South Carolina VA Disability Benefits & Resources for Veterans

South Carolina’s disabled-veteran benefits center on one status: a VA finding that you are permanently and totally (P&T) disabled from a service-connected disability. That status unlocks the property tax exemption on your home and two vehicles, the Disabled Veteran plate and, for your children, a tuition waiver. Military retirement pay is fully deductible at any age.

State benefit details verified against official state sources on September 27, 2026.

Key South Carolina Benefits at a Glance

Property Tax Exemption

Who qualifies: Veterans the VA has rated totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected disability can claim a full property tax exemption on:

• their home and land, up to five acres, and
• up to two private passenger vehicles they own or lease.

The home must be owned solely or jointly with a spouse and must already have the 4% owner-occupied legal residence ratio from the county assessor. A vehicle solely in your spouse’s name can qualify if your spouse lives with you and the vehicle is registered at the same address. It counts toward the two-vehicle limit.

Surviving spouses: A surviving spouse can keep the home exemption while unmarried and living in a home they own. They can also claim one vehicle. Since the 2024 expansion, a surviving spouse can claim the exemption even if the veteran never applied. Spouses who move to South Carolina after the veteran’s death can claim the vehicle exemption.

Retroactive claims: You can claim the exemption beginning with the year the disability occurs or the year you acquire the property, whichever is later. Claims must be received within two years of the date the taxes were paid. Include paid tax receipts if you want refunds.

How to apply:

1. Get a certificate from VA or your county veterans’ affairs officer showing permanent and total service-connected disability and its effective date. SC DOR says a VA rating decision letter alone does not meet the legal requirement.
2. Apply online through MyDORWAY (Exempt Property Application), or by mail or in person on form PT-401-I. Include your recorded deed, proof of legal residence approval from the county assessor, vehicle registration or title, and a marriage certificate if property is jointly owned.
3. For questions, call SC DOR at 803-898-5700 or email [email protected]. Vehicles bought or registered out of state require paying the tax up front; if approved, you can seek a refund from the county.

Medal of Honor recipients and qualifying former POWs have a separate exemption covering the home and up to one acre, plus two vehicles.

State Taxes

Under S.C. Code § 12-6-1171, you can deduct all military retirement income included in South Carolina taxable income, regardless of age, beginning in tax year 2022. A surviving spouse receiving military retirement from a deceased spouse can take the same deduction. SCDVA also lists VA pensions and compensation as excluded from South Carolina income tax. Reserve and National Guard retirement pay and most drill pay are excluded as well.

Vehicles

Disabled Veteran plates (S.C. Code § 56-3-14940): The SCDMV issues Disabled Veteran, Disabled Veteran (wheelchair), Disabled Female Veteran and Disabled Female Veteran (wheelchair) plates.

• Who qualifies: Veterans considered totally and permanently disabled from a service-connected disability. You must be a registrant of the vehicle, and your application needs a VA letter showing your disability rating. The wheelchair versions also require qualifying for handicapped parking.
• Fees: The plates are exempt from the regular registration fee and renew every two years. Up to three plates can be issued.

South Carolina’s older free-registration law for disabled veterans (former §§ 56-3-1110 to 1130) was repealed effective May 6, 2022 and replaced by this section.

Hunting and Fishing

Under S.C. Code § 50-9-525, a resident who receives disability benefits from the Veterans Administration can get a three-year disability combination license or disability fishing license at no cost. So can residents on Social Security, Civil Service Retirement, SC Retirement System, Railroad Retirement or Medicaid disability.

• Residency: You must have been domiciled in South Carolina for 365 days.
• How to apply: Mail SC DNR’s Disability License application with a copy of your SC driver’s license or ID and disability certification dated within the past 12 months. Contact SC DNR licensing at 803-734-4367.
• What’s included: The combination license covers freshwater and saltwater fishing, state hunting, big game, WMA and migratory waterfowl privileges. Qualifying holders are mailed a free base set of deer tags. Renew every three years with updated disability proof.

Education

SC Tuition Assistance for Certain War Veterans’ Children gives a tuition waiver at South Carolina state-supported colleges, universities and technical schools. The student must meet residency rules, be 26 or younger and be pursuing an undergraduate degree. The parent must have served during a federally defined war period and:

• was killed in action, died in service or died of a service-connected disability; or
• was a POW or is MIA; or
• is permanently and totally disabled from any cause, as determined by VA; or
• received the Medal of Honor or a Purple Heart for combat wounds.

Apply online through SCDVA’s Education page. Paper applications aren’t accepted, and processing takes about 2 to 6 weeks. The benefit starts on the date SCDVA receives your application and isn’t retroactive.

State Veterans Homes

SCDVA lists six state veterans homes. Admission is for South Carolina residents separated under general or honorable conditions who need skilled or intermediate nursing care.

• E. Roy Stone Veterans Pavilion, Columbia
• Veterans’ Victory House, Walterboro
• Richard Michael Campbell Veterans Home, Anderson
• Veteran Village, Florence
• Palmetto Patriots Home, Gaffney
• Patriot’s Village, Sumter

Apply through your county veterans’ affairs officer or the home directly. The state also runs the M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery in Anderson.

State Parks

A South Carolina resident who is a permanently and totally disabled veteran can enter state parks at a reduced rate with disability documentation. You can also apply for a reduced-fee Palmetto Passport. Contact SC Parks, Recreation and Tourism at 803-734-0156.

VA Regional Office and Medical Centers

Columbia VA Regional Benefit Office: 6437 Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia, SC 29209. SCDVA staff work in Suite 1126 (803-647-2434).

• Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center, Columbia. Its clinics are in Anderson, Florence, Greenville, Orangeburg, Rock Hill, Spartanburg and Sumter.
• Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston. Its South Carolina clinics are in Beaufort, Goose Creek, Mount Pleasant, Myrtle Beach and North Charleston (two).
• Aiken VA Clinic, Aiken, part of the Augusta, Georgia VA health care system.

Filing a Federal VA Claim

The VA claims process is federal and the same in every state. See How to File a VA Claim, Check Your Claim Status and 2026 VA Disability Rates. For free help, start with your county Veterans’ Affairs Office. SCDVA staff at the Columbia Regional Office also review claims and represent appeals. SCDVA headquarters is at 1800 St. Julian Place, Suite 305, Columbia; call 803-734-0200.

Crisis Support

Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255.