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Are you using all the resources you’re entitled to? Learn about Wyoming state benefits available to veterans, the required disability ratings and other eligibility criteria, and how to access them alongside federal programs.

Wyoming’s disabled veterans can benefit from a $6,000 property tax exemption (applicable to a home or vehicle registration), a free Lifetime Veteran’s Pass to all state parks, free lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, and a hiring preference for public employment.

Combat veterans, surviving spouses, and dependents can also receive free tuition at the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges.

Wyoming is home to an estimated 44,225 veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and roughly 38% receive VA disability. If you’ve been having trouble getting your benefits, this guide is for you.

Tax Exemptions

Do Disabled Veterans Pay Property Taxes in Wyoming?

Yes, but Wyoming offers a $6,000 annual property tax exemption on the assessed value of a veteran’s primary residence. Under Wyo. Stat. § 39-13-105 (as amended in 2024), the exemption doubled from $3,000 to $6,000 effective January 1, 2025. Wyoming also has no state income tax, which further reduces the overall tax burden on veterans.

Veterans Property Tax Exemption Eligibility

To qualify, the veteran must be a bona fide Wyoming resident for at least three years at the time of claiming the exemption and meet one of the following service criteria:

  • Honorably discharged veteran of WWI, WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or earlier qualifying conflicts
  • Honorably discharged veteran who received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or other authorized service or campaign medal for service in a foreign armed conflict
  • Disabled veteran with a compensable VA service-connected disability rating (or equivalent service-connected military disability rating)

To claim the exemption, file a sworn claim with the county assessor on or before the fourth Monday in May. The exemption must be renewed annually.

Surviving spouses are also eligible and may continue to receive the exemption as long as they remain a Wyoming resident and do not remarry.

Vehicle Registration Fee Option

Eligible veterans who do not apply the $6,000 exemption to real property may instead apply it to their motor vehicle registration fees through the county treasurer’s office. Veterans may not claim the exemption on both real property and vehicle registration in the same year.

Transportation Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Pay for Car Registration in Wyoming?

Disabled veterans in Wyoming can pay little or nothing to register a vehicle, depending on their VA disability rating. Veterans with a 50% or higher VA disability rating are exempt from county vehicle registration fees on one vehicle (excluding buses and motor homes) under Wyoming Statute 31-3-101(b), in connection with a Disabled Veteran license plate issued under W.S. 31-2-215.

Veterans with a lower service-connected disability rating can apply the $6,000 Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption (about $180 per year) to vehicle registration fees instead of property tax, but not to both in the same year.

A 50%-or-higher disabled veteran can claim both benefits: a full registration waiver on one vehicle, plus the $6,000 credit on a second vehicle or on property tax.

Underrated by the VA? Get help today

Disabled Veteran License Plates in Wyoming

Wyoming issues Disabled Veteran license plates to qualified veterans through the Wyoming Department of Transportation. To qualify, the applicant must be a Wyoming resident and receive compensation for a service-connected disability of 50% or more from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The vehicle must be titled in the veteran’s name or jointly with an immediate family member.

Plates are available for passenger cars, pickup trucks, motorcycles, and multipurpose vehicles. Eligible veterans may also purchase one additional pair of Disabled Veteran plates for a motorcycle or multipurpose vehicle. Applications must be submitted to the county treasurer at least 30 days before registration expires, and Wyoming license plates are replaced on an eight-year cycle.

Disabled Veteran license plates do not authorize parking in handicapped parking spaces in Wyoming: a separate handicap placard is required for accessible parking. Find out more about Disabled Veteran plates.

Education Benefits

Do Disabled Veterans Get Tuition Assistance in Wyoming?

Yes, but indirectly. Wyoming’s primary state tuition program, the Veteran Tuition Benefit under Wyo. Stat. § 19-14-106, is available to overseas combat veterans and to the surviving spouses and dependents of qualifying veterans, not to disabled veterans on the basis of disability rating alone.

The waiver covers tuition (fees are not covered for participants starting after summer 2018) at any Wyoming community college or the University of Wyoming for up to eight semesters within an eight-year period.

To qualify, the veteran must have served overseas during an armed conflict and have been awarded an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (or equivalent campaign or service medal). The veteran must also have been a Wyoming resident for at least one year prior to entering active service. Participants must contact their college’s VA certifying official to confirm eligibility and apply.

Disabled Wyoming veterans of all rating levels can also use the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, and VA Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits to pay for college, vocational training, or apprenticeship programs.

Does Wyoming Waive Tuition for Children of Disabled Veterans?

Yes, in specific circumstances. The Wyoming Veteran Tuition Benefit covers full tuition at the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges for up to eight semesters for:

  • Surviving spouses and dependent children of resident overseas combat veterans or Vietnam veterans who died while on active duty
  • Surviving spouses and dependents of Wyoming National Guard members who died or sustained total and permanent disability as a result of state active duty or authorized training

Eligible dependent children must be under 22 at the time of enrollment at the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college, and the qualifying parent must have died during active overseas combat service.

The waiver does not cover books, room and board, or course-specific fees for applicants who began using benefits after August 31, 2020. Eligibility is verified at the college’s admissions or veteran services office.

Employment Benefits for Wyoming Veterans

Wyoming State Veterans Hiring Preference

Wyoming gives veterans a measurable advantage when applying for public-sector positions. Under Wyo. Stat. § 19-14-102, eligible veterans and their surviving spouses are guaranteed an interview if they meet the minimum qualifications, and they receive a scoring boost on competitive examinations:

  • 5% advantage over non-veteran competitors on the examination score
  • 10% advantage for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 10% or higher

The preference applies to initial employment with the state, counties, cities, school districts, and the University of Wyoming. The veteran must be honorably discharged and have been a Wyoming resident for at least one year. It does not apply to veterans already employed by a public department.

Wyoming Workforce Services Veterans Program

The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services operates a Priority of Service program at every Workforce Center in the state, moving veterans to the front of the line for employment, training, and job-placement services. Specialized staff include:

  • DVOP Specialists (Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program) providing individualized case management for veterans with significant barriers to employment, including those with service-connected disabilities
  • LVER staff (Local Veterans’ Employment Representative) providing job referrals, employer outreach, and coordination of training services

Find out more about the Wyoming Veterans Program.

Recreation Benefits

Do Wyoming State Parks Offer a Disabled Veterans Pass?

Yes. Wyoming State Parks issues a Lifetime Veteran’s Pass that provides free day use and free camping for life at all Wyoming state parks, historic sites, archaeological sites, and recreation areas. The Pass covers the holder and all occupants of the holder’s vehicle.

To qualify, the applicant must be a Wyoming resident veteran with a 50% or higher service-connected disability rating from the VA. Applicants must submit proof of residency and VA disability certification. The Pass remains valid as long as the holder maintains Wyoming residency and hangs as a tag in any vehicle the holder is riding in, accompanied by photo ID.

Applications are available online at Wyoming State Parks Permits & Fees and can be returned by email to wyoparks@wyo.gov or by mail to Wyo Parks, Attn: Vet Pass, 2301 Central Ave, 4th Floor, Cheyenne, WY 82002.

Do Wyoming Disabled Veterans Get a Free Fishing License?

Yes. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department issues a free lifetime fishing license to resident veterans with a 50% or higher (but less than 100%) service-connected disability rating. The license remains valid as long as the veteran is a Wyoming resident.

To apply, the veteran must provide an honorable discharge (DD-214) and official VA documentation of their disability rating. Licenses are issued in person at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department headquarters in Cheyenne or any regional office (Jackson, Pinedale, Cody, Sheridan, Green River, Laramie, Lander, or Casper). Applications may also be mailed in.

What Fees do Disabled Veterans Pay for a Hunting License in Wyoming?

Resident veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating pay no fees for a lifetime game bird, small game, and fishing license. The complimentary license remains valid as long as the veteran is a Wyoming resident. Veterans rated 50%–99% still pay standard fees for big-game and small-game licenses (the free fishing license is separate).

Purple Heart recipients who are Wyoming residents also receive a free lifetime bird, small game, and fishing license under Wyo. Stat. § 23-1-705(d), regardless of disability rating. Find out more about veteran licensing.

Wyoming residents on active military duty deployed to a combat zone may also receive complimentary resident elk, deer, game bird, and daily fishing licenses while home on military leave, with valid military ID and leave documentation.

Health Care Benefits

For medical care, prescriptions, mental health services, and outpatient treatment, veterans in Wyoming can access the VA Cheyenne Health Care System and the VA Sheridan Health Care System, which together operate medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics across the state. The Wyoming Department of Health also coordinates state-level services through health.wyo.gov.

Homeless Veterans Programs

Both Wyoming VA health care systems run dedicated programs for veterans experiencing homelessness or housing instability stemming from financial hardship, unemployment, addiction, mental health, or reentry after incarceration.

Services include temporary and permanent housing, employment and life-skills training, justice-system reentry support, mental-health and addiction treatment, and medical and dental care.

The Veterans’ Home of Wyoming

The Veterans’ Home of Wyoming (VHW) in Buffalo, operated by the Wyoming Department of Health, provides a long-term residential community for veterans through two connected settings: the Assisted Living Community and the Skilled Nursing Community.

The skilled nursing facility opened in October 2022 and consists of three 12-room cottages designed to feel home-like, with 36 private rooms. The VA has certified the home to accept VA patients for skilled nursing care.

Eligibility requires an honorable discharge and Wyoming residency (or intent to reside permanently in Wyoming for applicants with less than one year of in-state residence). Spouses and Gold Star Family members who qualify for nursing care may also be admitted.

Services include 24/7 nursing, short-term rehabilitation, memory care, and on-site clinical services. Find out more about the Veterans’ Home of Wyoming.

Federal Benefits Available to Wyoming Veterans

In addition to Wyoming’s state 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.

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits

Wyoming 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 Wyoming veteran →

100% Disabled Veteran Benefits for Spouse and Dependents

Spouses and family members of 100% disabled Wyoming veterans may also be able to receive several benefits:

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

Benefits for Toxic Exposure

Veterans who served at military installations in Wyoming and later developed disabilities may be eligible for VA compensation and benefits. Wyoming’s military sites have documented histories of toxic exposure, including PFAS contamination from aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), trichloroethylene (TCE), heavy metals, and other environmental hazards.

Wyoming Military Bases with Known Toxins

If you served at a base in a different state, you can find yours using the Military Base Toxic Exposure Map or get in touch with us for a free evaluation of your claim.

Getting VA Disability in Wyoming

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

Attorneys Specialized in VA Disability Law

Our VA-accredited lawyers proudly represent Wyoming 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!