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Wyoming — 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 Wyoming
Status / Rating Headline Benefits Unlocked
Active Duty Non-resident vehicle registration tax exemption (SCRA); free resident hunting/fishing licenses while on leave from combat zone; DL active-duty expiration waiver; 15 days paid military leave (state employees)
Guard / Reserve WYNG Educational Assistance Plan (100% tuition + mandatory fees at UW and WY community colleges); Military Assistance Trust Fund emergency grants; dependent care reimbursement (39 days/yr); TRICARE Reserve Select; paid military leave
Military Retiree No state income tax on retirement pay or SBP; all benefits available to qualifying veterans
Veteran (honorable, no rating) Free veteran designation on DL; veteran specialty plates ($50); DD-214 recorded free at county clerk (W.S. § 19-14-104); 5% state hiring advantage + guaranteed interview; WRS military service credit purchase eligibility; Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery eligibility; legal aid clinics
0% SC Same as above
10–20% SC + 10-point hiring advantage (over 5%); $6,000 assessed-value property tax exemption if meets service-era or SC disability criteria; WRS military service credit purchase
30–40% SC Same as 10–20%
50–60% SC + DV specialty plates (registration-fee-exempt on one vehicle); free lifetime fishing license (W.S. § 23-1-705); Lifetime Veteran's State Parks Pass (free day use + camping for life)
70–90% SC Same as 50–60%
100% schedular + Free lifetime game bird, small game, and fishing licenses (W.S. § 23-1-705); $6,000 assessed-value property tax exemption
TDIU Same benefits as 100% schedular for most purposes; verify with county assessor for property tax treatment
P&T Same benefits as 100% schedular; surviving spouse retains $6,000 assessed-value exemption if unremarried
SMC (Housebound / A&A) Same as P&T; Veterans Home of Wyoming priority access
Surviving spouse / dependents $6,000 assessed-value property tax exemption (if unremarried, 3-yr WY residency); tuition waiver (8 semesters, if vet died on active duty with qualifying service/campaign medal); WYNG dependent tuition (if WYNG member died or was P&T disabled on state active duty); Oregon Trail Cemetery burial in vet's plot; county burial assistance

Taxes

1. Property Tax — Primary Residence

Wyoming resident for 3 consecutive years prior to applying; DD-214 (or equivalent); AND one of: - Served during WWII (12/7/1941–12/31/1946), Korean War (6/27/1950–1/31/1955), or Vietnam (2/28/1961–5/7/1975) - Served overseas during any armed conflict and received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or equivalent campaign medal - Has a compensable service-connected disability (any rating) - Unremarried surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran (both must have been WY residents; surviving spouse needs 3-yr WY residency)
Verify locally: The $6,000 figure was confirmed after SF0089 (2024 session) doubled the prior $3,000 exemption.

Authority: W.S. § 39-13-105; SF0089 (2024)

2. Property Tax — Vehicle / Personal Property

Same as Category 1 (standard tier). If the $6,000 exemption is not applied to real property, it may instead be applied to vehicle licensing fees, reducing annual registration fees by up to approximately $90 at standard mil levies.

Authority: W.S. § 39-13-105; W.S. § 31-3-101(b)(xv)

3. Vehicle Sales / Use Tax

Wyoming does not offer a veteran-specific vehicle sales or use tax exemption. The general veteran property tax exemption ($6,000 assessed value) applies to annual registration fees, not to initial purchase sales tax. Wyoming's state sales tax rate is 4% (counties add 0–2%).

4. State Income Tax — Active Duty Military Pay

**Unavailable as a separate exemption** — Wyoming has no individual state income tax (Art. 15, § 18, Wyoming Constitution). All active military pay, wages, bonuses, and allowances are 100% state-tax-free for all residents. No application needed.

5. State Income Tax — Military Retirement Pay

**Unavailable as a separate exemption** — Wyoming has no state income tax. Military retirement pay (Regular, Reserve, disability retirement, and PDRL) is 100% untaxed at the state level. No application needed.

6. State Income Tax — SBP Annuity

**Unavailable as a separate exemption** — Wyoming has no state income tax. SBP annuity payments to surviving spouses and dependents are 100% state-tax-free. No application needed.

7. State Income Tax — General

**Unavailable as a separate category** — Wyoming constitutionally prohibits a personal income tax. VA disability compensation, SSDI, Social Security, TSP distributions, investment income, and civilian wages are all untaxed at the state level.

8. Sales Tax Exemption

Wyoming does not issue a veteran sales tax exemption card. No general sales-tax relief program for disabled veterans exists.

9. Other State Tax Breaks

**Employer Tax Credit for Hiring Veterans:** No Wyoming-specific employer income tax credit for hiring veterans is confirmed. Wyoming has no income tax against which such a credit could apply. Employer incentives for hiring veterans operate through the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), not a Wyoming program.
Verify locally: **Employer Tax Credit for Hiring Veterans:** No Wyoming-specific employer income tax credit for hiring veterans is confirmed.

Vehicle, Travel & ID

10. Vehicle Registration Fee

**Standard veteran exemption ($6,000 assessed value / ~$90 cap):** Available to qualifying veterans in lieu of the real property tax exemption. Applied at County Treasurer's Office.

Authority: W.S. § 31-3-101(b)(xv); SCRA

11. Disabled Veteran License Plates

Wyoming resident; 50%+ service-connected disability compensation from VA; vehicle owned or leased (passenger car, pickup truck, motorcycle, or multipurpose vehicle).

Authority: W.S. § 31-3-101(b)(xv)

12. Other Veteran / Military Specialty Plates

**Application:** WYDOT Motor Vehicle Services, 307-777-4709; form MV-100 online or paper; processed through county treasurer's office.
Verify locally: | Plate | Eligibility | Fee | |---|---|---| | **Veteran Plate** | Honorably discharged (any era); DD-214 required | $50 (nonrefundable) | | **Purple Heart Plate** | Purple Heart recipient | Free | | **POW Plate** | Former prisoner of war | Free; registration fee exempt | | **Gold Star Family Plate** | Immediate family member of a deceased service member | Free | | **Choice Disabled Veteran Plate** | 50%+ SC disability (specialty design option) | ⚠️ Verify current fee at WYDOT | | **National Guard Plate** | Current/former WYNG members | ⚠️ Verify current fee at WYDOT | **Application:** WYDOT Motor Vehicle Services, 307-777-4709; form MV-100 online or paper; processed through county treasurer's office.

13. Toll Road / Bridge Exemption

Wyoming has no toll roads, toll bridges, or toll facilities. No toll exemption program exists or is needed.

14. Public Transit Discount

**Unavailable as a statewide veteran-specific benefit** — Wyoming has no statewide public transit system. All 23 counties have at least one public transportation provider (typically county-operated or senior-center-operated). Veteran-specific discounts vary by local provider and are not mandated statewide. Contact your county transit provider directly. WYDOT Office of Local Government Coordination: 307-777-4719.

15. Disabled Parking Privileges

Veterans substantially limited in their ability to walk may obtain a disabled parking placard or plate through WYDOT with physician certification. This is separate from DV plates, which do NOT confer parking privileges in Wyoming.
Verify locally: No veteran-specific fee waiver for the placard is confirmed.

16. Driver License / State ID Fee

Honorably discharged veteran; DD-214, NGB-22, or DD-256.

17. CDL Fee / Skills-Test Waiver

**Skills-test waiver available:** Wyoming (W.S. § 31-7-118) provides a CDL skills-test waiver for applicants who held a military CMV operator license in the past 12 months and drove equivalent military vehicles. This eliminates the $85 practical-test fee for qualifying service members.
Verify locally: **No general CDL fee waiver** for veterans is confirmed.

Authority: W.S. § 31-7-118; WYDOT CDL Division 307-777-4800

18. Veteran Designation on DL / ID

Covered in Category 16. No separate fee. Valid documentation: DD-214, NGB-22, or DD-256 showing honorable discharge.

Outdoor Recreation

19. Hunting License

**Notes:** - Wyoming residency required (minimum 1 year for most veteran licenses) - Apply in person at WGFD Headquarters (Cheyenne) or regional offices (Jackson, Pinedale, Cody, Sheridan, Green River, Laramie, Lander, Casper); bring DD-214 and VA disability letter - Honorably discharged veterans are exempt from the hunter safety course requirement - Big game license donation: valid big game license holders may surrender them for reissuance to disabled veterans at no fee (W.S. § 23-1-705(k))

20. Fishing License — Freshwater

**Application:** WGFD offices statewide; bring DD-214 and VA disability letter.

21. Fishing License — Saltwater

Wyoming is landlocked; no saltwater fishing occurs in the state.

22. Combination Hunt/Fish License

**Effectively available** — Veterans qualifying for free hunting and fishing licenses receive both under their respective eligibility tiers (100% SC gets game bird/small game + fishing lifetime; Purple Heart gets lifetime combo; 50% SC gets fishing only). No separate "combo license" product is needed.

23. Trapping License

W.S. § 23-1-705 does not include trapping licenses in veteran complimentary license provisions. Trapping licenses are not covered under the disabled veteran or Purple Heart complimentary categories. ⚠️ Verify with WGFD 307-777-4600 if your situation differs.

24. State Parks — Day Use / Entrance

Wyoming resident veteran with 50%+ service-connected disability. **Application:** Online at Reserve.Wyoming.gov or by mail/email/in-person to Wyo Parks, Attn: Vet Pass, 2301 Central Ave, 4th Floor, Cheyenne WY 82002. Bring VA disability rating documentation and WY residency proof. Pass is a hangtag valid in any vehicle when the veteran is present.

Authority: wyoparks.wyo.gov

25. State Parks — Camping

**Lifetime Veteran's Pass** covers camping for life (same eligibility and application as Category 24 — 50%+ SC disabled WY resident). Veterans Day/Flag Day waivers cover day-use fees only; overnight camping fees still apply on those dates.

26. State Parks — Annual / Lifetime Pass

The Lifetime Veteran's Pass is the lifetime pass product for eligible veterans. Eligible veterans (50%+ SC disabled, WY resident) go directly to the lifetime benefit with no annual pass stage. Other visitors purchase annual passes at standard rates.

27. Boat / Watercraft Registration

No veteran-specific boat/watercraft registration fee exemption is found in Wyoming statute or WGFD materials. The general veteran property tax/vehicle exemption applies to motor vehicles; watercraft are registered separately through WGFD with no confirmed veteran waiver. ⚠️ Contact WGFD 307-777-4600 to verify.

Education

28. In-State Tuition

**Unavailable as a standalone benefit** — Wyoming does not have a separate reduced in-state tuition program for veterans beyond the full waiver program (Category 29). Veterans attending UW or community colleges who are Wyoming residents pay standard resident tuition. The federal Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act requires public schools to charge in-state tuition to GI Bill users regardless of residency — this is a federal requirement, not a Wyoming state benefit.

29. Tuition Waiver — Disabled Veteran

- Wyoming resident for at least 1 year before entering active duty service - Honorably discharged - Served overseas during armed conflict and received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or other authorized service/campaign medal indicating service in a foreign country during armed conflict - Disability rating is NOT required — this is combat-service based

Authority: W.S. § 19-14-106

30. Dependent Education Benefit

Covered under Category 29 (children under age 22 of a qualifying combat veteran who died on active duty). Also see Category 32 for WYNG dependent benefit (children of WYNG members killed or permanently/totally disabled on state active duty or authorized training receive full tuition and fees at WY universities, community colleges, or vocational schools).

31. Spouse Education Benefit

**WYNG Spouse (Category 32):** Surviving spouse of a WYNG member killed or P&T disabled on state active duty/authorized training receives full tuition and fees at WY post-secondary institutions.

32. National Guard / Reserve Tuition Assistance

**Wyoming National Guard Educational Assistance Plan (WYNG EAP)** **Authority:** W.S. § 19-9-501 **Contact:** Jenna Chapin, 307-777-8160, jenna.chapin@wyo.gov; veteranseducation.wyo.gov
Verify locally: ⚠️ Time limit and age limit for children not confirmed in available sources; verify with Wyoming Military Department.

Authority: W.S. § 19-9-501

33. K-12 Support

**Wyoming Purple Star School Program:** State recognition for K-12 schools demonstrating commitment to military students and families. Participating schools designate a military liaison, provide simplified enrollment, expedited record transfer, and deployment/transition support. Not a direct financial benefit.

Authority: Wyoming Department of Education — edu.wyoming.gov/for-parents-students/purple-star-schools/

34. State Student Loan / Scholarship

Wyoming does not have a state-funded veteran-specific scholarship fund or state student loan program distinct from the tuition waiver (Category 29) and WYNG EAP (Category 32). Federal GI Bill programs (Chapters 33, 30, 1606, 35) apply at Wyoming institutions and are coordinated through the WY State Approving Agency for Veterans' Education and Training (wyomilitary.wyo.gov).

Employment & Licensing

35. Veterans Hiring Preference

Wyoming resident at time of military entry AND at time of application; honorably discharged.

Authority: W.S. § 19-14-102

36. Professional License Fee Waiver

**Expedited Licensing (W.S. § 33-1-117):** Wyoming requires most licensing boards to expedite applications from active-duty military members and veterans. No general professional license fee waiver is confirmed in statute — the benefit is process expediting.
Verify locally: No general professional license fee waiver is confirmed in statute — the benefit is process expediting. ⚠️ A general veteran professional license fee waiver (not just expediting) is not confirmed in Wyoming statute.

37. Professional License Reciprocity — Military Spouse

**Temporary license (up to 3 years, no fee):** Military spouses licensed in good standing in another state may receive a temporary Wyoming professional license without paying the standard fee while completing full licensure requirements.

Authority: W.S. § 33-1-117; 2023 Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act (federal overlay)

38. Business License Fee Break

No Wyoming state-level business license fee waiver or priority program for veteran-owned businesses is confirmed in statute. Wyoming has no general business license at the state level (licensing is business-type specific). The Wyoming Business Council and Wyoming SBDC (Small Business Development Center) provide free consulting to veteran entrepreneurs but no fee waiver is documented.

39. Civil Service / Retirement Credit

**Wyoming Retirement System (WRS) — Military Service Credit Purchase:** Current WRS members who are vested and were honorably discharged may purchase up to 8 years of military service credit toward their WRS pension. The credit increases the retirement benefit calculation and may accelerate vesting or retirement eligibility.

Authority: WRS Pension Service Purchase provisions (retirement.wyo.gov)

Housing & Financial

40. State Home Loan / Down-Payment Assistance

**No Wyoming state-specific veteran home loan program** (analogous to Cal Vet Loan, Texas VLB, etc.) exists. Veterans use the federal VA Home Loan Guaranty for the primary mortgage.

Authority: wyomingcda.com; welcomehomewy.org

41. Financial Assistance / Emergency Relief

**Military Assistance Trust Fund (MATF):** Emergency grants for Wyoming service members (active, Guard, Reserve) and their dependents facing financial hardship directly related to state or federal military duty. - Grant applications forwarded through the member's unit - Dependent care reimbursement: up to 39 calendar days annually for WYNG members on military duty status; dependents age 12+ require medically documented need for care

Authority: W.S. § 19-7-402(c)

42. State Veteran Bonus

Wyoming does not offer a direct cash bonus to veterans for military service. No "war bonus" or "service bonus" program exists analogous to those in some other states. The WYNG Referral Bonus (Category 41) is a recruiting incentive, not a veteran service bonus.

43. Specially Adapted Housing — State Supplement

Wyoming does not have a state-funded adapted housing supplement. Federal grants (SAH up to $126,526 FY2026; SHA up to $25,350 FY2026) are administered by the VA and available to eligible Wyoming veterans. The MATF (Category 41) can cover emergency housing-related expenses for service members on active duty.

44. Utility / Heating Assistance

**LIEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program):** Available to all low-income Wyoming households including veterans. Income-based eligibility. Applications open in early fall. Contact: 800-246-4221.
Verify locally: **No veteran-specific utility assistance program** is confirmed at the state level.

Health & Support

45. State Veterans Home / Nursing Home

- Honorably discharged veteran - Wyoming resident or intent to permanently reside in Wyoming - Unable to earn a living due to injury, disease, or age, AND no adequate means of support

Authority: W.S. § 25-9-101 et seq.

46. Behavioral / Mental Health Programs

**State Behavioral Health Division:** Wyoming Department of Health funds outpatient and regional mental health and substance use treatment services statewide (health.wyo.gov/behavioralhealth). Services are income-based and not veteran-exclusive.
Verify locally: ⚠️ Contact Wyoming Behavioral Health Division (307-777-6494) to verify whether dedicated veteran mental health funding exists.

47. Dental / Vision / Health Programs

**Unavailable (state-funded programs)** — Wyoming does not have a state-funded dental or vision benefit for veterans beyond the VA system. Veterans with SC dental conditions, 100% SC disability, or other qualifying factors receive VA dental through the Sheridan VAMC or CBOCs. General health is through TRICARE (active/Guard/Reserve) or private insurance; Medicaid eligibility is income-based. CHAMPVA covers certain surviving spouses and dependents of P&T disabled veterans (federal benefit).

48. Long-Term Care / Aid & Attendance Supplement

Wyoming does not have a state-funded supplement to the federal VA Aid & Attendance or Housebound pension programs. Veterans seeking LTC assistance use federal VA A&A (up to $3,845/mo in 2026 for veterans with a spouse), the Veterans Home of Wyoming (Category 45), or Wyoming Medicaid/PACE programs if income-qualified.

49. Free Legal Aid / Veteran Treatment Courts

**Legal Aid of Wyoming:** Statewide legal hotline 1-877-432-9955 (M–F, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.). Veterans with low income may qualify for free civil legal help through the Veterans Legal Assistance Project (Equal Justice Wyoming + Wyoming State Bar). Apply: 307-777-8383.

Authority: wyocourts.gov; Equal Justice Wyoming

50. Concealed Carry / Firearms Fee Waiver

**Permitless Carry:** Wyoming is a constitutional carry state — any person 21 or older who may legally possess a firearm may carry concealed without a permit anywhere in Wyoming. No veteran-specific CCW benefit needed for in-state carry.
Verify locally: No veteran fee waiver is confirmed.

Authority: W.S. § 6-8-104 (constitutional carry); W.S. §§ 6-8-101 through 6-8-104 (CFP)

51. Vital Records / Notary Fee Waiver

**DD-214 Recording — Free:** Any honorably discharged Wyoming veteran may have military discharge documents recorded free at the County Clerk's Office. Documents are sealed from public access (available only to the veteran, authorized agents, dependents, VSOs, the Wyoming Veterans Commission, peace officers, or by court order). May transfer to public archive 10 years after veteran's death or 100 years from discharge.
Verify locally: § 19-14-104 **Birth/Death Certificate Fee Waiver:** Not confirmed. ⚠️ Contact Wyoming Department of Health Vital Statistics (307-777-7591) to verify. **Notary Fee Waiver:** No veteran-specific notary fee waiver is confirmed in Wyoming.

Authority: W.S. § 19-14-104

Legal & Administrative

52. Unique State Programs

**Operation Recognition:** High school diploma program for veterans of WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam era who left school to serve. Contact local school district or Wyoming Department of Education.

Survivor Benefits

53. Surviving Spouse — Property Tax

Unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who met the standard veteran property tax exemption criteria (service-era or SC disability). Both veteran and surviving spouse must have been Wyoming residents; surviving spouse must have Wyoming residency for 3+ years at time of application.

Authority: W.S. § 39-13-105

54. Surviving Spouse — Education

**Combat veteran's surviving spouse:** Free tuition (8 semesters within 8 years) at Wyoming community colleges and UW if the veteran died while on active duty and otherwise qualified (W.S. § 19-14-106). See Category 29.

55. Dependent / Survivor State Benefit

**Education for dependents (children under 22):** Children of qualifying combat veterans who died on active duty receive the tuition waiver (Category 29). Children of WYNG members killed or P&T disabled on state duty receive full tuition (Category 32).

Memorial & Burial

56. State Veterans Cemetery

- Any veteran who received any discharge other than dishonorable from the U.S. Armed Forces - Spouse, handicapped child, or minor child of an eligible veteran (must share veteran's burial plot)
Verify locally: Armed Forces - Spouse, handicapped child, or minor child of an eligible veteran (must share veteran's burial plot) **Benefits — No Charge:** - Burial plot (assigned first-come, first-served) - Grave vault (for casket interments) - Government-provided flat granite grave marker **Charged to Survivors:** - Funeral director services, supplies, and transportation to the cemetery - Modest interment fee for eligible family members ⚠️ Confirm current amount at 307-235-6673 **Service Details:** Burial services held in chapel and patio areas (not graveside); weekday services only.

57. Burial Allowance / Plot

**Low-Income / Indigent Burial Assistance (County-Level):** Wyoming county governments provide financial assistance for veterans who did not leave sufficient funds for funeral expenses. - Up to $500 for preparation and transportation of the body - Up to $1,500 for burial costs - Requires proof of wartime service (WWI, WWII, Korean, or Vietnam) and demonstration of insufficient personal funds
Verify locally: **No state-level burial allowance** beyond the county mechanism is confirmed. ⚠️ Verify current dollar amounts with your county — the $500/$1,500 figures may vary by county.

58. Headstone / Memorial / Honors

**Headstone/Marker:** Provided free through the federal VA National Cemetery Administration and through the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery (flat granite marker, no charge). Federal VA also provides markers for private cemetery interments at no charge.