Indiana Veteran Benefits

Indiana offers 14 state-level veteran benefits in 2026, spanning 4 tax programs, 2 education programs, 0 housing programs, 1 healthcare program, 2 recreation programs, and 1 employment program. 10 are available to any honorably discharged veteran regardless of rating; 0 are reserved for veterans rated 100% disabled by the VA. These stack with federal VA benefits.

Veterans rated 50% or higher qualify for 14 Indiana state benefits — every benefit available to any veteran (10) plus benefits gated at 10-49% (3) plus 1 additional benefit gated at the 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, or 90% threshold. These typically include partial property tax credits, hunting/fishing license discounts, and tuition assistance. A 100% rating unlocks 0 additional benefits on top.

Yes. Indiana offers 4 tax-related benefits for veterans. The headline program is Military Retirement Pay State Income Tax Exemption: 100% of military retirement pay is excluded from Indiana adjusted gross income. Estimated value: ~$885/year on $30,000 retirement pay. Whether Indiana also exempts military retirement pay and VA disability compensation from state income tax varies by program — see the Tax Benefits section above for the full list.

Indiana offers 2 state education benefits: Tuition and Fee Exemption for Purple Heart Recipients; Tuition and Fee Exemption for Children of Disabled Veterans. Some are tuition waivers at state public universities; others are scholarships for surviving spouses and children of veterans who died in service or were rated permanently and totally disabled. These supplement (and in many cases stack with) the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Indiana's veteran license plate / registration benefit: Disabled Hoosier Veteran License Plate and Parking. Free license plate and permanent parking placard with free metered parking statewide for mobility-limited disabled veterans. Apply through your local DMV / county tax assessor with your VA disability rating letter and DD-214.

Yes — Indiana offers 2 recreation-related veteran benefits, including: Disabled Veteran State Park Pass; Disabled Veteran Hunting and Fishing License. Most state park, hunting, and fishing license discounts are tied to a minimum VA disability rating (typically 50% or 100%) and require Indiana residency.

Each Indiana state benefit has its own application — there is no single application that covers them all. Most require: (1) DD-214 or equivalent discharge document, (2) proof of Indiana residency, and (3) VA disability rating letter if the benefit is rating-gated. Use the application URL listed on each benefit's detail page on this site. For complex cases (claims appeals, dependent benefits), contact your county Veterans Service Officer (VSO) for free assistance.

Yes. Indiana state benefits are administered separately from federal VA benefits and the two are designed to stack. A Indiana veteran can simultaneously receive federal VA disability compensation, VA healthcare, GI Bill education benefits, AND any Indiana state programs they qualify for. Some specific overlaps (e.g., state tuition assistance) may require exhausting federal GI Bill benefits first; check each benefit's eligibility notes.

Yes. Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Burial at the state veterans cemetery in Madison for eligible Indiana veterans and spouses. Eligibility generally requires honorable discharge and Indiana residency; some sites accept any veteran meeting federal VA national cemetery criteria. This is in addition to (not a substitute for) burial at a federal VA National Cemetery.

Indiana benefits unlock at every VA rating tier. 10 benefits require no disability rating (available to any honorably discharged veteran). 3 are gated at 10-40%. 1 are gated at 50-90%. 0 require a 100% rating. Veterans rated 100% qualify for ALL 14 Indiana state benefits.