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New Hampshire Veterans Benefits

Beyond your federal VA disability compensation, New Hampshire offers its own benefits for veterans — property tax, income tax, education, employment, vehicle, recreation, veterans home. Here's what New Hampshire veterans can claim, who qualifies, and how to apply.

12 state benefits · Property Tax, Income Tax, Education, Employment, Vehicle, Recreation, Veterans Home · Last verified 2026-06-16

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Property Tax

  1. All Veterans' Tax Credit (RSA 72:28-b)All veterans
    Matches the town's adopted RSA 72:28 amount ($50 up to $750)

    An optional, municipality-adopted property tax credit for any NH-resident veteran who served at least 90 days of active duty and either continues to serve or was honorably discharged — regardless of whether the service occurred during wartime. The credit amount equals whatever standard or optional veterans' credit amount the town has adopted under RSA 72:28 ($50 up to $750). Cannot be combined with the RSA 72:28 or RSA 72:35 credit. Only available if the town/city has voted to adopt it.

  2. Certain Disabled Veterans Full Homestead Exemption (RSA 72:36-a)100% P&T
    Full exemption from all property tax on the adapted homestead

    Total exemption from all property taxation on a specially adapted homestead for a veteran who is 100% permanently and totally disabled (per 38 CFR 3.340), or a double amputee/paraplegic, or blind (5/200 or less) from service connection, where the home was acquired or adapted with a VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) or Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant (or purchased with proceeds from selling such a home). Surviving spouses may qualify. This is a full exemption, not a fixed-dollar credit.

  3. Service-Connected Total and Permanent Disability Tax Credit (RSA 72:35)100% P&T
    $700 standard; up to $5,000 if municipality adopts optional amount

    A property tax credit for veterans rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled from service connection, or who are double amputees, paraplegic, or have service-connected blindness (visual acuity 5/200 or less). Standard credit is $700 deducted from the annual property tax on the veteran's residential property; municipalities may vote to adopt an optional higher credit ranging from $701 up to $5,000. Surviving spouses may also qualify. Requires a VA certification letter of total and permanent (100%) disability.

  4. Standard / Optional Veterans' Tax Credit (RSA 72:28)All veterans
    $50 standard; up to $750 if municipality adopts optional amount

    A property tax credit for veterans (or their surviving spouses) who served at least 90 days of active duty during a qualifying war or armed conflict and were honorably discharged, or who were separated due to a service-connected disability. The standard credit is $50; municipalities may vote to adopt an optional credit from $51 up to $750. Requires wartime/qualifying-conflict service but no specific VA disability rating.

Income Tax

  1. No State Income Tax on Military Retirement or VA DisabilityAll veterans
    Fully tax-exempt (no NH income tax of any kind as of 2025)

    New Hampshire imposes no tax on wage/earned income, and its only personal income tax (the Interest & Dividends Tax) was fully repealed effective January 1, 2025. Consequently military retirement pay and VA disability compensation are entirely exempt from NH state income taxation in 2025-2026. This benefit is universal — no disability rating required.

Education

  1. Free Tuition + Scholarship for Children of Deceased Wartime Veterans (RSA 193:19-21)All veterans
    Free tuition at NH public colleges + up to $2,500/yr for 4 years (room/board/books)

    Natural or adopted children (ages 16-25, NH legal residents) of a wartime veteran (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, or expeditionary-medal operations) who either died on active duty or has since died from a service-connected disability rated by the federal government may receive FREE tuition at NH public institutions of higher education, plus a scholarship for board, room rent, books, and supplies of up to $2,500 per year for a maximum of 4 years if in financial need. Eligibility is based on the veteran's death (not a living veteran's rating).

  2. Tuition Waiver for Children of 100% Disabled Living Veterans (University System of NH)100% P&T
    Full USNH tuition waiver (through end of semester child turns 27)

    A child of a veteran who received a discharge other than dishonorable and is totally and permanently disabled (100%) from a service-connected disability, and who was domiciled in NH when entering service or when determined disabled, is not required to pay tuition while enrolled at a University System of New Hampshire institution. Eligibility continues through the end of the semester in which the child turns 27. Distinct from the RSA 193:19 deceased-veteran program because it applies to children of living 100% disabled veterans.

Employment

  1. Veterans' Employment Preference (Public Employment)All veterans
    Hiring preference in state and local public employment

    New Hampshire grants hiring preference to veterans (and to un-remarried surviving spouses and spouses of disabled veterans) in public departments and public works of the state and local units, including specific preference for positions at the State Liquor Commission, the Division of Veterans Services, and the NH Veterans Home. Preference applies to qualifying veterans; no specific VA disability rating is required for basic preference.

Vehicle

  1. Free Vehicle Registration + Special Plates for Amputee/Paraplegic/P&T Veterans (RSA 261:86)100% P&T
    No registration fee + free special plates for one qualifying vehicle

    The state furnishes one set of special number plates and charges no registration fee for one motor vehicle owned by a veteran who, as an amputee or paraplegic, received the vehicle from the U.S. government (or is replacing such a vehicle), or who is evaluated by the VA as permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected disability. The initial plates are issued without charge; a free driver's license is also available to such amputee/paraplegic veterans who received a VA-provided vehicle.

  2. Veteran Decal Plates and Distinctive Military Plates (RSA 261:87-b / 261-C)All veterans
    Distinctive plates / decals; free municipal parking with accessibility plate

    NH offers numerous distinctive military and veteran-themed license plates and a multi-use Veteran Decal that affixes to a plate. Veteran Decals are obtained through the NH Office/Division of Veterans Services rather than at DMV counters. Vehicles bearing special disabled-veteran plates with the international accessibility symbol receive free parking time in any city or town when the vehicle is under the owner's direct control. These honorific/parking plates are not tied to a specific VA disability rating (the disabled-veteran accessibility plate requires a qualifying disability).

Recreation

  1. Free Perpetual Hunting/Fishing License for P&T Disabled Veterans100% P&T
    Free perpetual (lifetime) license; one-time $10 admin fee

    An NH-resident veteran with a discharge other than dishonorable who is totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected disability is issued a free special veteran's (perpetual/lifetime) hunting and fishing license by the NH Fish and Game Department. A one-time $10 administrative fee applies upon application. Requires VA documentation of permanent and total service-connected disability.

Veterans Home

  1. New Hampshire Veterans Home (Tilton)Combat service
    State-subsidized long-term/nursing care; cost based on resident assets/income

    A state-run skilled-nursing and residential care facility in Tilton for honorably-discharged veterans who served in time of war and who have been NH residents for the one year preceding application (or were NH residents when they entered military service). Admission requires the applicant's care needs to be within the Home's capabilities. Cost is based on the resident's assets/income (financial contribution to room and board), with a one-year financial look-back. No VA disability rating is required for eligibility.

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Common questions

What benefits do New Hampshire veterans get?

New Hampshire offers veteran benefits across property tax, income tax, education, employment, vehicle, recreation, veterans home. Highlights include All Veterans' Tax Credit (RSA 72:28-b), Certain Disabled Veterans Full Homestead Exemption (RSA 72:36-a), Service-Connected Total and Permanent Disability Tax Credit (RSA 72:35). Eligibility varies — some benefits require a VA disability rating, 100% P&T status, or combat service.

What property tax exemption do disabled veterans get in New Hampshire?

An optional, municipality-adopted property tax credit for any NH-resident veteran who served at least 90 days of active duty and either continues to serve or was honorably discharged — regardless of whether the service occurred during wartime. The credit amount equals whatever standard or optional v

Does New Hampshire tax military retirement or VA disability pay?

New Hampshire imposes no tax on wage/earned income, and its only personal income tax (the Interest & Dividends Tax) was fully repealed effective January 1, 2025. Consequently military retirement pay and VA disability compensation are entirely exempt from NH state income taxation in 2025-2026. This b

Do I need a VA rating to claim New Hampshire benefits?

Many state benefits are tied to your VA disability rating — the higher your rating, the more you may qualify for. Use the free VA Ready calculator to confirm your combined rating, then check which state benefits you've earned.

State benefit rules, amounts, and eligibility change and vary by county or municipality. Estimated values are approximate. Always confirm current details with the state agency or the official source linked above before relying on a benefit. VA Ready is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or any state agency, and this page is not legal, tax, or financial advice.