Alabama
Alabama gives a total ad valorem property tax exemption on the primary residence for veterans rated permanently and totally disabled from service connected causes, free hunting and fishing licenses for veterans rated 50 percent or higher, and in state tuition at the state's public colleges for resident veterans.
Alabama Department of Veterans AffairsProperty tax exemption
Total exemption from all state and local ad valorem (property) taxes on the primary residence. The exemption transfers to the unremarried surviving spouse.
Source: Alabama Department of Revenue, Homestead ExemptionsState income tax
Alabama does not tax VA disability compensation, and all military retirement pay is fully exempt from Alabama income tax.
Source: Alabama Department of RevenueDisabled veteran plates & registration
Alabama exempts one personal vehicle's registration fees and license tax for veterans rated 10% or higher and issues distinctive Disabled Veteran plates; veterans rated 100% are also exempt from the vehicle ad valorem tax.
Source: Alabama Department of Revenue - Military license platesPublic employment preference
Alabama adds 5 points to a veteran's state employment exam score, and 10 points for veterans with a service-connected disability who receive VA compensation (extendable to certain spouses).
Source: Alabama Department of Veterans AffairsIn state tuition
Under 38 USC 3679(c) (the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act Section 702), every public college that accepts Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill students must charge in state tuition to veterans using their GI Bill, regardless of state residency, if the veteran enrolled within 3 years of separation. State specific extensions to this rule are noted below where applicable. Alabama extends in state tuition to all Alabama-resident veterans for the GI Bill plus the state's GI Dependents' Scholarship Program for spouses and children of veterans rated 40 percent or higher.
Source: Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, EducationDependent / survivor education
The Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship Program pays tuition and fees (up to about $250 per credit hour) at state-supported colleges for the dependents of veterans rated 40% or more service-connected, or who died of a service-connected cause.
Source: Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs - GI Dependent ScholarshipHunting and fishing license
Free lifetime hunting and fishing license for qualifying resident veterans.
Source: Alabama Outdoor, Disabled Veteran LicenseState park entrance
Free admission to all Alabama State Parks for the veteran and accompanying spouse on production of a VA disability award letter.
Source: Alabama State Parks, Veteran DiscountsCamping & recreation
Alabama's Parks for Patriots program gives resident honorably discharged veterans free admission to all Alabama State Parks, and disabled veterans get reduced-price hunting and fishing licenses.
Source: Alabama State Parks - Parks for PatriotsState veterans cemetery
Alabama operates the Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery (Spanish Fort) offering no-cost interment for eligible veterans; a fee may apply for a spouse or dependent.
Source: Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs - State Veterans CemeteryEmail me the Alabama benefit checklist
A clean, printable checklist of every Alabama benefit on this page - with the eligibility threshold and official source for each - sent straight to your inbox.
State legislatures revise thresholds and dollar amounts every session. The figures above are sourced from the state agency that administers each program, but the latest year is the state's word, not ours. Before you file an application, click the source link in each section and verify the current threshold.
Writing about Alabama veteran benefits? You are welcome to reference this guide. Copy the citation below and link back so your readers can verify each program against the state source, or download the benefits table.