Montana is home to more than 97,000 veterans — anchored by Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls and Fort Harrison near Helena — and the state provides property tax assistance, free college tuition for dependents of 100% P&T veterans, and growing military retirement tax exemptions. Here is the complete 2025 guide to Montana veterans benefits.
Montana presents a unique challenge for veterans benefits delivery: a state the size of Germany with fewer than 1.1 million people spread across vast distances, limited public transportation, and significant geographic barriers. Its 97,000-plus veterans are concentrated in a handful of communities — Great Falls (Malmstrom AFB), Helena (Fort Harrison, home of the Montana Veterans Affairs Division), Billings, Missoula, and Kalispell — but tens of thousands more live in rural counties where the nearest VA facility may be hours away.
Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls is home to the 341st Missile Wing, the only active-duty ICBM wing still utilizing the Minuteman III, and generates a significant veteran population in Cascade County and throughout central Montana. Fort Harrison near Helena serves as a joint military installation and is home to the Montana Army National Guard and the Montana Veterans Affairs Division headquarters.
Understanding the unique geographic context of Montana is essential to understanding how to use its veterans benefits effectively. Many Montana veterans need to be proactive about telehealth, community care referrals, and state benefit programs that can supplement VA care — because distance from a VA medical center is a real barrier, not an inconvenience.
Disabled veterans property tax assistance for income-qualified SC disabled veterans (MCA 15-6-311).
Children of veterans who died in service or are 100% P&T receive free tuition at Montana state universities.
Montana military retirement pay exemption is growing — partially deductible with a clear legislative trend toward full exemption.
Montana's rural geography makes VA telehealth and Community Care referrals especially critical for veterans across the state.
Montana provides property tax assistance for veterans with service-connected disabilities under Montana Code Annotated § 15-6-311. Unlike some states that provide an automatic full exemption at 100% P&T, Montana's program is structured as income-qualified assistance — meaning the benefit available to a given veteran depends on both their disability status and their household income.
Under MCA 15-6-311, Montana veterans with a service-connected disability rating who meet income thresholds set by the legislature are eligible for a reduction in property taxes on their primary residence. The income limits and maximum reduction amounts are adjusted by the legislature and may change from year to year — veterans should contact the Montana Department of Revenue for the most current thresholds and benefit amounts.
The program is particularly important for disabled veterans living on fixed incomes — VA disability compensation, military retirement pay, or Social Security — who may face property tax burdens that are difficult to sustain without assistance. Veterans who believe they may qualify should not assume the income limits are too low to apply; Montana's income thresholds are structured to reach a significant portion of the disabled veteran population.
Veterans with a 100% Permanent and Total service-connected disability rating are eligible for the most significant property tax reduction available under Montana's program. While the structure is income-qualified rather than an automatic full exemption like some states offer, veterans at 100% P&T with qualifying income levels can see substantial reductions in their property tax burden on their primary residence.
Montana veterans at 100% P&T should apply even if they believe their income may be too high — the income thresholds may be broader than expected, and the benefit is worth pursuing. Missing the application deadline means missing a year of relief.
If you are not yet at the disability rating that maximizes your property tax relief, every year matters. Use our Disability Rating Calculator to see whether you have conditions that could support a higher rating, then start your claim.
Montana's property tax assistance scales with your disability rating. Getting the rating you have earned is the most direct path to maximizing this benefit. Let us help you build the strongest possible claim.
Start Your Free Claim Review →Montana's treatment of military retirement pay has been a work in progress — and the trend is clearly in veterans' favor. Montana currently allows military retirement pay to be partially deducted from state taxable income, and the legislature has been actively working to expand this exemption over successive sessions.
Under current Montana law, military retirement pay receives a partial deduction from Montana state taxable income. The exact deduction amount and structure are subject to legislative changes — Montana veterans and retirees should consult the Montana Department of Revenue or a tax professional familiar with Montana military tax law for the most current figures when preparing state returns.
The direction of travel is encouraging: Montana has been progressively expanding its military retirement exemption as a veteran-friendly policy priority, with the goal of moving toward full exemption consistent with neighboring states. Idaho and Wyoming, for example, fully exempt military retirement, and Montana has faced competitive pressure to bring its treatment of military retirees into alignment.
For a Montana military retiree receiving $36,000 per year in retired pay, even a partial deduction produces meaningful savings. Montana's income tax rate ranges from approximately 1% to 6.75%, meaning a full exemption on $36,000 would represent roughly $2,400 in annual tax savings at the top rate. The current partial exemption delivers a portion of that benefit today, with legislative momentum toward the full figure.
Montana retirees should monitor annual state legislative developments on this issue, as changes can take effect for the tax year in which they are passed. Staying current with the Department of Revenue's military tax guidance page ensures you capture the full benefit available each year.
Use our State Benefits Comparison Tool to see how Montana's current and projected military retirement tax treatment compares to neighboring states you might be considering.
Montana provides meaningful education benefits for both veterans' dependents and active Guard members, centered on the Montana University System Waiver — one of the more generous dependent education programs in the region.
The Montana University System Waiver provides free tuition at Montana state universities and colleges for children of veterans who died in service or who have a 100% Permanent and Total service-connected disability rating. This is a significant benefit for families of Montana's most severely disabled veterans.
Eligible children can attend any institution in the Montana University System — including the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana State University in Bozeman, and the system's community and tribal colleges — at no tuition cost. The waiver covers tuition and required fees, which can amount to $7,000 to $12,000 or more per year at Montana's flagship universities.
Eligibility requirements include Montana residency, veteran parent meeting the qualifying disability or service-related death standard, and admission and academic standing at the chosen institution. Children must typically apply for the waiver through the Montana University System Board of Regents or directly through the financial aid office at their institution.
For veterans who are not yet at 100% P&T, this benefit represents an extremely strong reason to pursue a higher disability rating. A single successful claim that achieves 100% P&T does not just affect the veteran — it can open free college education for their children.
Active members of the Montana Army and Air National Guard are eligible for tuition assistance through the Montana National Guard's state tuition assistance program. This benefit helps Guard members offset the cost of attending Montana colleges and universities while managing the demands of military service.
Guard members should work through their unit education officer and the Montana Military Division to access and apply for tuition assistance. Eligibility and funding levels can vary based on current legislative appropriations, so members should confirm available benefit amounts before committing to enrollment plans.
The University of Montana in Missoula operates a dedicated veteran services office that provides comprehensive support to student veterans — including GI Bill certification, VA work-study program coordination, academic advising for veterans, and community support resources. UM has been consistently recognized as a Military Friendly School and serves a significant student veteran population given its location in western Montana.
Montana State University in Bozeman and Montana's other public institutions similarly provide veteran student services, with varying levels of dedicated staffing and program depth. Veterans considering Montana colleges should contact the financial aid and veteran services offices at their institution of interest to understand the full range of support available.
The Montana Veterans Affairs Division (MVAD), headquartered at Fort Harrison near Helena, is the state agency responsible for coordinating veterans benefits, operating state veterans facilities, and ensuring Montana veterans have access to the full range of state and federal programs they have earned.
The MVAD maintains accredited Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) throughout Montana who provide free claims assistance. These representatives help veterans file initial claims, gather supporting evidence, navigate appeals, and access state benefits programs. Given Montana's geographic challenges, VSOs play a particularly important role — many Montana veterans cannot easily travel to a VA regional office, and a VSO can serve as the critical intermediary between the veteran and the federal claims system.
VSOs are located in offices across the state, and many are available for phone or video consultations for veterans in remote areas. Contact the MVAD at Fort Harrison or visit the MVAD website to find the nearest VSO and schedule an appointment.
The Montana Veterans' Home is located in Columbia Falls in the Flathead Valley of northwestern Montana. The facility provides long-term skilled nursing care and residential services for eligible Montana veterans. Columbia Falls is near Glacier National Park and serves as the primary state-operated long-term care option for Montana veterans who need residential care.
Admission is based on veteran status, medical need, and available bed capacity. Applications are processed through the MVAD. Veterans and their families should contact the facility or MVAD well in advance of anticipated need, as availability at the Veterans' Home can be limited.
Montana's Veterans' Memorial Cemetery is located in Missoula and provides free burial benefits for eligible Montana veterans and their qualifying dependents. The cemetery is maintained at the state level and provides a dignified final resting place for those who served Montana and the nation.
Eligibility follows standard VA criteria: honorably discharged veterans, active-duty service members, and qualifying National Guard and Reserve members. Surviving spouses and dependent children of eligible veterans may also be interred at the cemetery. Families should contact the MVAD to initiate burial arrangements and confirm current eligibility requirements.
Montana provides meaningful employment advantages for veterans in state government hiring and through the state's workforce development programs.
Under Montana Code Annotated § 39-29-101, Montana provides a veterans preference point system for state civil service hiring:
This preference applies to initial hiring for Montana state government positions. Veterans pursuing careers in state agencies — including Montana Department of Transportation, Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Health and Human Services, and other state departments — benefit from this preference throughout the competitive hiring process. Veterans must submit their DD-214 and relevant VA disability documentation to claim preference points.
Through the federally-funded Jobs for Veterans State Grants program, Montana's American Job Centers provide dedicated Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists and Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) to help veterans connect with employment opportunities.
DVOP specialists focus on veterans with the most significant barriers to employment, including those with service-connected disabilities, recently separated veterans, and veterans experiencing homelessness or financial hardship. Montana Works offices are located across the state, and veterans should specifically ask to speak with the veterans employment specialist when visiting an American Job Center.
Montana is one of the most geographically remote states in the nation for VA healthcare access. The VA operates one full-service medical center — the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center near Helena — along with community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) in Billings, Great Falls, Missoula, Kalispell, Miles City, and a handful of other communities. But for the tens of thousands of Montana veterans living in rural counties — from the Hi-Line in the north to the southeastern plains — these facilities may be 100, 200, or even more miles away.
This geographic reality makes VA telehealth services especially critical for Montana veterans. The VA's telehealth programs — including VA Video Connect (VVC) for video appointments — allow eligible veterans to have mental health appointments, primary care follow-ups, specialty consultations, and medication management meetings from their home, eliminating many multi-hour drives to the nearest VA facility.
Under the MISSION Act, eligible Montana veterans may be entitled to receive care from non-VA community providers when certain criteria are met — including when VA care is not available within drive time or wait time standards. For many rural Montana veterans, the drive time standard alone may qualify them for community care referrals for certain specialties.
Montana veterans who have been waiting for VA appointments or driving long distances for care should ask their VA primary care team whether they qualify for Community Care referrals. Use our Community Care Tool to understand your eligibility and the referral process.
Under Montana Code Annotated § 87-2-804, Montana veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating are entitled to a free fishing and hunting license. In a state where outdoor recreation is a way of life and hunting and fishing licenses can cost hundreds of dollars annually, this benefit is genuinely significant for 100% SC disabled veterans.
The license is issued through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Veterans must provide proof of 100% service-connected disability (VA award letter) and proof of Montana residency. Licenses must be renewed annually, but at no cost to qualifying veterans.
Montana maintains a Veterans Emergency Fund to provide short-term financial assistance to Montana veterans and their families facing unexpected financial hardship. The fund can assist with utilities, rent, food, medical expenses, and other emergency needs. Veterans in crisis should contact the MVAD directly to inquire about emergency assistance availability.
The Emergency Fund is particularly valuable for veterans who are in the middle of VA claims processes — where delays of months or longer are common — and experiencing a gap in income or benefits. It can serve as a critical bridge during short-term emergencies while longer-term benefit decisions are pending.
Beyond the military retirement pay partial deduction, Montana provides additional income tax consideration for service members:
Montana's geographic challenges mean that veterans who do not proactively pursue their benefits may miss out on programs they have earned. Here is a practical roadmap:
From property tax relief to free college for your kids, Montana's best veteran benefits unlock at 100% P&T. Our team helps Montana veterans build the evidence-backed claims that get results.
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