FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE
Additional Benefits For Ohio Veterans
Ohio Veterans and their families may qualify for valuable state and federal benefits that can lower property taxes, reduce higher-education costs, and make homeownership more affordable. Understanding the Ohio disabled Veteran benefits available to you—from the enhanced homestead exemption to education scholarships and VA-backed home loans—can help you make the most of the benefits you’ve earned through military service.
Tax Relief
Property Tax Relief for Veterans in Ohio
- Qualifying disabled Veterans can reduce the taxable value of their primary residence. Ohio's enhanced homestead exemption provides qualifying disabled Veterans with a property-tax reduction based on $50,000 of the true value of their homestead, adjusted annually as provided by state law. The benefit applies to one owner-occupied homestead and, unlike Ohio's standard income-based homestead exemption, the disabled Veteran provision is not subject to the standard income test.
- Eligible surviving spouses can continue receiving the property-tax benefit. Ohio law extends the disabled Veteran homestead reduction to qualifying surviving spouses, provided the statutory eligibility requirements are satisfied. The reduction generally corresponds to the enhanced reduction available to the disabled Veteran and applies to one qualifying homestead.
Family Tuition Assistance
Education Benefits for Ohio Veterans & Families
- Children of severely disabled or deceased Veterans may qualify for an Ohio scholarship. The Ohio War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans' Children Scholarship provides undergraduate tuition assistance to eligible children of deceased or severely disabled Ohio Veterans who served during qualifying periods of war or conflict. Applicants generally must be Ohio residents, be at least 16 but under 25, meet the program's residency requirements, and demonstrate financial need.
- Ohio National Guard members can receive 100% tuition assistance. The Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program (ONGSP) covers 100% of tuition charges at participating Ohio public institutions for eligible courses leading to associate or bachelor's degrees, diploma-granting nursing programs, and approved trade certification, credential, or licensing programs. At participating private institutions, the program can pay an amount equal to 100% of the average tuition charged by Ohio public universities.
Home Financing
Home Loan Benefits for Ohio Veterans
- Eligible Ohio Veterans may be able to purchase a home without a down payment. VA-backed purchase loans can help eligible Veterans and service members buy, build, or improve a primary residence. VA generally requires no down payment when the sales price isn't higher than the home's appraised value, although borrowers must still meet VA and lender credit, income, occupancy, and other requirements.
- No monthly mortgage insurance can make homeownership more affordable. VA-backed purchase loans don't require private mortgage insurance (PMI) or mortgage insurance premiums (MIP). The program can also provide competitive interest rates and terms, fewer closing costs, and no penalty for paying the loan off early.
Sources
- Ohio Revised Code §323.152 — Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Reduction
- Ohio Department of Higher Education — 2026–27 War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans’ Children Scholarship Application
- Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5910 — War Orphans and Severely Disabled Veterans’ Children Scholarships
- Ohio National Guard — Education Programs and Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program
- Ohio Revised Code §5919.34 — Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — VA-Backed Purchase Loans