New Hampshire VA Disability Benefits & Resources for Veterans

State benefit details verified against official state sources on September 27, 2026.

Overview

New Hampshire gives veterans tax credits that come straight off the property tax bill, and cities and towns decide how large most of them are. Your town’s vote matters as much as your VA rating. Without an income tax on wages or pensions, and with the interest and dividends tax repealed as of 2025, New Hampshire’s main veteran benefits are property tax credits, a perpetual license for totally disabled veterans, and a points-based hiring preference in state jobs.

Key benefits at a glance

Property tax relief

New Hampshire has several separate credits and exemptions. You generally get the best one you qualify for, because the optional total disability credit replaces the other veterans’ credits.

• Service-connected total disability credit (RSA 72:35): a veteran rated totally and permanently disabled from service, or a double amputee or paraplegic from a service-connected injury, and the surviving spouse, get a $700 yearly credit on their home. A town may adopt an optional credit of $701 up to $5,000. The VA’s certification is treated as conclusive unless the assessors have specific contrary evidence.
• Specially adapted homes (RSA 72:36-a): if the VA adapted your home through a Specially Adapted Housing or Special Home Adaptation grant (or you bought a home with proceeds from selling one), the homestead is fully exempt when you are 100% P&T (including unemployability), a service-connected double amputee or paraplegic, or blind in both eyes from service. The surviving spouse keeps it.
• Veterans’ tax credit (RSA 72:28): $50 standard, or an optional $51–$750 if your town adopts it, for residents who served at least 90 days in a qualifying war or conflict, veterans discharged for a service-connected disability, and their spouses or surviving spouses. From April 1, 2027, the optional ceiling rises to $1,000. Towns may also adopt an all veterans’ credit (RSA 72:28-b) for veterans without wartime service.
• Surviving spouses of service members who died on active duty (RSA 72:29-a): $700, or an optional amount up to $2,000 (rising to $2,500 on April 1, 2027) on any property they own in the town.
• Combat service (RSA 72:28-c): Guard and Reserve members called up for combat service can receive a town-optional credit of $50–$500 (rising to $750 on April 1, 2027).

Deadline: under RSA 72:33, file the permanent application with your town’s selectmen or assessors by April 15 before the tax rate is set. You must be qualified on April 1 of the first year you claim the credit.

State income tax

New Hampshire doesn’t tax wages or pension income, and RSA chapter 77, the interest and dividends tax, was repealed effective January 1, 2025. Military retirement and VA disability compensation are not taxed by the state.

Vehicle registration and plates

Under RSA 261:86, the first set of special plates is free for one vehicle owned by a veteran who is rated permanently and totally disabled from service, is an amputee or paraplegic who received a vehicle from the U.S. government, is totally blind from a service-connected condition, is a former POW, or received the Purple Heart. Plates for T&P, amputee and paraplegic veterans carry the accessibility symbol and free parking privileges. A T&P veteran can choose the regular veteran plate instead but then gives up the parking privilege.

Hunting and fishing licenses

RSA 214:13 provides:

• Totally and permanently disabled resident veterans (discharge other than dishonorable) receive a perpetual special veteran’s license for fishing, hunting or bow and arrow, for a one-time $10 administrative fee.
• Resident veterans rated at least 80% but below 100% can buy a lifetime license at 50% off. If the rating has been in place for more than two years, Fish and Game must grant the discount.

Nonresident T&P veterans may get a complimentary license if their home state offers New Hampshire residents the same.

State veterans home

The New Hampshire Veterans’ Home is established under RSA chapter 119 to support, care for and treat veterans who served on active duty. The state also runs the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen.

Employment preference

Under RSA chapter 99-F, public employers add 5 points for a veteran and 10 points for a disabled veteran at both the initial application screening and any scored examination. A veteran who passes and whose combined score equals or beats a non-veteran’s must be appointed. A disabled veteran is anyone entitled to VA disability compensation. Military spouses of active-duty members are included, and the preference can be used any number of times.

How to apply in New Hampshire

1. Ask your town hall which optional credits (veterans’, all veterans’, total disability, combat) it has adopted and at what amount. This varies more from town to town than in almost any other state.
2. File the permanent application with the assessors or selectmen by April 15, with your DD-214 and VA letter.
3. Plates: apply through the Division of Motor Vehicles with your VA certification.
4. Licenses: apply to NH Fish and Game with proof of T&P status or your 80%+ rating.

VA regional office and medical centers

The Manchester VA Regional Benefit Office is in the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut St., Manchester, NH 03101. The Manchester VA Medical Center serves the state with clinics in Conway, Manchester, Portsmouth, Somersworth and Tilton. Western New Hampshire is served by White River Junction VA clinics in Keene and Littleton.

Filing a federal VA claim

VA disability claims follow the same federal process nationwide: see how to file a VA claim, check your claim status, and current compensation rates. New Hampshire’s larger credits require a total and permanent rating, so make sure your VA decision letter states permanence.

If you are in crisis, call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.