As one of the most veteran-friendly states in the country, Oklahoma offers an incredible range of benefits and resources for veterans, especially those with service-related disabilities.
For starter, the state fully exempts military pay from state income tax, including active duty, reserve and retired members. On top of that, Oklahoma offers an unique property tax exemption for disabled vets, which can make a huge difference in their day-to-day finances.
But the support doesn’t stop there. Aside from the big stuff like educational and career assistance to help with the transition to civilian life, Oklahoma also provides a wide range of transportation services for veterans with disabilities, making it much easier for them to get around and access essential services they need.
If you are a disabled vet or looking after a disabled vet living in Oklahoma, you’re in the right place. In this blog, we’ll share with you details about the available transportation services for veterans with disabilities across the state.
Veterans Transportation Program (VTP)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides various travel solutions under its Veterans Transportation Program (VTP) to help veterans access VA health care facilities. This program offers safe and reliable transportation services at little or no costs to eligible veterans through Beneficiary Travel (BT) and Veterans Transportation Service (VTS) in Oklahoma.
Beneficiary Travel (BT)
Eligible veterans can get reimbursed for the costs incurred when traveling to and from VA healthcare appointments through the BT program. This may include transportation costs, as well as approved meals and lodging expenses.
But it goes further than just reimbursements. This program can also provide pre-approved transportation solutions for veterans and arrange special mode transportation (SMT) when request by the VA. It may even provide common carrier transportation like buses, taxis, airlines or trains under certain qualifying conditions.
To qualify for the benefit, military veterans must travel for VA healthcare appointments or for authorized non VA appointments in your community. In addition, you must also need one of the following requirements:
Have a VA disability rating of 30% or higher, or
VA disability rating is below 30% but travel for treatment of a service-connected condition, or
Receive a VA pension, or
Have an income below the maximum annual VA pension rate, or
Can’t afford to pay for your travel, as defined by the program’s guidelines, or
Travel for one of these reasons: A scheduled VA claim exam (also called a compensation and pension, or C&P, exam), to get a service dog, or for VA-approved transplant care
For additional information, you can call the VA Oklahoma Beneficiary Travel Department at 405-456-5520.
Veterans Transportation Service (VTS)
The VTS in Oklahoma is a critical resource for disabled veterans and those without reliable transportation. It provides free and reliable transportation to the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee and Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa.
The VTS uses wheelchair-accessible vans and has drivers who are trained to assist passengers with special needs. The service is available to all enrolled veterans, but they prioritize those with disabilities, wheel-chair users, cancer patients, dialysis and amputee patients, and high-risk suicide cases.
You can simply schedule your rides 48 hours in advance by calling the VTS call center at 918-252-8030 (Tulsa) or 918-577-4215 (Muskogee). More details about the weekly transportation schedule and operating hours can be found here.
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Transportation Network
DAV is one of the largest veterans service organizations in the country. In Oklahoma, it provides free transportation to VA medical facilities for injured and ill veterans in Bartlesville, Catoosa, Glenpool, Hominy, Inola, Nowata, Owasso, Pawhuska, Poteau, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Skiatook and Tulsa.
You can use the DAV Hospital Service Coordinator Directory to contact the nearest Hospital Service Coordinator for information or assistance. To schedule a ride, please call 918-252-8020.
Local Public Transportation Services
Many cities in Oklahoma have public transit system that provide paratransit services for disabled individuals, including veterans. Such services may include door-to-door transportation, lift-equipped vehicles, reduced fares, and advance reservation requirements. Some of the locally available transportation services include:
EMBARK
EMBARK in Oklahoma city provides various transportation services, including special services for individuals with disabilities. In addition, EMBARK Plus Paratransit provides lift-equipped public transportation to individuals who are not functionally able to ride its fixed routes due to a disabling condition within specific area.
Tulsa Transit
Tulsa Transit also provides paratransit services for all individuals with disabilities, including disabled veterans. This includes door-to-door transportation and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Additionally, it has started to provide free transportation indefinitely to all veterans on their bus services since November 10th, 2023.
Meanwhile, Tulsa Transit also collaborates with groups like the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to facilitate transportation services for disabled veterans.
Additional Resources for Veterans
There are also community-based resources and organizations that provide transportation services to veterans. Here are a few examples:
Veterans Ride Connect
Veterans Ride Connect is a cooperative agency of community transportation providers which cover more than 29 counties in eastern Oklahoma. It supports all kinds of transportation needs, but with medical appointments as the top priority. Through its one-call/one-click system, you can easily schedule your ride by calling the Mobility Management Center at (855) 735-4826.
KI BOIS Community Action Foundation
KI BOIS Community Action Foundation is a community based organization serving southeastern Oklahoma. It offers transportation services to veterans through its KI BOIS Area Transit System (KATS), enabling them to access medical services, employment opportunities, and other vital services needed.
The transportation services are available across the 11 counties in southeastern Oklahoma, including Adair, Cherokee and Okfuskee counties.
Getting More Benefits as Veterans
As a veteran, qualifying for benefits like the Veterans Pension and Survivor Benefits Programs can open the door to accessing even more government support, including discounted or free mobile and internet services through the Lifeline Assistance Program (Lifeline).
Introducing Lifeline
Access to reliable, affordable mobile and internet connectivity is crucial, especially for veterans who may have limited mobility or live in rural areas.
Lifeline is a federally-funded program that provides affordable cell phone and internet service to low-income individuals and families, including veterans with disabilities. Eligible customers can receive a discount on Lifeline plans of $9.25 per month.
The good news is that when you are enrolled in Veterans Pension and Survivor Benefit Programs, you are automatically eligible for Lifeline benefits.
FREE Smartphone from EASY Wireless
And that’s not all. If you apply for Lifeline benefits through a participating service provider like EASY Wireless, you will score the EASY Wireless Unlimited Plan, which includes FREE unlimited data, talk, text and even a FREE smartphone if you meet specific conditions.
Drop by one of the EASY Wireless’s retail stores, or simply get started by clicking the link below to claim your Free cell phone:
See if you are eligible for FREE cell phone service, Click here!
EASY Rewards Program
EASY Wireless’ loyalty extends beyond just a free phone. With EASY Rewards, you can earn rewards over time by simply sticking with us! Once you have accumulated enough rewards in your account, you can use them for more upgrades, such as getting the latest internet connected devices for FREE again.
30 days to get your 1st $10 reward
3 months for another $10 reward
6 months get a $25 reward
12 months a big $50 reward!
Refer-a-Friend for Extra Benefits
If you have veteran friends who are looking for free phones and service plans, don’t hesitate to refer EASY Wireless’ services to them. The refer-a-friend program gives you a $25 account credit for every person you bring into the EASY family, credits that can go towards additional data or phone upgrades.
