Mississippi offers various benefits for veterans. On this page, you’ll find a concise overview of each of these benefits.
Mississippi State Veterans Homes
Mississippi administers four state veterans homes, located in Collins, Jackson, Kosciusko, and Oxford. Eligibility for admission extends to Mississippi residents with an other-than-dishonorable discharge. Additionally, spouses of veterans residing in these homes may qualify for admission. Out-of-state veterans can be admitted if there’s no waiting list for Mississippi residents. Veterans with a single rating of 70% or higher, as well as those rated 100% disabled or unemployable by the VA, are not charged for admission. Assistance may also be accessible for indigent veterans.
Mississippi Veteran Financial Benefits
Income Tax
Military retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are exempt from taxation.
Ad Valorem Tax
Veterans who have a service-connected, total disability and received an honorable discharge from military service are granted a full exemption from ad valorem taxes on the assessed value of their home. This exemption extends to their surviving spouses who have not remarried.
Mississippi Veterans’ Home Purchase Board
The Veterans’ Home Purchase Board offers low-interest mortgage loans, providing up to $400,000 for eligible veterans and unmarried surviving spouses. These loans can be utilized to purchase an existing single-family home or to construct a new one.
To qualify, the veteran must have been a resident of Mississippi before entering active duty or have been a resident for two consecutive years preceding the loan application. Additionally, the veteran must possess a Certificate of Eligibility for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs loan and must have received an honorable discharge.
Surviving spouses of eligible individuals who passed away due to service-related causes or injuries also qualify, as do un-remarried spouses of eligible veterans who have not purchased a home since the veteran’s death.
Mississippi Veteran Employment Preference
Veterans eligible for benefits who specify their veteran status on their state employment application are prioritized at the forefront of the list of qualified applicants, with disabled veterans given the highest priority.
Mississippi Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting and Fishing Licenses
Veterans with a complete service-connected disability from the VA are exempt from purchasing a hunting or fishing license. However, they must provide proof of age, residency, and disability status while engaging in hunting or fishing activities.
Concealed Weapon Permit Fee Exemption
Veterans with a service-connected disability are waived from concealed weapon permit fees and renewal fees. To be eligible, the veteran must have been a resident of the state for at least 12 months preceding the application. However, this residency requirement may be waived for veterans with a valid permit from another state, active military personnel stationed in Mississippi, or retired law enforcement officers establishing residency in the state.
Mississippi State Veterans Memorial Cemeteries
Mississippi maintains two veterans cemeteries located in Kilmichael and Newton. These cemeteries offer burial services for veterans, their spouses, and eligible dependent children.
Veteran burials are provided at no cost, while a fee is required for burying non-veteran spouses and eligible dependent children.
