VETERANS PRESS: Benefits for Purple Heart recipients

Purple Heart awardees, honored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), receive a range of VA benefits, including:

• Prioritized health care

• Streamlined VA disability claims

• Additional Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits

• VA funding fee exemptions for home loans

• State-specific Purple Heart benefits

Prioritized health care benefits

Purple Heart recipients are prioritized in health care for timely, co-payment-free access to medical services. 

Streamlined VA disability claims

The Purple Heart streamlines VA compensation claims as a combat medal, requiring less evidence for lay statements. 

Additional Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits

Purple Heart recipients qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, including the Yellow Ribbon Program for additional support in covering tuition and fees beyond the bill’s scope. 

VA funding fee exemptions for home loans

Purple Heart recipients are exempt from the VA funding fee for home loans based on their Purple Heart award.

Note: Certain non-Purple Heart recipients (including disabled veterans and surviving spouses of veterans receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)) may also be exempt from VA funding fees. 

Purple Heart benefits by state

Many states offer further support to Purple Heart veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors by offering other state-specific Purple Heart benefits.        

Idaho: If you’re a veteran from Idaho, you could qualify for several state-related benefits. First, you’ll receive 10 points toward your preference eligibility and applying to federal job positions.

Second, you qualify for the Idaho Purple Heart license plate. You can have two free sets of license plates if you so choose.

Washington: Washington residents qualify for the special state Purple Heart license plate. The first set is free, and you can personalize it.