Today, we bring you the State Veterans Benefits for Wyoming. This information was gather from the Wyoming Veterans Commission web site.
Wyoming Driver License Veteran Designation
- To qualify for the designation, the veteran must have served at least one period of honorable service which resulted in the issuing of a DD214.
- A copy of your separation papers and a verification form must be submitted to the Wyoming Veterans Commission at least one week before going to a WYDOT Driver Exam Station.
- Form can be download from http://www.dot.state.wy.us/files/live/sites/wydot/files/shared/Driver_Services/Forms/201512%20VA%20Verification%20Form%20V3-fillable.pdf
Property Tax Exemption
- Apply at your County Assessor’s Office between January 1 and the fourth Monday in May each year.
- A recent change to the law allows for a streamlined renewal process. Once you provide documentation to establish your initial eligibility, you may call the County Assessor’s Office during this time period and renew your exemption.
- Eligibility
- Veterans must be residents of Wyoming three or more years prior to claiming the tax exemption
- have a DD Form 214 or equivalent from their branch of service.
- Additionally, one of the following must apply:
- Served in the Armed Forces during:
- World War II (Dec. 7, 1941 – Dec. 31, 1946)
- Korean War (June 27, 1950 – Jan. 31, 1955)
- Vietnam War (Feb. 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975)
- Must have served overseas during an armed conflict and received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or equivalent; or
- Be a disabled Veteran with a compensable service-connected disability as certified by VA or a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. VA or DoD agency disability letter required.
- Be the surviving spouse of a qualifying Veteran who resides in Wyoming and did not remarry.
- Served in the Armed Forces during:
- The exemption applies to taxes on a Veteran’s primary residence lowering the assessed value by $3,000. The $800 cap was removed in 2007. Veterans who reached the previous cap have new eligibility and they should reapply for this important benefit.
- Applying exemption to vehicles
- If the exemption is not used on property, it may be applied to a vehicle’s licensing fee (not sales tax). More than one vehicle may qualify, but the total exemption shall not exceed $90.
- The vehicle(s) must be titled to the Veteran before qualifying. Leased vehicles do not qualify.
Hunting, Fishing, and Parks
- Free Fishing License
- 50% disabled Veteran, resident of Wyoming for not less than one year and submit a letter from the VBA Regional Office certifying the 50% level of service connected disability compensation of the applicant.
- Free Bird, Small Game, and Fishing Licenses
- 100% disabled Veteran, resident of Wyoming for not less than one year and submit a letter from the VBA Regional Office certifying the 100% level of service connected disability of the applicant.
- Free Hunting and Fishing While on Leave
- Any Wyoming resident who is on active duty in the U.S. Military deployed to a combat zone, who is home on leave, and will return to a combat zone.
- Special Limited Fishing Permit for Hospitalized Veterans
- In coordination with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, a free license can be issued by any VA Hospital within Wyoming, Wyoming Department of Health, or Wyoming Department of Family Services to a resident of the Veterans’ Home.
- Veteran must fish under direct control of the institution.
- Active Duty in Wyoming
- Any active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces who has been stationed in Wyoming for 90 days shall qualify as a resident so long as the active duty member remains stationed in Wyoming.
- Donated Big Game Licenses for Disabled Veterans
- Any person may donate a big game license for reissuance, free of charge, to a disabled Veteran. The disabled Veteran must be selected and sponsored by a nonprofit charitable organization providing hunting opportunities for disabled Veterans in order to receive the donated license.
- To learn more visit http://wgfd.wyo.gov.
Free Lifetime State Park Pass
- Wyoming State Parks & Cultural Resources (SPCR) offers a 50% Disabled Veteran Annual Day Use and Camping Lifetime Permit.
- You must be a resident of Wyoming and submit a letter from the VA Regional Office certifying the 50% level of service connected disability and an application from SPCR.
- The application is available from State Parks. For more information, call 307-777-6323 or visit http://wyoparks.state.wy.us/Permits/Index.aspx.
Wyoming Military Related License Plates
Applications for the Veteran license plate and Gold Star plate shall be made directly to the Wyoming Veterans Commission or online at:
http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/titles_plates_registration/specialty_plates.html.
Prisoner of War (POW) License Plate
- Any person who, while serving in the U.S. Armed
Forces, was incarcerated by an enemy of the United States may use the former prisoners of war special license plate. - Registration fees are waived for the first POW license plate and there is no plate fee.
- There is no plate fee for additional plates, but the Veteran must pay vehicle registration fees.
- http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/titles_plates_registration/specialty_plates/Former_POW.html
Gold Star Family License Plate
- Any parent, grandparent, spouse, child, or sibling of a member
of the United States Armed Forces who died while in service or who died as a result of the service shall be eligible to receive the Gold Star License Plate. - Plate fees paid by the Wyoming Veterans Commission, owner must pay vehicle registration fees.
- http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/titles_plates_registration/specialty_plates/Gold_Star.html
Purple Heart Recipient (PH) License Plate
- Any person who presents documented proof that he/she is an official recipient of the United States Military Purple Heart Award may apply to the department for a Purple Heart Recipient Plate.
- No plate fee, must pay vehicle registration fees.
- http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/titles_plates_registration/specialty_plates/Purple_Heart_Recipient.html
Disabled Veteran (DV) License Plate
- One set of license plates shall be issued to disabled Veterans who provide an affidavit from the VA stating they receive 50 percent or more service-connected disability compensation from the VA.
- Disabled Veterans are exempt from registration fees for one vehicle, other than a commercial vehicle, motorcycle, multipurpose vehicle, bus or motor home.
- Veteran may either choose the DV License plate as their free plate; or Veteran may choose any other military related plate for which they qualify as their free plate,
- http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/titles_plates_registration/specialty_plates/Disabled_Vet.html
Pearl Harbor Survivor (PHS) License Plate
- Must have been a member of the United States Armed Forces on Dec. 7, 1941, and on station during the hours of 7:55 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Hawaii time, and at Pearl Harbor, the island of Oahu, or offshore at a distance not to exceed 3 miles and received an honorable discharge.
- No plate fee, must pay vehicle registration fees.
- http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/titles_plates_registration/specialty_plates/Pearl_Harbor_Survivor.html
National Guard (NG) License Plate
- Any person who presents documentation that he/she is currently serving in an active or retired status of the Wyoming Army or Air National Guard may apply for a National Guard plate.
- No plate fee, must pay vehicle registration fees.
- http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/titles_plates_registration/specialty_plates/Pearl_Harbor_Survivor.html
Veteran License Plate
- To qualify, you must have served at least one period of honorable service which resulted in the issuing of a DD 214. If approved, your license plates will be forwarded to the county treasurer’s office you indicate on your application.
- Send your payment of $50 made out to WYDOT in the form of a check or money order along with your application to:
- Wyoming Veterans Commission
- 5410 Bishop Blvd.
- Cheyenne, WY 82009
- Applications are available at http://www.dot.state.wy.us.
- http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/titles_plates_registration/specialty_plates/veteran_plates.html
Wyoming Veteran License Stickers
- Available for purchase from the Wyoming Veterans Commission.
- Costs are $11.50 for auto and trucks and $11.00 for motorcycles. No stickers for trailers.
- Only one set of license plate stickers may be displayed on any one vehicle or motorcycle.
- Surviving spouses may continue to purchase stickers if they were previously purchased by the Veteran.
- Proceeds go to the Wyoming Veterans Commission Trust Fund.
- Wyoming Veteran License Stickers Available
- World War II
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Gulf War
- Noble Eagle
- Enduring Freedom
- Iraqi Freedom
- War on Terror
- VETERAN
- For more information and to request applications, call 1-800-833-5987.
Education
- Free Tuition for War Veterans and Surviving Dependents
- Wyoming provides 10 free semesters of tuition and fees for overseas combat Veterans at the Wyoming community colleges or the University of Wyoming.
- Surviving spouses and dependent children are also eligible for this benefit if the military member died in combat.
- For more information, contact the Veterans Representative at the institution or visit http://www.communitycolleges.wy.edu/veterans-tuition-benefit.aspx.
Wyoming National Guard (WY NG) Educational Assistance Plan (EAP)
- WY NG members may receive 100% of tuition and mandatory fees at the University of Wyoming, the seven community colleges, and the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy.
- Members may receive partial payment of tuition at private colleges and institutions for programs offered within Wyoming.
- Army Guard members call 307-772-5169
- Air Guard members call 307-772-6325 or 307-772-6150
- For more information, call 307-777-8160 or visit https://wyomilitary.wyo.gov.
University of Wyoming Veterans Services Center
- The center was created by the Division of Student Affairs to assist returning Veterans access the resources the University has compiled to help veterans make a smooth transition from military service to the University of Wyoming.
- For more information, call 307-766-6908 or visit http://www.uwyo.edu/vetservices/.
As always, if there are any benefits we may have missed, please let us know, and we will add it to the list.