Utah VA Disability Benefits & Resources for Veterans

Utah’s biggest benefit for disabled veterans is a property tax exemption that grows with your VA rating. It applies to your home and can also cover vehicles and other tangible personal property. The state also offers a military retirement income tax credit, discounted hunting and fishing licenses at a 20% rating, and four state veterans homes.

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

Key Utah Benefits at a Glance

Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with a Disability

Utah law (Utah Code Title 59, Chapter 2a, Part 5) exempts part of the taxable value of a disabled veteran’s residence. For 2026, the Tax Commission lists the maximum as $535,459 of taxable value. The amount is indexed each year.

• Rating-based amount: You get your VA percentage of the maximum. Salt Lake County’s 2026 table runs from $53,546 at 10% to $535,459 at 100%. The exemption also accounts for the unemployability classification, so veterans paid at the 100% rate through TDIU should include that in their VA letter.
• Minimum rating: No exemption is allowed below 10%.
• Who else qualifies: An unmarried surviving spouse or minor orphans of a veteran who was disabled or died because of service.
• What it covers: The residence first. The exemption can also be applied to tangible personal property, such as motor vehicles.
• Citizenship: This is the one Utah property tax relief program that does not require U.S. citizenship or legal presence.

How to apply: File with the county where the property is located. Include proof of military service and a current VA letter showing your combined service-connected percentage and its effective date. Salt Lake County requires applications at the Treasurer’s office by September 1. Check your own county’s deadline and renewal rules. Pub 36 lists a phone number for every county. If the county denies your application, you have 30 days to appeal through the county auditor.

Utah Income Taxes

• VA disability compensation: VA pays disability compensation tax-free. Utah’s return starts from federal adjusted gross income, which doesn’t include VA disability pay, so Utah doesn’t tax it either.
• Military retirement pay: Military retirement pay is included in income, but you can take the nonrefundable Military Retirement Credit (code AJ) on TC-40A, Part 3. On the 2025 return, the credit is taxable military retirement pay × 0.045, which is Utah’s flat tax rate. You can’t combine it with the general Retirement Credit (code 18).
• Military survivor benefits: Survivors of a service member who died on active duty or in training claim the separate Military Survivor Benefits Credit (code AA) instead.

Vehicles, Licenses, and Recreation

• Disabled Veteran plate: The Utah DMV issues this plate if you have a letter from the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs or another U.S. military entity certifying your disabled status. It has no required contribution, but the standard plate fee ($8.25) and special group plate fee ($5.00) apply. The plate does not allow parking in accessible spaces. That requires a separate disability placard. An unmarried surviving spouse can keep the plate.
• Hunting and fishing: Utah residents rated 20% or higher can buy a discounted hunting, fishing, or combination license. Apply through the Division of Wildlife Resources with a VA or military letter showing the rating. Once approved, you don’t have to reapply.
• State parks: The Veterans With Disabilities Honor Pass gives free day-use entry to most Utah state parks. Get it at a region office or park with your VA benefits letter.

Education Benefits

The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs lists these state programs:

• Purple Heart Tuition Waiver: Tuition waived at all Utah public colleges and universities, up to and including a master’s degree.
• Scott B. Lundell Military Survivors Tuition Waiver: Tuition waived at state schools for surviving dependents of service members killed in action on or after September 11, 2001.
• Veterans Tuition Gap Program: A supplemental grant for tuition, fees, and books when your federal education benefits are used up or unavailable.
• In-state tuition: Available to veterans who enroll within 12 months of leaving active service.

Apply through the admissions or veterans office at your school.

State Veterans Homes

The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs runs four state veterans homes:

• William E. Christoffersen Salt Lake Veterans Home, Salt Lake City (801-584-1900)
• George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home, Ogden (801-334-4300)
• Mervyn Sharp Bennion Veterans Home, Payson (801-465-5400)
• Southern Utah Veterans Home, Ivins (435-634-5220)

Veterans with a service-connected rating of 70% or higher pay nothing. For veterans with lower ratings, the VA pays part of the daily cost. Spouses and Gold Star parents can also be admitted but pay the full cost.

State Employment Preference

Under Utah Code 71A-2-102, eligible applicants for state jobs get preference points:

• Veterans and service members: 5 points or 5% of the total possible score, whichever is greater.
• Veterans with a disability of any percentage, and Purple Heart recipients: 10 points or 10% of the total possible score, whichever is greater.
• Spouses and surviving spouses: The same preference the veteran would get.

To claim it, check “yes” on the veteran status indicator when you apply and upload your DD214 and, if it applies, your VA letter.

VA Regional Office and Medical Centers

Salt Lake City VA Regional Benefit Office: 550 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84158. Open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can walk in or make an appointment. The VA benefits hotline is 800-827-1000.

VA medical center and clinics in Utah:

• George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City
• Cache Valley VA Clinic, North Logan
• Ogden VA Clinic, South Ogden
• Orem VA Clinic, Orem
• Price VA Clinic, Price
• Roosevelt VA Clinic, Roosevelt
• South Jordan VA Clinic, South Jordan
• St. George VA Clinic, St. George
• Moab VA Clinic, Moab (part of VA Western Colorado Health Care)

Filing a Federal VA Claim

The federal VA claim process works the same way in every state. See How to File a VA Claim, Check Your Claim Status, and 2026 VA Disability Rates. For free help in Utah, contact the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs VA Claims Assistance team at 801-326-2372.

Crisis Support

Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255.