StanRTA Medivan: Free Rides for Veterans to Bay Area VA Hospitals
The Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority's Medivan takes passengers from the Modesto Transit Center to Bay Area medical centers on weekdays, including the VA hospitals in Palo…
VetTOC · Veteran benefits reference
Stanislaus County, California
Free help with a VA claim
- Stanislaus County Veterans Services Office. Stanislaus County's Veterans Services Office, in the Department of Aging and Veterans Services at the Stanislaus Veterans Center in Modesto, helps veterans, dependents and survivors with VA and CalVet claims up to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, with walk-in hours Monday to Thursday. Call 209-558-7380. www.stancounty.com/vets
- California County Veterans Service Offices. Every county can appoint a county veterans service officer, paid partly by CalVet, who must help any veteran or dependent with a federal or state claim for free. From January 1, 2027 a vacancy must be filled within 12 months and the officer accredited within nine. leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=MVC§ionNum=970.
Find a VA-accredited representative: www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/find-rep
Stanislaus County benefits
Stanislaus County Assessor: Disabled Veterans' Exemption
The Stanislaus County Assessor's page says only that a veteran with "a service-connected disability" may be eligible and gives no amounts.
Gate: 100% or compensated at 100% for unemployability
Stanislaus County Parks: Half-Price Reservoirs and $5 Veterans Day Camping
Stanislaus County Parks gives veterans half off day use, vessel and camping fees at Modesto and Woodward Reservoirs, camping for $5 a night from November 1 to 14, and a dollar…
Stanislaus County Veterans Treatment Court
Stanislaus County's Veterans Treatment Court is a collaborative, treatment-based court for veterans whose PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, substance use or…
California benefits that apply here
CalVet Home Loan
A home loan the state originates and services itself, for a home in California, open after 90 days of active duty (not training) with a discharge under honorable conditions and…
California College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents
Mandatory systemwide tuition and fees waived at any California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus, for the child, spouse, or…
California County Burial of Indigent Veterans
Each county must designate a veteran or veterans remains organization to give a decent burial, outside any pauper section, to an indigent, abandoned or unclaimed veteran or…
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=MVC§ionNum=942.
California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Program
State departments carry a participation goal of at least 3% of annual contract dollars for certified disabled veteran business enterprises, and bids that propose DVBE…
Gate: At least a 10% service-connected disability, domiciled in California
www.dgs.ca.gov/-/media/Divisions/PD/OSDS/Certification/DVBE/DVBEProgramRequirements.pdf
California Disabled Veteran License Plates and Registration Fee Exemption
Disabled Veteran plates on one vehicle, with registration and license fees waived on that vehicle, plus disabled parking privileges.
Gate: 100% rated for a condition that impairs mobility
California Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption
For the January 1, 2026 lien date, $180,671 comes off the assessed value of the home a disabled veteran lives in, or $271,009 when household income is $81,131 or less.
Gate: 100% service-connected; Compensation at the 100% rate for unemployability
California Distinguished Veteran Pass
A free pass covering vehicle day use, family camping, and boat use at over 100 California State Parks units, for a California resident veteran with a 50% or higher wartime…
Gate: Combined rating of 50% or greater, incurred during wartime
California Free Recording and Copies of Discharge Papers
No public office in California may charge to record, index or certify a DD-214 or other discharge document, or for a certified record used in a VA or state veterans benefit claim.
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV§ionNum=6107.
California Military Diversion and Veterans Sentencing
A current or former service member charged with a crime and suffering from PTSD, TBI, military sexual trauma, substance abuse or a mental health problem from service can get up…
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=1001.80.
California Military Retirement and Survivor Benefit Income Exclusion
For tax years 2025 through 2029, up to $20,000 of uniformed-services retired pay or Survivor Benefit Plan annuity income is excluded from California taxable income, for a filer…
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=RTC§ionNum=17132.9
California Pets for Vets: No Adoption Fee at Public Shelters
Every California public animal shelter must waive the adoption fee for a dog or cat when the adopter shows a driver licence or ID card marked VETERAN.
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAC§ionNum=30505.
California Reduced-Fee Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled Veterans
A 365-day sport fishing license for $10.54 in 2026, against $64.54 for a resident license, plus a matching reduced-fee hunting license, for a veteran with a 50% or higher…
Gate: Service-connected rating of 50% or greater
California State Veterans Cemeteries
Three state veterans cemeteries, at Igo near Redding, at Yountville, and at Seaside on the central coast. Burial is free for the eligible veteran.
www.calvet.ca.gov/VetServices/Pages/State-Veterans-Cemeteries.aspx
California Veteran Business License Fee Exemptions for Vendors and Sole Proprietors
A veteran with an honorable discharge, or a release from active duty under honorable conditions, can hawk, peddle and vend goods the veteran owns without paying any license, tax…
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=16001.7
California Veteran Designation on a Driver License or ID Card
The word VETERAN on the front of a California driver license or identification card.
California Veterans' Preference for State Civil Service Jobs
Passing an open state civil service examination places an eligible veteran in rank 1 of the eligibility list, whatever the score.
calcareers.ca.gov/CalHRPublic/Landing/Jobs/VeteransInformation.aspx
California Veterans' Property Tax Exemption
A $4,000 exemption for a wartime or campaign veteran, a surviving spouse, or a qualifying parent.
Veterans Homes of California
Eight state veterans homes running independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.
79 federal benefits apply here as well and are left off this page; the place page lists them.