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Arizona Veterans Benefits & Disabled Veterans Benefits

Arizona Veterans’ Benefits

The Arizona veterans’ benefits programs for education, housing, healthcare, and employment are the following. You can also learn about veterans’ benefits in other states.

Education Benefits for Arizona Veterans

In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, the state of Arizona provides veterans’ education benefits.

Arizona Tuition Waiver

The State of Arizona offers education benefits to qualifying wounded Arizona veterans and the dependents of qualifying service members who died in the line of duty. This help comes in the form of tuition-free education through the State of Arizona Tuition Waiver Scholarships program.

The waiver is only for “tuition expenses for on-campus and/or online undergraduate programs” and does not include books, parking, course fees, or housing. This program is offered in various tiers, each with a specific set of qualifications.

Tier 1: Veterans

• You must have received a Purple Heart Citation; AND
• You were a resident of the State of Arizona or were stationed in Arizona at the time of the injury that resulted in the Purple Heart Citation; AND
• You have a VA disability rating of 50% or higher.

Tier 2: Surviving Spouses and Dependents

• The State of Arizona defines a surviving dependent as someone “who is an unremarried spouse and/or child up to age 30”. You qualify if:
• Your sponsor was in the Arizona National Guard or on active duty AND
• Your sponsor was a resident of the state of Arizona or stationed in Arizona AND
• Your sponsor was killed in the line of duty OR
• Your sponsor died from injuries suffered in the line of duty while traveling to or from duty.

Learn about veterans’ benefits in other states.

Tier 3: Arizona ANG Members

You must be a current member of the Arizona National Guard, and you received a Purple Heart on or after September 11, 2001.

Eligibility Tier 4 Applicant

You must be a former member of the Arizona National Guard who:

• Was medically discharged from the Arizona National Guard due to an injury or disability suffered on duty in qualifying circumstances, such as in weekend training status, drill, etc.

Arizona National Guard State Tuition Reimbursement Program (STR)

STR is offered to eligible members of the Arizona National Guard. It’s a tuition reimbursement program that funds up to $250 per semester hour with a fiscal year cap.

Arizona National Guard members may qualify for STR if they have:

• Completed at least one semester.
• Are a drilling member of the Arizona National Guard “through the entire time reimbursement is requested.”
• Finished Initial Active Duty for Training /Technical Training or Student Flight Training.
• Must have a minimum 90% attendance record for training.

For information on applying for STR, contact the Arizona National Guard Education Services Office.

Health Care Benefits for Arizona Veterans

Arizona State Veteran Homes

Arizona State Veteran Homes are operated by the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services. There are locations in Flagstaff, Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma.

Each Arizona State Veteran Home is a Medicare-certified skilled nursing care facility. Admission criteria and services provided by each home may vary. Admission requires honorable discharge and a physician-determined need for skilled nursing care. Spouses of eligible veterans may also be admitted.

All potential residents must show proof that they are free from tuberculosis. Nursing, therapeutic recreation, rehabilitative therapy, and social services are available to residents. Contact the Arizona Department of Veterans Services for more information on eligibility and registration procedures.

Tax Benefits for Arizona Veterans

Arizona Income Tax for Military Pay

The State of Arizona does not tax military pay for members of the Guard, Reserve, or on active duty.

Arizona Income Tax on Military Retirement Pay

The State of Arizona does not charge income tax on military retirement pay.

Nonresident Military Spouses and Arizona Income Tax

Non-resident military spouses may be exempt from paying Arizona state income taxes if the following conditions apply:

• The service member serves in Arizona on military orders.
• The spouse is in Arizona “only to be with the active duty Service member”
• The spouse has the same state of residence as the Service member

Property Taxes

Veterans with a service-connected disability are eligible for a property tax exemption pro-rated to their VA disability percentage. Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating receive a full exemption on their primary residence. For veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, the assessed property value cap has been eliminated. The household income limitation still applies to all individual exemptions.

For widows, widowers, and persons with total and permanent disabilities (non-veteran), the assessed property value cap remains in effect.

Veterans with a disability who were already granted an exemption before January 1, 2026, do not need to reapply. New applicants must apply with their County Assessor between the first Monday in January and March 1.

Such exemptions are not automatic and must be applied for; you may need to consult a tax professional to learn what tax rules apply in the current tax filing year; tax laws are always subject to change. Contact your nearest tax assessor’s office to learn more.

Learn about veterans’ benefits in other states.

Employment Benefits for Arizona Veterans

Civil Service Preference Points

Qualifying veterans with Honorable discharges may be eligible for 5 to 10 Civil Service preference points on job exams for State, city, or county positions. Qualifying spouses and surviving spouses may also be eligible for preference points.

You will need to claim these preference points–they are not automatic, and proof of service or other identification may be required. In the State of Arizona, preference points are typically added if the applicant passes the exam.

Professional and Occupational Licenses

Arizona state law may allow the transfer of certain professional licenses for military spouses who have relocated to Arizona because of the spouse’s military duty.

The spouse must have held the license in another state for a year or more and not have disciplinary actions taken against them in a professional context; the applicant must pay any applicable fee and does not have a “disqualifying criminal history.”

Contact the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration for more information on the most current state law in this area.

Veterans Tool Kit Program

The Veterans Tool Kit program was developed after a survey of veterans revealed that many were ready to re-enter the civilian workforce but lacked certain tools and supplies. The program is offered in partnership with ARIZONA@WORK and the Arizona Housing Coalition, and provides funding to help veterans cover expenses associated with beginning employment, including work clothes, tools, protective equipment, transportation, and essential electronic devices.

To qualify, veterans must live in Arizona and identify the job for which they need supplies. They must also enroll in an Arizona Job Connection with ARIZONA@WORK. Applications cannot be submitted more than five days after the veteran starts the job. This program has limited funding, and the program pauses when that year’s funding is exhausted.

The Arizona Military Family Relief Fund

The Arizona Military Family Relief Fund was established by law in 2007 and provides financial assistance to the families of currently deployed service members as well as “Post-9/11 Military and Veteran families,” according to the State of Arizona.

This fund helps veterans and their families who need assistance with rent/mortgage, utility bills, and car payments. The exact nature and duration of the assistance offered through this fund depend on the decisions of an advisory committee responsible for administering the funds.

Arizona 100% Disabled Veteran License Tax and Registration Fee Exemption

Arizona state law offers disabled veterans an exemption from state license and registration fees for one vehicle. This can be a vehicle the veteran owns outright or co-owns with another person. Surviving spouses may also qualify for this exemption as long as they do not remarry.

For more information regarding Arizona veteran benefits, please visit this link.

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• National Guard Pay and Reserve Pay