An estimated 156,102 veterans live in Mississippi, making up 6.9% of the state's population or the 27th-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Mississippi Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax free.
Active-Duty Income Tax
Active-duty pay follows federal tax rules.
Mississippi Veteran Property Taxes
Veterans with a service-connected, total disability and an honorable discharge are exempt from ad valorem taxes on the assessed value of their home. Their unremarried surviving spouses may also claim the exemption.
Mississippi Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
State National Guard members receive tuition at a state institution to the extent allowed by the availability of funds, up to a maximum of $10,000 per year for full-time undergraduates.
Veterans present in the state pay in-state tuition, regardless of residency status.
Military Dependent Education
Children of veterans who were POW or MIA may receive an eight-semester scholarship, without cost, excluding books, food, supplies and fees for extracurricular activities, at a state institution.
Mississippi Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Veterans who indicate their veteran status on their state employment application are listed at the top of the list of eligible applicants, with disabled veterans at the very top.
Military Spouse Employment
No state benefits.
Mississippi Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Mississippi's veterans homes are in Biloxi, Collins, Jackson, Kosciusko and Oxford.
Mississippi residents with an other-than-dishonorable discharge may be eligible. Spouses of veterans who live in the home may also be eligible. Out-of-state veterans may be admitted if no Mississippi residents are waiting to accept a bed.
Homeless Veterans
No state benefits.
Adapted Housing
No specific benefits. See "Financial Assistance."
Mississippi Veteran Financial Assistance
Home loans: The Veterans' Home Purchase Board provides low-interest mortgages up to $400,000 for certain veterans and unmarried surviving spouses to buy a single-family home or build a new home.
Honorably discharged veterans must have been Mississippi residents prior to entering active duty or be residents for two consecutive years prior to applying for the loan; and must have a Certificate of Eligibility for a federal VA loan.
Unremarried surviving spouses of eligible veterans who died as a result of service or service-connected injuries qualify; as well as eligible veterans' unremarried spouses who have not purchased a home since the veteran's death.
Mississippi Veteran Legal Assistance
No state benefits.
Mississippi Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Veterans with a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) total service-connected disability rating don't have to buy or have in their possession a hunting or fishing license but must carry proof of their eligibility for the exemption.
Parks/Camping
Veterans and active service members receive 15% off camping and lodging, excluding holidays and special events, gulf views and primitive sites.
Mississippi Veteran Transportation Benefits
No state-funded transportation benefits. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) offers van rides to VA medical centers in many states and may be available in the states without a state-funded transportation benefit.
Mississippi Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
Mississippi's two veterans cemeteries are in Kilmichael and Newton. Veterans, their spouses and eligible dependent children may qualify.
Burial for veterans is free. Burial of non-veteran spouses and eligible dependent children requires a fee.
More Information
Visit the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board website for more information on any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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