An estimated 236,525 veterans live in Oklahoma, making up 7.7% of the state's population or the eighth-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Oklahoma Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax free.
Active Duty Income Tax
Active-duty pay is tax free.
Oklahoma Veteran Property Taxes
Veterans who are 100% disabled and who own and occupy property as their place of residence may receive a total property tax exemption.
Oklahoma Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
State Guard members may receive a waiver of resident tuition, mandatory fees and academic service fees for up to 18 credit hours per semester, for a total of up to 120 hours toward a bachelor's degree or 40 hours toward a master's degree.
Military Dependent Education
The Heroes Promise Scholarship pays for tuition for the children of Oklahoma military personnel KIA after Jan. 1, 2000.
Oklahoma Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Veterans receive 5 points added to their state employment test. Disabled war veterans receive 10 points, and disabled war veterans with at least a 30% disability automatically go to the top of the selection list.
Military Spouse Employment
Certain unremarried surviving spouses of veterans may receive 5 points added to their state employment test.
Oklahoma Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Oklahoma's seven veterans homes are in Ardmore, Claremore, Clinton, Lawton, Norman, Sulphur and Sallisaw. The homes are for veterans in need of nursing care who are eligible for the federal Department of Veterans Affairs' per diem payments. Certain wartime veterans receive priority on waiting lists. A spouse may be eligible for admission if no veteran claims the spot.
Homeless Veterans
No state benefits.
Adapted Housing
No state benefits.
Oklahoma Veteran Financial Assistance
Veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the federal VA are exempt from state sales tax. Veterans must register in the Oklahoma Veterans Registry to receive the benefit.
Oklahoma Veteran Legal Assistance
The state bar association's Oklahoma Lawyers for America's Heroes Program provides free legal assistance to veterans and active-duty personnel. Recipients must be an E-6 or lower if on active duty, and they must make no more than 100% of the rate of compensation for 100% disabled veterans, or about $42,000 a year, in household income.
Oklahoma Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Resident veterans with a disability rating from the federal VA of at least 60% may receive discounted lifetime hunting and fishing licenses.
The donor-funded Stars and Stripes License Project provides licenses for veterans and certain survivors.
Active-duty military personnel and their dependents may buy hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Parks/Camping
Honorably discharged Oklahoma resident veterans receive free admission to all state-owned or operated parks and museums.
Oklahoma Veteran Transportation Benefits
No state-funded transportation benefit. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) offers van rides to VA medical centers in many states and may be available in the states without a state-funded transportation benefit.
Oklahoma Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
Oklahoma's state veterans cemetery is in Ardmore. Honorably discharged veterans, certain members of the reserve, Guard and Philippines armed forces, Merchant Marines from World War II, and some dependents qualify.
More Information
Visit the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information on any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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