An estimated 341,191 veterans live in Missouri, making up 7.1% of the state's population or the 25th-highest of the 56 U.S. states, inhabited territories and District of Columbia.
Missouri 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 and reserve pay are tax free.
Missouri Veteran Property Taxes
The Missouri Property Tax Credit Claim gives credit to some veterans rated 100% disabled by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs for a portion of real estate taxes or rent paid for the year.
The maximum credit is $750 for renters and $1,100 for homeowners. The actual credit is based on the amount of real estate taxes or rent paid and total household income.
Missouri Military and Veteran Education Benefits
Military/Veteran Education
The Missouri Returning Heroes' Education Act limits tuition to no more than $50 per credit hour at public colleges and universities while enrolled in an undergraduate certificate or degree program after all other financial aid is taken into account. Combat veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, may receive the rate. A veteran remains eligible for 10 years after an honorable discharge.
Veterans present in the state pay in-state tuition, regardless of residency status.
Military Dependent Education
The War Veteran's Survivor Grants are available annually to children under age 25 and spouses of resident veterans whose deaths or injuries resulted from combat or an illness contracted while serving in combat, or who became 80% disabled as a result of combat since Sept. 11, 2001.
Missouri Military and Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Hiring Preference
Veterans receive a 5-point preference when testing for a state position with the state. Service-connected disabled veterans receive 10 points.
Active-duty or retired service members may receive a waiver of the skills testing portion of a commercial driver's license (CDL). You must have a minimum of 60 days' active-duty driving experience in a commercial motor vehicle for the military within two years of applying for the waiver. Veterans must still complete the knowledge examinations.
Military Spouse Employment
Spouses of eligible veterans may also qualify for preference in state testing.
Missouri Veteran Housing and Veterans Homes
Veterans Homes
Missouri's seven veterans homes are in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mount Vernon, St. James, St. Louis and Warrensburg.
To be eligible for admission, a veteran must have lived in Missouri for 180 days, require skilled nursing care and have an other-than-dishonorable discharge.
Homeless Veterans
No specific benefits.
Adaptive Housing
No specific benefits.
Missouri Veteran Financial Assistance
No personal loan or grant programs.
Missouri Veteran Legal Assistance
The Missouri Veterans Commission hosts estate-planning clinics.
Missouri Military and Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting/Fishing
Honorably discharged resident veterans with a service-related disability of at least 60% or who was a POW may take fish, live bait, clams, mussels, turtles and frogs without permit (except trout in areas where prescribed), and may take certain wildlife without a permit (except deer, turkey and birds covered under the Migratory Bird Hunting Permit).
Active-duty members, and their families, stationed in Missouri can get hunting and fishing licenses at the resident rate.
Parks/Camping
Military members and veterans receive a $2 per night camping discount year-round at state parks campgrounds.
Roaring River State Park and the Missouri Department of Conservation cohost an annual Veterans Free Fishing Day when any veteran may fish for free.
Missouri Veteran Transportation Benefits
No state-provided transportation benefits. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) offers van rides to VA medical centers in many states and may be available in the states without a state-funded transportation benefit.
Missouri Veteran Burial Benefits
Veterans Cemeteries
Missouri's five veterans cemeteries are in Springfield, Higginsville, Bloomfield, Fort Leonard Wood and Jacksonville.
There is no charge for any of the services provided. Eligibility is the same as for a federal cemetery, with no residency requirement. Spouses and dependent children may be eligible for burial.
More Information
Visit the Missouri Veterans Commission website for more details on any of these programs.
-- Additional reporting by Jim Absher.
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