Ohio offers a wide range of benefits for veterans, service members, and their families, including support with education, employment, housing, and more. The information provided here is only a general overview to help you explore additional resources that may be available in your state.
Each program listed includes a brief description and a direct link to the official source for more information and how to apply. Please note that we are not experts on these individual programs — this guide is intended to help point you in the right direction.
For the most accurate and up-to-date details, we recommend visiting the official program websites or contacting the Ohio Department of Veterans Services directly.
U.S. Armed Forces service members serving on active duty and stationed outside Ohio may be eligible to deduct their military pay from Ohio income taxes (if that pay is included in federal adjusted gross income). They also may be exempt from paying Ohio school district income tax. This exemption also applies to resident service members stationed in Ohio who are on temporary duty (TDY) outside the state for 30 days or more.
Military disability retirement pay received as a pension, annuity, or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces is not taxable. Payments considered disability benefits include disability compensation and pension payments to Veterans or their families, grants for specially adapted housing or motor vehicles for Veterans who lost sight or use of limbs, and benefits under a dependent-care assistance program.
Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating from the VA may be eligible for Ohio’s expanded Homestead Exemption, which exempts $50,000 of the assessed value of their primary residence from property taxes. To qualify, Veterans must have served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and either have a 100% disability rating or receive compensation at the 100% rate due to individual unemployability. A non-remarried surviving spouse may also qualify if they lived in the homestead at the time of the Veteran’s death, the Veteran was receiving the exemption that year, and the spouse continues to occupy or owns the home.
Nonresident military spouses of service members stationed in Ohio under military orders are exempt from Ohio income and school district taxes. For income tax purposes, military spouses may choose to use the service member’s state of residence, their own state of residence, or the service member’s permanent duty station as their state of residence.
Ohio National Guard service members ordered to state active duty are eligible for pay and allowances equal to those of active duty U.S. Armed Forces members of the same grade and time in service, with a minimum base pay of $75 per day. Eligibility is limited to Ohio National Guard service members serving on state active duty.
Ohio state employees who serve in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for up to one month of paid military leave per federal fiscal year, during which they continue to accrue sick, vacation, and personal leave.
Ohio state employees called to active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces must be reinstated to the same or a similar position if they received an honorable discharge and submit a written request for reemployment within the required timeframe based on the length of their active duty: immediately for less than 30 days, within 14 days for 31–180 days, and within 90 days for more than 180 days.
For more information please call 614-752-5393, or email DASHRD.HRPolicy@das.ohio.gov
Ohio state employees called to federal active duty may maintain or reinstate their health care benefits as if actively working. Employees must continue paying their portion of premiums, while the state covers the employer’s share.
For more information please call 614-752-5393 or email DASHRD.HRPolicy@das.ohio.gov
Ohio state employees who are reserve component service members may receive a pay supplement while on federal active duty under limited conditions. The supplement covers the difference between their state salary and military pay, not exceeding their state salary. Eligible service members must be entitled to military leave with pay and ordered to federal active duty for more than one month.
For more information please call 614-752-5393 or email DASHRD.HRPolicy@das.ohio.gov.
Ohio resident Veterans and service members in a reserve component are eligible for civil service exam score preferences. Honorably discharged Veterans or those transferring to a reserve component after at least 180 days of active duty receive 20% added to passing scores. Current resident service members in good standing with a reserve component who have completed initial entry-level training receive 15% added to passing scores.
The Ohio Department of Education waives educator licensing fees for Veterans, active-duty service members (including National Guard and Reserve), and their spouses. It also offers streamlined licensing options:
One-Year Out-of-State License: Allows incoming licensed teachers, including service members, spouses, and Veterans, to teach in Ohio for one year while completing requirements for full licensure.
Military License Extensions: Ohio educator licenses can be extended for service members called to active duty; an honorable discharge is required for eligibility.
Alternative Routes to Licensure: The Ohio Credential Review Board evaluates experience, academic qualifications, and professional accomplishments to support alternative licensure pathways.
Temporary Military License: Active-duty service members and their spouses stationed in Ohio with a valid out-of-state license can obtain a temporary Ohio license, restricted to the grade levels and subjects of their original license.
For more please contact the Office of Educator Licensure at 877-644-6338, or email OhioTTT@education.ohio.gov.
Ohio school districts and city boards of education award high school diplomas to Veterans who left school before graduating to serve during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Diplomas may also be awarded posthumously. Eligible Veterans must have left school to serve (or due to family circumstances before entering service), received an honorable discharge, and never earned a diploma.
The Ohio War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans’ Children Scholarship (WOS) provides tuition assistance to children of deceased or severely disabled Ohio Veterans, or Service members declared missing in action (MIA) or prisoners of war (POW). Applications are due by May 15 each year for the following school year, and assistance amounts are based on the number of eligible applicants. The scholarship covers general and instructional fees for up to five academic years.
Students must be Ohio residents ages 16–24, enrolled full-time in an undergraduate degree program at an eligible Ohio college or university. The Veteran parent must be deceased, declared MIA/POW, or have at least a 60% service-connected or total permanent disability. If the parent served only in the Ohio National Guard or Reserves, they must have been killed or disabled during official training, and either the Veteran or the child must meet Ohio residency requirements.
The Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program (ONGSP) provides tuition assistance for eligible Guard members pursuing a degree, license, or certification at participating Ohio schools. The program covers 100% tuition at state-funded public colleges and up to the state average for private schools. Members who enlist for three to five years receive up to 48 semester hours, while those who enlist for six years receive up to 96. Must be an Ohio National Guard member enlisted for at least three years and in good standing with their unit.
The Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund provides educational assistance to the spouse and children of service members killed in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It covers 100% of instructional and general fees at public colleges and $9,449 per year at private institutions, for up to four years of undergraduate study. Students in certificate programs may receive up to $8,000 per year at eligible schools, with support available for up to two programs or the equivalent of four academic years. Specific eligibility requirements apply.
The Ohio GI Promise allows eligible nonresident Veterans and their dependents to receive in-state tuition at Ohio public colleges and universities without meeting the 12-month residency requirement. To qualify, the Veteran must have been honorably discharged or medically separated after at least one year of service, or the dependent must be of a Veteran who was killed in action, declared MIA, or a POW. The Veteran or dependent must be domiciled in Ohio as of the first day of enrollment.
The Ohio Hidden Heroes Scholarship Program provides financial assistance for tuition, fees, and books to caregivers of disabled Veterans. Scholarships can be used at participating institutions such as Wright State University, University of Dayton, and Lorain County Community College. To be eligible, caregivers must be enrolled in the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) caring for a Veteran with a 100% service-connected disability, be an Ohio resident, and not be in default on any federal student loans.
Removes barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents.
Location: 601 Brenner Ave. Building #10 Salisbury, NC 28144
Phone Number: (704) 639-2320
Ohio operates three Veterans Homes providing independent living, intermediate and skilled nursing care, and memory care for eligible Veterans, focusing on privacy, independence, comfort, security, and social well-being.
Location: 2003 Veterans Boulevard Georgetown, Ohio 45121
Phone Number: 1 (937) 378-2900
Location: 3416 Columbus Avenue Sandusky, Ohio 44870
Phone Number: 1 (419) 625-2454
Location: 3416 Columbus Avenue
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
Phone Number: 1 (419) 625-2454
The Ohio Veterans Home Cemetery provides a dignified burial for deceased Veterans who were residents of an Ohio Veterans Home, including a gravesite with liner, opening and closing, headstone or marker, perpetual care, and a burial flag.
OhioCares is a state and local partnership that supports the behavioral health of service members, Veterans, and their families by connecting them with community-based resources and services.
The Ohio National Guard Association offers Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SSLI) to Ohio National Guard Service members. This program includes several voluntary group life policies to support service members and their families, and every Ohio National Guard member automatically receives $1,000 of SSLI coverage at no cost.
The Ohio National Guard provides a $100,000 death benefit to the beneficiaries of a service member who dies while serving on federal or state active duty. Eligible recipients are the designated beneficiaries of the deceased Ohio National Guard member.
The Ohio Department of Public Safety offers an “Armed Forces” designation on Ohio driver’s licenses and ID cards for Veterans and active or reserve component service members.
Ohio offers 87 distinctive military and Veteran license plates to honor Veterans, service members, retired service members, and their families. Most plates have no additional fees, though some may be personalized for $50. Supporting documentation is required to confirm eligibility. Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability or who receive VA assistance for a specially adapted vehicle may receive up to two free military or Veteran plates.
Ohio provides eligible Veterans with a free five-year hunting and fishing license, which includes all major permits such as fishing, hunting, deer, turkey, fur taker, and wetlands habitat stamps. To qualify, Veterans must have been Ohio residents for at least six months, received an honorable discharge, and meet one of the following: rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the VA, receiving a VA pension or compensation, have an Ohio Disabled Veteran license plate, or be a former Prisoner of War (POW).
Service members on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who are on leave or furlough are not required to purchase a hunting license, fishing license, Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp, or fur taker permit, though all other licenses and permits are still required. Nonresident service members stationed in Ohio on active duty may purchase Ohio hunting and fishing licenses at resident rates.
Ohio offers free watercraft registration for resident Veterans who are 100% disabled, Medal of Honor recipients, or former prisoners of war (POWs). Eligible Veterans must provide documentation such as a VA Benefit Summary Letter confirming a 100% service-connected disability, official proof of receiving the Medal of Honor, or proof of former POW status with an honorable discharge or current active-duty service.
Active duty and retired service members are eligible for a 10% discount on all overnight facilities at Ohio State Parks, including every night of the week, with no residency restrictions.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources provides free camping for resident former POWs and honorably discharged Veterans with a total and permanent disability rating from the VA. This benefit applies to a single campsite per stay and cannot be used for multiple sites during the same time period.
Each County Veterans Service Office can provide short-term financial assistance to Veterans and their families facing emergencies. The type and amount of assistance vary by county.
Veterans can contact their local County Veterans Service Office or call 877-OHIO-VET (877-644-6838) for more information.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office provides a range of services to Veterans and active or reserve service members, including consumer protection, legal assistance, debt resolution, and civil rights support. The office also helps with issues such as identity theft, Veteran-related scams, and questions about taxes, utilities, and state benefits, ensuring military members and their families have access to vital information and resources.
Ohio National Guard Service members in the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program may be eligible to be reimbursed for premium payments while on state or federal active duty, excluding full-time Guard duty or special work.
The Ohio Military Injury Relief Fund (MIRF) provides a $500 tax-exempt payment to Ohio residents who served in the U.S. Armed Forces after October 7, 2001, and were injured or diagnosed with PTSD from combat service. Eligible Veterans and service members can receive the grant for up to three fiscal years.
Ohio provides eligible Veterans with a free five-year hunting and fishing license, which includes all major permits such as fishing, hunting, deer, turkey, fur taker, and wetlands habitat stamps. To qualify, Veterans must have been Ohio residents for at least six months, received an honorable discharge, and meet one of the following: rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the VA, receiving a VA pension or compensation, have an Ohio Disabled Veteran license plate, or be a former Prisoner of War (POW).
Service members on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces who are on leave or furlough are not required to purchase a hunting license, fishing license, Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp, or fur taker permit, though all other licenses and permits are still required. Nonresident service members stationed in Ohio on active duty may purchase Ohio hunting and fishing licenses at resident rates.
Ohio offers free watercraft registration for resident Veterans who are 100% disabled, Medal of Honor recipients, or former prisoners of war (POWs). Eligible Veterans must provide documentation such as a VA Benefit Summary Letter confirming a 100% service-connected disability, official proof of receiving the Medal of Honor, or proof of former POW status with an honorable discharge or current active-duty service.
Active duty and retired service members are eligible for a 10% discount on all overnight facilities at Ohio State Parks, including every night of the week, with no residency restrictions.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources provides free camping for resident former POWs and honorably discharged Veterans with a total and permanent disability rating from the VA. This benefit applies to a single campsite per stay and cannot be used for multiple sites during the same time period.
