Veteran Benefits in Alaska

Veteran Benefits & Resources

Veteran Benefits & Resources in Alaska

Introduction

Alaska is home to more than 65,000 military veterans and has one of the highest veteran populations per capita in the country. With a strong military presence and a focus on supporting veterans in remote and rural areas, Alaska provides a wide range of benefits through state programs, VA healthcare systems, and local veteran service organizations.

This guide highlights key benefits, healthcare services, and organizations available in Alaska so veterans can easily access assistance with education, housing, employment, healthcare, and community support.

Key Veteran Benefits in Alaska

Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption

Alaska offers a full property tax exemption for 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans on their primary residence, up to a specified value cap depending on local jurisdiction.

Source:
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/dcra/LocalGovernmentResourceDesk/PropertyTaxExemptions.aspx

Alaska Veterans Education Benefits

Alaska provides education assistance programs for veterans and their dependents, including tuition waivers at the University of Alaska system.

Source:
https://veterans.alaska.gov

Veteran Employment Preference

Veterans receive preference in Alaska state hiring, improving access to public sector employment.

Source:
https://doa.alaska.gov/dop

Veteran Designation on Alaska Driver License

Veterans can add a “Veteran” designation to their driver license or ID.

Source:
https://doa.alaska.gov/dmv

Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs

Provides assistance with VA claims, benefits navigation, and access to veteran support programs.

Source:
https://veterans.alaska.gov

VA Disability Benefits by Rating in Alaska

Understanding how your VA disability rating impacts your benefits is especially important in Alaska, where state-level tax benefits provide significant relief at higher disability ratings.

100% Disabled Veterans

Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating receive the highest level of support.

In Alaska, this includes:

• Full Property Tax Exemption (up to local value limits) on your primary residence
• Full federal VA compensation at the highest rate
• Comprehensive VA healthcare at no cost
• Eligibility for CHAMPVA (dependents) and commissary/exchange privileges
• Access to additional state-level support programs

Alaska is considered a tax-friendly state for 100% disabled veterans, especially for homeowners.

70% Disabled Veterans

Veterans rated at 70% disability receive strong federal benefits and access to expanded programs.

Key benefits include:

• Higher monthly VA compensation
• Priority access to VA healthcare and specialty services
• Eligibility for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
• Expanded access to mental health and long-term care programs

State-level benefits are more limited at this level.

50% Disabled Veterans

At the 50% disability rating, veterans reach an important healthcare threshold.

This includes:

• No-cost VA healthcare for all conditions
• Increased monthly compensation
• Access to a broader range of VA medical services and prescriptions

This level significantly improves access to care.

Lower Ratings (10%–40%)

Veterans with disability ratings between 10% and 40% still receive meaningful benefits, including:

• Monthly tax-free VA compensation
• VA healthcare for service-connected conditions
• Eligibility for Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) programs
• Access to local and state veteran support services

These ratings provide important foundational support.

No matter your rating, working with an Alaska Veterans Service Officer can help ensure you’re receiving every benefit you’ve earned and assist with increasing your rating if your condition has worsened.