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Wyoming benefits for Veterans and families, each checked against an official Wyoming source and linked to it. Federal VA benefits work the same everywhere, and the Wyoming Veterans Commission (Wyoming Military Department) can help you apply for them at no cost.
13 benefits from official sourcesLast verified
Wyoming Veterans Commission (Wyoming Military Department)
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
Wyoming Veterans Commission (Wyoming Military Department) and state Veteran Service Officers
In effect
The Wyoming Veterans Commission sits within the Wyoming Military Department. It has 12 commissioners appointed by the Governor and oversees the state VSOs, Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery, the veterans and National Guard museums, and military records. State VSOs have offices in Cheyenne, Casper, Riverton, Cody, Gillette, Pinedale, Buffalo/Sheridan and elsewhere.
Veterans' property tax exemption: $6,000 of assessed value (or up to $90 off vehicle registration fees)
In effect
Under W.S. 39-13-105, qualifying veterans get a yearly exemption of $6,000 of assessed value on their principal residence. Qualifying veterans are honorably discharged veterans of WWII, Korea or Vietnam; recipients of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or another campaign medal for a foreign armed conflict; and veterans with a compensable service-connected disability. Unremarried surviving spouses qualify, as do surviving parents when there is no spouse. If the exemption isn't used on property, it can be applied to vehicle license fees. The Military Department's benefits book says the vehicle total can't exceed $90.
Who qualifies
Wyoming resident for at least 3 years, plus one of the service, medal or disability criteria. Claim in one county only.
Amount or details
$6,000 of assessed value each year on the principal residence, or applied to vehicle registration fees (not sales tax; benefits book says up to $90 total).
How to apply
File a sworn claim with your County Assessor by the fourth Monday in May. In later years, renew by calling or contacting the assessor.
Disabled Veteran plates with registration-fee exemption (50%+); Veteran, POW, Purple Heart, Gold Star plates
In effect
Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability of 50% or more can get DV plates, and one vehicle is exempt from registration fees (W.S. 31-2-215, 31-3-101(b)(xv)). Instead of the DV plate, they can choose another military plate they qualify for. One additional DV plate can be bought for a motorcycle or multipurpose vehicle. The Veteran plate has a $50 plate fee plus registration and is applied for through the Veterans Commission. POW plates carry no plate fee, and registration is waived on the first plate. Purple Heart, Pearl Harbor Survivor and National Guard plates have no plate fee. The Commission pays the Gold Star plate fee.
Who qualifies
DV: 50%+ service-connected and a Wyoming resident. Veteran plate: honorable service with a DD-214.
Amount or details
DV: registration fees waived on one vehicle. Veteran plate: $50 plus registration.
How to apply
Apply to the County Treasurer at least 30 days before your registration month ends, and provide VA documentation each year. Veteran and Gold Star plates go through the WVC.
Veteran designation on Wyoming driver's license or ID
In effect
WYDOT prints "V" or "Veteran" on licenses and ID cards for honorably discharged veterans (W.S. 31-7-141). Local governments must accept the designation instead of a DD-214 as proof of veteran status (W.S. 19-14-113).
Who qualifies
At least one period of honorable service resulting in a DD-214.
Amount or details
Standard license fee.
How to apply
The Military Dept page says to send your DD-214 and the verification form to the WVC at least a week before visiting a WYDOT Driver Exam Station. The 2024 book says to show your DD-214 to the examiner.
Free tuition (8 semesters) at UW or a Wyoming community college for overseas combat and Vietnam veterans and combat-death survivors
In effect
W.S. 19-14-106 provides free tuition for up to 8 semesters at the University of Wyoming or any Wyoming community college. It covers overseas combat veterans (Expeditionary or campaign medal for a foreign armed conflict, and a Wyoming resident for at least 1 year before entering service) and Vietnam veterans. It also covers surviving spouses and dependents (under age 22) of combat veterans who died during active service. Benefits must be used within 8 academic years and are capped at the UW undergraduate rate. A 2.0 GPA is required to stay eligible. The Community College Commission reimburses the schools.
Who qualifies
See statute definitions.
Amount or details
Tuition for up to 8 semesters, capped at the UW undergraduate tuition rate.
How to apply
Contact the VA certifying official at UW or the community college.
In every Wyoming public department (state, counties, cities, school districts, community colleges, UW), veterans and surviving spouses get preference before the interview stage. Where scores are used, they get 5%; veterans with a service-connected disability of 10% or more get 10%. A veteran must have lived in Wyoming for at least 1 year. Preference applies to initial employment only. Private employers may lawfully give hiring preference to veterans (W.S. 19-14-111). Workforce Centers give veterans priority of service.
Who qualifies
Honorably discharged veteran with 1+ year of Wyoming residency, or a surviving spouse receiving federal survivor benefits.
Indigent veteran burial assistance and free discharge recording
In effect
Counties pay burial at the state veterans cemetery for indigent veterans who served in a war or conflict, up to $1,500 for burial plus up to $500 for transportation (amended by 2026 SF0011). Veterans can record their DD-214 confidentially and free at the County Clerk. The benefits book lists emergency aid only through VSOs (American Legion, VFW); no state-run cash aid program or bonus was found.
Who qualifies
As listed.
Amount or details
Burial up to $1,500 plus $500 transport.
How to apply
County commissioners or the funeral director. County Clerk for DD-214 recording.
Free lifetime fishing (50%+ DV); free lifetime bird/small game/fish (100% DV, Purple Heart); free lifetime State Parks permit (50%+ DV)
In effect
Resident disabled veterans rated 50% or higher get a free lifetime fishing license (W.S. 23-2-201(f)). Honorably discharged resident veterans rated 100%, and Purple Heart recipients, get free lifetime bird, small game and fish licenses (W.S. 23-1-705(d)). Resident veterans rated 50% or higher can get a lifetime permit for state parks, recreation areas, and historic and archeological sites with no day-use or overnight fees (W.S. 36-4-121(n)). Honorably discharged veterans don't need a hunter safety certificate. Hunting license holders can donate big game licenses to disabled veterans sponsored by a nonprofit.
Who qualifies
Wyoming resident plus the disability level or Purple Heart listed.
Amount or details
Free licenses and permits as listed.
How to apply
Apply to Wyoming Game and Fish (307-777-4600) or Wyoming State Parks (307-777-6323) with VA certification and proof of residency.
Veterans' Home of Wyoming (Buffalo): assisted living (domiciliary) and skilled nursing
In effect
The Wyoming Department of Health runs the Veterans' Home of Wyoming in Buffalo. It has an Assisted Living (domiciliary) Community and a Skilled Nursing Community made up of three Greenhouse-model cottages. Fees are based on ability to pay. Admission requires inability to earn a living or lack of adequate support, plus Wyoming residency. Veterans get first preference, then their dependents.
Who qualifies
Veterans and dependents. Non-veterans may be admitted if the home is under 90% occupied.
The state veterans cemetery, run by the Military Department with VA partial funding. Eligibility follows National Cemetery rules (any discharge other than dishonorable). There are no fees: plot and vault are free, and services are held in the Committal Chapel.
Who qualifies
Veterans with other-than-dishonorable discharge, plus an eligible spouse or dependent child.
Changes which indigent veterans counties can seek reimbursement for. Raises the Department of Family Services burial payment from $1,000 to $1,500, adds up to $500 for transport to the veterans cemetery, and makes county payment the last resort.
Amount or details
Effective July 1, 2026. Approved February 27, 2026.
Keeps donation of big game, trophy game and bison licenses to disabled veterans sponsored by a nonprofit, and extends donations to people with life-threatening illnesses and people who are vision-impaired. Approved March 7, 2026.
The newest Wyoming Veterans Benefits Book PDF found is the '2024' edition (uploaded April 2025). The Commission's 'Benefits Book' link is a JavaScript flipbook. Plate fees and licensing procedure details come from the 2024 book; statutes were used where possible.
Wyoming Game & Fish, Wyoming State Parks, WYDOT and Community College Commission tuition pages returned 404 or were not reachable at guessed URLs (communitycolleges.wy.edu/veterans-tuition-benefit/ returned 404). Statutes were used instead.
revenue.wyo.gov homepage returned a near-empty JavaScript page. The DOR tax-relief page (wyo-prop-div.wyo.gov) was used.
The DL veteran-designation procedure conflicts: the Military Dept page says send the DD-214 to the WVC first; the 2024 book says present it at the exam station. Both are reported.
No state cash bonus or state-run veteran emergency financial aid program found. Not marked none_offered.
The 2026 budget (Session Laws) has lines for Veterans' Tax Exemption ($11,545,839) and Veterans' Tuition Waiver ($481,250). These are appropriations, not benefit changes.
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.