Connecticut Veteran Benefits

Eligible wartime veterans receive 5 preference points added to a passing score on open competitive state exams, and veterans with a VA service-connected disability receive 10 points. Applicants submit their DD-214 (and VA disability letter for the 10-point preference) with the CT-HR-12 application.

Connecticut residents with a VA service-connected disability can obtain a free lifetime pass for admission and parking at Connecticut State Parks and Forests. Apply by mail or in person with proof of CT residency and a VA card/benefits letter showing the service-connected disability.

Any active, full-time member of the armed forces may buy a Connecticut fishing and/or small-game firearms license at the resident fee. Residents with a qualifying disability (verified by a licensed physician) may be issued a free fishing or hunting license.

Qualifying honorably discharged veterans can add an American Flag veteran designation to their CT driver's license or non-driver ID after verifying status with the CT Department of Veterans Affairs (form VL1) at least 30 days before visiting DMV. It is free when added during a renewal, or $30 if added between renewals.

Connecticut waives certain vehicle registration fees for eligible service members and veterans who were CT residents at the time of induction into the U.S. Armed Forces, applied using DMV Form B-276.

Eligible disabled veterans meeting DMV criteria may obtain Disabled Veteran plates with no fee for new registration, transfer, or renewal (other fees such as title, lien, and clean-air may still apply). Requires proof of service (DD-214) and medical certification; initial request made in person at the DMV Wethersfield office.

The state's veterans home in Rocky Hill offers a Residential Facility and a skilled-nursing Healthcare Center. Eligibility requires an honorable discharge (DD-214), 90 days of active duty other than for training, and CT residency at the time of application; Healthcare Center admission also requires a chronic medical need for skilled nursing or 24-hour assistance.

A qualifying veteran's property tax exemption passes to the surviving spouse while he or she remains unmarried and a Connecticut resident, including the base $1,000 state-mandated exemption plus available municipal income-based additional exemptions.

The resident surviving spouse or child of a Connecticut service member killed in action on or after September 11, 2001 may receive a tuition waiver at Connecticut public colleges and universities; the waiver covers tuition beyond VA assistance but not fees, books, or room and board.