State benefit details verified against official state sources on September 27, 2026.
Overview
Mississippi’s state benefits are built around a total service-connected disability: that rating removes property tax on the homestead and replaces the hunting and fishing license with proof of status. The state also leaves nearly all retirement income untaxed. Mississippi Veterans Affairs (MSVA) runs four veterans nursing homes and certifies the County Veterans Service Officers who file claims locally.
Key benefits at a glance
| Benefit | Who qualifies | Amount / limit | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homestead ad valorem exemption | Honorably discharged veterans with total SC disability; unremarried surviving spouses | All ad valorem tax on the homestead’s assessed value | MSVA Benefit Book |
| Retirement income | Retirees who met plan retirement requirements | Generally not taxed | MS DOR |
| VA payments | VA beneficiaries | Not taxed | MS DOR |
| Guard and Reserve pay | Drilling Guard and Reserve members | First $15,000 excluded | MS DOR |
| Disabled American Veteran plate | 100% P&T, or 70%+; unmarried surviving spouse | $1 per plate or motorcycle tag | MSVA Benefit Book |
| Hunting and fishing | Total SC disability | No license required (carry proof) | MSVA Benefit Book |
| Veterans home daily charge | Nursing need from SC condition; 70%+ or 100% TDIU | No daily charge | MSVA Benefit Book |
| POW/MIA dependents scholarship | Children of Mississippi POW/MIA service members | Eight semesters at state colleges | MSVA Benefit Book |
Property tax relief
Per MSVA’s state benefits book, a veteran who has a total service-connected disability and was honorably discharged is exempt from all ad valorem taxes on the assessed value of the homestead. The exemption continues for an unremarried surviving spouse.
How to apply: file for homestead exemption with your county tax assessor and bring your VA letter showing a total (100%) service-connected rating along with your DD-214. Your County Veterans Service Officer can get you a current VA benefit letter if you don’t have one.
State income tax
The Mississippi Department of Revenue says:
- Retirement income, pensions and annuities are generally not taxed when the recipient met the plan’s retirement requirements. That covers military retirement. Early distributions don’t qualify.
- Payments from the Veterans’ Administration are not subject to Mississippi income tax, even if part would be taxable federally.
- Guard and Reserve members can exclude the first $15,000 of drill, annual training and state active duty pay.
Vehicle registration and plates
A Mississippi resident veteran rated 100% permanent and total, or 70% or higher (not P&T), can buy a Disabled American Veteran license plate or motorcycle tag each year for $1 each in total cost (MSVA). The unmarried surviving spouse keeps the privilege. Former POWs and Medal of Honor recipients get plates exempt from registration fees and privilege taxes, and a Purple Heart recipient gets one free plate.
Hunting and fishing licenses
Veterans with a total service-connected disability from the VA don’t have to buy a hunting or fishing license at all (MSVA). Instead, carry proof of age, residency and disability status whenever you hunt or fish.
Education benefits
Mississippi’s dependent education benefit is narrow. Children of a Mississippi service member officially listed as a prisoner of war or missing in action can receive an eight-semester scholarship at any state-supported college or university, covering costs other than books, food, supplies and activity fees (MSVA). Military personnel stationed in Mississippi pay in-state tuition, and the Adjutant General can pay tuition for eligible active Mississippi National Guard members.
Children and spouses of veterans rated permanent and total should look at federal DEA (Chapter 35) benefits. A CVSO can help you apply.
State veterans homes
MSVA operates four State Veterans Nursing Homes, each with 150 beds, in Collins, Jackson (4607 Lindbergh Drive), Kosciusko (310 Autumn Ridge Drive) and Oxford (120 Veterans Drive). Applicants must be current or former Mississippi residents with qualifying service and a discharge other than dishonorable; spouses of residents can also qualify. There is no daily charge for residents who need nursing care for a service-connected condition, or who are rated 70% or more or 100% through individual unemployability (MSVA).
Employment preference
The State Personnel Board marks applicants’ veteran or disabled veteran status on the eligible lists it sends to hiring agencies. In state layoffs, veterans get preference and disabled veterans get more (MSVA).
How to apply in Mississippi
- Get your VA letter showing a total rating (for property tax and hunting) or your exact percentage (for plates).
- See a County Veterans Service Officer. Every CVSO is certified annually by MSVA, and they file state and federal paperwork for free. MSVA’s central office is at 120 North State Street, Jackson (601-576-4850).
- Homestead: apply with your county tax assessor.
- Plates: apply at your county tax collector’s office.
- Veterans home: request an admission packet from MSVA or the home.
VA regional office and medical centers
The Jackson VA Regional Benefit Office is at 1600 E. Woodrow Wilson Ave., Jackson, MS 39216, next to the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center. That center’s clinics are in Columbus, Jackson, Greenville, Hattiesburg, Kosciusko, McComb, Meridian and Natchez. The coast is served by the Biloxi VA Medical Center (Gulf Coast VA Health Care System), and north Mississippi by Memphis VA clinics in Holly Springs and Tupelo.
Filing a federal VA claim
The claim process is federal and identical in every state: see how to file a VA claim, check your claim status, and current compensation rates. A CVSO can file for you at no cost.
If you are in crisis, call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do disabled veterans pay property tax on their home in Mississippi?
Not if the VA rates them totally disabled from service. Mississippi law exempts an honorably discharged veteran with a total service-connected disability from all ad valorem taxes on the assessed value of the homestead, and the exemption extends to the unremarried surviving spouse. Apply through your county tax assessor's homestead exemption process.
Does Mississippi tax military retirement or VA disability pay?
Generally no. The Mississippi Department of Revenue says retirement income, pensions and annuities are not subject to Mississippi income tax when the recipient has met the plan's retirement requirements, and Veterans' Administration payments are not taxed. Guard and Reserve members can also exclude the first $15,000 of drill and state active duty pay.
How much is a disabled veteran license plate in Mississippi?
A Mississippi resident veteran rated 100% permanent and total, or 70% or higher, and the unmarried surviving spouse, can buy Disabled American Veteran plates or a motorcycle tag each year for $1 each in total cost.
Do Mississippi disabled veterans need a hunting or fishing license?
Veterans with a total service-connected disability rating from the VA do not have to buy a hunting or fishing license, but must carry proof of age, residency and disability status while hunting or fishing.
Where are Mississippi's state veterans homes?
Mississippi Veterans Affairs runs four 150-bed State Veterans Nursing Homes in Collins, Jackson, Kosciusko and Oxford. There is no daily charge for residents who need nursing care for a service-connected condition or who are rated 70% or more, or 100% through individual unemployability.
Sources
Every rating percentage, diagnostic code, and dollar figure on this page is sourced from the references below. See our editorial policy for how we choose and verify sources.
- State Benefits for Mississippi Veterans, Dependents and Survivors (Benefit Book 2024-2025) — Mississippi Veterans Affairs
- Individual Income Tax Frequently Asked Questions — Mississippi Department of Revenue
- Mississippi Veterans Affairs — Mississippi Veterans Affairs
- Jackson VA Regional Benefit Office — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- VA Jackson Health Care Locations — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- VA Gulf Coast Health Care Locations — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- VA Memphis Health Care Locations — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Related Guides
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For personalized guidance, consult a VA-accredited VSO, attorney, or claims agent.