Mississippi Veteran Benefits for Disabled and Non-Disabled Veterans
Privilege Tax
Persons who are 65 or older, blind, deaf, dumb, or with loss of hand or foot, or loss of use of the hand or foot or who can provide documentation that they are 50% disabled to perform physical labor and whose annual gross income is $900.00 or less are exempt from payment of privilege tax for specified businesses. Miss. Code Ann., §27-15-227
Honorary High School Diploma
The school board of a local school district may award an honorary high school diploma in a form prescribed and supplied to school districts by the State Board of Education to Veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam Conflict who were unable to complete their education due to their military service. The honorary diploma is available to any honorably discharged Veterans residing in Mississippi who was (a) scheduled to graduate between 1941 and 1955 but was inducted into military service before completing the necessary graduation requirements, or (b) was scheduled to graduate between 1963 and 1973 but volunteered for military service and received the Vietnam Service Ribbon. Family members of deceased eligible Veterans may apply for the diploma to be awarded posthumously. Miss.
Code Ann., § 37-16-13
Authorization of In-State Tuition for Nonresident students who are United States Veterans or Person entitled for Veterans’ Educational Assistance
Any Veteran, as defined by Title 38 of the United States Code, or a person entitled to education benefits under Title 38 of the United States Code is authorized in-state tuition. Miss. Code Ann., § 37-103-25
Educational Assistance
Children of any member of the armed services whose official home of record and residence is within the State of Mississippi and who is officially reported as being either a prisoner of war or missing in action can receive an eight-semester scholarship, without cost, exclusive of books, food, school supplies, materials and dues or fees for extracurricular activities at any state-supported college or university within the State. Miss. Code Ann., §37-108-1
The Adjutant General of Mississippi is authorized to pay the tuition for certain members of the active Mississippi National Guard who are enrolled within the state of Mississippi in an accredited institution of higher learning, vocational education school or junior college. Miss. Code Ann., §33-7-405 and §33-7-407. Military personnel stationed in Mississippi are classified as state residents for the purposes of payment of tuition at state colleges and universities. Miss. Code Ann.,
§37-103-17
Recording and Retrieving Documentation
The Mississippi Dept. of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics is to furnish, without charge, copies of birth and death certificates when they are needed to establish claims for dependency, disability, or survivors benefits for any Veteran who is a legal resident of the State of Mississippi or their claimants.
Miss. Code Ann., §35-3-9
The State Bureau of Vital Statistics is to furnish, at no expense, and immediately upon application a certified copy of birth certificates for any person volunteering for service in one of the Armed Forces of the United States. Miss. Code Ann., §41-57- 25
Chancery and Circuit Clerks are to furnish, without charge, copies of marriage licenses, divorce decrees, adoption decrees and any and all other records when the same are needed to establish claims for dependency, disability or survivors benefits for any Veterans who are legal residents of the State of Mississippi or their claimants. Miss. Code Ann., §35-3-11
Chancery Clerks shall record, without cost whatsoever to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States residing in the same county, all honorable discharges and all certificates of service of any and all members of the Armed Forces of the United States. Certified copies will be furnished free without cost to the soldier, sailor, marine, coast guardsman, or nurse. Miss. Code Ann., §35-3-13
Concealed Weapon Training, State Residency Exemption
Concealed-carry permit qualification requirements have been revised to authorize any member, honorably retired member or Veterans of any active or reserve component branch of the United States of America Armed Forces having completed law enforcement or combat training with pistols or other handguns as recognized by such branch after submitting an affidavit attesting to have read, understand and agree to comply with all provisions of the enhanced carry law. Miss. Code Ann., §97-37-7 - Miss. Code Ann., § 45-9-101
Concealed Weapon Permit Fee Exemption for Service-Connected Disabilities
Any Veterans having a service-connected disability shall be exempted from concealed weapon permit fees and renewal fees. The Veteran must be a resident of the state for 12 months or longer immediately preceding the filing of the application. However, this residency requirement may be waived, provided the applicant possesses a valid permit from another state, is active military personnel stationed in Mississippi, or is a retired law enforcement officer establishing residency in the state. Miss. Code Ann., §45-9-101
Concealed Weapon Permit Fee Exemption for Active Duty Military
Active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States shall be exempt from the payment of concealed weapon permit fees and renewal fees. Miss. Code Ann.,
§ 45-9-101
Use of Support Animals
Any Armed Services Veterans that are blind, mobility impaired, diagnosed with PTSD or hearing impaired that uses a support animal specifically trained as a guide, leader, listener or for any other necessary assistance in day-to-day activities shall be entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of all public conveyances, hotels, lodging places, businesses open to the public for the sale of any goods or services and all places of public accommodation, amusement, or resort and other places to which the general public is invited, and may take the support animal into conveyances and places, subject only to the conditions and limitations applicable to all persons not so accompanied, except that: the support animal shall not occupy a seat in any public conveyance, the support animal shall be upon a leash or otherwise sufficiently restrained in a manner appropriate for the animal while using the facilities of a common carrier. Support animal trainers shall have the same rights of accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges with support animals-in-training as the Veteran. Miss. Code Ann., §43-6-155
Re-employment
Any person who is a member of any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States who, in order to perform duties or receive training with the Armed Forces of the United States or of the State of Mississippi leaves a position, other than a temporary position, in the employ of any employer, and who shall give evidence of the Satisfactory completion of such duty or training, and who is still qualified to perform the duties of such position, shall be entitled to be restored to his previous or a similar position, in the same status, pay, and seniority. Such period of absence for military duty or training shall be construed as an absence with leave but may be without pay. Miss. Code Ann., §33-1-19
Professional License Reciprocity
As passed by the Mississippi Legislature (2013 Regular Session) and Signed into law by the Governor: Senate Bill 2419 provides that Military and Military Spouses who are moving or have moved to Mississippi due to an active duty transfer may more quickly obtain licenses for many professions such as teaching, accounting, cosmetology, engineering and real estate brokerage. Licenses for physicians, nurses, dentists, dieticians, and other medical jobs are also included. The bill also provides that individuals with military training may (subject to guidelines set by licensing boards) count their experience toward requirements for various job licenses, certifications, and registrations. State licensing boards can grant either a permanent or temporary occupational license. People with temporary licenses can start working while applying for permanent ones. To view the complete bill: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2013/html/SB/2400-2499/SB2419PS.htm. Licensing for specific professions is regulated by cognizant Boards/Agencies. Individuals must contact individual licensing boards for information and eligibility.
Mississippi Veteran Benefits for Disabled Veterans
Ad Valorem Taxes:
Any Veteran having a service-connected total disability, who has been honorably discharged from military service shall be exempt from all Ad Valorem taxes on the assessed value of homestead property and to extend such exemption to un-remarried surviving spouses of such Veterans. Miss. Code Ann., §27-33-75 and §27-33-67
License Plates:
Any legal Veteran resident of the State of Mississippi with a service-connected disability (100%) from the Veterans Administration and evaluated as permanent and total by the VA; or a rating of total (100%) based on individual unemployability and evaluated as permanent and total by the VA; and the unmarried surviving spouse of such person as long as he/she remains unmarried, is privileged to purchase annually one (2) motor vehicle license plate or tag for a private passenger motor vehicle or pickup truck in his or her county of residence for the sum of one dollar ($1.00) in total cost. Miss. Code Ann., §27-19-53
Any legal resident of the State of Mississippi who is a veteran of service in the Armed Forces of the United States, and who is rated as having one hundred percent (100%) permanent service-connected disability by the Veterans' Administration is privileged to purchase annually under this subsection one (1) motorcycle license plate or tag in his or her county of legal residence, for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) in total cost for plate or tag. The registration year of such motorcycle shall commence the first day of the month in which application for registration is made, as provided in Section Miss. Code Ann., §27-19-31 and Miss. Code Ann., §27-19-53
Hunting and Fishing License
Veterans who have a total service-connected disability from the Veterans Administration are not required to purchase a hunting or fishing license but must have on their person proof of age, residency and disability status while engaged in hunting or fishing. Miss. Code Ann., §49-7-5