Washington State Veterans Benefits Guide (2026): Housing, Taxes, Education, and More
CCK Law: Our Vital Role in Veterans Law
According to the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), Washington State has a veteran population of almost 500,000. To help meet the needs of these veterans, Washington’s Department of Veterans Affairs offers significant benefits covering areas like education, housing, employment, and more.
If you are a veteran looking to better grasp the Washington state-administered benefits available to you, this article will inform you of some of the most prominent examples, as well as where you can go to learn more about them.
Key points of this article include:
- Washington State provides substantial housing benefits to disabled veterans, including a property tax exemption, as well as a sales tax exemption for adapted housing construction.
- Various forms of assistance are available for veterans in Washington State who are facing homelessness or other financial issues. These include state-run programs like the Veterans Innovation Program (VIP), as well as individual county funds used to provide aid to veterans in need.
- Many resident veterans and dependents living in Washington State may be able to take advantage of tuition waivers that make it possible to attend state colleges and universities at little or no cost.
What Housing Benefits Does Washington State Offer Its Veterans?
Washington State offers several prominent housing benefits to resident veterans of the state, including veterans’ homes, property tax exemptions, and programs designed to help provide housing for homeless or at-risk veterans.
Washington Veterans’ Homes
Washington offers four veterans’ homes in the state that are equipped to provide elderly or sick veterans with nursing care, various forms of therapy, and engaging activities to partake in with others in their community.
These homes are located in:
Veterans looking to live in one of these homes can request application forms from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA).
Property and Housing Tax Exemptions and Grants for Washington State Veterans
Washington also provides exemptions and grants for property and sales taxes for veterans who own or are planning to buy a home. These exemptions and grants include:
- Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption – This exemption provides a reduction in property taxes for eligible veterans rated as 80 percent disabled or higher by VA, as well as those rated totally disabled without regard to percentage. The tax reduction will be commensurate with the veteran’s income, the property’s value, and the local levy rates.
- Property Tax Assistance Program for Surviving Spouses of Veterans – This program offers the surviving spouses of qualifying veterans an annual grant to assist in the payment of property taxes. The amount the surviving spouse receives depends on the applicant’s income, the home’s value, and local levy taxes.
- Sales Tax Exemption / Adapted Housing for Disabled Veterans – For disabled veterans who received an adaptive housing grant from VA, it is possible to earn a $2,500 refund on state sales taxes paid for the cost of construction.
Washington State Housing Assistance Programs
The state of Washington also provides several housing assistance programs to aid homeless or at-risk veterans. These include:
- Veterans Transitional Housing Program – This program provides homeless veterans with safe, stable facilities that they can stay in while they work towards finding a more permanent home. These facilities also offer job training services, career counseling, and help finding work.
- Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) – Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, the HVRP is a program that partners with Washington State to provide aid to veterans facing homelessness. This aid often takes the form of career training and assistance to help veterans overcome barriers to employment.
- Veterans Housing Retention Program – This program is designed for recently-homeless veterans whose newfound housing may be at risk due to financial insecurity or other causes. The program provides veterans with a case manager to help them stabilize their living situation and otherwise provide them with needed assistance.
In addition to those noted above, the WDVA offers several smaller or more niche housing assistance programs which can be found on their website.
Veterans Downpayment Assistance Loan Program
Run through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, the Veterans Downpayment Assistance Loan Program is a home loan program intended to make it easier for qualified veterans to purchase their first home.
This program offers downpayment assistance in the form of a second mortgage with a 3 percent interest rate and 10-year loan term. Households that qualify may earn a maximum loan of $10,000 to buy their home.
To be eligible for this loan program, an applicant must:
- Be a first-time home buyer.
- Attend a free Homebuyer Education Class sponsored by the Commission.
- Have household income below the required threshold.
- Be a veteran who has received an honorable discharge or discharge for medical reasons with an honorable record, OR
- Be a member or honorably discharged former member of the Washington National Guard or Reserve, OR
- Be an unremarried spouse or dependent child of a deceased veteran.
Additionally, to make use of this program, homeowners must also qualify for the Home Advantage Program, a separate Commission-run loan program that will combine with their veteran downpayment assistance.
What Financial Benefits Are Available to Washington State Veterans?
Washington State offers several financial benefits to resident veterans, including emergency relief funds and free access to certain forms of mental health care.
Veterans Innovations Program (VIP)
The Veterans Innovations Program (VIP) is a state-run assistance program designed to provide financial relief and employment training to veterans who served on or after 9/11.
To qualify for the program, veterans must be Washington residents who were discharged under suitable conditions and who apply for the program through the proper channels. Note that WDVA may also change eligibility requirements depending on available funding, among other criteria.
Some of the benefits offered by this program include:
- Financial aid for emergencies or crises a veteran may be facing
- Education and training to help a veteran find suitable career paths
- Employment assistance to ready a veteran to enter the civilian workforce
To apply for the VIP, veterans need to fill out the application form and submit it to the following email address: [email protected].
WDVA Counseling and Wellness Program
WDVA also offers a Counseling and Wellness Program, which provides free, confidential counseling services for active service members, veterans, and military families in Washington State.
Neither military discharge status nor VA disability status affect eligibility for the program. However, there are some qualifications veterans must meet, including:
- Be a veteran, member of the Washington State National Guard, or Military Reservist or their family member.
- Demonstrate that their mental health was impacted by their military service.
- Be able to provide their counselor with a copy of their DD Form 214 or NG Form 22. In situations of domestic violence, the counselor may work with the veteran to circumvent this requirement.
Importantly, priority for counseling services is usually given to those who are particularly vulnerable or with no other reasonable options for care.
County Veterans Assistance Fund
In addition to the state-run assistance programs mentioned above, individual Washington counties also often provide financial aid to veterans in need. These funds can typically be used to pay for essentials like:
- Rent
- Heating or other utilities
- Food assistance
- Medical and prescription costs
- And more
The WDVA provides a list on their website of the counties that provide these assistance funds for veterans.
What Washington State Veterans Benefits Are Available for Education?
The state of Washington provides several educational benefits to veterans and their dependents, including tuition waivers and programs designed to make it easier for military children to settle into new school districts.
Washington State Tuition Waivers and Scholarships
Washington offers several tuition waivers and grants for veterans and their dependents. These include:
- Tuition Waiver for Veterans – Per Washington law, many participating colleges and universities in the state are authorized to waive “all or a portion of tuition and fees” for eligible veterans, so that they have the chance to earn a higher education.
- Tuition Waiver for Dependents of Deceased or Disabled Veterans – Washington law also requires state colleges and universities to waive undergraduate part or full-time tuition and fees for the eligible dependents of veterans who are 100 percent disabled or died as a result of their military service.
- WA National Guard Post-Secondary Education Grant (NGG) – The National Guard Grant (NGG) helps pay for members of the WA National Guard to attend college or participate in certificate study programs. To qualify, service members must agree to serve one year in the National Guard for each year of financial aid they accept.
Operation Recognition – High School Diplomas for Veterans
Operation Recognition is a program run by the WDVA that provides high school diplomas to eligible veterans of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Intended for veterans who left high school to enlist in the military, this program aims to recognize these veterans for their service, as well as acknowledge the skills training they received in the military.
To be eligible for Operation Recognition, a veteran must have:
- Received an honorable discharge for their service,
- Been scheduled to graduate from high school, and
- Left high school before graduation to serve in the war.
Notably, veterans who have earned a GED will still qualify to receive a high school diploma, so long as they meet the eligibility requirements.
Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3)
Washington is a member of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3), an agreement designed to reduce educational disruptions for children from military families who relocate across state lines. The compact establishes consistent standards to help students transition more smoothly between school systems.
Through MIC3, military-connected students may benefit from:
- Streamlined transfer of academic records between schools.
- Support with appropriate course placement and flexibility around certain graduation requirements to help students stay on track.
- Coordination with school districts to allow participation in extracurricular and athletic activities despite a recent move.
WA Purple Star Award
The Washington Purple Star Award is a designation intended to recognize school districts that make concerted efforts to accommodate children of military families as they transition to their new school.
To earn this award, a school district must appoint a full-time liaison whose duty it is to handle the administrative considerations necessary to better serve children of military families moving into the school district. The district must also create a page on its website dedicated to providing resources for military families.
When a school district earns the Purple Star Award, it indicates to veterans and service members that the district will be especially supportive of any challenges faced by their children.
What Washington State Veterans Benefits Are Available for Employment?
Washington State offers several forms of employment assistance to veterans, including hiring preferences for state jobs as well as dedicated career counseling services.
WA State Veterans’ Hiring Preference
Washington provides hiring preferences for eligible veterans and their spouses in the form of additional points being added to an applicant’s examination score for positions they are pursuing in the state government.
These additional points will only be added to a passing exam score, and only for exams used for initial employment. Depending on a veteran’s or spouse’s qualifications, they could earn any of the following preferences:
- A ten percent addition to their passing score (for veterans who served during wartime, or when an expeditionary or campaign medal was authorized and who are not eligible for military retired pay).
- A 5 percent addition to their passing score (for veterans who are receiving military retired pay).
- A 5 percent addition to their passing score (for veterans who did not serve during wartime).
Additionally, 5 percent will be added to the promotional exam score for a reserve service member called to active duty while in public employment (so long as it is their first promotion).
WorkSource Career Counseling
WorkSource is a partnership of government and nonprofit agencies in Washington State that provides employment assistance services to the public. WorkSource also offers special priority services to resident Washington veterans, including:
- Priority referrals on jobs listed with WorkSource.
- Access to job listings and hiring events.
- Career counseling on resumes, job applications, and interviews.
- Access to technology like computers and photocopiers.
- And more.
WorkSource has various employment centers located around the state of Washington. Most of these centers even have veteran employment specialists who dedicate themselves to assisting veterans with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
Professional Licensing Benefits for Veterans and Spouses
Washington also provides professional licensing benefits for eligible veterans and spouses. These include:
- Expedited licensing for spouses and domestic partners – Spouses and domestic partners of service members transferring to a station in Washington State may qualify for faster licensing for certain health professions. This benefit is meant to make it easier for the spouses or partners of veterans to continue their ongoing healthcare career even as they move between states.
- Military training applying to licensing requirements – Washington also allows certain forms of military training to count toward the requirements necessary for professional licensing in specific fields. This benefit is intended to make it easier for veterans to rejoin the civilian workforce after being discharged from service.
WA State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Programs
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries also provides a database of apprenticeship programs active in the state, several of which offer direct entry into their programs for veterans.
These apprenticeships allow veterans to learn the skills necessary to enter specific career fields, including trades like plumbing, as well as less-traditional areas like healthcare or software and technology. Typically, apprenticeships pay veterans while providing on-the-job training combined with classroom instruction under the supervision of a journey-level professional.
For veterans unsure whether an apprenticeship is the right choice for them, they can also partake in Apprenticeship Preparation Programs to develop basic skills and determine which career field would suit them best.
What Washington State Veterans Benefits Are Available for Recreation?
Washington offers several recreational benefits to resident veterans or service members living in the state, including lifetime passes for state parks and discounts on hunting and fishing licenses.
Hunting and Fishing Benefits for Veterans
Veterans and service members in Washington may qualify for free or discounted hunting and fishing licenses. Some of these benefits include:
- License discount for nonresident service members – Nonresident active-duty service members stationed in Washington may qualify for resident pricing when it comes to purchasing hunting and fishing licenses in the state.
- License discount for disabled veterans – Both veterans rated as 30 percent disabled or higher by VA and veterans 65 or older with a VA-rated disability may be eligible for half-price hunting and fishing licenses in Washington. Notably, resident status does not affect eligibility for this discount.
- Free licenses for service members of the WA National Guard – Active service members in the WA National Guard or State Guard can qualify for a free annual hunting license package. This package includes a big-game license and a small-game license with a migratory bird permit.
Washington Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass
Resident veterans of Washington who have received a disability rating of 30 percent or more from VA may be eligible for a free Lifetime Disabled Veteran Pass from the state. Some of the benefits offered by this pass include:
- Free day-use parking at Washington state parks
- Free camping at WA state parks
- Free moorage, boat launch, and trailer dump at WA state parks
- And more
Note: As of October 2025, veteran recipients of this pass will have to start paying fees to reserve campsites at Washington state parks. While this fee applies when making or changing a campground reservation, the camping itself will still be free.
What Washington State Veterans Benefits Are Available for Burial?
Washington State offers burial benefits primarily in the form of interment within the state-run veterans cemetery at Medical Lake.
Washington State Veterans Cemetery – Medical Lake
Washington’s only state veterans cemetery is located at Medical Lake, about three miles west of Fairchild Air Force Base. Burial and cremation at this cemetery are available to all veterans who meet a minimum active service requirement and who were discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.
Some of the services provided by this cemetery include:
- Interment for veterans, as well as their spouses, minor children, and, under certain conditions, adult children with disabilities.
- Full military honors performed by local VSO Honor Guards (available upon request).
- The use of a no-cost burial flag to drape the veteran’s casket or accompany their urn.
Interment costs for veterans at this cemetery are often paid for by the federal VA as a VA Plot Allowance, though families may occasionally have to pay the costs themselves and then file for reimbursement with the federal government.
Importantly, as of October 2025, this cemetery started charging a $311 fee for the interment or memorialization of a veteran’s family members. This fee is liable to increase to keep up with the consumer price index.
Tahoma National Cemetery
Tahoma National Cemetery is the only federally run veterans cemetery in Washington. Similar to the cemetery at Medical Lake, the Tahoma Cemetery provides interment services for eligible veterans and their spouses, minor dependent children, and sometimes disabled adult children.
Tahoma National Cemetery also has access to a VSO Honor Guard Association, who provide burial honors to qualifying veterans who are interred on cemetery grounds.
Need Help Earning Disability Compensation? Call CCK Law
If VA denied or underrated your disability claim, the attorneys at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick may be able to help. Call CCK Law today at 800-544-9144 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do veterans pay property taxes in Washington State?
Yes, veterans do pay property taxes in Washington State. However, there are also significant property tax exemptions for veterans and their families, including:
- Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption – Eligible disabled veterans residing in Washington State may qualify for a property tax exemption on their primary residence. The amount this exemption waives depends on the veteran’s income, among other factors.
- Sales Tax Exemption for Adapted Housing – Disabled Washington veterans receiving an adaptive housing grant from VA may also earn a $2,500 refund on any sales tax originating from the cost of construction.
- Property Tax Assistance Program for Surviving Spouses – While not technically a property tax exemption, the surviving spouses of eligible veterans may qualify for an annual grant from Washington State to help them pay the property tax on their primary residence.
What does Washington State offer disabled veterans?
Washington State offers several substantial benefits to disabled veterans, including:
- Property tax exemptions for veterans rated at 80 percent disabled or more.
- Sales tax exemptions on construction work required to adapt a house to accommodate a veteran’s disability (so long as the veteran was given an adaptive housing grant by VA).
- Tuition waivers for the dependents of eligible disabled veterans to attend higher education or certification programs.
- Career counseling and other employment assistance through WorkSource, which provides access to specialists dedicated to helping disabled veterans find employment.
- Hunting and fishing license discounts for veterans rated at 30 percent disabled or higher by VA.
- Lifetime Disabled Veterans Passes to grant qualifying veterans free or discounted access to state parks, among other privileges.
- And more.
Does Washington State offer benefits to veterans who are not disabled?
Yes, Washington State offers several prominent benefits to veterans who are not disabled, including:
- Various housing assistance programs for veterans facing homelessness or financial instability.
- Employment training and assistance through programs like the Veterans Innovations Program (VIP) and WorkSource.
- Free counseling sessions with mental health specialists through the WDVA’s Counseling and Wellness Program.
- Tuition waivers for veterans to attend select Washington colleges and universities.
- Hiring preferences for veterans seeking employment within the state government or civil services.
- And more.
