Site icon CollegeRecon

Kentucky Veterans Benefits & Disabled Veterans Benefits

Kentucky Veterans Benefits

The following are the Kentucky veterans’ benefits programs in the areas of education, employment, taxes and healthcare. You can also learn about veterans’ benefits in other states.

Kentucky Veterans Benefits

Education Benefits for Kentucky Veterans

In addition to federal programs such as the GI Bill, there are veterans’ benefits programs provided by the state of Kentucky.

Kentucky Tuition Waiver

The Commonwealth of Kentucky offers a tuition waiver for qualifying spouses and dependents of disabled and deceased veterans. Under this program a qualifying student may attend any two-year, four-year, vocational, or technical school supported by the Kentucky Department of Education.

The veteran must have qualifying circumstances:

Qualifying family members include:

There are some additional considerations for this program–the veteran must be a current resident of Kentucky, and the student must attend either online or in-person classes at a qualifying school but does not have to reside in the state.

​​Kentucky National Guard Tuition Award Program

Service members in the Kentucky National Guard may qualify for a tuition award good at state-supported colleges and universities. To qualify you must be currently serving in the National Guard and meet all minimum requirements. You cannot have disciplinary actions in your file and you must have completed basic training.

This benefit pays up to the maximum in-state tuition for full or part-time study at any Kentucky public college, but this program operates only while funds are available. Surviving spouses and dependents may also qualify for this tuition program.

Find colleges in Kentucky with our School Finder.  Use the filters to sort schools by state.

Kentucky Tax Benefits For Veterans

Kentucky State Tax Relief For Military Pay

The Commonwealth of Kentucky does not charge state income tax on military pay.

Kentucky State Income Tax Relief For Military Spouses

Depending on circumstances, military spouses may be offered the same state income tax relief as the military spouse.

Kentucky State Income Tax Credits For Military Retirement Pay

Kentucky allows “all pension and retirement income” to be excluded up to $31,110.  Enter this subtraction on Schedule M of your state income tax form.

Combat Zone Tax Extensions

Kentucky residents serving in a combat zone are not required to file a state income tax return until 12 months after the deployment ends. This is offered to active duty, Guard, and Reserve members alike.

Kentucky Property Tax Exemption

Homeowners 65 years old or older, and those who are totally disabled may qualify for a property tax exemption on a primary residence. In 2020 the exclusion was worth more than $30k; check with your local tax authority to learn what the current year’s exemption is.

Kentucky Nursing Home Care For Veterans

Kentucky operates a group of long-term, skilled nursing facilities for qualifying veterans. Application requirements include not having a Dishonorable discharge, the applicant must be a resident of Kentucky prior to submitting an application, and have a medical need for nursing home care.

Veterans’ Centers are located in four different locations in Kentucky.

According to the official site for these veteran homes, there is “no application process for admission to the center”. Instead, those who need care are directed to contact an admissions coordinator, “to have your name added to the interest list”.

In spite of the center’s “no application” policy, you will be required to furnish pre-admissions documents including:

Admissions are approved by a committee.

Kentucky State Burial Benefits For Veterans

The Commonwealth of Kentucky operates five State Veterans Cemeteries in the following locations:

Burial benefits in these cemeteries include a grave or niche, opening and closing the gravesite, perpetual care, plus a marker or headstone. Veterans are buried or interred at no cost, family member burial may require a fee. You must be a Kentucky resident (see below) and in general requirements for these facilities are identical to the requirements for burial in a VA national cemetery.

To qualify:

Kentucky residency is, as mentioned above, required by birth, service, or relocation.

Employment Benefits for Kentucky Veterans

Veterans Preference Hiring For State Jobs

The Commonwealth of Kentucky offers veterans’ preference by granting “interview preference” to qualifying vets and family members who want to compete for state local government jobs.

To be awarded interview preference, applicants must meet the minimum job requirements listed for the position and provide documentation to support the job application before the job has officially closed. This preference is only for initial hires. To qualify, you must be one of the following:

For more information regarding Kentucky veterans benefits, please visit the Kentucky Department of Veterans’ Affairs 

Housing Benefits For Kentucky Veterans

The Kentucky Housing Finance Corporation (HFC) offers qualifying applicants VA loans with down payment assistance options for need-based home loans.

These loans are issued via a network of participating lenders, the Kentucky HFC directs all applicants to discuss their mortgage needs with one of these participating lenders in the state.

Related state military and veteran information:

State Veterans’ Benefits – By State

Kentucky BAH Rates

Yellow Ribbon Schools

 

 

Exit mobile version