State veteran benefits

Veteran Benefits in Mississippi

Mississippi offers a full homestead property tax exemption for qualifying totally disabled veterans and unremarried surviving spouses. Other benefits include education assistance, state veterans homes and preference in state hiring.

Checked against official state sources on October 2, 2026.

Free help in Mississippi

Mississippi Veterans Affairs

Provides services, care and assistance for Mississippi veterans and their dependents.

Agency website (opens in a new tab) · Phone: (601) 576-4850

Free help with VA claims

State Veterans Benefits Specialists answer claims and benefit questions at no cost. Use the official directory to find an office.

Find a local office (opens in a new tab)

Not sure what applies to you?

Answer seven questions and the Benefits Finder builds a checklist of federal and state benefits, deadlines and free help.

Open the Benefits Finder

Property tax relief

Disabled veteran homestead exemption

Who qualifies: Honorably discharged veterans classified as having service-connected total disability, and their unremarried surviving spouses, who qualify for homestead exemption.
What you get: Exempts the assessed value of the qualifying homestead from all ad valorem property taxes.
How to apply: Apply to the Tax Assessor in the county where the home is located between January 1 and April 1.

Official page (opens in a new tab) Miss. Code Ann. §§ 27-33-67 and 27-33-75

Sources (3)

Homestead Exemption (opens in a new tab), Mississippi Department of Revenue
State Benefits for Veterans (opens in a new tab), Mississippi Veterans Affairs
Property Tax Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab), Mississippi Department of Revenue

State income tax

Military retirement pay: Exempt

Military retirement income

Who qualifies: Military retirees who meet their retirement plan requirements.
What you get: Qualifying retirement income is generally exempt from Mississippi income tax.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (1)

Individual Income Tax Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab), Mississippi Department of Revenue

Education and tuition

Mississippi State University nonresident tuition waiver

Who qualifies: Military-connected nonresident students at Mississippi State University. Veterans must have an honorable discharge; service members and dependents may also qualify.
What you get: Waives the nonresident portion of tuition.
How to apply: Complete the nonresident waiver application.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (3)

Out-Of-State Waiver (opens in a new tab), Mississippi State University
MSU Tuition and Cost of Attendance (opens in a new tab), Mississippi State University
Frequently Asked Questions (opens in a new tab), Mississippi State University

State Education Assistance Program

Who qualifies: Mississippi National Guard members who completed basic training or joined ROTC's Simultaneous Membership Program, are registered Mississippi voters, serve in good standing through the semester and complete funded courses before their service ends. Students must meet the 2.0 GPA or vocational-course standard and attend accredited Mississippi undergraduate or career and technical programs.
What you get: Provides a general scholarship for eligible study, subject to state appropriations. Use ends ten years after the member's SEAP start date.
How to apply: Apply through the MSNG SEAP website. Deadlines are September 1 for fall, February 1 for spring and two weeks after the semester starts for summer.

Official page (opens in a new tab) MSNG Regulation 600-1

Sources (1)

MSNG Regulation 600-1, State Education Assistance Program (p. 1) (opens in a new tab), Mississippi National Guard

State jobs and hiring preference

Veterans' preference in state hiring

Who qualifies: Veterans and disabled veterans who are eligible applicants for state jobs.
What you get: Places veterans at the top of the eligible-applicant list, with disabled veterans ahead of other veterans.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (1)

Information for Veterans (opens in a new tab), Mississippi State Personnel Board

Licenses, plates and parks

Veteran designation on driver license or ID

Who qualifies: Veterans with supporting service documentation.
What you get: Adds a VET designation to the driver license or identification card.
How to apply: Present supporting documentation in person at a Driver Service Bureau station.

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (1)

Veteran Designation on Driver’s License / Identification Card (opens in a new tab), Mississippi Department of Public Safety

Emergency financial help

We could not confirm this from an official source yet. Ask Mississippi Veterans Affairs or a free veterans service officer what applies to you.

State veterans homes

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (1)

Veterans Homes (opens in a new tab), Mississippi Veterans Affairs

State veterans cemeteries

Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Kilmichael

Location: Kilmichael

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (1)

Veterans Memorial Cemeteries (opens in a new tab), Mississippi Veterans Affairs

Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Newton

Location: Newton

Official page (opens in a new tab)

Sources (1)

Veterans Memorial Cemeteries (opens in a new tab), Mississippi Veterans Affairs

Before you apply

This page summarizes state law and agency guidance as checked on October 2, 2026. It is general information, not legal or tax advice. Eligibility depends on your records, and laws change, so confirm the details on the official page linked with each benefit, or ask a free accredited representative. This page covers the main state programs. Your county veterans service officer can tell you about smaller or local benefits.

Federal VA benefits apply in every state. See the Veteran Resource Directory and the Benefits Finder.