From free tax preparation and legal help to free national park passes and discounts, here's a roundup of free services available to all veterans.
Beyond the major VA benefit programs, there's an ecosystem of free services and programs available to veterans that many don't take advantage of — often simply because they don't know these services exist. Here's a roundup of free resources that every veteran should be aware of.
Free tax preparation is available through the VA's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and through many Veterans Service Organizations. Trained volunteers prepare federal and state tax returns at no cost, and they understand military-specific tax situations like combat zone exclusions, moving expense deductions, and the tax treatment of VA disability compensation. Many VA medical centers host VITA sites during tax season.
Free legal assistance for veterans is provided by numerous organizations. Many state bar associations have veteran legal clinics that handle issues like discharge upgrades, benefits appeals, landlord-tenant disputes, and family law matters. Legal Aid societies in most areas provide free legal services to low-income veterans. Some law schools run veteran legal clinics where law students, supervised by professors, handle cases pro bono.
The America the Beautiful — National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is free for veterans and Gold Star families. This lifetime pass provides free access to over 2,000 federal recreation sites, including all national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Land Management lands. You can get it at any federal recreation site by showing your veteran ID, VA health ID card, or other proof of veteran status.
Free mental health resources beyond the VA include the Veterans Crisis Line (988, press 1), Vet Centers (over 300 locations providing free readjustment counseling), Give an Hour (a national network of mental health professionals providing free therapy to veterans), and numerous peer support programs run by veteran organizations.
Many companies offer year-round veteran discounts on everything from home improvement supplies to cell phone plans to restaurants. While not technically free, these discounts add up. Home Depot, Lowe's, T-Mobile, Verizon, and hundreds of restaurants and retailers offer 10-20% veteran discounts. Websites like VetVerify and ID.me make it easy to verify your veteran status for online discounts.
Free career services include the VA's Vocational Rehabilitation program, the Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), and numerous nonprofit organizations that provide resume writing, interview coaching, job placement, and professional networking for veterans. Many of these services are specifically designed to help translate military experience into civilian career qualifications.
None of these services require a VA disability rating or healthcare enrollment. If you served honorably, you have access to a wider network of support than you might realize.