We are privately owned and not affiliated or endorsed by any government agency.

South Carolina Veteran Benefits

Tuition Waiver, Disabled Veterans Benefits, South Carolina Hunting License and more

Featured image for South Carolina Veteran benefits: South Carolina Income Tax Exemption for Veterans, SC VA Tuition Waiver, Operation Palmetto Employment, South Carolina Hunting License for Veterans, South Carolina Fishing License for Veterans and State Veterans Homes

Table of Contents

South Carolina is a state that honors its Veterans through a variety of supportive programs and opportunities. Some of these benefits include tax exemptions, employment preferences, educational assistance, and access to state services and resources. There are also opportunities through South Carolina Veteran benefits programs for the SC VA tuition waiver, the SC tax exemptions for disabled Veterans, and a special South Carolina hunting license for Veterans. The Veterans Administration Columbia South Carolina Office also works in conjunction with state-level Veterans services to bring these benefits to South Carolina Veterans and Servicemembers.

South Carolina Veteran Financial Benefits

South Carolina offers various financial benefits to Veterans, including property tax exemptions, income tax deductions for military retirement pay, state employment preference, and free hunting and fishing licenses for disabled Veterans, as well as tuition assistance for certain war Veterans’ children. Some South Carolina Veterans benefits include the SC tax exemption for disabled Veterans, as well as the South Carolina disabled Veteran property tax exemption.

Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption

Veterans who have a total and/or permanent service-connected disability qualify for several disabled Veterans benefits in South Carolina, including a specific property tax exemption. Also eligible are Medal of Honor recipients, former prisoners of war, and surviving spouses. The exemption is retroactive to 2022. The exemption applies to home and land, up to five acres, and up to two privately owned passenger vehicles. For spouses only, this applies only to one vehicle.

Income Tax Exemption for Veterans

The South Carolina income tax exemption for Veterans provides exemptions for military retired pay, with a $3,000 exemption until age 65 and $10,000 of retirement pay exempt at age 65 or older. Also included in these exemptions are any grants for motor vehicles and equipment for disabled Veterans in need of this equipment, any benefits under a dependent care assistance program, and grants for ADA-compliant homes.

South Carolina Veteran Education Benefits

South Carolina Veteran benefits for education offer several opportunities for military families, in addition to benefits offered through the GI Bill. South Carolina offers several education benefits for Veterans and their families, including the South Carolina National Guard College Assistance Program, free tuition for children of certain war Veterans, and in-state tuition rates for eligible Veterans and dependents. While this program covers 100% of tuition, or up to $5,500 annually, there is a lifetime cap of $22,000 per Servicemember. Primarily, however, SC Veterans receive education benefits through the Veterans Administration and the GI Bill, although several programs help Veterans access these benefits. Several disabled Veterans benefits in South Carolina aim to help Veterans with service-connected disabilities utilize grants and other forms of funding on top of federal benefits for education costs.

Tuition Waiver for Certain Veteran’s Children

There is an SC SC VA tuition waiver for the children of qualifying Veterans. The “Tuition Assistance for Certain War Veterans’ Children” provides free tuition at state-supported institutions for eligible children of certain war Veterans, including those who died or became permanently disabled during service. To be eligible, an applicant must be the child of a Veteran who served in wartime or active duty, received an honorable discharge, and was a resident of South Carolina or a resident for at least one year before a deceased Veteran’s death. The child must have been raised in South Carolina, be 26 or younger, enrolled in a state-supported educational facility, and maintain satisfactory work and conduct.

South Carolina Veteran Employment Benefits

The South Carolina Veteran benefits program includes many employment benefits for Veterans. South Carolina offers Veterans hiring preferences for state positions, access to the Operation Palmetto Employment program for job placement, and utilizes SC Works Centers for career services. These centers provide career coaching, resume workshops, and referrals to help Veterans find employment. There is also the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program, administered by the VA, which provides training and rehabilitation for Veterans with service-connected disabilities to increase their employment opportunities, which works alongside the Veterans Administration Columbia South Carolina office. Servicemembers also get paid military leave from civilian jobs, retirement credit for military service, and the right to reemployment when returning from active duty deployment.

Veterans Hiring Preference

Veterans with honorable discharges receive a hiring preference for state positions, provided they meet the knowledge and skill requirements. This program ensures that at least one qualified Veteran is interviewed for every full-time equivalent position posted, unless no qualified Veterans apply. To be eligible, Veterans must have served on active duty, be discharged under honorable conditions, and meet the position’s minimum qualifications.

South Carolina Operation Palmetto Employment

This program helps Veterans find and maintain employment, offering job preference and early application access to jobs through an online portal. It is a statewide initiative in South Carolina that aims to help Servicemembers, their family members, and qualified Veterans find civilian careers by simplifying the employment process and leveraging any military expertise or acquired skills. 

South Carolina Veteran Health Insurance Benefits

The state of South Carolina primarily relies on the federal VA healthcare system for their Veterans and Servicemembers to access healthcare. South Carolina Veterans Benefits Programs typically work to connect Veterans with these benefits, especially during the sign-up process. The South Carolina Veterans hospital in Charleston is the largest in the state. Also, as part of the SC state Veterans benefits, there are programs for the South Carolina National Guard, which include compensation and medical treatment for those injured in the line of duty, as well as life insurance.

South Carolina Veteran Home Benefits

There are several home-related benefits for Veterans in South Carolina, ranging from home loans to the Veterans retirement homes within the state. South Carolina Veterans benefits already offer the various property tax exemptions mentioned above, many of which work in conjunction with VA-backed home loans. These home loans offer low interest rates, reduced or no down payment, and many other favorable loans. The VA regional office South Carolina location has benefit specialists who can point Veterans to reputable financial institutions that issue these home loans.

South Carolina State Veterans Homes

South Carolina has six state-run Veteran home facilities: Veterans Victory House, Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home, Veteran Village, Palmetto Patriots Home, Patriot’s Village, and E. Roy Stone Veterans Pavilion. They offer several aspects of care for elderly Veterans and their spouses, including 24-hour physician coverage, activity therapy, physical therapy, occupational and speech therapy, skilled nursing, chaplain services, and on-site laundry. To be eligible for South Carolina’s state Veterans homes, Veterans must have served on active duty, have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions, be South Carolina residents for at least 12 months, and meet the Veterans Administration criteria for long-term nursing care.

South Carolina Veteran Parks and Recreation Benefits

The state of South Carolina offers its resident Veterans many opportunities for outdoor recreation. The state provides a South Carolina hunting license for Veterans and a South Carolina state park pass for Veterans as part of its South Carolina Veteran benefits program. These programs offer free and discounted rates for the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses, as well as free and discounted state park passes, particularly for disabled Veterans.

South Carolina State Park Pass for Veterans

The South Carolina State Parks offer the All Park Passport at $49.50 for Veterans and Servicemembers. This entitles them to free park admission for themselves and up to four others per visit and a hangtag that can be transferred between vehicles for free parking. All Servicemembers are eligible with proof of military service or honorable discharge papers.

South Carolina Hunting & Fishing License for Veterans

South Carolina offers free, 3-year Disability Combination and Disability Fishing licenses to resident Veterans who are totally disabled and receive disability benefits from the VA, Social Security, or other qualifying agencies. These licenses cover saltwater and freshwater fishing for the fishing license and hunting for big game and fowl with the combination license. The combination license also includes extra deer and turkey tags each year.

South Carolina Veterans Cemeteries

South Carolina has three national cemeteries for Veterans and their eligible dependents: Beaufort National Cemetery, Florence National Cemetery, and Fort Jackson National Cemetery. These final resting places for Veterans and their spouses offer several services as part of the overall South Carolina Veterans benefits services, including casket interment and cremation remains interment. In South Carolina, eligibility for burial in a state Veterans cemetery generally includes Veterans with an honorable discharge and their spouses and dependents, though specific requirements may vary by cemetery. Some cemeteries have residency requirements, such as being a South Carolina resident for at least a year prior to death. All require proof of service, typically the DD214 military discharge papers.

The SC state Veterans benefits aim to show Veterans and their families the appreciation of the state and the country for their service by offering these various benefits. The South Carolina Department of Veterans Affairs works in conjunction with the VA to provide these programs, such as the South Carolina income tax exemption for Veterans, as a way to ease financial and educational burdens on military families, as well as provide special treatment and recognition for those who made the choice to serve the country.