continue year-round.

National Cemetery Resources

Maine veterans and eligible family members may also be buried in any open Department of Veterans Affairs national cemetery. Use the VA Nationwide Gravesite Locator to confirm burial in an existing veterans cemetery.

Survivor Benefits

Under 36 M.R.S. § 653, the $6,000 veteran property tax exemption transfers to the unremarried surviving spouse, minor child, or unremarried widowed parent of a qualifying veteran. The spouses and dependents of disabled veterans may also be eligible for:

• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
• Survivors’ Pension
• Accrued benefits

Federal Benefits

In addition to Maine’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.

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

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 Maine veteran →

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for Spouse and Dependents

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

• Continued $6,000 Maine property tax exemption
• CHAMPVA healthcare
• Chapter 35 education benefits
• DIC eligibility

Benefits for Toxic Exposure

Veterans who served at military installations and later developed serious illnesses may be eligible for VA disability compensation. Several Maine bases have documented histories of contamination with PFAS (from firefighting foam), waste oils, aviation fuels, spent solvents, PCBs, and pesticides.

Maine Military Bases with Known Toxins

• Brunswick Naval Air Station (Brunswick, ME), EPA Superfund site since 1987 with documented PFAS contamination from decades of AFFF firefighting foam use
• Loring Air Force Base (Limestone, ME), EPA Superfund site with 53 areas of environmental concern; documented waste oils, aviation fuels, spent solvents, PCBs, pesticides, and PFAS
• Bog Brook Training Site (Gilead, ME), Maine Army National Guard training site with documented PFAS groundwater contamination

If you served at a base in a different state, you can check its history of toxic contamination and potential health effects using the Military Base Toxic Exposure Map.

How to Claim or Increase VA Disability Benefits

Free Guide to VA Disability Benefits

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Legal Resources for Disabled Veterans

• Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services
• Find a Maine Veterans’ Services Field Office

Attorneys Specialized in VA Disability Law

Our VA-accredited lawyers proudly represent Maine 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!