Nebraska Benefits Guide for Disabled Veterans

Tax Exemptions and Financial Assistance

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Property Taxes in Nebraska?

Veterans who are 100% permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition, or who hold a 100% Individual Unemployability (IU) rating, pay no property tax on their Nebraska homestead.

This Category 4V exemption under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-3506 waives 100% of property taxes with no income limit and no homestead value cap. The 100% rating must be effective on or before January 1 of the application year. The veteran must own and occupy the home from January 1 through August 15.

How to Apply for the Homestead Exemption

• File Form 458 with your county assessor between February 1 and June 30 each year.
• Include VA certification of 100% service-connected disability or 100% Individual Unemployability. VA certification is only required in the first year and in years ending in 0 or 5.
• Schedule I (income statement) is not required for Category 4V applicants.

Surviving spouses of a Category 4V veteran continue to receive the full homestead exemption as long as they remain unremarried, or remarry after age 57, and continue to own and occupy the homestead.

A separate Category 5 exemption fully waives property tax for veterans who are paraplegic or have multiple amputations whose home was substantially contributed to by the VA. Find out more from the Nebraska Department of Revenue.

Are There Any Other Tax Breaks for Disabled Veterans in Nebraska?

Yes. Nebraska offers a full income tax exclusion and a new motor vehicle tax exemption that started in 2026. VA disability compensation is also tax-free under federal law and is not reported on the Nebraska return.

Disabled Veteran Motor Vehicle Tax Exemption

Starting January 1, 2026, all disabled and/or blind veterans in Nebraska receive an exemption from the Motor Vehicle Tax and Motor Vehicle Fee on one vehicle owned and used for personal transportation. Other charges (plate fee, sales tax, wheel tax) still apply. Find out more about the NDVA Motor Vehicle Tax Exemption.

Military Retirement Income Tax Exclusion

For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, all military retirees can exclude 100% of military retirement benefits from Nebraska taxable income. No election or form submission is required to claim the exclusion. Find out more from the Nebraska Department of Revenue.

Nebraska Veterans’ Aid (NVA) Fund

Established in 1921, the Nebraska Veterans’ Aid Fund is a temporary emergency aid fund that helps veterans, spouses, and dependents when an unexpected emergency disrupts their normal living and other resources are not immediately available. Aid can be used for food, fuel, shelter, transportation, daycare, clothing, funeral expenses, and medical or surgical items.

As of September 3, 2025, applications can be filed through a State Service Officer, a County Veterans Service Officer, or a Post Service Officer of any recognized veterans service organization. Learn more about the NVA Fund.

Do you deserve a higher disability rating but the VA underrated you? Get a free case evaluation here.

Transportation Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Sales Tax on Vehicles in Nebraska?

Yes. Nebraska does not exempt disabled veterans from sales tax, plate fees, or wheel tax on vehicle purchases. The new Disabled Veteran Motor Vehicle Tax Exemption that took effect January 1, 2026, only waives the Motor Vehicle Tax and Motor Vehicle Fee on one personal-use vehicle.

Disabled and/or blind veterans qualify regardless of disability rating, and the exemption is administered through county treasurer offices and the Nebraska DMV.

Learn more about the Nebraska Motor Vehicle Tax Exemption.

Disabled Veteran License Plates in Nebraska

The Nebraska DMV issues several plate options for veterans. Eligibility requires enrollment in the Nebraska Veterans’ Registry and, for handicap plates, a certified medical condition.

• Disabled Veteran Alphanumeric Plate – No Fee. Available for motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, semitrailers, and cabin trailers. Plates issued in consecutive sequence; previously issued numeric plates must be replaced with alphanumeric plates during calendar 2026.
• Disabled Veteran Message Plate – $40. Up to five characters of your choice, with $30 going to the Veteran Cemetery Cash Fund and $10 to the DMV Cash Fund. Renewed annually.
• Disabled Veteran Handicap Plate. Requires the Veterans’ Registry plus a certified medical condition via the Application for Military Handicapped License Plates.

Standard Disabled Veteran plates do not grant access to spaces designated for handicap parking. A Disabled Veteran Handicap Plate or a separate Handicap Permit is needed for those spots. Find out more from the Nebraska DMV.

Veteran Designation on Your Driver’s License

After enrolling in the Nebraska Veterans’ Registry, eligible veterans, including National Guard and Reserve veterans, can request a “Veteran” designation on the front of their Nebraska driver’s license or state ID. The designation makes it easier to receive military and veteran discounts at participating retailers, restaurants, and service providers without producing a DD-214 each time.

Education Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Get Tuition Assistance in Nebraska?

No direct tuition waiver exists for the disabled veteran personally in Nebraska. However, members of a Nebraska-based unit of the Active Selected Reserve who are Nebraska residents may qualify for the Reservist Tuition Credit, which pays 75% of tuition (or 50% for graduate or professional degrees) at University of Nebraska campuses, Nebraska state colleges, and Nebraska community colleges.

Veterans who left school during WWII, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War may receive an honorary high school diploma through Operation Recognition. See the NDVA Education page for the full list of programs.

Does Nebraska Waive Tuition for Disabled Veterans’ Dependents?

Yes. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 80-411, Nebraska’s Waiver of Tuition program waives 100% of tuition and tuition-related fees at any University of Nebraska campus, Nebraska state college, or Nebraska community college for eligible dependents.

Eligible Veterans

• Rated 100% permanently and totally disabled from military service.
• Died of a service-connected disability.
• Died after discharge from an injury or illness sustained while in the armed forces.
• Classified as missing in action or prisoner of war during armed hostilities.

Eligible Dependents

• Spouse or surviving spouse – eligible until earning a baccalaureate degree, while still married to the veteran (surviving spouses remain eligible).
• Biological or adopted children – eligible until earning a baccalaureate degree or reaching age 26, whichever comes first. Children who serve on active duty between 18 and 26 get an extension of five years post-discharge, not to exceed age 31.
• Stepchildren – same age and degree limits as biological children, while the biological parent remains married to the veteran.

The waiver covers tuition and tuition-related fees only. Books, housing, food, and parking are not covered. Students may earn one community college credential and one bachelor’s degree under the program; master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees are not eligible. Apply with NDVA Form 3 before the term begins. Find out more about the Nebraska Waiver of Tuition.

Employment Benefits

Nebraska State Veterans Hiring Preference

Nebraska operates a point-based veterans preference for state employment under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-227. Veterans who pass all parts of a competitive exam receive 5% added to their passing score. Disabled veterans receive an additional 5% for a total of 10%.

When no exam is used, preference goes to a qualifying veteran when two or more equally qualified candidates are being considered. To claim the preference, submit a copy of your DD-214 with your application.

Nebraska Veterans’ Gateway (NVG)

The Nebraska Veterans’ Gateway is a state-run employment portal that helps veterans translate their military experience into civilian job opportunities. It includes a Resource Expert to identify transition and education programs, a Job Converter that maps military occupational specialties to civilian roles, and a Job Search tool linked to Nebraska Department of Labor employers.

NVG partners with NEworks and the Nebraska Department of Labor’s veteran employment services for workshops, career counseling, and priority access to job referrals. Find out more about the Nebraska Veterans’ Gateway.

Recreation Benefits

Do Nebraska Disabled Veterans Get Free Fishing and Hunting Licenses?

Yes. Resident veterans rated 50% or more service-connected disabled, or receiving a VA pension for total and permanent non-service-connected disability, qualify for the free Disabled Veteran’s Lifetime Small Game, Fish, and Fur Harvest Permit. The permit has no expiration date as long as the veteran remains a Nebraska resident and continues to meet the disability criteria.

A Veterans Annual Small Game Hunt, Fish, and Fur Harvest Permit is also available for $5 to honorably discharged Nebraska veterans age 64 and older.

Free Veterans Day Hunt and Veteran Waterfowl Season

Every Veterans Day, honorably discharged resident Nebraska veterans receive a free one-day hunt permit, habitat stamp, and Nebraska Migratory Waterfowl Stamp to hunt at no cost on November 11. Nebraska also runs a separate special waterfowl hunting season open to veterans and active duty military, including National Guard and Reserve members on active orders.

Do Disabled Veterans Get a Free Pass to Nebraska State Parks?

Yes. The Disabled Veteran Lifetime Park Entry Permit is free for resident veterans with an honorable or general discharge who are rated 50% or more service-connected disabled, or who receive a VA pension for permanent non-service-connected disability. The permit is a lifetime windshield sticker that covers every Nebraska state park, state recreation area, and state historical park.

Veterans who already hold the disabled hunt-fish combination permit are prequalified but must still submit an application.

Application forms are available at any Game and Parks office or through the Nebraska Game and Parks veterans and military permits page. A Veterans Service Officer must sign the form. Mail completed applications to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370.

Additionally, any disabled veteran (regardless of the rating) is eligible for a free Lifetime Access Pass, giving right to entry into thousands of federally managed recreation sites across the U.S. Find out more about the recreation programs offered to Nebraska veterans.

Vets Get Pets

Vets Get Pets reimburses eligible Nebraska veterans up to $350 of adoption fees when they adopt a companion animal from a participating shelter or rescue. The program is funded through Veteran license plate sales and is subject to fund availability.

Health Care Benefits

Most veteran medical care in Nebraska is delivered through the federal VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. The state operates a parallel network of long-term care, mental health, and survivor support programs. See the full list of state and federal health resources.

Nebraska Veterans’ Homes

Nebraska operates four state veterans’ homes that provide skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, hospice and palliative care, restorative nursing, and physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The homes are part of the Nebraska Hospice-Veteran Partnership.

Eligibility extends to veterans with an honorable or general discharge who have lived in Nebraska for at least two years during their lifetime. Spouses (married 2+ years, age 50+), surviving spouses of veterans, and Gold Star spouses and parents also qualify.

• Eastern Nebraska Veterans’ Home (Bellevue) – 12505 Harrison Tull Drive, Bellevue, NE 68123 | Phone: 402-595-2180 | 120 licensed beds (60 skilled nursing, 30 assisted living, 30 secure memory care).
• Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home (Kearney) – 4510 East 56th Street, Kearney, NE 68847 | Phone: 308-865-6000 | 225 beds.
• Norfolk Veterans’ Home – 600 East Benjamin Avenue, Norfolk, NE 68701 | Phone: 402-370-3330 | 159 beds.
• Western Nebraska Veterans’ Home (Scottsbluff) – 1102 West 42nd Street, Scottsbluff, NE 69361 | Phone: 308-632-0300 | 109 beds.

Burial and Survivor Benefits

Nebraska operates two state veterans cemeteries: the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Alliance (2610 CR 57, Alliance, NE 69301; 308-763-2958) and the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island.

Burial services are provided free of charge to eligible veterans and include a committal shelter for casket-side services, a memorial garden for cremated remains, and an upright headstone. Find out more about Nebraska Veterans Cemeteries.

Spouses and dependent children of eligible veterans may also be interred at the state cemeteries. The Nebraska Veterans’ Aid Fund covers limited funeral expenses in qualifying hardship cases.

If the veteran was 100 percent disabled at the time of death, the surviving spouse can retain the Category 4V homestead exemption as long as they remain unremarried (or remarry after age 57) and continue to own and occupy the homestead. Other survivor benefits may be available.

Federal Benefits Available to Nebraska Veterans

In addition to Nebraska’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
• 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 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

Nebraska 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 Nebraska 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:

• Continued property tax homestead exemption
• CHAMPVA healthcare
• Education benefits
• DIC eligibility
• Access to Nebraska state resources

Benefits for Toxic Exposure

Veterans who served at a military base contaminated with dangerous substances and developed related disabilities may be eligible for VA compensation and benefits.

The Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant near Grand Island and the Nebraska Ordnance Plant near Mead are on the EPA Superfund list for explosives-related groundwater contamination. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from firefighting foam have been detected in soil and groundwater at multiple facilities.

Nebraska Military Bases with PFAS Exposure

• Camp Ashland
• Greenlief Training Site
• Offutt Air Force Base

If you served at a different base or 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 Nebraska

Free Guide to VA Disability Benefits

Attorney Matthew Hill has written THE book on how to get VA disability compensation and benefits. And it’s yours free of charge. We also offer a free ebook for easy, immediate access.

Legal Resources

• NDVA State Service Office – 3800 Village Dr, Lincoln, NE 68516 | (402) 420-4021 | ndva.sso@nebraska.gov
• County Veterans Service Officer Directory – Every Nebraska county has at least one accredited CVSO who can help file claims for free.
• NDVA Legal and Advocacy Assistance directory – Includes Veterans Treatment Courts in Douglas and Lancaster Counties.

Attorneys Specialized in VA Disability Law

Our VA-accredited lawyers proudly represent Nebraska 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!