Texas State Benefits Guide for Disabled Veterans 

Veterans with a 60% or higher disability rating and who receive VA compensation can get a free Texas driver’s license or ID card. More info here.

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Tolls in Texas?

Currently, there is no statewide program in Texas that allows disabled veterans to avoid paying tolls on all toll roads. While some local toll authorities might offer specific exemptions or discounts, these are not available everywhere in the state. Veterans with special vehicle license plates, like Disabled Veteran plates, often get benefits such as free parking at metered spots. However, toll exemptions are managed separately and can differ depending on the company that operates the toll road.

Do Veterans Get Free Car Registration in Texas?

Veterans may receive one free vehicle registration if the vehicle is for personal use and they have a qualifying plate such as:

• Disabled Veteran
• Congressional Medal of Honor
• Purple Heart
• Former POW

To qualify, you need to apply at your local county tax assessor-collector’s office and show proof of your disability and VA compensation.

Do Veterans Pay Sales Tax on Vehicles in Texas?

Yes, veterans generally do pay sales tax on vehicles in Texas, unless the vehicle is modified for use by someone with disabilities. In that case, the sales tax may be waived. See Texas Comptroller’s tax exemptions for details.

Yes, Texas does pay for veterans’ college education through the Hazlewood Act. This state benefit gives eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependent children up to 150 credit hours of tuition exemption at public universities and colleges in Texas. To qualify, veterans must have been Texas residents when they joined the military, served at least 181 days of active duty, and received an honorable or general discharge under honorable conditions.

Texas offers various employment benefits and resources to help veterans find jobs and succeed in the civilian workforce. 

• Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist (DVOP): DVOPs give special help to disabled veterans or those with big challenges finding a job. They offer personalized support with job searching, writing resumes, and preparing for interviews.  
• Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER): LVERs work with employers to encourage them to hire veterans and provide job services to veterans looking for work.  
• Veteran Business Representatives (VBR): VBRs help veterans who want to start their own businesses by offering guidance and resources.  

Veterans Employment Preference in Texas 

Texas state agencies and local governments give a hiring preference to veterans, disabled veterans, and the surviving spouses and children of veterans. This means qualified veterans get an advantage when applying for state government jobs. 

The Texas Parklands Passport allows free entry to Texas state parks for U.S. veterans with a 60% or more service-connected disability or loss of a lower extremity. This lets disabled veterans enjoy the outdoors at Texas state parks without paying an entry fee. 

Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Veterans 

Disabled veterans in Texas can get a free Super Combo Hunting and All-Water Fishing Package. This package is free for veterans who have lost the use of a foot or leg, have a 50% or higher disability rating, and receive VA compensation. The Super Combo package includes: 

• Resident hunting license  
• Resident fishing license  
• All needed endorsements, except the Federal Duck Stamp  

This package works for both Texas residents and non-residents who qualify. For more information, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website. 

In addition to federal VA healthcare benefits, Texas offers extra support and long-term care options for its veterans.

• Additional support through Texas Veterans Commission: The Texas Veterans Commission provides various programs and services to help veterans with their healthcare needs, often connecting them with resources and information. 
• Dental services through Texas Veterans Commission: While full dental care from the VA can be limited, the Texas Veterans Commission may offer or point veterans to resources for dental services. 
• Long-term care at Texas state homes for veterans (reduced rates): Texas runs state veterans homes that offer affordable long-term care, including skilled nursing, for eligible veterans. Eligible veterans with a 70% or higher service-connected disability may live in a state home for free.  

Texas State Veterans Home Locations 

Texas has nine state veterans homes that provide services to veterans needing long-term care. To be eligible, applicants must have a doctor’s note saying they need skilled nursing care, have lived in Texas for at least a day, served at least 90 days, have a DD214, and have been honorably discharged. 

• Amarillo – Ussery-Roan Texas State Veterans Home 1020 Tascosa Road, Amarillo, TX 79124 806-322-8387  
• Big Spring – Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez Texas State Veterans Home 1809 North Highway 87, Big Spring, TX 79720 432-268-8387  
• Bonham – Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home 1300 Seven Oaks Road, Bonham, TX 75418 903-640-8387  
• El Paso – Ambrosio Guillen Texas State Veterans Home 9650 Kenworthy Street, El Paso, TX 79924 915-751-0967  
• Floresville – Frank M. Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home 200 Veterans Drive, Floresville, TX 78114 830-216-9456  
• Houston – Richard A. Anderson Texas State Veterans Home 14041 Cottingham Road, Houston, TX 77048 346-293-9600  
• McAllen – Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home 301 East Yuma Avenue, McAllen, TX 78503 956-682-4224  
• Temple – William R. Courtney Texas State Veterans Home 1424 Martin Luther King Jr. Lane, Temple, TX 76504 254-791-8280  
• Tyler – Watkins Logan Texas State Veterans Home 11466 Honor Lane, Tyler, TX 75708 903-617-6150  

For more information on Texas State Veterans Homes, visit: https://www.glo.texas.gov/veterans/veterans-homes/locations. 

Texas offers respectful burial options for its veterans and provides support for their surviving family members. Texas has four state-run veterans cemeteries offering burial plots, places for urns, and ongoing care. Eligibility usually requires an honorable discharge and Texas residency.  

• Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery (Killeen): 11463 State Highway 195, Killeen, TX 76542 
• Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery (Mission): 2520 Inspiration Rd, Mission, TX 78572 
• Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery (Corpus Christi): 9974 I-37, Corpus Christi, TX 78410 
• North Texas State Veterans Cemetery (Dallas): 16102 Lakeview Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75218 

Find out more about burial benefits and other VA benefits survivors are entitled to receive.

Besides Texas-specific benefits, disabled veterans also get various federal VA disability benefits. Whether you qualify for some of these federal benefits depends on your disability rating percentage. Federal VA benefits include:

• Monthly tax-free compensation payments based on disability rating (calculate it here)
• Medical care, including mental health services and counseling
• 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 Texas 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 Texas 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
• Continued property tax exemption
• Access to Texas state resources

Texas veterans and veterans who served at a Texas military base and later developed health issues may be entitled to VA benefits for toxic exposure.

Texas Military Bases with Potential Toxic Exposure

• Dyess Air Force Base: Concerns here include contaminated groundwater from industrial cleaning liquids and fuel leaks.
• El Campo Training Site: This site has had problems with various pollutants from past military training activities.
• Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base: Issues include PFAS contamination from firefighting foams and other industrial chemicals.
• Fort Bliss: Environmental issues at Fort Bliss have involved the disposal of hazardous waste and possible groundwater contamination from various military operations.
• Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood): This large base has a history of environmental problems, including PFAS contamination, fuel spills, and other hazardous waste.
• Joint Base San Antonio: This major base includes several installations and has had various environmental issues, such as groundwater contamination from cleaning liquids and fuel.
• Goodfellow Air Force Base: Concerns include possible groundwater contamination from past waste disposal practices.
• Grand Prairie Armed Forces Reserve Complex:  This facility has faced environmental challenges related to handling dangerous materials.
• Holloman Air Force Base : Although mostly in New Mexico, its closeness and shared operations with Texas bases mean some veterans might have similar exposure concerns. Toxic exposure issues at Holloman have involved fuel spills and industrial chemicals.
• Lackland Air Force Base : Known for problems with groundwater contamination from various industrial activities.
• Laughlin Air Force Base : Concerns include fuel leaks and other hazardous waste.
• Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant: As an ammunition plant, it has faced serious contamination issues from explosives and other chemicals.
• Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant : Like other ammunition plants, this site has a history of widespread contamination from various hazardous materials.
• Naval Air Station Corpus Christi : Concerns have included fuel leaks, industrial cleaning liquids, and possible PFAS contamination.
• Reese Air Force Base : Environmental problems have included groundwater contamination from cleaning liquids and petroleum products.
• Sheppard Air Force Base : Concerns include fuel leaks, industrial cleaning liquids, and possible PFAS contamination.

If you served at a base in a different state, you can find yours on this toxic exposure map: https://www.hillandponton.com/toxic-exposure/.

Getting through the VA disability claims process can be tricky, but there are local and national resources to help guide you. These resources include local veteran groups, state-supported VA services, and experienced attorneys.

How to Apply for VA Benefits in Texas – Free Guide 

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 online course for easy, immediate access.  

Texas State Legal Aid and Resources 

Various legal aid and support services are available to help Texas veterans. These resources aim to give veterans the help they need to handle legal challenges and access the benefits they’ve earned. 

• Family Support Services: The Family Support Services Office of the Texas Military Department offers programs and partnerships for Texas service members, veterans, and their families. These include family and youth programs, resilience and suicide prevention efforts, job search help, mental health and counseling services, and support for service members and survivors. 
• Veteran Treatment Courts: These courts are supervised by judges and aim to keep veterans out of jail while connecting them with the benefits and treatment they’ve earned. These courts offer a different path that focuses on recovery and support. 

Help from Experienced Lawyers 

Our VA-accredited lawyers proudly represent Texas veterans who were denied or underrated by the VA, with no upfront costs. Find out more: 

• El Paso VA Lawyers 
• Houston VA Lawyers 
• Killeen VA Lawyers 
• San Antonio VA Lawyers