Follow to get an email when Montana benefits change. Alert settings
Montana benefits for Veterans and families, each checked against an official Montana source and linked to it. Federal VA benefits work the same everywhere, and the Montana Veteran Affairs Division (MVAD), Department of Military Affairs can help you apply for them at no cost.
14 benefits from official sources2 not yet finalizedLast verified
Montana Veteran Affairs Division (MVAD), Department of Military Affairs
How to read the labels:In effect confirmed on an official page. Not yet finalized announced or passed but not in force yet. Unverified — confirm with the agency we couldn't confirm it on an official page, so ask the agency.
Help from your state veterans office
Montana Veteran Affairs Division and state Veteran Service Officers
In effect
MVAD, part of the Department of Military Affairs, has state-funded, nationally accredited VSOs in 9 offices who help with claims at no cost.
Who qualifies
Montana veterans, spouses and dependents.
Amount or details
General line 406-324-3742; mvad@mt.gov. Offices in Belgrade, Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Miles City and Missoula.
How to apply
Contact your local VSO office from the Veteran Services page.
“The Montana Veteran Services Program is a vital, no-cost to the veteran resource dedicated to supporting the more than 80,000 veterans across the state”
Veterans rated 100% service-connected, and unmarried surviving spouses, get a 100%, 80%, 70% or 50% cut in the tax rate on their primary home, depending on income and filing status. Income limits are indexed each year.
Who qualifies
Rated 100% (or paid at the 100% rate), or the unmarried surviving spouse. Must own and live in the home at least 7 months a year and meet income limits.
Amount or details
For 2026, a single filer earning $0-$48,152 gets a 100% reduction, stepping down to 50% at $57,782-$62,598. Married and surviving-spouse tiers differ. The average benefit in 2025 was $1,913.
How to apply
Submit Form MDV (online or paper) to the Department of Revenue by April 15.
Working Military Retirement Exemption (up to 50%, 5 years)
In effect
Montana residents who are military retirees can exempt up to 50% of military retirement pay, or SBP survivor benefits, for 5 consecutive years. The program started in tax year 2024.
Who qualifies
Montana residents receiving military retirement or SBP benefits who also have Montana earned income and remain residents.
Amount or details
Up to 50% of military retirement or SBP income for 5 consecutive years. New residents qualify if they moved in after June 30, 2023.
Reduced registration fees for 100% disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients; veteran plates
In effect
Veterans rated 100% for a service-related disability, or paid at the 100% rate, qualify for reduced registration fees, and Purple Heart recipients have a similar option. MVD offers veteran and military plates, plus the $20 Patriot plate that funds MVAD.
Who qualifies
VA letter showing a 100% service-connected rating or pay at the 100% rate. Purple Heart documentation for that option.
Amount or details
Reduced registration fees; the exact amounts aren't shown on the page. Patriot plate costs $20 at first, then $15 a year.
How to apply
Bring the VA letter to your county treasurer or MVD office.
Note
The MVD page doesn't list the dollar amount of the reduced fees.
Veteran Designation on driver license or ID (no added cost)
In effect
Montana veterans can add a Veteran Designation in person or by mail using a certified DD-214 that shows an honorable discharge. The designation is free; standard renewal or replacement fees apply.
Who qualifies
Veterans with an honorable discharge (certified DD-214).
Amount or details
No charge for the designation.
How to apply
Apply at any Driver Exam Station, ideally at renewal, or by mail.
Montana University System campuses waive tuition for resident veterans with honorable discharges whose VA education benefits have run out. MVAD offers a $1,000 scholarship to Purple Heart or higher-award recipients.
Who qualifies
Montana resident, honorable discharge (General not accepted), active-duty service, VA education benefits expired or used up.
Amount or details
Tuition waiver; $1,000 scholarship.
How to apply
Apply for the waiver through the MUS campus using the fact sheet. Apply for the scholarship through MVAD.
“Has elected to become eligible for V.A. education benefits under Title 38, or Title 10, of the U.S. Code but benefits have expired or were exhausted;”
Under 39-29-102 MCA and ARM 2.21.3615, scored hiring adds 5 percentage points for veterans and 10 for disabled veterans or eligible relatives. In non-scored hiring, preferred applicants are chosen first in that order.
Who qualifies
Veterans, disabled veterans, and eligible relatives (unremarried surviving spouses and certain spouses) as defined in 39-29-101 MCA.
Amount or details
5 or 10 percentage points; the points don't stack.
How to apply
Claim preference with documentation when you apply for initial hiring with a public employer.
Veterans Home Loan Program (1 point below MBOH rate, up to $538,036)
In effect
Montana Housing offers first-time-homebuyer veterans a fixed 30-year mortgage at 1 percentage point below the Board of Housing's regular bond rate, with no income or price limits. The maximum loan has been $538,036 since July 24, 2026.
Who qualifies
Montana resident veterans with honorable service who have never owned a primary residence and take a homebuyer class.
Amount or details
Maximum $538,036; minimum $2,500 borrower investment; no condos. HB 924 (2025) moved funding to the Montana Housing Trust.
How to apply
Apply through an MBOH participating lender. Funds are limited.
“The Montana Military Family Relief Fund (MMFRF) provides grants to help families of activated National Guard/Reserve members with expenses like housing and food.”
FWP: half-price deer/antelope for combat-injured veterans; Purple Heart conservation license
In effect
Veterans with certain combat-connected injuries may get half-price deer and antelope licenses (up to 50 a year). Purple Heart recipients can fish and hunt upland birds with a Conservation License.
Who qualifies
Combat-connected injuries as defined by FWP; Purple Heart recipients (resident or nonresident).
Amount or details
Half-price deer and antelope licenses (50 per year cap). Purple Heart recipients fish and hunt upland birds on a Conservation License alone.
How to apply
Contact FWP Licensing at 406-444-2950. Purple Heart licenses are issued only at FWP offices.
Note
The combat-injury criteria aren't spelled out on the page; contact FWP.
“A veteran with certain combat–connected injuries may be entitled to half-priced licenses for deer and antelope. Up to 50 licenses will be issued annually.”
Three state veterans homes: Butte, Columbia Falls, Glendive (DPHHS)
In effect
DPHHS runs skilled-nursing veterans homes in Butte, Columbia Falls and Glendive. Columbia Falls has 105 nursing beds plus 12 domiciliary beds, and Glendive has 80 beds.
Who qualifies
Veterans who need skilled nursing care. Admission criteria are set by DPHHS.
Amount or details
Columbia Falls: 105 intermediate/skilled-care beds and 12 domiciliary. Glendive: 80 beds.
How to apply
Contact the home through its DPHHS page.
Note
Admission criteria and daily rates weren't captured from the DPHHS pages.
State Veterans Cemeteries: Fort Harrison, Missoula, Miles City
In effect
MVAD runs 3 state veterans cemeteries. Plots, opening and closing, headstones and perpetual care are free for eligible veterans. Montana also accepts Guard and Reserve members under the Burial Equity Act.
Who qualifies
Eligible veterans. Spouses and dependents pay some fees. Guard and Reserve members qualify under the Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act.
Amount or details
Free for veterans; spouse and dependent fees follow the MSVC fee schedule.
How to apply
Contact the Cemetery Manager, who verifies eligibility (DD-214 or NGB-22).
Northern Montana State Veterans Cemetery: approved, awaiting federal grant
Not yet finalized
Not final yet: Not built. MVAD says it hopes the grant will be awarded by 2030.
The 2023 Legislature approved a fourth state veterans cemetery in northern Montana. MVAD is on the National Cemetery Administration grant waitlist and hopes for funding by 2030.
“The Montana Veteran Affairs Division is hopeful this grant will be awarded by 2030.”
No 2026 legislative session; next session 2027
Not yet finalized
Not final yet: Watch 2027 session bill drafts for changes to MDV eligibility (for example, adding 80-90% ratings).
The Montana Legislature meets only in odd-numbered years, so there was no 2026 regular session. In May 2026, legislative staff reviewed the MDV program for the Revenue Interim Committee ahead of 2027.
Amount or details
The staff paper notes MDV income limits haven't been changed by statute since 2003 inflation indexing. 2023 bills to add 80-90% rated veterans were tabled.
Old link veterans.mt.gov/Veteran-Services-Program-Home is 404; current page is /Veteran-Services/Veteran-Services-Program-Home.
Disabled veteran reduced registration fee amounts not stated on MVD page.
Veterans homes admission criteria and daily rates (DPHHS) not captured; Butte (SWMVH) bed count not on reviewed page.
2025 SB 424 (expanding MDV to 80-90% ratings) final status not verified on an official page; May 2026 legislative staff paper indicates income limits unchanged and does not mention SB 424 as enacted.
This state page was last reviewed against official sources on November 1, 2026. Our watcher re-checks those pages automatically and flags any item whose quoted wording disappears.