An estimated 441,439 veterans live in Michigan, making up 5.6% of the state's population or the 42nd-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Michigan Military and Veteran Income Taxes
Military Retiree Income Tax
Military retirement and Survivor Benefit Plan payments are tax free.
Active-Duty Income Tax
Active-duty pay is tax free.
Michigan Veteran Property Taxes
Resident veterans with an other-than-dishonorable discharge who are 100% disabled, and those rated 100% due to individual unemployability, may be exempt from paying taxes on their home. Unremarried surviving spouses are also eligible.
Michigan Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
Veterans and active-duty members receive in-state tuition, regardless of their state of residency or duty status.
The Michigan National Guard's State Tuition Assistance Program (MINGSTAP) provides tuition assistance of up to $6,000 per year to Guard members pursuing a training or certificate program or a master's degree at a public or private college, university, vocational school, technical school or trade school in Michigan; or $14,400 for students pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree.
Military Dependent Education
The Children of Veterans Tuition Grant provides undergraduate tuition assistance to certain children older than 16 and less than 26 years of age who have been Michigan residents for the 12 months prior to application. A student must be the natural or adopted child of a Michigan veteran who was KIA, MIA or 100% service-connected disabled or died from service-connected causes. Assistance may amount to $11,200 for up to four academic years.
A spouse or dependent child can use a state Guard member's MINGSTAP tuition assistance benefit.
Michigan Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Veterans receive preference for initial employment with the state.
Military Spouse Employment
Certain veterans' spouses receive preference for initial employment with the state.
Temporary licenses are available to active-duty personnel's spouses who wish to be licensed or registered under the Occupational Code with current licensure or registration in good standing issued by another state, territory or protectorate of the United States or a foreign country.
Michigan Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Michigan's three veterans homes are in Chesterfield Township, Grand Rapids and Marquette. Veterans eligible for federal Department of Veterans Affairs health care or financial assistance for long-term care may be admitted. The veteran must have been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
Veterans who enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980, or who entered active duty after Oct. 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty in order to be eligible.
Michigan residency is not required, and spouses or surviving spouses may be admitted if space is available. Fees are based on income.
Homeless Veterans
No specific benefits.
Adaptive Housing
No specific benefits.
Michigan Veteran Financial Assistance
The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund offers grants to certain resident veterans serving at least 180 days of active duty in a wartime period who were discharged under honorable conditions. The fund assists with needs that cause a temporary or short-term financial emergency or hardship that a grant will resolve.
Michigan Veteran Legal Assistance
The state Veterans Affairs Agency partners with the National Veterans Legal Services Program. Three Michigan law schools offer clinics to assist veterans with legal issues. The Michigan attorney general maintains and publishes the "Military and Veterans Legal Services Guide."
Michigan Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Resident active-duty service members may receive hunting and fishing licenses, for which a lottery is not required, free of charge.
Nonresidents on federal active duty and stationed in Michigan pay resident pricing for hunting and fishing licenses.
Permanently and totally disabled veterans may receive any resident hunting or fishing license, for which a lottery is not required, free of charge.
Parks/Camping
Veterans who are 100% permanently and totally disabled receive free entry to state parks.
Michigan Veteran Transportation Benefits
Veterans with at least a 50% disability rating may be eligible to register one vehicle with a disabled veteran standard plate for free. Standard plates expire on the veteran's birthday.
Veterans with a total or permanent disability may be entitled to a free disabled veteran permanent plate.
Michigan Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
Michigan has no state veterans cemeteries. Under state law, eligible veterans and some spouses or surviving spouses who meet residency and asset limits may qualify for $300 for burial expenses paid by the County Board of Commissioners or the Board of County Auditors.
More Information
Visit the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency website for more information on any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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