The Benefit Access Index. State benefits, ranked.
Federal VA benefits follow you anywhere. State benefits do not, and the differences are worth real money. The Index scores all 50 states and DC on how broadly they extend 10 veteran benefits, using each state's own published rules. Every input links to the official state source, so you can verify any number yourself.
All states, ranked
Click any state for its category-by-category breakdown with links to the official sources. Scores reflect how broadly a benefit is offered, not its dollar value; a benefit open at a 10 percent rating scores higher than one restricted to 100 percent permanent and total.
How the Index is scored
Each state is scored 0 to 4 in ten categories based on the qualifying threshold in the state's published rules: 4 means the benefit is open at a 10 percent rating, at any service connected disability, or to all resident veterans; 3 means a 50 percent rating or lower qualifies, or the benefit is open on wartime or combat service; 2 means the threshold sits above 50 percent or the class is narrow; 1 means only veterans rated 100 percent (or permanent and total), or survivors of veterans who died, are missing, or were prisoners of war qualify; and 0 means no benefit is listed. Category scores are weighted by practical impact and summed to 100. Every threshold was checked against the official state source linked in each row before publication, independently re-scored by a second automated pass, and the cited sources are monitored for changes.
- Property tax relief20
- Income tax treatment15
- Dependent education12
- Employment preference10
- Vehicle benefits10
- In-state tuition8
- Hunting and fishing7
- Burial benefits6
- State parks access6
- Recreation benefits6
Free to cite with attribution: "The Veteran Benefit Desk's Benefit Access Index." Raw scores: download the CSV. Questions about a state's inputs? Tell us; corrections follow our corrections policy.
Writing about state veteran benefits? You are welcome to reference the index. Copy the citation below and link back so your readers can verify the scores.