The Ultimate Guide to Arizona Veterans Benefits [Updated]

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In addition to federal benefits that are available to all eligible U.S. military veterans no matter where they live, each state offers additional benefits for veterans that are unique to that state.

The Arizona Department of Veteran Services offers some excellent special benefits and exemptions for veterans and their families!

What are the Top Arizona Veterans Benefits?

Arizona veteran benefits include:

• Income and property tax exemptions
• Education and training programs
• Financial exemptions
• Emergency financial help
• Employment help

Your military branch, career status, and disability status, as well as residence status can affect benefit eligibility.  

The Arizona Department of Veterans Services administers many of these benefits.

Read on for a rundown of the top Arizona veterans benefits!

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Arizona Veterans Benefits for Taxes

Military Active Duty Pay is Tax-Free in Arizona

Arizona does not tax active-duty military pay. You can subtract the amount you receive for active duty military service to the extent it is included in Arizona’s gross income.

Arizona State Tax Exemption on Retired Military Pay

Benefits, annuities, and pensions are exempt from Arizona gross income if they are from one of these funds or systems:

• The United States Government Service Retirement and Disability fund
• Retired or retainer pay for the uniformed services of the United States
• The United States Foreign Service Retirement and disability system 
• Any other retirement system or plan established by federal law.

Property Tax Exemptions for Arizona Veterans

Widows, widowers, and disabled military person’s property tax may be waived/exempt from taxation in certain cases.  

The assessed value of a property may be reduced by $4,117 or more with a corresponding reduction in tax. The exemption is applied to real estate first, then to a mobile home or an automobile. 

There is no state property tax in Arizona. Property tax is administered by county assessors. Valuations for the current tax year are available from the county assessor after January 1st of each year.  

Arizona Disabled Veteran Benefits: For disabled veterans and surviving spouses to be eligible for Arizona property tax exemptions:

• You must be a resident of Arizona.
• Total assessed valuation of property in Arizona must not exceed $27,970 for the 2021 tax year.
• Total income from all sources, excluding social security, cannot exceed $34,301 (this amount is indexed and changes each year). 
• If children under 18 years of age or disabled children reside in the household, income cannot exceed $41,151.

For exemptions based on disability, the disability must be total and permanent, and certified by a licensed physician.

For surviving spouses, the applicant and spouse must have been Arizona residents at the time of the spouse’s death, or the applicant must have been a surviving spouse residing in Arizona prior to January 1, 1969.

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Education Benefits

Arizona veteran benefits include many tuition and education benefits available to veterans living in Arizona! 

In-state Tuition Status for Veterans

Eligible veterans and dependents can be granted immediate residency, thereby receiving in-state tuition rates.

To be eligible, you must be a veteran, or a spouse or dependent of a veteran, who has been discharged within the last 36 months from a period of active duty that was 90 days or longer AND using either VA Chapter 30 or Chapter 33 benefits.

Learn more about Arizona In-state Tuition status for veterans.

Tuition and Fees Deferred at Arizona State Supported School

Any person who is eligible for and has applied for federal veterans’ education benefits under federal law may apply for a deferment of payment of tuition, fees and required books and materials for a period of up to 120 days.

An Arizona veteran or their dependents are eligible for this tuition waiver while awaiting federal education benefits.

Tuition waivers for Arizona Public Universities are also available to some veterans and dependents who are residents of the state or stationed in-state, including: 

• Children who are thirty years of age or younger or an un-remarried spouse of a service member who was killed in the line of duty, or who died from injuries suffered while traveling to or from duty.
• A member of the Arizona National Guard or Armed Forces who received a Purple Heart citation and whose disability rating is 50% or more.
• A former member of the Arizona National Guard who was medically discharged from the Arizona National Guard due to an injury or disability suffered during status under title 10, United States Code, in weekend training status, in annual training status or in response to a state of emergency declared by the governor.

Arizona National Guard State Tuition Reimbursement

Arizona State Tuition Reimbursement (STR) is a financial reimbursement program provided on a semester basis to eligible Arizona National Guard members for education programs in support of a service member’s professional and personal self-development goals. STR will pay up to $250 per semester hour not to exceed $4,000 per state fiscal year.

Spouses and dependents of members of the Arizona National Guard can also be eligible for state tuition reimbursement.

For eligibility requirements, call the Arizona National Guard Education Services Office at 602-267-2445.

Arizona’s Honorary Diploma Program for Wartime Veterans

Arizona’s Honorary Diploma program recognizes the life experiences and contributions of honorably discharged veterans who were unable to complete their high school education because of service in the Armed Forces during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. 

To obtain an honorary diploma, a veteran may submit a request to the Arizona Department of Veterans Services to receive a diploma from the Arizona high school of their choosing.

Additionally, guidelines allow for a surviving spouse or other immediate family member of a deceased veteran to request the diploma. 

To apply, complete the application and email to [email protected] or, return a printed copy of the completed form by postal mail to:

Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services 
3839 N 3rd St – Suite 209 
Phoenix, AZ 85012-1570
For questions about the program, email [email protected] or call 602-255-3373.

Arizona Purple Heart Tuition Waiver

The Arizona Purple Heart Tuition Waiver provides qualifying post-9/11 veterans with tuition-free education at any public state university or community college. 

To qualify, you must be a resident veteran who has at least a 50% VA disability and received a Purple Heart medal. Also eligible are dependent children under 30 and un-remarried spouses of AZ military members who were killed in the line of duty on or after September 11, 2001, and post 9/11 AZ guard members who were medically discharged or received a Purple Heart.

You must also be accepted to the school you would like to attend.

To apply, complete the Tuition Waiver and Verification Form and email it to [email protected].

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Arizona Veterans Benefits for Employment

Arizona State Employment Veterans Hiring Preference

Veterans who pass an examination for employment by the state, county, or city will have 5 points added to their certification score. Any veterans entitled to compensation for a service-connected disability will have 10 points added to their certification score. 

Spouses or surviving spouses (of a member of the United States Armed Forces serving no less than 90 days on active duty) may be given a 5-point preference if the veteran:

• Died of a service-connected disability
• Is missing in action
• Was captured, forcibly detained or interned by a foreign power; or
• Has total and permanent service-connected disability, or who died while such disability was in existence.

Wartime Veterans have a preference in employment with state agencies or offices, as do widows and children of those killed on active duty. State agencies must practice veterans’ preference until they have reached 40% Veteran employment.

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Arizona Veterans Benefits for Occupational Licensing

If you’re a member or a former member of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard or any other reserve component, you can apply military education, training or experience to the requirements for a professional license, certificate or registration if the regulating entity determines that the education, training or experience completely or partially meets those requirements.

You can see a full list of Arizona licensing boards on page 29 of the Arizona Veteran Benefits Guide.

The Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions 

The Arizona Department of Insurance partnered with the VA and ADVS to provide GI Bill coverage for pre-licensing insurance exam fees.

Arizona VA Benefits for Exams: You can learn more about having your GI Bill cover testing by visiting the VA website or by calling 888-442-4551.

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Arizona Veteran’s Tool Kit Program

The Arizona Department of Veteran Services created the Veteran Tool Kit Program to help unemployed veterans get supplies they need to start working.

Surveyed veterans repeatedly said they were ready to work but needed a few supplies to support a job start. Eligible items include work clothing, tools, protective equipment, transportation, and essential electronic devices.

Qualifying veterans must:

• Live in Arizona
• Be enrolled in an Arizona Job Connection with ARIZONA@WORK 
• Identify the job they need supplies for.

The Veteran Toolkit provides funding for supplies based on need. 

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Arizona Veterans Benefits for Family Emergency Relief

The Arizona Military Family Relief Fund provides financial assistance to the families of currently deployed service members, plus military and veteran families, for hardships caused by the service member’s deployment.

The lifetime financial assistance limit for service members, veterans, and their families is $20,000. Applicants can receive emergency assistance of up to $3,000 once in a lifetime.

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Arizona Veterans Benefits for Housing

Arizona veteran benefits include housing at several state veteran homes across.

Arizona State Veteran Home – Phoenix

ASVH-PHX is a 200-bed Medicare-certified, skilled-nursing care facility for eligible Arizona veterans, located in central Phoenix, near Indian School Rd and 3rd Street, at:

4141 North S. Herrera Way, Phoenix, AZ 85012 Telephone: 602-248-1550

ASVH-PHX serves the long-term care and rehabilitative needs of the veterans of Arizona, with energetic and caring staff whose members provide nursing, therapeutic recreation, and social services to those who have served our nation.

Arizona State Veteran Home – Tucson

Arizona’s newest State Veterans Home is located by the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (VA Hospital) in Tucson.

The address is 555 East Ajo Way, Tucson, AZ 85713. Their telephone number is 520-638-2150.

This facility is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility offering many amenities to Arizona’s veterans, such as private rooms, full baths, and selective dining in a home-like environment.

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Arizona VA Facilities

Veterans Health Administration – VISN 22: Desert Pacific Healthcare Network

Station ID	Facility	Address	Phone
649	Northern Arizona VA Health Care System	500 North Highway 89, Prescott, AZ 86313	928-445-4860 / 928-445-4860
644	Phoenix VA Health Care System	650 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85012	602-277-5551
678	Southern Arizona VA Health Care System	3601 South 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85723	520-792-1450
649	Chinle Comprehensive Care Facility (Indian Health Services)	Hwy 191 and Hospital Drive, Chinle, AZ 86503	928-674-7675
649GF	Holbrook VA Clinic	33 W. Vista Dr, Holbrook, AZ 86025	928-524-1050
649	Page VA Clinic	801 N Navajo Dr. Ste-B, Page, AZ 86040	928-645-4966
6381	Polacca VA Clinic	Highway 264 Mile Post 388, Polacca, AZ 86042	928-283-4465
649	Tuba City VA Clinic	167 N Main St P.O. Box 600, Tuba City, AZ 86045	928-283-4465
649GE	Anthem CBOC	41810 North Venture Dr., Bldg. B, Anthem, AZ 85086	623-249-2300 / 800-949-1005 X 2300
678GC	Casa Grande CBOC	1876 E. Sabin Drive, Building A Ste 15, Casa Grande, AZ 85122	520-836-2536
649GE	Cottonwood CBOC	501 S. Willard, Cottonwood, AZ 86326	928-649-1523
649GB	Flagstaff CBOC	1300 W. University Ave. Suite 200, Flagstaff, AZ 86001	928-226-1056 / 800-949-1005 X 5650
644GF	Globe-Miami VA Health Care Clinic	5860 S. Hospital Drive, Ste 111, Globe, AZ 85501-9449	928-425-0027
678GE	Green Valley CBOC	380 W. Vista Hermosa Drive #140, Green Valley, AZ 85614	520-399-2291
6425	Kayenta VA Clinic	394.3 Highway 160, Kayenta, AZ 86033	928-445-4860 X 3392 / 800-949-1005 X 3392
649GA	Kingman CBOC	2668 Hualapai Mountain Road, Kingman, AZ 86401	928-718-7300
649GC	Lake Havasu City CBOC	2035 Mesquite, Suite D, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403	928-505-7100 / 800-949-1005 X 7100
644GH	Midtown VA Clinic	5040 N 15th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85015	602-234-7080
644GG	Northeast VA Health Care Clinic	11390 E. Via Linda Rd., Ste. 105, Scottsdale, AZ 85259	480-579-2200
644GA	Northwest VA Health Care Clinic	13985 W. Grand Ave., Suite 101, Surprise, AZ 85374	623-251-2884
644GD	Payson VA Health Care Clinic	903 E Highway 260, Payson, AZ 85541	928-468-2100
678GD	Safford Clinic	355 N. 8th Avenue, Safford, AZ 85546	928-428-8010
644GB	Show Low VA Health Care Clinic	5171 Cub Lake Road, Suite C380, Show Low, AZ 85901	928-532-1069
678GA	Sierra Vista Clinic	101 N. Coronado Drive Suite A, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635	520-459-1529
644BY	Southeast VA Health Care Clinic	3285 S. Val Vista Dr., Gilbert, AZ 85297	480-397-2800
644GC	Southwest VA Health Care Clinic	9250 W. Thomas Rd., Ste 400, Phoenix, AZ 85037	623-772-4000
644GE	Thunderbird VA Health Care Clinic	9424 N. 25th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85021	602-633-6900
678GF	VA Northwest Tucson Clinic	2945 W. Ina Road, Tucson, AZ 85741	520-219-2418
678GG	VA Southeast Tucson Clinic	7395 S. Houghton Road Ste 129, Tucson, AZ 85747	520-664-1831
470-8262	Yuma Clinic	3111 S. 4th Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85364	928-317-9973
5161OS	Chinle Outstation	Navajo Route 7, Old BIA Complex-B59, Chinle, AZ 86503	844-286-7270
0518V	Dr. Cameron McKinley Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Center	3180 Stillwater Drive, Suite A, Prescott, AZ 86305	928-778-3469
5162OS	Hopi Outstation	P.O. Box 929, 1 Main St., Hotevilla, AZ 86030	928-734-5166
0536	Lake Havasu Vet Center	1720 Mesquite, Suite 101, Lake Havasu, AZ 86403	928-505-0394
0524	Mesa Vet Center	1303 South Longmore, Suite 5, Mesa, AZ 85202	480-610-6727
0517V	Phoenix Vet Center	4020 N. 20th St. #110, Phoenix, AZ 85016	602-640-2981
0521V	Tucson Vet Center	2525 E. Broadway Blvd Suite 100, Tucson, AZ 85716	520-882-0333
0533V	West Valley Vet Center	14050 N. 83rd Avenue Suite 170, Peoria, AZ 85381	623-398-8854
0537V	Yuma Vet Center	1450 E. 16th St, Suite 103, Yuma, AZ 85365	928-271-8700
678CG	Casa Grande Rural Health Care Coordination Center	1179 E. Cottonwood Lane, Suite 1, Casa Grande, AZ 85122	520-629-4801
678SV	Sierra Vista Rural Health Care Coordination Center	157 North Coronado Drive, Suite B, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635	520-629-4802

Veterans Benefits Administration – Pacific District

Station ID	Facility	Address	Phone
345	Phoenix Regional Office	3333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012	800-827-1000
345	Intake Site At Davis-Monthan Air Force Base	Benefits Counseling Office, Tucson, AZ 85723
345	Intake Site At Fort Huachuca	ACAP Center (ATZS-ESD-A) Building 22420, Room 1, Butler Road, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613
345	Intake Site At Luke Air Force Base	56 MSS/DFB Building 1113 7282 N 137th Avenue   Luke AFB, AZ 85309
345	Phoenix Regional Loan Center	3333 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012	800-827-1000
914	National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona	23029 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024	480-513-3600
900	Prescott National Cemetery	500 Highway 89 North, Prescott, AZ 86313	928-717-7569

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State of Arizona Veterans Benefits for Vehicle License Tax & Registration Fees

No license tax or registration fee is collected from any 100% service-connected disabled veteran for a personally owned vehicle.

A veteran residing in Arizona is also exempt from a vehicle license tax on a vehicle acquired by the veteran through financial aid from the VA. This also applies to the surviving spouse, if the veteran dies, until they remarry.

Get All the Arizona Veterans Benefits YOU Deserve

Regardless of what state you live in,  it’s important that veterans pursue the monthly compensation payments due them for disabilities connected to their military service.  

Most veterans are underrated for their disabilities and therefore not getting the compensation they deserve. 

At VA Claims Insider, we help veterans understand and take control of the claims process, so they can get the rating and compensation they’re owed by law.

Our process takes the guesswork out of filing a VA disability claim and supports you every step of the way in building a fully developed claim (FDC)—so you can increase your rating in less time!

If you’ve filed your VA disability claim and have been denied or have received a low rating—or you’re not sure how to get started—reach out to us and schedule your FREE VA Claims Insider Discovery Call!

This is a short but powerful call that will get you pointed in the direction of a winning VA claim.

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