Arizona offers various benefits for veterans. On this page, you’ll find a concise overview of each of these benefits.
Arizona State Veterans Home
Arizona is home to four veterans homes, each equipped with skilled nursing facilities. These homes are located in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. To qualify for admission, veterans must have an honorable discharge and be certified by a doctor as requiring skilled nursing care. Additionally, spouses may also be admitted to these facilities.
Arizona Veteran Financial Benefits
Income Tax
Active-duty compensation is exempt from taxes.
Similarly, military retirement pay along with associated benefits, including Survivor Benefit Plan payments, are also tax-exempt.
Arizona Military Family Relief Fund
The Arizona Military Family Relief Fund offers financial aid to families of currently deployed service members, encompassing military and veteran families, who encounter hardships due to their military service. Applicants are eligible to receive emergency assistance, with a maximum limit of $3,000 per instance (with a lifetime cap of $20,000 in total assistance).
Vehicle License Tax and Registration Fees
No license tax or registration fee is levied on any personally owned vehicle owned by a veteran with a 100% service-connected disability. Furthermore, veterans residing in Arizona are exempt from vehicle license tax on vehicles acquired through financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This exemption also extends to the surviving spouse in the event of the veteran’s death, continuing until remarriage.
Property Tax
In specific circumstances, disabled veterans and their survivors may qualify for exemption from property taxes. To determine eligibility, please reach out to your County Assessor’s office.
Arizona Veterans Tuition Waiver Program
The Tuition Waiver program offers eligible veterans or surviving dependents the opportunity to pursue tuition-free education up to a bachelor’s degree at any Arizona public state university or community college.
Eligibility criteria include:
- Unremarried spouse or dependent child (up to age 30) of an active-duty or Arizona National Guard member who was a resident of the state of Arizona or stationed in Arizona and was killed in the line of duty.
- A current member of the Arizona National Guard who received a Purple Heart after September 11, 2001.
- A veteran of the Arizona National Guard who was medically discharged due to an injury or disability suffered on duty.
- A veteran who received a Purple Heart, was an Arizona resident or stationed in Arizona at the time of the injury, and has a VA disability rating of 50% or more.
Arizona Veteran Employment Benefits
Hiring Preference
Veterans who successfully pass an employment examination for positions within the state, county, or city will receive an additional 5 points added to their certification score. To qualify, veterans must have served for more than six months and received an honorable discharge.
Furthermore, honorably discharged veterans receiving VA disability compensation will receive a 10-point boost to their certification score.
Additionally, certain spouses or surviving spouses will be granted a 5-point preference if the veteran passed away due to a service-connected disability.
Veteran Toolkit
The Veteran Toolkit Program was established with the aim of assisting unemployed veterans in obtaining the necessary supplies to commence employment. Through surveys, veterans consistently expressed their readiness to work, but identified a need for essential items such as boots, tools, and bicycles to facilitate their transition into the workforce. Eligible veterans must reside in Arizona, be enrolled in an Arizona Job Connection with Arizona@Work, and specify the job for which they require supplies.
CDL Skills Test Waiver
Qualified military personnel or veterans may be eligible to have the Commercial Driver License (CDL) skills tests waived when applying for a CDL, provided they are either on active duty or within one year of discharge. Additionally, they must have operated a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) or its equivalent for at least two years immediately preceding discharge.
Real Estate Licensing
The Arizona Department of Real Estate provides streamlined licensing procedures for military spouses.
Arizona Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting and Fishing Licenses
Active-duty members stationed in Arizona are eligible to obtain hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Additionally, 100% service-connected disabled veterans who have been residents of Arizona for at least 12 months may receive a complimentary hunting/fishing combo license. Veterans with less than 100% disability are entitled to discounted licenses.
Arizona State Parks
Arizona extends the following discounts at its state parks:
- A 50% day-use discount is available to all active-duty, Guard, and Reserve military members, along with up to three accompanying adult family members.A 50% day-use discount is offered to all resident military retirees.
- All disabled military personnel receive a 50% off day-use pass.
- Resident veterans with a 100% service-connected disability are eligible for a free day-use pass.
Arizona Veteran Cemeteries
Arizona is home to three veterans cemeteries situated in Camp Navajo, Marana, and Sierra Vista. Eligibility for burial is extended to any veteran with an other-than-dishonorable discharge, and spouses as well as certain dependents are also eligible. Veterans are entitled to interment at no charge, while eligible spouses and dependents are subject to a one-time nominal fee.
