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Alaska — Veteran Benefits

Complete reference covering 58 benefit categories across 14 service tiers. Verify current eligibility with your County VSO before filing.

At a Glance — What Unlocks by Status / Rating

Veteran benefits unlocked at each service status and disability rating in Alaska
Status / Rating Headline Benefits Unlocked
**Active Duty** PFD (if Alaska legal residence claimed + residency steps taken); resident hunting/fishing rates if stationed under 12 months; DL extension 90 days post-discharge; CDL skills test waiver; AHFC Veterans Mortgage ineligible while on active duty; AMHS ferry 50% discount (any SC disability)
**Guard / Reserve** Free hunting/fishing/trapping license (AK National Guard + Reserves, resident); 100% tuition at UA system (up to 36 credit hrs/yr); PERS service credit purchasable; Alaska NG retirement at 20 years; PFD eligible if AK legal residence
**Military Retiree** No state income tax; no military retirement tax; 5-point hiring preference; AHFC Veterans Mortgage + State Vet Interest Rate Preference; PFD eligible; 20% Alaska Railroad discount
**Veteran (honorable, no rating)** No state income tax; 5-point hiring preference; DD-214 free recording; veteran DL designation; veteran license plates; AHFC Veterans Mortgage; 25% land discount (one-time); PFD eligible; in-state tuition at UA while establishing residency
**0% SC** Same as above; disabled veteran camping pass (any SC rating); AMHS 50% ferry discount (any SC disability); all federal VA benefits
**10–20%** Same as 0% SC
**30–40%** Same as 10–20%
**50–60%** All above + **property tax exemption** (first $150,000 assessed value); **free hunting/fishing/trapping license** (permanent ID card); **free disabled veteran DV plates** and **free vehicle registration** (one vehicle); 10-point hiring preference
**70–90%** Same as 50–60%
**100% schedular** Same as 50–60% (no additional AK state escalation above 50% threshold for most programs)
**TDIU** Same as 50–60% — property tax exemption applies if combined SC rating meets 50%+ threshold
**P&T** Same as TDIU/100%; property tax exemption transfers to surviving spouse (age 60+)
**SMC (Housebound/A&A)** Same as P&T; AMHS attendant also travels at half fare
**Surviving spouse / dependents** Property tax exemption transfers (spouse 60+, vet held exemption at death); $750 state death gratuity; undergraduate tuition waiver at UA system (KIA/POW/MIA line-of-duty only); PFD eligible if AK resident

Taxes

1. Property Tax — Primary Residence

Veteran with a service-connected disability rated **50% or more** by the VA. The disability must have been incurred or aggravated in the line of duty. The veteran must own and occupy the property as their primary residence and permanent place of abode, and the property must be owned prior to January 1 of the assessment year.
Verify locally: Some municipalities offer optional exemptions that may exceed this floor — check locally. **Documentation:** Current VA disability letter dated within one year confirming 50%+ service-connected disability with effective date.

Authority: AS 29.45.030(e).

2. Property Tax — Vehicle / Personal Property

Alaska has no statewide vehicle property tax. Some municipalities levy a personal property tax on vehicles, but no state-level vehicle property tax exists and no documented veteran exemption for any municipal vehicle tax has been established. Contact your borough assessor for local rules.

3. Vehicle Sales / Use Tax

Alaska has no statewide sales tax. Municipalities may levy local sales taxes (statewide average approximately 1.89%; maximum 7.5%). No state-level or documented municipal veteran vehicle sales tax exemption exists specifically for disabled veterans.

4. State Income Tax — Active Duty Military Pay

**Not applicable (no state income tax)** — Alaska has no individual state income tax statute. Active duty military pay is not taxed at the state level.

5. State Income Tax — Military Retirement Pay

**Not applicable (no state income tax)** — Alaska has no individual state income tax. Military retirement pay faces zero state-level taxation.

6. State Income Tax — SBP Annuity

**Not applicable (no state income tax)** — Alaska has no individual state income tax. Survivor Benefit Plan annuity payments are not taxed at the state level.

7. State Income Tax — General

**Not applicable (no state income tax)** — Alaska has no individual state income tax. VA disability compensation, DIC, SSDI, and all other veteran-related income are not taxed at the state level. Alaska is one of nine states with no individual income tax.

8. Sales Tax Exemption

Alaska has no statewide sales tax, so no statewide veteran sales tax exemption card exists. Some municipalities levy local sales taxes; no documented veteran exemption card exists at the municipal level. Contact your municipality for local rules.

9. Other State Tax Breaks

**Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) — $1,000 (2025)**
Verify locally: The 2025 amount is **$1,000 per person** (confirmed via Alaska Department of Revenue September 2025 announcement).

Authority: AS 43.23.005; Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend Division.

Vehicle, Travel & ID

10. Vehicle Registration Fee

**Free registration (one vehicle) — 50%+ SC disability:**

Authority: AS 28.10.421; dmv.alaska.gov.

11. Disabled Veteran License Plates

**Disabled Veteran specialty plates** — no cost — for veterans with **50%+ service-connected disability**:

Authority: AS 28.10.181; dmv.alaska.gov/vehicle-services/disability-parking-permits-plates/.

12. Other Veteran / Military Specialty Plates

Proof of honorable service (DD-214, VA letter, or valid military ID). Purple Heart plate requires documentation of the award.

Authority: AS 28.10.181; dmv.alaska.gov/vehicle-services/veteran-license-plates/.

13. Toll Road / Bridge Exemption

Alaska has no traditional toll roads or toll bridges. The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) provides a 50% fare discount (not a full exemption) for veterans with a service-connected disability — see Category 14 below.

14. Public Transit Discount

**Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) — 50% passenger fare discount:**

Authority: dot.alaska.gov/amhs; muni.org/Departments/transit/PeopleMover; veterans.alaska.gov/benefits/state-of-alaska/recreational/.

15. Disabled Parking Privileges

Free disabled parking placard for veterans with a **50%+ service-connected disability** that permanently limits or impairs the ability to walk.

Authority: AS 28.10.181; dmv.alaska.gov/vehicle-services/disability-parking-permits-plates/.

16. Driver License / State ID Fee

**Veteran designation on DL/ID:** Available at no additional charge (beyond any applicable standard renewal or duplicate fee) to honorably discharged veterans and military retirees. Present DD Form 214, DD-215, NGB form, VA letter, or valid military ID.

Authority: dmv.alaska.gov/credential-services/military-veteran-services/.

17. CDL Fee / Skills-Test Waiver

- Operated a military CMV-equivalent for at least 2 years immediately prior to the application date - Minimum 2-year good driving record - Pass all CDL knowledge tests for the desired class - Currently serving, or discharged within the past 1 year; commanding officer signature required

Authority: dmv.alaska.gov/credential-services/commercial-drivers-license-cdl/.

18. Veteran Designation on DL / ID

Covered in Category 16. The veteran DL/ID designation is available to all honorably discharged veterans and military retirees at no additional fee.

Outdoor Recreation

19. Hunting License

**Free permanent ID card — 50%+ SC disability, Alaska resident:**

Authority: AS 16.05.341; adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=license.veterans.

20. Fishing License — Freshwater

Included in the free disabled veteran permanent ID card (50%+ SC disability, AK resident). Covers sport fishing for all freshwater species. A Sport Fishing Harvest Record Card (free) is required for fisheries with annual harvest limits.
Verify locally: ⚠️ verify current fees at adfg.

Authority: AS 16.05.341.

21. Fishing License — Saltwater

Included in the same free disabled veteran permanent ID card. Covers saltwater (marine) sport fishing. King salmon stamp is included at no extra charge.

Authority: AS 16.05.341.

22. Combination Hunt/Fish License

**Unavailable as a separate product** — the disabled veteran permanent ID card inherently covers hunting, sport fishing, and trapping together as one complimentary card. No separate combo purchase is needed for eligible veterans.

23. Trapping License

Included in the free disabled veteran permanent ID card (50%+ SC disability, AK resident). Trapping is covered alongside hunting and sport fishing.

Authority: AS 16.05.341.

24. State Parks — Day Use / Entrance

The disabled veteran camping pass does not cover day-use fees or boat launch fees. No separate state parks day-use fee waiver exists for veterans in Alaska.

25. State Parks — Camping

Any veteran with **any service-connected disability** — no minimum rating. Proof of a service-connected disability is all that is required. (This is separate from the hunting/fishing license, which requires 50%+.)

Authority: Alaska DNR; dnr.alaska.gov/parks/asp/vetpass.htm.

26. State Parks — Annual / Lifetime Pass

**Federal America the Beautiful — Access Pass (free):**

27. Boat / Watercraft Registration

No veteran-specific boat registration fee waiver is documented in Alaska. Standard fees apply ($24 for powered boats, $10 for non-powered). ⚠️ verify locally with the Alaska DMV.

Education

28. In-State Tuition

Veterans using VA education benefits (Post-9/11 GI Bill, MGIB, or others) and their families receive **in-state tuition rates** at all 16 University of Alaska System campuses under the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (38 U.S.C. § 3679). Qualifying students must physically reside in Alaska or be actively using a VA education benefit.

Authority: 38 U.S.C. § 3679; alaska.edu/studentservices/military/veterans-residency/.

29. Tuition Waiver — Disabled Veteran

Alaska does not offer a standalone state tuition waiver based solely on disability rating. Disabled veterans themselves rely on federal VA GI Bill (Ch. 33, MGIB) and VR&E Chapter 31 benefits. See Category 30 for the dependent/survivor tuition waiver.

30. Dependent Education Benefit

The service member must have been a bona fide Alaska resident at the time.

Authority: UA Board of Regents policy; AS 14.43 (referenced in UA policy); veterans.alaska.gov/benefits/burial-and-survivor-benefits/survivor-benefits/.

31. Spouse Education Benefit

Same as Category 30. Surviving spouses of Alaska-resident service members who died in the line of duty, were POW/MIA listed by DoD, or were killed in action receive a full undergraduate tuition and fee waiver at the University of Alaska system.

Authority: UA Board of Regents; veterans.alaska.gov/benefits/burial-and-survivor-benefits/survivor-benefits/.

32. National Guard / Reserve Tuition Assistance

**Alaska National Guard Tuition Assistance:**
Verify locally: mil (confirmed February 2026).

Authority: AS 26.05; dmva.alaska.gov; myarmybenefits.us.army.mil (confirmed February 2026).

33. K-12 Support

**Military Interstate Children's Compact (MIC3):** Alaska participates in MIC3, removing barriers for military children in school enrollment, grade placement, and graduation requirements when families relocate.

Authority: MIC3 compact; Alaska Department of Education.

34. State Student Loan / Scholarship

Alaska does not have a standalone state veteran scholarship or student loan forgiveness program separate from the National Guard tuition assistance (Category 32) and the dependent waiver (Category 30). Veterans rely on federal GI Bill programs (Ch. 33, MGIB, VR&E/Ch. 31, DEA/Ch. 35, Fry Scholarship, STEM Scholarship).

Employment & Licensing

35. Veterans Hiring Preference

**State government hiring preference:**

Authority: AS 39.25.159; Workplace Alaska (workplace.alaska.gov).

36. Professional License Fee Waiver

**Temporary professional licenses (180 days, renewable once):** Service members and military spouses assigned to Alaska may obtain temporary licenses in most regulated professions while meeting full Alaska licensure requirements. Issued within 30 days of application.

Authority: AS 08.01.062; commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/.

37. Professional License Reciprocity — Military Spouse

Covered under Category 36. Military spouses receive temporary 180-day licenses in Alaska when accompanying a service member on PCS orders, with one 180-day extension available. Federal SCRA protections also apply — spouses may maintain their home-state professional licenses while stationed in Alaska.

Authority: AS 08.01.062; 50 U.S.C. § 4025 (SCRA).

38. Business License Fee Break

No documented veteran-specific business license fee waiver or expedited processing for business licenses in Alaska. Standard Alaska business license fees apply. ⚠️ verify locally with Alaska DCCED.

39. Civil Service / Retirement Credit

See Category 35 for the PERS military service credit purchase (up to 5 years; 8.5% post-1986 / 6% pre-1987).

Authority: AS 26.05.224; drb.alaska.gov/employee/ngnmrs.html.

Housing & Financial

40. State Home Loan / Down-Payment Assistance

Veterans and their families within **25 years of completing full-time active duty service**; honorable discharge. Active duty members are eligible for the main Veterans Mortgage program.
Verify locally: ⚠️ verify current income limits with AHFC (ahfc.

Authority: ahfc.us/buy/loan-programs/vets; ahfc.us/buy/add-options/state-veterans-interest-rate-preference.

41. Financial Assistance / Emergency Relief

No documented standalone state veteran financial assistance grant program in Alaska beyond AHFC mortgage programs and the land discount. Veterans in financial hardship may access federal VA programs (VA pension, PCAFC caregiver stipend, VA emergency financial assistance) and assistance through local VSOs. ⚠️ verify locally with Alaska OVA (907-334-0874).

42. State Veteran Bonus

Alaska does not have a veteran service bonus or hazardous duty pay bonus program. The Permanent Fund Dividend (Category 9) is available to all Alaska residents including veterans but is not a veteran-specific bonus.

43. Specially Adapted Housing — State Supplement

**Unavailable (state supplement)** — No separate state-level adapted housing supplement is documented in Alaska. Federal VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grants apply. ⚠️ verify current FY2026 federal grant caps with the VA (va.gov/housing-assistance/adaptive-sports-and-special-housing-adaptations/). Contact Alaska OVA for any local referral programs.
Verify locally: ⚠️ verify current FY2026 federal grant caps with the VA (va.

44. Utility / Heating Assistance

No veteran-specific state utility or heating program in Alaska. Veterans may access the general **Alaska Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) / Heating Assistance Program (HAP)**:
Verify locally: ⚠️ verify current benefit minimums and maximums with Alaska DPA (800-478-7778).

Health & Support

45. State Veterans Home / Nursing Home

Honorably discharged veteran; ⚠️ minimum age: official sources list residents from their mid-60s and above but a statutory minimum age could not be confirmed — verify locally; Alaska resident for 1+ year prior to application; must require nursing or assisted living level of care - **Cost:** Approximately $5,000–$12,500/month depending on care level; fees scaled to ability to pay. Qualifying veterans are eligible for VA per diem to help offset costs. - **Eden Alternative certified:** Plant, animal, and children-enriched environment.
Verify locally: **Alaska Veterans and Pioneers' Home — Palmer, AK:** - **Address:** 250 East Fireweed Avenue, Palmer, AK 99645 - **Phone:** 907-745-4241 | Veterans Liaison: 1-888-355-3117 - **Capacity:** 79 total beds; approximately 75% (about 59 beds) reserved for veterans; 25% available for pioneer (non-veteran) residents - **Services:** Assisted living, memory care (dementia), nursing care across six neighborhood settings; private and semi-private rooms; meals, housekeeping, pharmacy services - **Eligibility:** Honorably discharged veteran; ⚠️ minimum age: official sources list residents from their mid-60s and above but a statutory minimum age could not be confirmed — verify locally; Alaska resident for 1+ year prior to application; must require nursing or assisted living level of care - **Cost:** Approximately $5,000–$12,500/month depending on care level; fees scaled to ability to pay.

Authority: dfcs.alaska.gov/daph/pages/palmer/; AS 47.55.

46. Behavioral / Mental Health Programs

No separate state-funded veteran mental health program beyond the VA Alaska Healthcare System. The VA operates behavioral health services statewide including telehealth. Alaska refers veterans to:
Verify locally: gov/alaska-health-care/dav-vans-transportation-for-veterans/) ⚠️ verify locally with Alaska OVA for any recent state-funded veteran behavioral health appropriations.

47. Dental / Vision / Health Programs

**Unavailable (state-specific program)** — Alaska does not offer a state-funded veteran dental, vision, or general health program. These benefits are provided federally through the VA healthcare system based on priority groups (1–8; eligibility based on service era, disability rating, income). Enroll at va.gov/alaska-health-care.

48. Long-Term Care / Aid & Attendance Supplement

**Unavailable (state supplement)** — No separate state A&A supplement. Veterans may access:

Authority: va.gov/alaska-health-care/; HUD-VASH program.

49. Free Legal Aid / Veteran Treatment Courts

**Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) Veterans Program:**

Authority: alsc-law.org; courts.alaska.gov/therapeutic/.

50. Concealed Carry / Firearms Fee Waiver

Alaska is a **constitutional carry** state — no permit is required to carry a concealed firearm for any person 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm. Veterans benefit from this equally with all residents.
Verify locally: ⚠️ verify with Alaska State Troopers (dps.

Authority: AS 11.61.220; dps.alaska.gov.

51. Vital Records / Notary Fee Waiver

**Free DD-214 Recording:**

Authority: AS 40.17; veterans.alaska.gov/benefits/documents/record-a-dd-214-ngb-22/.

Legal & Administrative

52. Unique State Programs

Age 18+; Alaska resident for 1+ year; honorable or general discharge under honorable conditions.

Authority: AS 38.05.940; 11 AAC 67.055; dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/landsales/info/vet-discount/.

Survivor Benefits

53. Surviving Spouse — Property Tax

The surviving spouse of a veteran who held the $150,000 property tax exemption (50%+ SC disability) may continue receiving the exemption if:

Authority: AS 29.45.030(e).

54. Surviving Spouse — Education

**Alaska Veterans' Dependent Tuition Waiver** — surviving spouse receives a waiver of all undergraduate tuition and fees at the University of Alaska system if the service member was an Alaska resident and:

Authority: UA Board of Regents; veterans.alaska.gov/benefits/burial-and-survivor-benefits/survivor-benefits/.

55. Dependent / Survivor State Benefit

**Alaska State Death Gratuity — $750:**

Authority: AS 26.10.080.

Memorial & Burial

56. State Veterans Cemetery

**Fort Richardson National Cemetery** (federally administered by VA National Cemetery Administration):
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify opening date and eligibility with Alaska OVA (veterans.

Authority: cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/FtRichardson.asp; NCA; Alaska OVA.

57. Burial Allowance / Plot

**Federal VA burial allowance (administered federally):**
Verify locally: **Federal VA burial allowance (administered federally):** For deaths on or after October 1, 2025: | Circumstance | Burial allowance | Plot allowance | |---|---|---| | Service-connected death | Up to $1,002 | Up to $1,002 (non-national cemetery) | | Non-SC death, hospitalized by VA at time of death | Up to $1,002 | Up to $1,002 (non-national cemetery) | | Non-SC death, not hospitalized by VA | Up to $300 | ⚠️ verify current amount with VA | **Note:** The $1,002 burial allowance for non-service-connected deaths applies only when the veteran was hospitalized by the VA at the time of death.

Authority: 38 U.S.C. §§ 2302–2307; va.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance/ (updated December 15, 2025).

58. Headstone / Memorial / Honors

**Government headstone or marker:** VA furnishes at no charge for the unmarked grave of any eligible veteran in any cemetery worldwide, regardless of date of death. A medallion option is available for privately purchased headstones (veterans who died after November 1, 1990).

Authority: 38 U.S.C. § 2306 (headstone/marker); 10 U.S.C. § 985 (funeral honors); va.gov/burials-memorials/.