KEY TAKEAWAYS
- West Virginia fully exempts military retirement pay from state income tax — including retired pay, SBP payments, and VA disability compensation.
- Veterans with a 100% permanent and total (P&T) disability rating are exempt from property taxes on the first $20,000 of assessed value of their owner-occupied primary residence.
- West Virginia residents awarded the Medal of Honor or Purple Heart receive free tuition and mandatory fees at all state public colleges for up to eight semesters.
- The West Virginia Educational Encouragement Program (WVEEP) provides up to 100% tuition assistance for National Guard members at participating WV institutions.
- Veterans receive 5 preference points in state civil service hiring; those with a service-connected disability or Purple Heart receive an additional 5 points (10 total).
- Income Tax Benefits
- Property Tax Exemption
- Education Benefits
- Employment Preference
- Recreation and Quality of Life
- Burial Benefits
- VA Facilities in West Virginia
- West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance
- Frequently Asked Questions
West Virginia is a deeply military-connected state — it consistently ranks among the highest in veterans per capita relative to population. The state’s benefit package reflects that tradition: full military retirement pay exemption, meaningful education programs for both veterans and National Guard members, a tiered civil service preference system, and burial services in two state veterans cemeteries. This guide covers West Virginia’s complete state-level veteran benefits for 2026.
Income Tax Benefits
West Virginia provides important income tax exemptions for military personnel and veterans:
- Military retirement pay: Fully exempt from West Virginia state income tax
- SBP (Survivor Benefit Plan) payments: Exempt from state income tax
- VA disability compensation: Tax-free at both federal and state levels
- Active duty pay — stationed out of state: West Virginia resident service members who are on active duty for 30 or more continuous days and are not in West Virginia during that period are not subject to state income tax on that military pay
- National Guard/Reserve pay: Pay received while serving in the West Virginia National Guard or U.S. Military Reserve is exempt from state income tax
Property Tax Exemption
West Virginia provides property tax relief for veterans with qualifying permanent and total disability:
- Who qualifies: Veterans with a 100% permanent and total (P&T) service-connected disability rating
- What it covers: Exemption from property taxes on the first $20,000 of assessed value of an owner-occupied primary residence
- Apply through: Your county assessor’s office; provide your VA disability rating documentation
- Surviving spouse: Contact your county assessor regarding surviving spouse eligibility under current West Virginia law
Education Benefits
West Virginia offers several state-funded education programs for veterans, National Guard members, and their families:
Medal of Honor and Purple Heart Tuition Waiver
All West Virginia state-supported colleges and universities waive tuition and mandatory fees for WV residents who have received the Medal of Honor or the Purple Heart, for up to eight semesters. To qualify, Purple Heart recipients must also have lost a limb or have a permanent disability from the wounds received. The waiver applies after all other state and federal education benefits, grants, or scholarships are applied. Contact the admissions office at the target institution to apply.
West Virginia Educational Encouragement Program (WVEEP)
WVEEP provides up to 100% tuition assistance (up to $9,000 per fiscal year) for West Virginia National Guard service members attending participating WV institutions of higher education. Benefits may be used in addition to federal tuition assistance. Members must be enrolled in an accredited WV post-secondary institution, in good standing, and not under adverse action when applying. Contact the WV National Guard Education Services Office for current funding availability.
War Orphan Education Program
Surviving spouses and children (ages 16–25) of deceased wartime veterans will not be charged tuition or fees at any West Virginia post-secondary institution. Additional assistance of up to $1,000 per semester ($2,000 per year) may be available for room, board, books, and living expenses, subject to funding. Apply through the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance.
Veterans Re-Education Assistance
Honorably discharged veterans may qualify for up to $500 per semester toward tuition, professional license/certification tests, or training materials through the WV Veterans Re-Education Assistance program, subject to funding availability.
In-State Tuition — GI Bill Users
Veterans using GI Bill benefits at West Virginia public colleges receive in-state tuition rates regardless of residency, provided they enroll within three years of discharge (federal Choice Act). All WV public institutions also participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program to supplement GI Bill coverage for graduate or higher-cost programs.
Employment Preference
West Virginia provides a tiered veterans’ preference system in state civil service competitive examinations:
- 5 preference points: All wartime veterans with an honorable discharge
- 10 preference points (total): Veterans with a service-connected disability rating or Purple Heart recipients receive an additional 5 points for a combined total of 10
West Virginia also offers a military incentive program encouraging private sector employers to extend hiring preference to veterans and Guard/Reserve members, with tax credits available to qualifying businesses that employ economically disadvantaged veterans.
Recreation and Quality of Life
- State parks discount: Veterans and active duty members receive a 10% discount on standard lodge rooms, cabins, and campsites at West Virginia State Parks — no residency requirement
- Hunting and fishing licenses: Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating, or those in receipt of the VA automobile grant, do not need hunting and fishing licenses. West Virginia residents on active duty and home on leave are also exempt
- State park pass: Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability qualify for a free lifetime pass to all West Virginia State Parks
- Veterans license plates: Available to WV veterans through the Division of Motor Vehicles
Burial Benefits
West Virginia maintains two state veterans burial facilities:
- West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton — a national cemetery providing burial for eligible veterans and spouses including grave site, headstone or marker, and military honors
- Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in Dunbar — state-operated facility for eligible veterans and qualifying dependents
Contact the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance or the cemetery directly to establish eligibility in advance. Federal headstones and markers are available at no cost for eligible veterans buried in private cemeteries.
VA Facilities in West Virginia
West Virginia veterans are served by VA Medical Centers in Beckley, Clarksburg, Huntington, and Martinsburg — an unusually strong concentration of VA hospital facilities for a state of its size. Community Based Outpatient Clinics serve additional communities across the state, including Charleston, Parkersburg, and Wheeling.
Find the nearest VA facility using the VA facility locator.
West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance
The West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance (WVDVA) provides claims assistance, benefit counseling, education benefit support, and connection to VA services. Benefits offices are located across the state. Contact WVDVA at WVDVA@wv.gov or through the department’s regional offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Military retirement pay is fully exempt from West Virginia state income tax. SBP payments and VA disability compensation are also excluded from taxable state income. Active duty pay while deployed out of state (for 30+ consecutive days) is also exempt.
West Virginia residents who have been awarded the Medal of Honor or the Purple Heart and received an honorable discharge. Purple Heart recipients must also have lost a limb or have a permanent disability from the wound received. The waiver covers up to eight semesters of tuition and mandatory fees at all WV state-supported institutions, applied after all other education benefits are exhausted.
All wartime veterans with an honorable discharge receive 5 preference points added to their score on competitive state employment exams. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating or Purple Heart recipients receive an additional 5 points, for a total of 10. These preferences apply to state civil service employment; private sector preferences are incentivized through the state’s employer tax credit program.
This article is provided by USMilitary.org, an independent educational resource. We are not affiliated with the Department of Defense, VA, or any government agency. Benefits and eligibility rules may change — verify current information with the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance or your local VSO.