Veteran Benefits for Wyoming

Wyoming Income Taxes: There are no individual income taxes in Wyoming. Distributions received from the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) are not taxed.

Wyoming Veterans Property Tax Exemption: Wyoming offers a property tax exemption of $3000 on the assessed value of a Veteran’s primary residence. If the exemption is not used on real property, it may be applied to a vehicle’s licensing fee.

Wyoming Veterans Property Tax Exemption? Veterans must be residents of Wyoming for three or more years prior to claiming the tax exemption. Additionally, one of the following must apply:

• Served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, the Korean War, or Vietnam War
• Served overseas during an armed conflict and received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or equivalent
• Disabled Veteran with a compensable service-connected disability rating from the VA
• Un-remarried Surviving spouse of an Eligible Veteran

Applicants should apply at their local County Assessor’s Office between January 1 and the fourth Monday of May each year. Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214 (or equivalent)

Sales Tax:

• Statewide: 4.0%
• Counties: can levy an additional sales tax of no more than 2% except on lodging, which can impose a tax of 2-4%
• Current average sales tax (with local taxes included): 5.36%

Recreation

Wyoming Game Bird, Fish, and Small Game License Free for 100% Disabled Veterans: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will issue a free lifetime bird hunting, small game hunting, and fishing license to eligible disabled Veterans. This license remains valid as long as the Veteran is a Wyoming resident.

Who is eligible for Wyoming Game Bird, Fish, and Small Game License Free for 100% Disabled Veterans? To be eligible, the Veteran must be a Wyoming resident, receive an honorable discharge, and have a 100% disability rating from the VA. The 100% disability is based on disability rating and not compensation. Veterans are required to provide official documentation as proof of their VA disability rating and receipt of an honorable discharge.

Licenses are issued in person at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Headquarters in Cheyenne or at Regional Offices located in Jackson, Pinedale, Cody, Sheridan, Green River, Laramie, Lander, or Casper.

In addition, applications can be mailed to any of the regional offices or the headquarters office. 

Wyoming Fishing License Free for 50% Disabled Veterans: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will issue a free lifetime fishing license to eligible disabled Veterans. This license remains valid as long as the Veteran is a Wyoming resident.

Who is eligible for a Wyoming Fishing License Free for 50% of Disabled Veterans? To be eligible, the Veteran must be a Wyoming resident, receive an honorable discharge, and be receiving compensation for at least a 50% service-connected disability rating from the VA. Veterans are required to provide official documentation as proof of their VA disability rating and that they received an honorable discharge.

Licenses are issued in person at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Headquarters in Cheyenne or at Regional Offices located in Jackson, Pinedale, Cody, Sheridan, Green River, Laramie, Lander, or Casper.

In addition, applications can be mailed to any of the regional offices or the headquarters office. 

Complimentary Wyoming Game and Fishing Licenses for Resident Active Duty Service Members Serving in Combat Zone: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department offers free resident general elk, general deer, game bird/small game, and daily fishing licenses to resident Service members on leave during active duty service in a combat zone.

Applicants must provide a current military ID card, military leave orders, a current Leave and Earnings Statement indicating they are receiving hostile fire compensation, and proof of residency at the time of application.

Licenses are issued in person at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Headquarters in Cheyenne or at Regional Offices located in Jackson, Pinedale, Cody, Sheridan, Green River, Laramie, Lander, or Casper.

Required documentation can also be mailed to any of the regional offices or the headquarters office. 

Complimentary Wyoming Lifetime Game Bird, Small Game, and Fishing License for Resident Purple Heart Medal Recipients: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will issue a free lifetime bird hunting, small game hunting, and fishing license to resident Veterans who are Purple Heart recipients.

Who is eligible for a Complimentary Wyoming Lifetime Game Bird, Small Game, and Fishing license for Resident Purple Heart Medal Recipients? To be eligible, veterans must be Wyoming residents who were awarded the Purple Heart Medal and received an honorable discharge.

Veterans are required to provide a copy of one of the following documents as proof of eligibility:

• DD214
• VA ID Card with Purple Heart Medal designation
• Purple Heart Medal certificate

Licenses are issued in person at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Headquarters in Cheyenne or at Regional Offices located in Jackson, Pinedale, Cody, Sheridan, Green River, Laramie, Lander, or Casper.

Required documentation can also be mailed to any of the regional offices or the headquarters office. 

Exemption from Wyoming Hunter Safety Requirement for Service Members and Veterans: Current Service members and honorably discharged Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces do not need to provide a certificate of competency and safety in the use of handling firearms when purchasing hunting licenses.

Special Limited Wyoming Fishing Permit for Hospitalized Veterans: The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will issue free fishing licenses to Veterans who are participating in fishing events organized by a VA Hospital in Wyoming, the Wyoming Department of Health, the

Wyoming Department of family Services or a resident of the Wyoming Veterans’ Home. Veterans must fish under the direct control of the institution to be eligible.

Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Nonresident Active Duty Service Members Stationed in Wyoming for Resident Prices: Nonresident active duty Service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces who have been stationed in Wyoming for 90 days or more are eligible to purchase Wyoming Game and Fish Department licenses for resident prices.

• Free Wyoming State Park Lifetime Veterans Permit for Resident Disabled Veterans: Wyoming resident Veterans who have a 50% or more service-connected disability rating from the VA are eligible for the Lifetime Veteran’s Permit that allows free day use and camping at Wyoming State Parks.

Education Programs

Wyoming Tuition Assistance for Veterans and Surviving Dependents: Wyoming will pay tuition at community colleges or the University of Wyoming for overseas combat Veterans, their Surviving spouses, and dependents. Students can receive financial assistance for eight semesters within an eight-year period.

Who is eligible for Wyoming Tuition Assistance for Veterans and Surviving Dependents? To be eligible, veterans must have been a resident of Wyoming for at least one year prior to entering into active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces. They must have received an honorable discharge and were awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or other authorized service or campaign medal indicating they served during any armed conflict in a foreign country.

The Surviving spouse or child of a Service member is eligible if the Service member died while serving on active duty. Children are eligible if they were under 22 years of age when their Service member’s parent died.

Wyoming Tuition Assistance for Surviving Dependents of a Wyoming National Guard Service Member: Wyoming will pay the matriculation fees and tuition at a university, community college, or vocational training institution in Wyoming for the children and spouse of a Wyoming National Guard Service member who dies, or is permanently and total disabled while serving on state active duty or authorized training.

For more information, students should contact the admissions office at the educational institution they plan to attend.

Wyoming National Guard (WYNG) Educational Assistance Plan: The WYNG Educational Assistance Plan pays 100% resident rate tuition and mandatory fees at state-sponsored Community Colleges and the University of Wyoming for eligible WYNG Service members. The WYNG Educational Assistance Plan will pay towards the completion of one specialized certificate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.

When Service members attend a private educational institution in Wyoming or an institution having an agreement with the Department of Defense (Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative), the plan will pay the average of the University of Wyoming and Community College full-time tuition and fees per semester period.

Who is eligible for the WYNG Educational Assistance Plan? To be eligible, Service members must meet the following requirements:

• WYNG Service member in good standing and eligible for reenlistment or continuation of service
• Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA
• Courses at multiple schools may be taken as long as they apply to the Service member’s current degree program
• Recreational courses must apply to the degree or program and may not be duplicated
• Service members have ten years to complete a program

The WYNG Educational Assistance Plan does have a service commitment. Service members must be in an active drilling status, have served or are serving on a six-year contract, and have two years of service remaining after the last day of the term the plan is used. 

Wyoming Operation Recognition, High School Diplomas for Wartime Veterans: Wartime Veterans who left high school to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces may be eligible for a high school diploma.

Who is eligible for Wyoming Operation Recognition, High School Diplomas for Wartime Veterans? To be eligible, veterans must have left school prior to graduation to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces during the following dates of active service:

• 8 December 1941, through 31 December 1946
• 27 June 1950 through 31 January 1955
• 28 February 1961, through 7 May 1975

Wyoming Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3): The purpose of this compact is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by:

• Facilitating the prompt enrollment of children of military families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of educational records from the previous school district or variations in entrance or age requirements
• Facilitating the student placement process through which children of military families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content, or assessment. Facilitating the qualification and eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, and participation in extracurricular academic, athletic, and social activities
• Facilitating the on-time graduation of children of military families
• Providing for the enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of this compact
• Providing for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among member states, schools, and military families under this compact
• Promoting coordination between this compact and other compacts affecting military children
• Promoting flexibility and cooperation between the educational system, parents, and the student in order to achieve educational success for the student

Wyoming Purple Star School Designation for Military-Friendly Schools: The Wyoming Purple Star School Designation for military-friendly schools recognizes schools that show a major commitment to students and families connected to the U.S. Armed Forces.

For a school to qualify for the Purple Star Designation, they must appoint a school liaison who is specially trained to handle the unique challenges experienced by military families. This liaison will ensure that other teachers at their school are aware of special considerations that students from military families can benefit from. Each school will also have a dedicated page on their school website featuring resources for military families. 

Housing: The following are the sites for Veterans Homes

Veterans’ Home of Wyoming (VHW): The VHW, situated in the beautiful foothills of the Bighorn Mountains, offers assisted living and skilled nursing care for Veterans and their eligible dependents. VHW offers 2-room suites for married couples and private rooms for single residents

Wyoming State Veterans Home at Port Orchard

VHW Services and Programs:

• Primary care provider
• Nursing care
• Social and recreational services
• Dietary services
• Laundry services
• Physical fitness and wellness programs
• Financial counseling
• Veterans’ benefits coordinator
• Support services
• Chaplain services

Who is eligible for care at the VHW? To be eligible for admission to the VHW, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Veteran who served in the U.S. Armed Forces and received an honorable discharge
• Wyoming resident for at least one year at the time of application or demonstrate intent to become a resident
• Unable to earn a living because of wounds, disease, old age, or other infirmities, or have no adequate means of support
• Dependent of an eligible Veteran
• Non-veterans may be admitted if less than 90% of the home’s capacity is occupied

Residents’ fees are based on their ability to pay.

Employment and Job Training: Veteran’s Preference

Paid Military Leave for Wyoming State Employees who are Reserve Component Service Members: State employees receive 15 days of paid military leave per calendar year without loss of seniority, status, efficiency rating, vacation, sick leave, or other benefits.

Who is eligible for Paid Military Leave for Wyoming State Employees who are Reserve Component Service Members? National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Service members who have been state employees for at least one year and are on orders for drill, annual training, or active duty are eligible.

Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Veterans Program: The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services’ Employment and Training Workforce Centers offer employment and training services to Veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and eligible spouses on a priority of service basis. Some of the services offered are:

• Job search assistance
• Resume writing assistance
• Skills assessments
• Labor market information
• Supportive services
• Training support

Priority of service means those eligible receive access to the service or resource before or instead of (when resources are limited) those who are not eligible for priority of service.

Who is eligible for the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Veterans Program? Veterans who served on active duty (other than for training) in the U.S. Armed Forces and received a discharge other than dishonorable.

Spouses of the following are also eligible:

• Veteran who died from a service-connected disability
• Service member who is serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and is listed for 90 days or more as missing in action, a prisoner of war, or forcibly detained
• A veteran who has a total service-connected disability rating from the VA
• Veteran who died while a disability was in existence

Wyoming Veterans Hiring Preference in State Employment: Wyoming offers a hiring preference to eligible Veterans and their Surviving spouses when they apply for state employment. Applicants must meet the requirements for the position and be able to accomplish the duties of that position.

When a numerical scoring system is used for hiring purposes, Veterans and Surviving spouses receive a 5% advantage; disabled Veterans receive a 10% advantage. When a numerical scoring system is not used, the Veteran or Surviving spouse must be given an advantage over non-veteran candidates that reasonably equals the preference given in a numerical scoring system. This preference is only available for new hires.

Who is eligible for Wyoming Veterans Hiring Preference in State Employment? To be eligible for preference, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Resident of Wyoming for one year prior to application
• A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who received an honorable discharge
• Veteran who has a 10% or more service-connected disability (10% advantage)
• Surviving spouse who was married to a Veteran at their time of death and is receiving federal survivor benefits

• Federal Employment Veteran’s Hiring Preferences:  Federal law mandates that Veterans, especially those with disabilities or those who served during specific time periods or in military campaigns, are granted preference over non-veterans when it comes to Federal civil service hiring and retention during workforce reductions. In various scoring processes for examinations and interviews, Veterans may be eligible for an additional 5 or 10 points.
• 5-point Hiring Preference: Five points are added to the examination score or rating of a Veteran who served:
  • During a war, or
  • During the period April 28, 1952, through July 1, 1955, or
  • For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976, or
  • During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992, or
  • For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on August 31, 2010, the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom, or
  • In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti, qualifies for preference

  10-point Compensable Disability (CP) Preference:  Ten points are added to the examination score or rating of a Veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30%.

  10-Point 30% Compensable Disability Preference (CPS): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of a Veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of 30% or more.

  10-Point Disability Preference (XP): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of:

  • A veteran who served at any time and has a present service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the VA but does not qualify as a CP or CPS, or
  • Veteran who received a Purple Heart

  10-Point Derived Preference (XP): Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of spouses, Surviving spouses, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a spouse (including a Surviving spouse) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran’s service if they both meet the requirements. However, neither may receive preference if the Veteran is living and is qualified for Federal employment.

  Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of the spouse of a disabled Veteran who is disqualified for a federal position along the general lines of their usual occupation because of a service-connected disability. Such a disqualification may be presumed when the Veteran is unemployed and:

  • Is rated by appropriate military or VA authorities to be 100% disabled and/or unemployable, or
  • Has retired, been separated, or resigned from a civil service position because of a disability that is service-connected in origin, or
  • Has attempted to obtain a civil service position or other position along the lines of their usual occupation and has failed to qualify because of a service-connected disability

  Preference may be allowed in other circumstances but anything less than the above warrants a more careful analysis.

  A campaign medal holder or Gulf War Veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980, (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. The 24-month service requirement does not apply to 10-point preference eligible Veterans separated for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or to Veterans separated for hardship or other reasons under Title 10 U.S.C. 1171 or 1173.

  Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): USERRA protects civilian job rights and benefits for Veterans and members of reserve components. USERRA also protects Service member rights and benefits by clarifying the law, improving enforcement mechanisms, and adding Federal Government employees to those employees already eligible to receive Department of Labor assistance in processing claims.

  Absence from Work for Military Duty: USERRA establishes the cumulative length of time that an individual may be absent from work for military duty and retain reemployment rights for five years. Exceptions to the five-year limit, include initial enlistments lasting more than five years, periodic National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve training duty, and involuntary active duty extensions and recalls, especially during a time of national emergency. USERRA establishes that reemployment protection does not depend on the timing, frequency, duration, or nature of an individual’s service if the basic eligibility criteria are met.

  Disability Accommodation: USERRA provides protection for disabled Veterans, requiring employers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate the disability. Service members recovering from injuries received during service or training may have up to two years from the date of completion of service to return to their jobs or apply for reemployment.

  Return to Work without Loss of Seniority:  USERRA provides that returning Service members are reemployed in the job that they would have attained had they not been absent for military service, with the same seniority, status, and pay, as well as other rights and benefits determined by seniority. USERRA also requires that reasonable efforts (such as training or retraining) be made to enable returning Service members to refresh or upgrade their skills to help them qualify for reemployment. USERRA also provides that while an individual is performing military service, they are deemed to be on a furlough or leave of absence and are entitled to the non-seniority rights accorded to other individuals on non-military leaves of absence.

  Extension of Health and Pension Plans: Health and pension plan coverage for Service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer-sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium. For military service of less than 31 days, health care coverage is provided as if the Service member had remained employed. USERRA clarifies pension plan coverage by making explicit that all pension plans are protected.

  Who is eligible for USERRA Benefits? Veterans, U.S. Armed Forces Reserve or National Guard Service members who leave a position for training or active military service are eligible.

  The Department of Labor, through the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), helps all who have claims under USERRA, including Federal and Postal Service employees.

Burials and Memorials

Please note that your preference regarding burial in a national cemetery and use of a headstone provided by VA should be documented and kept with your paperwork and medical records.

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) pays tribute to eligible Veterans and their family members by providing a final resting place and a lasting memorial to commemorate the Veteran’s dedicated service to the nation.

The burial benefits encompass a gravesite in any of our open cemeteries with available space, the opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, all at no cost to the family. Some Veterans may also meet the criteria for a burial allowance. Cremated remains are interred or inurned in national cemeteries with the same honors and respect as casketed remains.

Burial benefits extend to eligible spouses and dependents, including burial alongside the Veteran and perpetual care of the interment site. The name and relevant dates of birth and death of the spouse or dependent are inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone at no expense to the family. Importantly, spouses and qualified dependents are eligible for burial even if they pass away before the Veteran and are not required to be interred in the same national cemetery as the Veteran.

National Cemeteries include:

Grafton: Grafton National Cemetery

Grafton: West Virginia National Cemetery

Wyoming VA Benefit Resources

Wyoming provides Veterans with a Regional Benefits Office and VA Medical Centers.

Wyoming VA Regional Benefits Office

• Cheyenne: Cheyenne VA Medical / Regional Office Center

Wyoming VA Medical Centers

• Cheyenne: Cheyenne VA Medical
• Sheridan: Sheridan VA Medical Center

Important information for Wyoming Veteran Benefits:

For Veterans applying for VA benefits for the first time, you must submit a copy of your DD 214 (discharge paperwork). This will provide your discharge status, full name, social security number, branch of service, and dates for which you served. Honorable and general discharges qualify a Veteran for most VA benefits.

You should always keep your paperwork and medical records in a safe place where you and your family can access them. It is imperative to have it in a location where it cannot be destroyed or tampered with, which includes a safe.

Your eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under conditions other than dishonorable. Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration, or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Any Veteran discharged from the military under the conditions of “Dishonorable” due to bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees may be eligible for certain VA benefits. VA regional offices can clarify the eligibility of prisoners, parolees, and individuals with multiple discharges issued under differing conditions.

*This information is accurate as of November 2023

Wyoming Veteran Benefits

If you are a disabled Veteran in Wyoming and are VA rated 90% or less, you may be eligible for additional benefits. Contact Veterans Guardian for a free consultation with no obligation. Let us review your claim to determine if you are eligible for an increase in VA compensation and whether you qualify for additional benefits.