Kentucky offers a broad range of benefits for veterans, their dependents, and spouses, emphasizing education, housing, financial assistance, and employment.
Education Benefits
- Veteran and Dependent Tuition Waiver Program: Provides tuition waivers for dependents and spouses of veterans who meet specific service-related criteria. This benefit is applicable at Kentucky public educational institutions.
- Kentucky National Guard Tuition Award Program: Active members of the Kentucky National Guard are eligible for tuition awards for study at Kentucky educational institutions, covering full or part-time study until the first bachelor’s degree.
- High School Diploma Program: Kentucky awards high school diplomas to veterans who left high school to serve during WWII, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War, acknowledging their service and sacrifice.
- Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children: Aims to ease the educational transitions of military children by addressing issues related to enrollment, placement, graduation, and more.
Housing and Financial Benefits
- Veteran Housing Benefits: Kentucky has four long-term care facilities for veterans, with eligibility based on residency, discharge status, and the veteran’s ability to pay.
- Income Tax Benefits: Military income is tax-exempt, and military retirement pay up to a certain amount is tax-free. The Survivor Benefit Plan payments are also tax-exempt.
- Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans: Offers a significant deduction on the assessed value of the home for property tax purposes for totally disabled veterans.
Employment Benefits
- Veterans Preference for State Jobs: Veterans receive preference points for state job applications, which varies by the nature of their discharge and disability status.
Recreation Benefits
- Hunting and Fishing Licenses, and State Park Discounts: Disabled veterans and Kentucky resident veterans home on leave can benefit from discounted licenses and park admissions.
Burial and Memorial Benefits Kentucky Veterans Cemeteries: Offers burial services for Kentucky resident veterans, spouses, and dependent children without any fees. Kentucky has several veterans cemeteries across the state.