An estimated 39,015 veterans live in Wyoming, making up 8.7% of the state's population or the fourth-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Wyoming Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
No state income tax.
Active Duty Income Tax
No state income tax.
Wyoming Veteran Property Taxes
Veterans who served overseas during an armed conflict and received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the equivalent and have a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or military disability rating receive a $6,000 reduction in the assessed value of their home or vehicle licensing fee. Unremarried surviving spouses of qualified veterans may also receive the reduction.
Wyoming Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
Overseas combat veterans may receive a tuition waiver for not more than eight semesters on a full- or part-time basis at any Wyoming community college or the University of Wyoming.
State National Guard members may receive free tuition and fees at the University of Wyoming, the state's seven community colleges and the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy. Members may get partial payment of tuition at private colleges in Wyoming.
Military Dependent Education
The surviving spouse or dependent of a resident overseas combat veteran or Vietnam veteran who died during active service receives free tuition and fees for eight semesters at a Wyoming institution. For the purposes of this benefit, a child is considered a combat dependent only if the child was under age 22 at the time the parent or legal guardian died in overseas combat.
Wyoming Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Veterans receive a 5-point advantage over any non-veteran competitor for the same position. If the veteran has a service-connected disability of 10% or more, the advantage is 10 points.
Military Spouse Employment
Surviving spouses may also be eligible for the veteran's advantage.
Wyoming Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Wyoming's one veterans home is near Buffalo. Veterans must have an honorable discharge and be a Wyoming resident. Charges are based on ability to pay.
Homeless Veterans
No state benefits.
Adapted Housing
No state benefits.
Wyoming Veteran Financial Assistance
The Military Assistance Trust Fund provides emergency grants to service members and/or families whose financial hardship relates directly to state or federal military duty.
Wyoming Veteran Legal Assistance
No state-funded legal services.
Wyoming Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Disabled veterans: Resident veterans who are at least 50% disabled from service may receive a free fishing license. Resident veterans who are 100% disabled from service may receive a free license to fish and hunt small game and birds. Disabled veterans guided by a nonprofit may receive donated big-game licenses.
Deployed service members: Residents who are deployed to a combat zone may receive a free hunting and fishing license while home on leave.
Hospital patients: Any VA hospital within Wyoming, the Wyoming Department of Health or the Wyoming Department of Family Services may issue a free fishing license. The veteran must fish under the direct control of the institution.
Firearms safety: Any active-duty member or honorably discharged veteran is exempt from the firearms safety portion of the licensing procedure.
Parks/Camping
Wyoming resident veterans with at least a 50% disability may receive a free lifetime day-use and camping pass to Wyoming state parks, recreation areas, archaeological sites and historic sites.
Wyoming Veteran Transportation Benefits
No state-funded benefits. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the federal VA's Transportation Grant program provide transportation in Big Horn, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Lincoln, Park, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton and Weston counties.
Wyoming Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
The Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery in Evansville is open to every veteran who receives any discharge other than dishonorable.
There is no charge for any burial plot. Spouses and dependent children may also be eligible for burial.
More Information
Visit the Wyoming Veterans Commission website for more information on any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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