Minnesota Veteran Benefits

Minnesota tax relief

Minnesota provides a disabled-Veteran market-value exclusion for qualifying homesteads. The exclusion level depends on disability status, with separate surviving-spouse and caregiver paths.

Minnesota Active-Duty Driver’s-License Extension

A valid Minnesota driver’s license held when entering active military service remains valid during qualifying service. The extension also covers a spouse or dependent stationed with the service member. DVS has documentation and return-from-service renewal rules; the extension is not an unrestricted waiver of all licensing or testing requirements.

Minnesota CareerForce Veterans Resources

CareerForce connects Veterans with job-search and career-planning help, employment specialists, training resources and employers. Priority of service may apply to eligible Veterans and spouses in covered employment programs. Program-specific eligibility still applies; these services are not a tuition award or a guarantee of preference in state hiring.

Minnesota Claims Assistance Offices

MDVA claims offices in St. Paul and Fargo help Veterans and eligible dependents with federal VA compensation, pension, education and related benefit claims and representation. Contact MDVA or a County Veterans Service Officer for the appropriate office. Claims assistance does not establish entitlement to the benefit sought.

Minnesota Combat Wounded (Purple Heart) License Plates

Minnesota Combat Wounded Veteran plates are available to Purple Heart recipients, including qualifying recipients still on active duty. Submit award/service evidence with the appropriate plate application. Eligible vehicle types and ordinary registration/plate charges apply; receiving this plate does not by itself confer disability-parking privileges.

Minnesota Combat-Zone Income-Tax Filing and Payment Extension

Qualifying service in a combat zone automatically extends the Minnesota income-tax filing and payment deadline to 180 days after the last day in the zone, or after continuous hospitalization for combat-zone injury. The extension also applies to a spouse filing jointly. Follow Revenue’s return-identification instructions; this deadline relief is separate from the combat-zone tax credit.

Minnesota Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Military Test Waivers

Minnesota offers CDL military test-waiver pathways for applicants with qualifying military commercial-vehicle training and recent operating experience. The ordinary skills-waiver route does not waive every written test; the Even Exchange route has additional training/occupation requirements. Applicants must satisfy domicile, driving-record, license, medical and documentation rules. Apply while serving or within the applicable separation window; a Veteran designation alone does not qualify.

Minnesota Conservation Volunteer Magazine

U.S. military service members and Veterans may request a complimentary two-year subscription to Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, the DNR’s outdoor magazine, by calling 844-245-7115. This is a magazine subscription, not a hunting license, camping discount or park permit.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Military and Veterans Benefits

Minnesota DNR offers different hunting, fishing, lottery-preference and state-park benefits for qualifying active service members, recently discharged Veterans, disabled Veterans and Purple Heart recipients. Residency, service dates, rating and documentation requirements differ by benefit. Review the specific program before applying; the hunting-lottery preference form is not a universal DNR benefit application.

Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Dental Assistance for Veterans, and their Families

MDVA dental assistance can help eligible Minnesota Veterans, eligible unremarried surviving spouses and dependents who meet income and asset limits. The current program allows up to $1,500 for routine care per 12 months, with separate lifetime limits of $4,000 for dentures and $2,500 for preparatory extractions. Minnesota residence for at least 30 days with intent to remain and other program criteria apply. Apply through a CVSO before relying on payment.

Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Optical Assistance for Veterans, and their Families

MDVA optical assistance can help eligible Minnesota Veterans, eligible unremarried surviving spouses and dependents obtain eye examinations and prescribed eyewear. Assistance is limited to $600 per person in a 12-month period. Income/asset limits, qualifying service or survivor status, and at least 30 days of Minnesota residence with intent to remain apply. A CVSO can help apply.

Minnesota Domiciliary Locations

Minnesota Veterans Homes provides domiciliary care in Hastings and Minneapolis for eligible Minnesota Veterans and qualifying spouses who can manage their own daily activities and mobility but need a supportive living setting. This is not skilled nursing care. Veteran service/discharge rules and spouse age-55/residency rules apply. The current domiciliary brochure lists 651-539-2500 for admission information.

Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services Fee Exemptions for Disabled Veterans

Minnesota provides specified driver-license/ID and vehicle-fee relief to Veterans with a 100% total and permanent service-connected disability, documented by VA or the service retirement board. Statutes address license fees, title fees, eligible-vehicle registration/plate fees and motor-vehicle sales tax. Vehicle limits and exceptions apply, including exclusions for certain personalized-plate charges and required contributions. Being paid at 100% alone is not the statutory P&T qualification; confirm the transaction with DVS.

Minnesota Field Operations, Veterans Outreach

MDVA Field Operations offers outreach and benefit advocacy for Veterans facing disability, geographic or other barriers to reaching regular services. Staff can help connect eligible Veterans and families with state assistance, federal claims and VA healthcare resources. Contact a CVSO or LinkVet for referral; each underlying program has its own eligibility rules.

Minnesota GI Bill

The Minnesota GI Bill provides up to $15,000 in lifetime assistance for approved higher education, on-the-job training/apprenticeships and licensing or certification. Qualifying Minnesota-resident Veterans and certain long-serving Guard/Reserve members may apply. A spouse or child may qualify through a service-related death or a Veteran’s VA 100% permanent-and-total disability, with required federal survivor/dependent eligibility evidence. Annual and activity-specific limits, school/training approval and application requirements apply; higher-education applicants must meet age and FAFSA rules.

Minnesota Gold Star Family License Plate

Minnesota Gold Star plates are available to a parent, spouse, sibling or child of a service member who died honorably while serving on active duty. The application requires qualifying death/service evidence or MDVA certification. The plate fee is waived, but the form separately lists registration tax, filing and technology charges. Use the dedicated Gold Star application; this is not a plate for every Veteran.

Minnesota Higher Education Veterans Programs

MDVA Higher Education Veterans Program coordinators help Veterans, service members and families navigate college benefits, campus support, credit transfer, deployment-related issues and academic transitions. Contact the regional coordinator serving your school. This is education-navigation support, not a separate automatic tuition payment.

Minnesota Hilton Honors Military Program

Minnesota participates in the NASWA/Hilton Honors Military Program. Eligible transitioning service members, Veterans and military spouses may receive Hilton Honors points for approved employment-related travel, such as a verified interview, training or pre-employment testing. The lifetime limit is 100,000 points and approval is required before use. This is a private lodging-points partnership, not a state cash grant, and does not cover general job searching, vacations or retroactive reimbursement.

Minnesota Homeless Veteran Registry

Minnesota’s Homeless Veteran Registry helps service providers coordinate housing resources for Veterans experiencing homelessness. People who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including Guard and Reserve, may join regardless of service length or discharge type. Participation is voluntary and does not determine eligibility for every housing benefit. Contact LinkVet or a participating provider to be connected.

Minnesota Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Program

Organization benefit—not a personal entitlement.

Minnesota’s Homes for Veterans initiative offers qualifying property owners and managers incentives to lease to Veterans facing substantial housing barriers. Current published options include a one-time $1,000 incentive for a one-year lease, limited vacancy coverage and up to $2,000 in specified risk coverage beyond the deposit. Conditions, documentation and available funding apply. Payments support qualifying landlords and housing placements; they are not unrestricted cash benefits for Veterans.

Minnesota Homestead Exclusion for a Qualifying Primary Family Caregiver

A VA-approved primary family caregiver may qualify for Minnesota’s homestead market-value exclusion when caring for an honorably discharged Veteran with at least 70% service-connected disability who does not also own a Minnesota homestead. The caregiver must own and occupy the homestead and apply to the assessor by December 31 for the following tax year. The exclusion is $150,000 or $300,000 depending on the Veteran’s qualifying disability status. This is property-tax relief, not a caregiver wage.

Minnesota Income Tax Filing Extensions for Service Members

Minnesota income-tax extensions vary by military assignment. Combat-zone service has a 180-day filing/payment rule. Other active-duty members generally receive a filing extension to October 15, but payment requirements can differ; special rules cover qualifying Guard/Reserve service and noncombat service outside the United States. Joint-filing spouses may share the applicable extension. Check the specific Revenue category before postponing payment.

Minnesota LinkVet Veterans Service Center

LinkVet is MDVA’s information and referral service for Minnesota Veterans and their families. Call 888-546-5838, use web chat or submit a question for help finding benefits and services. Support is available seven days a week. LinkVet guides you to programs and contacts; it does not itself award benefits.

Minnesota Market Value Exclusion on Homestead Property of Disabled Veterans, Primary Family Caregivers and Surviving Spouses

Minnesota may exclude up to $150,000 of a qualifying homestead’s market value for a Veteran with at least 70% service-connected disability, or $300,000 for 100% permanent-and-total disability. Qualifying surviving spouses and VA-approved primary family caregivers have separate paths. Own and occupy the homestead and apply to the assessor by December 31 for the following tax year. Survivor and caregiver rules differ; a caregiver’s Veteran cannot also own a Minnesota homestead. This is a value exclusion, not a cash payment.

Minnesota MDVA and County Veterans Service Officers

Minnesota’s Department of Veterans Affairs and County Veterans Service Officers help Veterans and their families understand benefits and connect with free accredited claims assistance. A CVSO is usually the first local contact; MDVA’s LinkVet line is 888-546-5838. Assistance is not itself a grant or a finding of benefit eligibility.

Minnesota Medal of Honor License Plates

A Minnesota Congressional Medal of Honor recipient may obtain one set of Medal of Honor plates, or one motorcycle plate, for an eligible personally used vehicle. The statute provides free issuance, replacement of damaged plates and subsequent-year stickers; commercial use is excluded. Apply at first registration or renewal and supply award/ownership evidence.

Minnesota Military and Veteran Plate Applications

Minnesota offers military and Veteran plates for eligible vehicles registered to qualifying applicants. Most Veteran designs require service/discharge or award evidence; vehicle types and fees vary by design. A disability-parking symbol requires separate disability eligibility. Use the Special Plate application for its listed designs, and the separate Gold Star application for qualifying surviving family members.

Minnesota Military Funeral Honors

MDVA works with the Minnesota National Guard and Veterans organizations to support military funeral honors for eligible deceased Veterans. Families should arrange honors through their funeral director. Any state stipend described for participating honors organizations is not a cash payment to the family, and eligibility must be confirmed.

Minnesota National Guard Tuition Reimbursement for Spouses

An eligible spouse enrolled in DEERS may use an eligible Minnesota National Guard member’s remaining STR entitlement after the member completes eight good years in the Guard. The published circular limits spouse use to 12 semester or 17 quarter credits per year, counted against the member’s lifetime credit balance. Member grade/status, tuition reimbursement and documentation rules apply; spouse use is not permitted under the former-member extended-benefit route.

Minnesota National Guard Tuition Reimbursement Program (STR)

Minnesota National Guard State Tuition Reimbursement helps eligible members with approved tuition after successful coursework. Undergraduate reimbursement may reach 100% of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities resident undergraduate rate, subject to current annual caps, eligible costs, funding and the 144-semester-credit lifetime limit. Graduate/professional and certificate routes have different conditions. Apply through the unit and use required federal tuition assistance first. Eligibility is based on Guard participation—not a VA 100% disability rating.

Minnesota National Guard Tuition Reimbursement Program (STR) Survivor Entitlement

STR survivor benefits may cover a spouse and qualifying dependent children of a Minnesota National Guard member who died in the line of state active duty or federally funded state active service. The published circular permits an eligible surviving spouse to continue after remarriage; dependent children must be under 24, with a term-completion exception. Tuition, successful-coursework, documentation and lifetime-credit limits apply. Obtain an eligibility determination through the Guard education office; no VA 100% rating is required.

Minnesota Proud to be a Veteran License Plate

The Proud to Be a Veteran plate is available to qualifying honorably discharged Veterans who provide service/discharge evidence. The Special Plate application lists an initial $30 contribution to the Minnesota World War II memorial fund, in addition to applicable vehicle-registration and plate charges. This design is not restricted to a particular war and does not use the Gold Star family form.

Minnesota Service CORE

Minnesota Service CORE provides free counseling and support through MDVA’s partnership with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. Eligible Veterans and families may receive help with family relationships, financial challenges, substance-use concerns and other barriers to wellbeing. Contact a CVSO for referral. CORE is a support service, not a tuition program or an automatic cash grant.

Minnesota SOAR, Homeless Veterans Assistance Program

Minnesota SOAR helps eligible Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and have qualifying disabling conditions apply for federal SSI or SSDI. Advocates assist with records and the application without charging the Veteran. Contact a CVSO for referral. SOAR assistance does not guarantee Social Security approval and is not a separate state cash payment.

Minnesota Special Military and Veteran Vehicle License Plates

Minnesota DVS offers military and Veteran plate designs recognizing qualifying service, deployments and awards. Each design has its own documentation, vehicle and fee rules; some are available for motorcycles. Review the current DVS list and application rather than relying on a fixed count of designs. A military plate is not by itself permission to use disability parking.

Minnesota State Employee Veterans Hiring Preference

Qualified applicants who request Veterans’ preference in Minnesota state hiring are ranked with disabled Veterans ahead of other Veterans, then other applicants. Qualifying spouses of Veterans unable to work because of disability and certain unremarried surviving spouses may also qualify. Submit required service/disability evidence and meet the job’s minimum qualifications. Local-government exam points are a different system; the Minnesota GI Bill portal is not a hiring application.

Minnesota State Tax Credit for Military Service in Combat Zone

Minnesota’s refundable combat-zone military-service credit is generally $120 for each month or part of a month of qualifying service while a Minnesota resident. The service must meet combat-zone and federal-pay-exclusion conditions. File the separate Form M99 for the relevant year; this is not the ordinary income-tax return credit schedule. Filing deadlines and documentation apply.

Minnesota State Tax Credit for Past Military Service

The Minnesota Credit for Past Military Service is a nonrefundable credit of up to $750 for qualifying former service members with modified adjusted gross income below $37,500. Eligibility can be based on at least 20 years of service, a qualifying 100% permanent-and-total service-connected disability, or honorable military retirement. Separation, income phaseout and part-year/nonresident allocation rules apply. You cannot claim this credit for the same year as the Minnesota military-pension subtraction.

Minnesota State Tax Exemption for Military Retired Pay

Minnesota allows a subtraction for qualifying military retirement pay included in federal taxable income, including specified active-duty, reserve and survivor payments and a qualifying share received by a former spouse. Retirement from dual-status military-technician work is not automatically military retirement; mixed service may require allocation. Claim only qualifying federally included amounts and do not also claim the Credit for Past Military Service for that year.

Minnesota State Tax Exemption for Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP), and Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP) Annuities

Qualifying military survivor pension payments included in federal taxable income may be subtracted on a Minnesota return under the military-pension subtraction rules. This includes qualifying Survivor Benefit Plan payments; coverage depends on the governing military-retirement provisions and federal inclusion. This is a tax subtraction, not a separate state survivor payment.

Minnesota State Taxes on Military Disability Retirement Pay

Military disability retirement is not automatically excluded from federal income tax in every case. Federal exclusions depend on factors such as combat-related injury, qualifying earlier service or VA disability entitlement; retirement based on years of service may remain taxable. Minnesota permits its military-pension subtraction for qualifying military retirement amounts included in federal income. Review the federal and Minnesota rules for your payment type.

Minnesota State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a federal tax-free benefit for eligible surviving spouses, children or parents after a qualifying service-related death or certain qualifying total-disability circumstances. It is not a separate Minnesota benefit. Relationship, service/death and evidence requirements apply; a living Veteran’s disability rating alone does not award DIC.

Minnesota State Taxes on Wages Earned by Nonresident Military Spouses

Certain nonresident military spouses can exclude Minnesota work income under federal military-spouse residence protections. The service member must be in Minnesota under orders and the spouse must be there solely to accompany them; available residency elections and income-type rules matter. The couple is not required to have originally shared the same out-of-state residence. Follow Revenue’s withholding and return instructions, and confirm which residence election applies.

Minnesota State Veterans Cemeteries

Minnesota operates state Veterans cemeteries at Little Falls, Preston, Duluth and Redwood Falls. Burial may be available to eligible Veterans and qualifying spouses/dependents under service, discharge and relationship rules. Families arrange burial through a funeral director; pre-registration can help document eligibility but does not reserve a particular grave. Contact the cemetery for current charges and arrangements.

Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery Locations

Minnesota’s state Veterans cemetery application lists Little Falls, Preston, Duluth and Redwood Falls. Veterans seeking burial eligibility for themselves and eligible spouses or dependents should send the application and supporting military and relationship documents to their chosen cemetery. Contact that office to confirm current eligibility, availability and fees.

Minnesota Surviving Spouse, Child and POW/MIA Family Education Assistance

Minnesota’s 2026 law provides eligible resident-student spouses and children of qualifying deceased Veterans or POW/MIA service members tuition-and-fee relief at Minnesota public colleges until a bachelor’s or equivalent degree, plus a $750 annual stipend on a funds-available basis. Students must make satisfactory progress and apply before the requested term ends. A surviving spouse’s remarriage does not disqualify them. The updated law removed the deceased Veteran’s former Minnesota-residence test; student residency and documentation still apply.

Minnesota Veteran-Owned Small Business Procurement Program

A certified Minnesota Veteran-owned small business may receive up to a 12% preference in eligible state purchasing or construction bids. Certification generally requires at least 51% qualifying Veteran ownership and actual management/control. Contract-specific requirements and subcontracting goals may apply. Certification or preference does not guarantee a contract, and a 100% disability rating is not required.

Minnesota Veteran’s Relief Grant

MDVA’s Veterans Relief Grant may provide once-per-lifetime help with an eligible Veteran household’s financial crisis when the assistance can restore longer-term stability. Requests are evaluated individually and require evidence of future ability to meet expenses. Approved payments are made to vendors, not as unrestricted cash to the applicant. A CVSO can help submit the request; funding is not guaranteed.

Minnesota Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake

The Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake is operated by the nonprofit Disabled Veterans Rest Camp Association. It offers recreation and lodging for eligible currently serving military members, honorably discharged Veterans, families and sponsored guests under the campground’s rules. This is a nonprofit campground, not a Minnesota DNR park or a VA entitlement. Reservations, charges and access conditions should be confirmed with the operator.

Minnesota Veterans Home Locations

Minnesota Veterans Homes has campuses in Bemidji, Fergus Falls, Hastings, Luverne, Minneapolis, Montevideo, Preston and Silver Bay. Services vary by location; some provide skilled nursing while Hastings and Minneapolis offer domiciliary care, and Minneapolis has Adult Day services. Use MDVA’s location and admissions information for current contacts and availability. Admission is for qualifying Veterans and spouses, not every dependent child.

Minnesota Veterans Homes

Minnesota Veterans Homes offers skilled nursing, domiciliary and Adult Day services across its current campuses. Eligible applicants generally include Minnesota-resident Veterans with qualifying honorable service and spouses age 55 or older who meet program requirements. Care needs, service exceptions, income/assets and cost-sharing are reviewed. Contact the chosen home and use the official admission application; a disability rating alone does not establish admission.

Minnesota Women Veterans Program

MDVA’s Women Veterans Program advocates for equitable access to benefits and services, offers outreach and helps women Veterans identify resources responsive to their needs. It is an information and advocacy program for women who served, not a standalone housing grant or a benefit reserved for spouses or survivors.

National Guard Association of Minnesota, State Sponsored Life Insurance for National Guard Service Members (SSLI)

The National Guard Association of Minnesota’s State Sponsored Life Insurance program provides eligible Minnesota National Guard members $1,000 of basic coverage at no cost. Additional voluntary member and family coverage is subject to the insurer’s enrollment, premium and policy terms. This association/insurance arrangement is distinct from VA life insurance and is not a general benefit for every Minnesota Veteran.

Permissive Veterans Preference for Minnesota Veterans in Private Employment

Minnesota permits a private employer to give hiring or promotion preference to a Veteran, to a spouse of a Veteran with a service-connected total and permanent disability, or to a surviving spouse of a deceased Veteran. This preference is optional for the employer and is separate from public-service hiring preference or a guaranteed job.

Resident Disabled Veterans Benefits

Minnesota-resident Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability may receive free annual small-game and deer licenses and qualifying lottery preference, subject to hunting rules; federal waterfowl stamps may still be required. DNR also offers a permanent proof card specifically for Veterans with a 100% permanent service-connected disability. The card does not replace annual license issuance or yearly eligibility checks. Separate fishing provisions also apply.

Resident Purple Heart Recipient Benefits

Minnesota-resident Purple Heart recipients can request first preference in specified deer, bear and turkey hunting drawings. They generally must still buy the required license. Apply for the lottery and submit the DNR military-preference form and qualifying evidence before the deadline. This is hunting-drawing preference, not free camping.

Vital Statistics Records and Certified Copies of Minnesota Veterans’ Records

Minnesota law provides certain certified vital records and military-discharge copies without charge when needed for a Veteran-benefit claim. Qualifying requests may be made by the Veteran, eligible survivors or next of kin, or an authorized service officer. Tell the record custodian the benefit-claim purpose and meet its documentation requirements; the exemption is not a blanket waiver for every personal use of a record.