Wyoming VA Disability Benefits & Resources for Veterans

Wyoming’s veteran benefits are few but concrete: a flat property tax exemption that doubled for 2025, fee-free Disabled Veteran plates, and lifetime Game and Fish licenses tied to your VA rating. Most of them are claimed in person at a county office, so knowing which office handles what saves a trip.

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

Key Wyoming Benefits at a Glance

Property Tax Exemption

Wyoming’s veterans exemption is a set reduction in assessed value, not a percentage of your tax bill and not scaled to your rating. Since tax year 2025 it is $6,000 of assessed value (up from $3,000 under 2024 Senate File 89) per year on your primary residence. What that saves you depends on your local mill levy. Natrona County, for example, estimates about $400 a year.

Who qualifies: You must have a DD-214 or equivalent, have lived in Wyoming for at least three years, and meet one of these:

• Served in WWII, Korea or Vietnam.
• Served overseas in an armed conflict and received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or an equivalent campaign or service medal.
• Have a compensable service-connected disability certified by VA or a branch of the armed forces. This path applies regardless of when you served.
• Are the surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran, live in Wyoming and have not remarried.

Property or vehicle, not both: If you don’t use the exemption on your home, you can apply it to county vehicle registration fees instead. County assessors describe the vehicle option as up to $3,000 of assessed value, about $90 per vehicle and $180 per year in total. Check with your county before choosing.

How to apply:

1. Bring your DD-214 and, if you’re qualifying by disability, a VA rating letter to your County Assessor’s office. Some counties require you to appear in person the first time.
2. File between January 1 and the fourth Monday in May each year. The property must be owned by you or your spouse as of January 1.
3. Low-income homeowners can also apply for the separate state Property Tax Refund Program, which is means-tested rather than veteran-specific.

Wyoming does not currently offer a full property tax exemption for 100% or permanently and totally disabled veterans. The $6,000 exemption is the same for every rating.

State Taxes

Wyoming has no personal income tax. Military retirement pay, VA disability compensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are not taxed by the state, and there is nothing to file.

Vehicles and Driver Licenses

• Disabled Veteran plates: For residents receiving 50% or more service-connected compensation. One pair is free and exempt from registration fees. You can buy a second pair for a motorcycle or multipurpose vehicle at regular fees. Submit form MV-100B to your County Treasurer at least 30 days before your registration expires. The vehicle must be titled in your name or jointly with an immediate family member. These plates do not allow parking in accessible spaces; that requires a separate placard.
• Driver license veteran designation: Send a copy of your separation papers and the verification form to the Wyoming Veterans Commission at least one week before you visit a WYDOT driver exam station.

Hunting and Fishing

Licenses are issued at Wyoming Game and Fish headquarters in Cheyenne or its regional offices in Jackson, Pinedale, Cody, Sheridan, Green River, Laramie, Lander and Casper. You can also mail your application; allow 15 business days. Bring or send a VA letter on official letterhead.

• 50% Disabled Veteran Fishing License (W.S. 23-2-201(f)): Free lifetime fishing license for residents receiving compensation at 50% or more. You don’t need a conservation stamp for fishing.
• 100% Disabled Veteran Game Bird, Fish and Small Game License (W.S. 23-1-705(d)): Free for honorably discharged residents rated 100% disabled. It stays valid while you remain a resident and exempts you from the conservation stamp under any Wyoming license.
• Purple Heart recipients: Free lifetime game bird, small game and fish licenses while you are a resident.
• Donated big game licenses: Other hunters can give up unused big game licenses so they can be reissued to disabled veterans sponsored by qualifying nonprofits.

Big game (elk, deer, antelope) licenses are not free under these programs.

Education

Under W.S. 19-14-106, the Wyoming veteran tuition benefit pays tuition at the University of Wyoming and Wyoming community colleges. It covers overseas combat veterans who received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or an equivalent medal and meet the residency rules. Certain surviving spouses and dependents of veterans who died are also covered. Since summer 2018, new participants get tuition only, not fees, for up to 8 semesters within 8 years. Apply through the VA certifying official at your college or at UW.

State Veterans Home

The Veterans’ Home of Wyoming in Buffalo is run by the Wyoming Department of Health. It has two connected communities, one for assisted living and one for skilled nursing. It is Wyoming’s only state veterans home.

Employment Preference

Under W.S. 19-14-102, an honorably discharged veteran who has lived in Wyoming for at least one year at any time is guaranteed an interview for state and other public jobs if they meet the minimum qualifications. The same applies to a surviving spouse receiving federal survivor benefits. The preference does not apply if you already work for the hiring state agency or the university.

VA Regional Office and Medical Centers

Cheyenne VA Regional Benefit Office: 2360 E. Pershing Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82001. It shares a campus with the Cheyenne VA Medical Center.

• Cheyenne VA Medical Center, Cheyenne. Its system also runs a Wyoming clinic in Rawlins.
• Sheridan VA Medical Center, Sheridan. Its system runs Wyoming clinics in Afton, Casper, Cody, Evanston, Gillette, Riverton, Rock Springs and Worland.

Filing a Federal VA Claim

The VA claims process is federal and the same in every state. See How to File a VA Claim, Check Your Claim Status and 2026 VA Disability Rates. For free local help, the Wyoming Veterans Commission has Veterans Service Officers around the state. Call the Wyoming Veterans Hotline at 1-800-833-5987 or the commission at 307-777-8152.

Crisis Support

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