West Virginia Benefits Guide for Disabled Veterans

Tax Exemptions for Veterans

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Property Taxes in West Virginia?

No, if they are rated 90% or higher. Beginning in tax year 2024, West Virginia offers a refundable Disabled Veteran Real Property Tax Credit equal to the amount of ad valorem property tax paid on the veteran’s primary residence. Honorably discharged veterans with a combined VA disability rating of 90% to 100% claim the credit on their state income tax return; if the credit exceeds tax owed, the difference is refunded.

How to Apply for the Real Property Tax Credit

1. File Form DV-1 with your West Virginia personal income tax return; you must own and occupy the homestead for at least six months of the tax year and pay your property taxes on time.
2. Attach receipts for property tax paid plus a copy of your VA disability rating letter.
3. If you own more than one West Virginia property, the credit applies only to your primary residence.

An eligible widowed spouse of a qualifying veteran may continue to claim the credit until their death or remarriage. Veterans rated below 90% are not eligible for this state credit, but may still claim the general $20,000 senior/disabled homestead exemption on the assessed value of their home if they otherwise qualify. See the WV Tax Division publication TSD-455.

Are There Other Tax Breaks for Disabled Veterans in West Virginia?

VA disability compensation is exempt from West Virginia income tax under federal law. Military retirement pay from the regular Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard, and uniformed services is fully exempt from West Virginia personal income tax for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2019.

Survivor Benefit Plan annuities and military disability retirement pay are also exempt. See the WVDVA Economic Assistance page and the WV Tax Division publication TSD-443.

Transportation Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Get Free Vehicle Registration in West Virginia?

Yes, if veterans are rated 100% permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected condition. Holders of a Disabled Veteran Mobility Impaired license plate pay no registration fee on one vehicle: only a 50¢ insurance enforcement fee and a $1.00 litter fee.

The license plate is also free to veterans who received a Specially Adapted Vehicle Grant from the VA, former prisoners of war, Purple Heart recipients, and Pearl Harbor survivors.

Disabled Veteran License Plates in West Virginia

The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles issues several special veteran plates. Apply on Form DMV-48-D at any DMV regional office with a copy of your VA rating letter and DD-214.

• Disabled Veteran Mobility Impaired plate: No fee for veterans with a 100% total and permanent service-connected disability; allows parking in spaces reserved for persons with disabilities.
• Disabled Veteran plate: Standard veteran plate with disabled veteran designation, available at no charge to 100% T&P veterans, former POWs, Purple Heart recipients, and Pearl Harbor survivors.
• Veteran plate: Available to any honorably discharged veteran for a one-time $10 fee plus standard registration.
• Other free plates include Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, and Gold Star Family.

Free metered parking is not automatically granted with a Disabled Veteran plate. Local municipalities set their own metered parking ordinances, so check the city or town where you park.

Education Benefits

Do Veterans Get Free Tuition in West Virginia?

Only for two narrow categories: West Virginia state-supported colleges and universities waive tuition and mandatory fees for veterans who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or the Purple Heart (and meet residency requirements). The waiver is good for up to eight semesters.

Other disabled veterans who have exhausted federal VA education benefits may apply for the state’s Veterans Re-Education Assistance Program, which provides up to $500 per semester toward tuition and fees at a West Virginia post-secondary institution. The applicant must be honorably discharged and a West Virginia resident.

Is College Free for Veterans’ Dependents in West Virginia?

Yes, for the survivors of those killed in the line of duty or who died as a result of wartime service. West Virginia’s War Orphan Education Program waives tuition and mandatory fees at any state-supported post-secondary institution for the surviving spouse and children of a West Virginia resident veteran who was killed in action or who died as a result of wartime service.

The program also pays up to $1,000 per semester (capped at $2,000 per year) toward room, board, books, supplies, and other necessary expenses.

Eligibility

• Surviving spouse or child ages 16 through 25 of a West Virginia veteran killed in action or who died of a service-connected condition
• Enrolled in a post-secondary education or training institution in West Virginia

Separately, West Virginia also waives tuition and fees for the surviving spouse and children of any West Virginia resident service member killed in the line of duty, for up to eight semesters or until a bachelor’s degree is earned. Find out more about WVDVA education benefits.

Employment Benefits

West Virginia State Veterans Hiring Preference

West Virginia adds 5 preference points to the passing score of any honorably discharged veteran on state civil service or merit-system examinations. Disabled veterans with a VA service-connected disability rating receive a 10-Point Compensable Disability Preference (5 base points plus 5 additional).

Veterans hiring preference applies to both initial appointments and to retention rights during reductions in force under West Virginia Code §6-13-1.

Through WorkForce WV Veterans Services, the state also provides job-seeking veterans with priority assessments, resume help, and apprenticeship referrals at American Job Centers statewide.

Military Incentive Program (Employer Tax Credit)

Private employers in West Virginia can claim a state tax credit for hiring economically disadvantaged veterans and unemployed members of the West Virginia National Guard and U.S. Reserve. The credit is administered by WorkForce West Virginia under West Virginia Code §21A-2C.

Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Program

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s Veterans and Heroes to Agriculture Program helps veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and their families enter or grow in agriculture.

The program reimburses up to $600 per fiscal year for pre-approved agricultural classes, workshops, conferences, and certifications, and awards project grants of up to $24,000 to partner organizations. Contact 304-558-2210 or vetstoag@wvda.us.

Recreation Benefits

West Virginia State Parks Veterans Salute Discount

All veterans receive a year-round 10% discount on standard lodge rooms, cabins, and campsites at every West Virginia State Park. Pipestem, Twin Falls, and Cacapon Resort State Parks also offer 15% off greens fees for golfers with a valid military ID (both discounts aren’t available at Stonewall Resort State Park).

The Veterans Salute discount is not limited to disabled veterans (any honorable service qualifies). Several resort parks, including Pipestem, Twin Falls, and Cacapon Resort State Park, also offer seasonal golf and recreation deals for veterans and active-duty service members.

Do Disabled Veterans Get a Free Hunting License in WV?

Yes. Resident veterans who are rated 100% permanent and total service-connected disabled, who were former prisoners of war, or who receive a federal VA auto grant qualify for free West Virginia hunting, trapping, and fishing licenses under West Virginia Code §20-2-28.

Specific Free License Types

• Class Q : Resident Disabled Veteran Hunting License (free)
• Fishing privileges are bundled with the Class Q license for eligible disabled veterans

Health Care Benefits

West Virginia veterans receive most of their medical care through four federal VA medical centers and a statewide network of outpatient clinics. The state runs a complementary long-term care network for veterans who can no longer live independently.

West Virginia VA Medical Centers

• Hershel “Woody” Williams VA Medical Center – 1540 Spring Valley Drive, Huntington, WV 25704.
• Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center – 1 Medical Center Drive, Clarksburg, WV 26301.
• Martinsburg VA Medical Center – 510 Butler Avenue, Martinsburg, WV 25405.
• Beckley VA Medical Center – 200 Veterans Avenue, Beckley, WV 25801.

West Virginia Veterans Home and Nursing Facilities

The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance operates a domiciliary for self-sufficient veterans and a skilled nursing facility for veterans who need round-the-clock care. Eligibility extends to honorably discharged veterans who meet residency requirements; spouses may be admitted on a case-by-case basis at the nursing facility.

• West Virginia Veterans Home (Barboursville) – 512 Water Street, Barboursville, WV 25504 | Phone: 304-736-1027 | 125 beds; a domiciliary for veterans able to manage activities of daily living independently. Houses the Project 214 floor for homeless veterans.
• West Virginia Veterans Nursing Facility (Clarksburg) – 1 Freedom Way, Clarksburg, WV 26301 | 120 beds, including a 20-bed unit dedicated to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Opened in 2008.
• Charles Calvin Rogers State Veterans Nursing Facility (Beckley) – Planned 120-bed skilled nursing facility named for Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient Major General Charles C. Rogers; under development pending completion of federal funding.

Application packets and admission criteria are available on the WVDVA Veterans Home and facilities page.

Death and Burial Benefits

West Virginia operates one state veterans cemetery, the Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery at 130 Academy Drive, Dunbar. It offers casket burial, in-ground cremation, and columbarium niches. Pre-need eligibility determinations are encouraged.

Burial for an eligible veteran is free of charge, including a grave site or niche, opening and closing, pre-set crypt, headstone or niche cover, and perpetual care. A flat fee of $780 applies to the burial of an eligible spouse or other family member.

West Virginia is also home to two federal VA national cemeteries: Grafton National Cemetery (431 Walnut Street, Grafton, WV 26354) and West Virginia National Cemetery (42 Veterans Memorial Lane, Grafton, WV 26354). Burial of an eligible veteran is provided at no cost and includes the gravesite, opening and closing, a government headstone or marker, perpetual care, and a burial flag.

Burial Allowance and Grave Markers

The federal VA pays a burial allowance toward funeral and burial costs and may also pay a plot-interment allowance when the veteran is not buried in a VA national cemetery. The amount depends on whether the death was service-connected and whether the veteran was hospitalized at the time of death.

The VA also furnishes a government headstone, marker, or medallion for the unmarked grave of any eligible deceased veteran, anywhere in the world, at no charge. See the WVDVA Burial Benefits page.

The Jack Bennett Fund

Families who cannot afford to install the federal VA-furnished grave marker may apply to the Jack Bennett Fund for up to $380 to offset installation costs. Eligibility is based on the federal VA Means Test Threshold and applications can come from family members, licensed funeral directors, or cemeteries.

Federal Benefits

In addition to West Virginia’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 federal benefits depends on the disability rating percentage. Use the links below to see what federal benefits West Virginia 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

West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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:

• Property tax credit continuation
• CHAMPVA healthcare
• Education benefits
• DIC eligibility

Benefits for Toxic Exposure

West Virginia veterans and veterans who served at a military base in West Virginia (such as West Virginia Ordnance Works) and developed disabilities may be eligible for additional VA compensation and benefits, including those covered by the PACT Act and the Agent Orange and burn pit presumptive lists.

If you served in a different state, check its history of toxic contamination and potential health effects using the Military Base Toxic Exposure Map and get in touch with us for a free evaluation of your claim.

Getting VA Disability in West Virginia

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 for Disabled Veterans

• West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance (WVDVA) – Cabinet-level state agency that coordinates benefits and claims help.
• WVDVA Benefits Offices Directory – 14 field offices plus a Huntington-based claims office that liaises with the federal VA Regional Office.
• Accredited WV Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) – State-employed VSOs file federal VA claims at no cost to the veteran.

Attorneys Specialized in VA Disability Law

Our VA-accredited lawyers represent disabled veterans in West Virginia 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!