Kansas State offers special benefits for all veterans and their families, including income and property tax exemptions, educational benefits, training programs, financial exemptions, employment assistance, and fishing and hunting licenses. The eligibility depends on the veteran’s residency, disability status and military career.
We’ve discussed in detail the Kansas State Veteran Benefits below:
Employment Benefits
All veterans with a campaign medal, retired as an 0-3 below or service-connected disability, get a guaranteed interview and a job consideration.
The spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran also gets the same benefit.
Financial Benefits
All SBP payments and military retirement payments are tax-free.
If you’re a disabled veteran, you can claim a homestead refund for a portion of your real estate taxes. However, you’ll need to be residing in Kansas, are honorably discharged, and have at least 50 percent service-connected permanent disability.
The Kansas Homestead Refund is a rebate of the property taxes paid on your homestead, which is based on your total household income. However, taxes on a property more than $350k in value doesn’t qualify. The maximum homestead refund for veterans is $700.
All surviving spouses are eligible for the same benefit until they remarry.
Motor Vehicle Tax Exemption
Qualifying veterans can get tax exemption for their privately owned motor vehicles. However, the limit is only up to two motor vehicles per veteran. The law applies when the member is mobilized and deployed on the application date for the vehicle’s registration.
There may also be a separate exemption for RV-titled vehicles so long as it’s not used as part of business and the member’s name is listed on the title as the vehicle’s legal owner. Kansas must also be listed as the home on record, and the veteran must be on active duty.
Veterans Housing Benefits
Veterans homes in Kansas are located in Winfield and Fort Dodge. They prioritize those veterans that have no adequate means of support. Former prisoners of war, veterans eligible to receive disability compensation or have already received disabilities, and those that agree to pay the copayment if they seek hospital care can also apply for the housing benefit. To be eligible, you must have active duty service and have received a discharge that’s not characterized as Dishonorable.
You can ask your spouse to accompany you if there is a space available. Out-of-state veterans may also be admitted when there is available space. However, veterans residing in Kansas will be given priority for acceptance in the veterans homes.
Veterans Education Benefits
All veterans eligible for this benefit are charged in-state tuition fees at all Kansas universities and public colleges. Your spouse and dependents also qualify for this rate, but they must be residing in Kansas upon enrollment to get eligibility.
National Guard Educational Assistance Benefit
The National Guard Educational Assistance Program for the Kansas States provides eligible members a percentage of fees, up to the max rate charged by the educational institution. The percentage depends on the number of applicants, funds available, and the student’s amount of assistance.
Only undergraduates are eligible for this educational assistance program and must be a drilling Guard member. Benefits include tuition at state colleges, up to 15 hours per term. Full-time enrollment isn’t required. You will need to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA to keep receiving the benefit.
Kansas Military Service Scholarship
Are you a student residing in Kansas that has served at least 90 days in a hostile fire pay location after the 11th of September 2001? You are eligible to receive tuition and other fees at a public Kansas institution. Those that have been awarded the Purple Heart and got an other than dishonorable discharge are also eligible for this benefit.
The military service scholarship is only awarded to those undergraduates. You will no longer be eligible if you are considered a graduate status. Eligible will need to file a FAFSA form to be considered.
Veterans Recreation Benefits
You get discounted admission to state parks if you’re an Air National Guard, Kansas Army, and 30 percent or greater disabled veteran.
Veterans that are a resident of Kansas and are National Guard members and 30 percent or greater disabled are eligible to get free hunting and fishing licenses.
If you’re an active duty military personnel assigned in Kansas, you can buy all annual state hunting licenses, stamps, and permits at a resident rate. Only those military personnel at Fort Riley are eligible to get military permits for elk draw.
Veterans Burial Benefits
Veterans who received an other than dishonorable discharge, guard, reservists with 20 years in the service, and those who die while on active duty are eligible to get burial benefits. The state veterans cemeteries in Kansas are Ft. Riley, Ft. Dodge, Winfield and Wakeeney.
Surviving spouses and dependents may also qualify under these conditions:
- The spouse or the veteran’s surviving spouse is eligible for interment in the State Veterans Cemetery. Spouses or surviving spouses can still qualify, albeit the veteran isn’t buried in one of the veterans cemeteries.
- Natural or adoptive child of the eligible veteran not more than 21 years old or is unmarried
- Natural or adoptive child under 23 years old enrolled in a full-time course at an approved educational institution.
- Unmarried children of the qualified veteran who became permanently disabled (physically or mentally) and cannot support themselves.
Contact VetLink Solutions
Our goal is to reach out to as many service-disabled veterans and help them connect with the right medical resources to properly submit successful claims to the VA. We have been helping out service members for several decades, and our team of experienced professionals intends to provide best-in-class service for you to get the benefits you deserve. Please get in touch with us today if you have questions or clarifications. Feel free to also check out our FAQ page.
