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Mississippi — Veteran Benefits

Complete reference covering 58 benefit categories across 14 service tiers. Verify current eligibility with your County VSO before filing.

At a Glance — What Unlocks by Status / Rating

Veteran benefits unlocked at each service status and disability rating in Mississippi
Status / Rating Headline Benefits Unlocked
Active Duty In-state tuition (MCA §37-103-25); combat-zone pay exempt from MS income tax; Guard/Reserve $15,000 inactive-duty pay exemption; SEAP tuition assistance; CCW fee waiver; professional license expedite; paid military leave (state employees); MSRRA spouse income exemption
Guard / Reserve SEAP tuition assistance up to $10,000/yr at universities or $5,000/yr at community colleges; in-state tuition; PERS free military service credit (up to 4 yrs); professional license extensions during deployment; reemployment rights
Military Retiree All military retirement pay fully exempt from MS income tax (no cap, no age limit); SBP/RCSBP annuities not taxed; veteran DL designation
Veteran (honorable, no rating) In-state tuition; veteran DL designation; veteran specialty license plates; state employment preference (4 pts); 15% state park camping/lodging discount; reemployment/retraining rights; free vital records for VA claims; honorary high school diploma (WWII/Korean/Vietnam eras)
0% SC Same as above plus VA disability compensation not taxed by MS; CCW fee waiver (any SC percentage)
10–20% Same as 0% SC
30–40% Same as 10–20%; state civil service exam preference increases to 8 pts (30%+ SC or Purple Heart)
50–60% Same as 30–40%; business privilege tax exemption if annual income ≤$900 (MCA §27-15-237)
70–90% DAV plate at $1/yr (non-permanent, annual renewal); free admission to state veterans homes (no daily charge); CCW fee waiver
100% schedular Full homestead property tax exemption; DAV plate $1/yr (permanent-rated) or annual renewal (100% non-permanent); vehicle ad valorem tax exemption (up to 2 vehicles + 1 motorcycle); free hunting and fishing licenses; Patriot Scholarship for dependents (up to 10 semesters); state veterans home at no charge; CCW fee waiver
TDIU Same as 100% schedular — TDIU treated as 100% for MS state purposes, including free state veterans home ⚠️ verify with Mississippi DVA that your TDIU rating letter specifies individual unemployability
P&T All 100%/TDIU benefits plus: surviving spouse homestead tax exemption carries over; unremarried spouse eligible for DAV plate; CHAMPVA available for qualifying dependents (federal)
SMC (Housebound/A&A) All P&T benefits plus federal VA A&A/Housebound supplement (not taxed by MS); no additional state SMC supplement
Surviving spouse / dependents Homestead property tax exemption (unremarried); DAV/Purple Heart/MoH/POW plate (unremarried spouse, first plate tax-exempt where applicable); Patriot Scholarship (spouse/children of 40%+ rated veterans, ⚠️ threshold verify); POW/MIA children scholarship (8 semesters); interment at state veterans cemeteries; DIC not taxed by MS

Taxes

1. Property Tax — Primary Residence

Honorably discharged veteran with a VA service-connected **total disability (100%)** rating.
Verify locally: **Documents:** VA rating letter confirming 100% SC total disability + DD-214.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-33-75; §27-33-67

2. Property Tax — Vehicle / Personal Property

- Veterans with **100% permanent** SC disability — DAV plate up to 2 passenger vehicles/pickup trucks + 1 motorcycle. - Veterans with **70%+ non-permanent** SC disability — same DAV plate benefit; annual re-verification required.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-19-53; §27-51-41

3. Vehicle Sales / Use Tax

No enacted sales/use tax exemption for veterans on vehicle purchases as of 2026-05-30.

4. State Income Tax — Active Duty Military Pay

All active duty service members with Mississippi taxable income.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-7-15 (combat zone exclusion, follows federal); §33-7-403 (Guard/Reserve $15,000 exemption)

5. State Income Tax — Military Retirement Pay

All military retirees (active-component, Reserve, National Guard).

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-7-15(4)

6. State Income Tax — SBP Annuity

All SBP, RCSBP, and RSFPP annuity recipients.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-7-15; consistent with 10 U.S.C. §1450.

7. State Income Tax — General

Mississippi taxes personal income at a flat rate. Key exemptions relevant to veterans and military families:

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-7-15; federal MSRRA (Pub. L. 111-97).

8. Sales Tax Exemption

No enacted state sales tax exemption card program for veterans as of 2026-05-30. The Boyd Mason Act (HB 870, 2026; HB 1659, 2025) proposed a card-based $25,000/year exemption for 100% permanent SC disabled veterans — both bills died in committee. Monitor future sessions.

9. Other State Tax Breaks

**Business Privilege Tax Exemption (MCA §27-15-237):** - Eligibility: Age 65+, or blind, or deaf, or with limb loss; OR 50%+ SC disability with annual income of $900 or less. - Benefit: Exemption from specified state business privilege taxes on qualifying businesses.

Vehicle, Travel & ID

10. Vehicle Registration Fee

Veterans with 100% permanent SC disability, or 70%+ non-permanent SC disability, holding a DAV specialty plate.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-19-53

11. Disabled Veteran License Plates

**Disabled American Veteran (DAV) Plate:** - 100% permanent SC disability: permanent eligibility; $1/plate/year. - 70%+ non-permanent SC disability: annual renewal required with updated VA Benefit Summary Letter; $1/plate/year. - Coverage: up to 2 motor vehicles/pickup trucks + 1 motorcycle. - Unremarried surviving spouse eligible.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-19-53; §27-19-31; §27-19-81 (POW plate)

12. Other Veteran / Military Specialty Plates

Mississippi offers 30+ military and veteran specialty plates: - Branch-of-service plates (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force) — honorably discharged veterans; standard registration fees apply. - Combat Veteran plate — standard fees. - Gold Star Family plate — immediate family of service members KIA or who died in a combat zone; surviving spouse and mother first plate tax-exempt. - Various organization plates (VFW, American Legion, AMVETS, etc.) — standard fees.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-19-56 et seq.

13. Toll Road / Bridge Exemption

Mississippi has very limited toll infrastructure and no state law providing a general toll exemption for disabled veterans. Verify with MDOT (601-359-7001) if a specific facility applies to your travel.

14. Public Transit Discount

Not available in this jurisdiction.

15. Disabled Parking Privileges

Veterans with mobility-related disabilities meeting Mississippi's standard disability parking criteria (physician certification via DPS Form 76-104), or DAV plate holders whose disability causes mobility impairment.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-19-56

16. Driver License / State ID Fee

**Veteran designation:** Added to Mississippi DL or non-driver ID at no extra charge upon proof of honorable discharge (DD-214, retirement ID, VA medical/benefits ID, or NGB-22).
Verify locally: **DL fee waiver for 100% disabled veterans:** No confirmed statewide DL fee waiver for 100% P&T veterans identified. ⚠️ Verify locally with the Mississippi DPS Driver Service Bureau (601-987-1212) — some states add this benefit by policy rather than statute.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §63-1-43 et seq.

17. CDL Fee / Skills-Test Waiver

**CDL Skills Test Waiver:** - Mississippi participates in the federal FMCSA Military Skills Test Waiver program (49 CFR §383.77). - Eligibility: 2+ years operating heavy military vehicles comparable to a CDL class; apply within 12 months of separation (or while still serving in a CDL-equivalent role). - Benefit: Waiver of the CDL skills (driving) test; written knowledge test still required.
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify with Mississippi DPS (601-987-1212).

18. Veteran Designation on DL / ID

Any honorably discharged veteran.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §63-1-43

Outdoor Recreation

19. Hunting License

Mississippi resident veterans with **100% service-connected disability** (total disability rating).

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §49-7-5

20. Fishing License — Freshwater

Same as hunting — 100% SC disabled Mississippi residents.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §49-7-5

21. Fishing License — Saltwater

Same — 100% SC disabled Mississippi residents.
Verify locally: ⚠️ Confirm with MDWFP (601-432-2400) that saltwater-specific endorsements are included.

22. Combination Hunt/Fish License

100% SC disabled Mississippi residents.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §49-7-5

23. Trapping License

The §49-7-5 exemption covers "hunting or fishing" licenses; a separate trapping license may still be required. ⚠️ Verify with MDWFP (601-432-2400).

24. State Parks — Day Use / Entrance

All veterans (any discharge under honorable conditions) and active duty service members.
Verify locally: **Benefit:** The confirmed discount for veterans at Mississippi State Parks is **15% off camping and lodging rates** year-round (excluding holidays and special events). Whether the 15% discount also applies to day-use entrance fees is not confirmed in the MDWFP administrative code. ⚠️ Verify with MDWFP (601-432-2400) whether day-use admission is separately discounted.

Authority: MDWFP Administrative Code, Part 6, Rule 1.1 (2023, confirmed 2025).

25. State Parks — Camping

All veterans and active duty.
Verify locally: **Action item:** Show DD-214, military ID, or VA ID at check-in.

Authority: MDWFP Administrative Code, Part 6, Rule 1.1.

26. State Parks — Annual / Lifetime Pass

No dedicated veteran annual or lifetime park pass identified. Standard annual passes are available to all residents at standard rates. ⚠️ Verify with MDWFP for any new programs.

27. Boat / Watercraft Registration

No specific veteran boat registration fee exemption identified in Mississippi statutes. Standard boat registration fees apply through MDWFP. ⚠️ Verify with MDWFP (601-432-2400).

Education

28. In-State Tuition

Any person who is a veteran as defined in 38 U.S.C. (honorably discharged), or any person entitled to education benefits under Title 38 (Chapters 30, 33, 35, etc.) — regardless of state of residence.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §37-103-25; §37-103-17

29. Tuition Waiver — Disabled Veteran

Mississippi-resident honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected disability rating.
Verify locally: ⚠️ The exact lower threshold (stated as 40% in secondary sources) has not been confirmed in retrieved statutory text — verify with the Mississippi Adjutant General's office or Mississippi DVA before applying.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §37-106-41 (Patriot Scholarship, as amended through SB2752/2024 and SB2058/2025); administered by the Mississippi Department of Veterans Affairs.

30. Dependent Education Benefit

**Patriot Scholarship (children and stepchildren):** - Children and stepchildren of 100% P&T veterans: up to 10 semesters at in-state rates. - Children and stepchildren of approximately 40%–90% SC veterans: up to 6 semesters. ⚠️ Verify the 40% lower threshold with Mississippi DVA. - Eligibility ends upon adoption out of the family or divorce of the parent from the veteran. - Caps (effective July 1, 2025): same DoD TA cap and $2,000/semester textbook/fees limit.
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify the 40% lower threshold with Mississippi DVA.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §37-106-41; §37-108-1

31. Spouse Education Benefit

**Patriot Scholarship (spouses and unremarried surviving spouses):** - Unremarried surviving spouse of a 100% P&T veteran: up to 10 semesters at in-state rates. - Unremarried surviving spouse of an approximately 40%–90% SC disabled veteran: up to 6 semesters. ⚠️ Verify the 40% lower threshold. - Active spouses of 40%–99% rated veterans while the veteran is living may also qualify. - Forfeits benefit upon remarriage. - Caps (effective July 1, 2025): DoD TA cap on tuition; textbooks and fees capped at $2,000/semester.
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify the 40% lower threshold.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §37-106-41; §37-103-25

32. National Guard / Reserve Tuition Assistance

Active Mississippi National Guard members (enlisted E1–E6, officers O1–O4, warrant officers WO1–CW4); basic training completed; minimum 2.0 GPA for continuation; 10-year benefit window from eligibility date.
Verify locally: **Amounts (FY2025–2026):** | Institution type | Full-time per semester | Part-time per semester | Annual cap | |---|---|---|---| | 4-year colleges / universities | $5,000 | $2,500 | $10,000 | | 2-year community / junior colleges | $2,500 | $1,250 | $5,000 | | Vocational / credentialing programs | — | — | $10,000 per state fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) ⚠️ verify locally — figure confirmed in FY25 flyer | Must attend an accredited Mississippi institution.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §33-7-405; §33-7-407

33. K-12 Support

**Mississippi Military Star School Program:** - Schools apply for "Military Star School" designation through the Mississippi Department of Education (2-year cycles). - Designated schools have trained Military Points of Contact, flexible enrollment, and support systems for military-connected children.

Authority: MIC3 Interstate Compact as adopted by Mississippi Legislature; administered by Mississippi Department of Education.

34. State Student Loan / Scholarship

**Honorary High School Diplomas (MCA §37-16-13):** - Veterans who left school and were unable to complete their high school requirements due to military service: - Scheduled to graduate between **1941 and 1955** (WWII and Korean Conflict service); - Scheduled to graduate between **1963 and 1973** (Vietnam era, including Vietnam Service Ribbon recipients). - Benefit: Honorary diploma awarded by the veteran's school district; family members of deceased veterans may apply posthumously.
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify with the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid for any new programs.

Employment & Licensing

35. Veterans Hiring Preference

**Mississippi State Civil Service Examination Preference (Miss. Code Ann. Title 25, Chapter 9):**

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. Title 25, Chapter 9 (Veterans' Preference)

36. Professional License Fee Waiver

**Active duty service members and spouses assigned to Mississippi:** - Eligible for expedited processing of professional licenses in multiple regulated fields: teaching, accounting, cosmetology, engineering, real estate, medicine/nursing, and others. - Temporary licenses available during the application process for permanent licensure. - Military training and experience may count toward experience requirements per each licensing board's guidelines.

Authority: SB 2419 (2013, codified); Miss. Code Ann. §73-1-37 et seq.

37. Professional License Reciprocity — Military Spouse

Spouses of active duty service members on PCS orders to Mississippi.

Authority: SB 2419 (2013); Miss. Code Ann. §73-1-37 et seq.

38. Business License Fee Break

No statewide business license fee waiver specific to veterans identified. ⚠️ Verify with the Mississippi Secretary of State's office and individual municipalities, which may have local veteran business incentives.

39. Civil Service / Retirement Credit

**Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) Military Service Credit:**

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §25-11-105 (PERS); §33-1-19 (reemployment); PERS Regulation Chapter 49 (military service credit)

Housing & Financial

40. State Home Loan / Down-Payment Assistance

- Mississippi resident immediately prior to military service, or Mississippi resident for 2+ consecutive years before application date. - Honorable discharge (or other than dishonorable). - National Guard/Reserve: 6+ years of service or federal active duty under Title 10 orders. - Active duty: 2+ years Mississippi residency. - Unremarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died from service or service-connected injuries. - Must obtain a VA Certificate of Eligibility.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §35-7-1 et seq.

41. Financial Assistance / Emergency Relief

No dedicated Mississippi state veteran financial assistance or emergency grant program has been confirmed.
Verify locally: No dedicated Mississippi state veteran financial assistance or emergency grant program has been confirmed. ⚠️ Verify with Mississippi Department of Veterans Affairs (601-576-4850) for any new state programs.

42. State Veteran Bonus

Mississippi does not have a current state veteran service bonus or welcome-home bonus program. ⚠️ Verify with Mississippi Veterans Affairs; legislation is occasionally introduced.

43. Specially Adapted Housing — State Supplement

Not available in this jurisdiction.

44. Utility / Heating Assistance

Not available in this jurisdiction.

Health & Support

45. State Veterans Home / Nursing Home

- Honorably discharged veteran (DD-214 required). - Mississippi resident preferred; out-of-state veterans admitted if no Mississippi resident is on the waiting list. - Medical exam within 30 days (no communicable disease; no need for hospital-level care beyond facility capability; no dangerous behavioral issues). - Spouse of a current resident also eligible.
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify current daily rate directly with the individual facility — Medicaid and VA per-diem offsets may reduce out-of-pocket costs substantially.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §35-11-1 et seq.; msva.ms.gov/homes

46. Behavioral / Mental Health Programs

**VA Medical Facilities in Mississippi:** - G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center — Jackson, MS (full-service) - Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System — Biloxi, MS (full-service) - Multiple Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) statewide.
Verify locally: No confirmed Mississippi-specific state veteran mental health grant beyond VA programs. ⚠️ Verify with the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (601-359-1288).

47. Dental / Vision / Health Programs

Not available in this jurisdiction.

48. Long-Term Care / Aid & Attendance Supplement

**State Veterans Homes** (see §45) provide long-term skilled nursing care at no charge for veterans rated 70%+ SC or 100%/TDIU.

49. Free Legal Aid / Veteran Treatment Courts

**Mississippi Veterans Treatment Courts:** - Operate in multiple jurisdictions statewide (no mandatory statewide system; individual circuits establish them). - Designed for veterans facing criminal charges related to service-connected conditions (PTSD, TBI, substance abuse). - Judges consider military service and related trauma in sentencing and probation decisions. - Contact: Mississippi Bar Veterans and Military Law Section at msbar.org.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §9-23-1 et seq. (drug/veterans court framework); local court rules.

50. Concealed Carry / Firearms Fee Waiver

**Concealed Weapon Permit — Fee Waiver:** - Eligibility: Any Mississippi resident veteran with a **service-connected disability (any percentage)**. - Benefit: Complete exemption from the standard permit fee and all renewal fees (standard fee $132 is waived entirely). - Residency: 12 months Mississippi residency required (waivable for active duty stationed in MS, valid out-of-state permit holders establishing MS residency, or retired law enforcement). - Note: A $32 fingerprint processing fee still applies even with the fee waiver. - Proof: VA Health Services ID showing SC disability + VA Regional Office verification letter + notarized Disabled Veteran form in the application packet.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §45-9-101; §97-37-7

51. Vital Records / Notary Fee Waiver

**Free vital records for veterans establishing VA benefits claims:**
Verify locally: §35-3-13 | No confirmed notary fee waiver for veterans beyond the vital records program. ⚠️ Verify with county clerk for any local policy.

Legal & Administrative

52. Unique State Programs

**Support Animal Accommodations (MCA §43-6-155):** Veterans who are blind, mobility-impaired, PTSD-diagnosed, or hearing-impaired and use trained support animals are entitled to full public accommodations — conveyances, hotels, businesses, and public facilities. Support animal trainers have equivalent rights while training animals.

Survivor Benefits

53. Surviving Spouse — Property Tax

Unremarried surviving spouse of a 100% SC total disability veteran who held the homestead property tax exemption.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §27-33-75; §27-33-67

54. Surviving Spouse — Education

**Patriot Scholarship (surviving spouse):** - Unremarried surviving spouse of a 100% P&T veteran: up to 10 semesters at in-state rates at Mississippi public institutions. - Unremarried surviving spouse of an approximately 40%–90% SC veteran: up to 6 semesters. ⚠️ Verify 40% lower threshold with Mississippi DVA. - Forfeits benefit upon remarriage. - Caps (effective July 1, 2025): DoD TA cap on tuition; textbooks and fees capped at $2,000/semester.
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify 40% lower threshold with Mississippi DVA.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §37-106-41

55. Dependent / Survivor State Benefit

**Income tax treatment:** - DIC (Dependency and Indemnity Compensation) is not taxed by Mississippi. - SBP/RCSBP annuities to surviving spouses are not taxed by Mississippi.

Memorial & Burial

56. State Veterans Cemetery

- Veterans: Discharge other than dishonorable; DD-214 required. - National Guard/Reserve members: Qualify under the Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act (2021) as declarants. - Spouses: Eligible for interment. - Dependents: Unmarried children under 21; unmarried children under 23 if enrolled full-time; permanently disabled children (disability predating age 21).
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify current fee schedule directly with the cemetery — fees may have been updated. - Payment by cashier's check or money order; payment must be received before services begin.

Authority: Miss. Code Ann. §35-11-1 et seq.; msva.ms.gov/cemeteries; Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act (Pub. L. 117-168, 2022)

57. Burial Allowance / Plot

**Federal VA Burial Allowance (federal program — available to all Mississippi veterans):**
Verify locally: ⚠️ Verify with Mississippi Department of Veterans Affairs (601-576-4850).

58. Headstone / Memorial / Honors

**Provided through VA (federal — available to all Mississippi veterans at any cemetery):** - Government-furnished headstone, marker, or niche cover for any eligible veteran. - Burial flag (American flag) presented to next of kin or a close friend. - Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC) — formal document bearing the President's signature, honoring the veteran's service.

Authority: 38 U.S.C. §2306 (headstone/marker); 38 U.S.C. §2301 (burial flag); 38 U.S.C. §112 (PMC); Miss. Code Ann. §35-11-1 et seq. (state cemetery honors)