Pennsylvania Veterans Benefits

Information obtained from PA Department of Military and Veteran Affairs.

• Veterans Temporary Assistance
• Educational Gratuity
• Real Estate Tax Exemption
• Blind Veterans Pension
• Amputee & Paralyzed Veterans Pension
• State Veterans Homes
• Birth and death records
• Vehicle Registration for Disabled Veterans
• Veterans Employment
• Free Fishing & Hunting License for Certain Disabled Veterans

Veterans Temporary Assistance 

The VTA provides temporary financial assistance of up to $1,600 in a 12-month period to veterans or their surviving spouses who reside in Pennsylvania for the necessities of life (food, shelter, fuel and clothing). Contact us for application and assistance at 717.240.6178.

Educational Gratuity

The Educational Gratuity Program provides financial assistance to children of honorably discharged veterans who have service-connected disabilities and served during periods of war or armed conflict, or children of veterans who die or died in service during a period of war or armed conflict. Contact us for application and assistance. Contact us for application and assistance at 717.240.6178.

Real Estate Tax Exemption

 Any honorably discharged veteran who is a resident of the Commonwealth shall be exempt from the payment of all real estate taxes levied upon any building, including the land upon which it stands, occupied by the veteran as their principal dwelling, provided that as a result of wartime military service the veteran has a 100% service-connected disability rating by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; that such dwelling is owned by the veteran solely or jointly with their spouse (an estate by the entirety) and the financial need for exemption from payment of real estate taxes has been determined by the State Veterans Commission. Upon death of the qualified veteran, the exemption passes on to the unmarried surviving spouse if the need can be shown. Contact us for application and assistance at 717.240.6178.

Blind Veterans Pension

Provides for a pension of $150 per month for a person who served in the military or naval forces of the United States or a women’s organization officially connected therewith, who gave the Commonwealth as their place of residence when entering the military and while performing duties connected with the service, suffered an injury or incurred a disease which resulted in loss of vision so that the visual acuity with the best correcting lens is 3/60 or 10/200 or equivalent, or less normal vision in the better eye. Less normal vision than 3/60 or 10/200, or equivalent includes circumstances where the widest diameter of the visual field of the better eye has contracted to such an extent that it subtends an angular distance of not greater than 20 degrees. The term does not include a person separated from the military or naval forces of the United States or a women’s organization officially connected therewith under other than honorable conditions. Contact us for application and assistance at 717.240.6178.

Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension

Provides for a pension of $150 per month for any person separated under honorable conditions from the Armed Forces of the United States, who gave the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as their place of residence at time of entering the military or naval forces of the United States. Veterans qualify for the pension if they suffered an injury or disease resulting in the loss or loss of use of two or more extremities (at least a 40% disability rating compensation rating or higher in each limb as determined and certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs) during an established period of war or armed conflict or as a result of hostilities during combat-related activities in peacetime. Contact us for application and assistance at 717.240.6178.

State Veterans Homes

Pennsylvania operates seven Veterans Homes throughout the Commonwealth. Veterans must have served in the Armed Forces of the United States or Pennsylvania Military Forces, and have been released from service under honorable conditions. The veteran must be a bona fide resident of this Commonwealth upon making application. Applications are processed on a “first come, first serve” basis. For information or application contact one the following homes directly:

Birth and Death Records

Records are available free of charge to veterans. For information please contact: Division of Vital Records Mailing address: Department of Health, Bureau of Health Statistics & Registries Division, Division of Vital Records, P.O. Box 1528 New Castle, PA 16103 Tel: 724.656.3100

Vehicle Registration for Disabled Veterans

Applications for any special license plates/parking placards can be obtained by calling the Department of Transportation at 800.932.4600. Applications may also be obtained via the PA DMV Website. 

Veterans Employment

Veterans’ employment representatives are located throughout the Commonwealth at Career Link Job Centers to assist with job counseling and placement information. The Career Link Job center in Cumberland County is located at 1 Alexander Spring Rd., Carlisle, PA 17013. The Veterans Employment representative can be reached at 717.243.4431, ext. 212.

Free Fishing and Hunting Licenses for Certain Disabled Veterans

Certain disabled veterans are eligible for free fishing and hunting licenses. Applications can be made at the Cumberland County Treasurer’s Office in the County Courthouse in Carlisle, PA. Call 717.240.6380 with any questions.