Pennsylvania Exclusive State Benefits
.Factoid: Pennsylvania has more than 700,000 veterans, the fourth largest veteran population in the nation, and is home to historic military sites like Valley Forge and the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The state offers one of the most generous veterans’ education programs in the country, extensive property tax exemptions, and numerous veteran specific state grants.
Key Contact:
Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
📍 Building S 0 47, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA 17003
🌐 https://www.dmva.pa.gov | 📞 (800) 547 2838
⚕️ State Veterans Homes
🟩 Six state veterans homes — Erie, Hollidaysburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, and Spring City — provide skilled nursing, dementia care, and personal care for eligible veterans and spouses.
🟩 Priority admission for Pennsylvania resident veterans with service connected disabilities.
🌐 https://www.dmva.pa.gov/veteransaffairs/Pages/StateVeteransHomes.aspx | 📞 (717) 861 8906
🚗 Driver License & ID Benefits
🟩 Free “Veteran” designation on PA driver’s licenses and ID cards for honorably discharged veterans.
🟩 Specialty plates for veterans, disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, and others (fees vary; free for certain disabled veterans).
📍 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), statewide offices
🌐 https://www.dmv.pa.gov | 📞 (717) 412 5300
🏠 Property Tax Exemption
🟩 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans may be eligible for a full property tax exemption on their primary residence.
📍 Apply through county Veterans Affairs Director
🌐 https://www.dmva.pa.gov/veteransaffairs/Pages/PropertyTax.aspx | 📞 (717) 861 8910
Read more
💵 Income Tax Benefits
🟩 Military retirement pay is exempt from PA state income tax.
🟩 VA disability compensation and survivor benefits are tax free.
🌐 https://www.revenue.pa.gov | 📞 (717) 787 8201
🎓 Education Benefits
🟩 Educational Gratuity Program provides up to $500 per semester for children of veterans who died in service or are 100% disabled.
🟩 In state tuition rates for all honorably discharged veterans and eligible dependents.
🟩 PA National Guard Education Assistance Program offers full tuition for Guard members at state schools.
📍 Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA)
🌐 https://www.pheaa.org | 📞 (800) 692 7392
💼 Employment Services
🟩 Veterans receive preference in state hiring.
🟩 PA CareerLink offices have Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives (LVERs) and Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists.
🌐 https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov | 📞 (717) 787 5279
🌳 Recreation & Licenses
🟩 Free hunting and fishing licenses for 100% disabled veterans.
🟩 Reduced fee licenses for other veterans.
🟩 Lifetime licenses available for certain categories of veterans.
📍 Pennsylvania Game Commission & PA Fish and Boat Commission
🌐 https://www.pgc.pa.gov | 📞 (717) 787 4250
🌐 https://www.fishandboat.com | 📞 (717) 705 7800
⚖️ Legal Assistance
🟩 Veterans Justice Outreach and county veteran court programs provide legal support and diversion opportunities.
🟩 PA Bar Association offers pro bono legal assistance to veterans in civil matters.
🌐 https://www.pabar.org | 📞 (800) 932 0311
⚰️ State Veterans Cemeteries
🟩 Pennsylvania operates veterans cemeteries in Annville, Indiantown Gap, and other locations, offering free burial for veterans and nominal fees for spouses/dependents.
🌐 https://www.dmva.pa.gov/veteransaffairs | 📞 (717) 861 9414
💡 Additional Pennsylvania Specific Programs
🟩 Veterans Temporary Assistance Program — financial aid for veterans in emergency situations.
🟩 Blind Veterans Pension and Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension provide monthly payments to qualifying veterans.
🌐 https://www.dmva.pa.gov/veteransaffairs | 📞 (717) 861 8910
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Disclaimer:
This is NOT an official handout from DoD, VA, DOL nor FFSC but created by Dr. Tony Astro, PhD, GCDF, CMCS, CCSP as part of his class & capstone counseling. To reach out for correction and additional information connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyastro. You can also subscribe to his Military Benefits and Transition page for an update on this at https://www.linkedin.com/company/tonyastro.
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