Ms - Mississippi Veterans Benefits

[jason]

State of Mississippi Department of Veterans Benefits

Mississippi Laws Concerning Veterans

County Veterans Service Officers

Counties may employ a County Veterans Service Officer who shall be (a) honorably discharged or honorably released veteran of any war or police action in which the Armed Forces of the United States have been, are or shall be committed for action; (b) the surviving spouse or child of any such deceased veteran; or © any person employed as a County Veterans Service Officer in any county of the State of Mississippi on March 30, 1990.

County Veterans Service Officers must be certified by the Mississippi State Veterans Affairs Board which requires that they (a) attend at least one (1) of the two (2) annual training programs provided each year and successfully complete a written examination each year on the duties and responsibilities of and assistance available to such officers and veterans. No County Veterans Service Officer shall be entitled to any compensation for their service unless they are annually certified by the State Veterans Affairs Board.

Ad Valorem Tax

Service-connected, totally disabled (100%) American veterans who were honorably discharged from military service are exempt from all ad valorem taxes on homesteads of $7,500.00 or less in assessed value.

Documents

The State 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 veterans who are legal residents of the State of Mississippi or their claimants.

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.

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.

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.

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 a foreign government 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.

The Adjutant General is authorized to pay the tuition for any member in good standing with the active Mississippi National Guard who is enrolled within the State of Mississippi in an accredited institution of higher learning and who is not eligible for GI Bill educational assistance and who meets requirements specified in Mississippi law.

Military personnel stationed in Mississippi are classified as state residents for the purposes of payment of tuition at state colleges and universities.

Hunting and Fishing Licenses

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.

Employment Preference

The State Personnel Board grants each veteran who is fully qualified preference over other applicants for initial or promotional appointments (5 points). Disabled veterans are given additional preference (10 points).

In state layoffs, veterans are granted preference and additional preference is given 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.

State Retirement

Members of the State Public Employees Retirement System who served in the Armed Forces of the United States or who served in Maritime Service during periods of hostility in WWII shall be entitled to up to four (4) years credit for active duty in the Armed Forces or in such Maritime Service, provided they entered State Service after discharge from the Armed Forces or after completion of such Maritime Service. Credit may be extended beyond four (4) years for those persons who can provide positive proof that they were retained in the Armed Forces or such Maritime Service during WWII by causes beyond his control and without opportunity for discharge.

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.

Vehicle License Plates

CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

Any legal resident of the State of Mississippi, who is a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor and the unmarried surviving spouse of such person is privileged to obtain annually, one (1) motor vehicle license plate or tag for a private passenger motor vehicle or pickup truck in the county of his residence. The CMH license plate or tag is exempt from all motor vehicle registration fees and privilege taxes.

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN

Any legal veteran resident of the State of Mississippi with a 100% permanent service-connected disability rating by the Veterans Administration and the unmarried surviving spouse of such person is privileged to purchase annually one (1) 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.

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS & AIR MEDAL

Veterans who were awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross or Air Medal while in military service may purchase a special license plate recognizing that award. The applicant must present satisfactory proof of award of the medal and pay an additional $30 tag fee.

FORMER PRISONER OF WAR

Any legal resident of the State of Mississippi who was a prisoner of war and the unmarried surviving spouse of such person is privileged to obtain annually one (1) motor vehicle license plate or tag for a private passenger vehicle or pickup truck in the county of his or her residence. The EX-POW license plate or tag is exempt from all motor vehicle registration fees and privilege taxes.

KILLED ON ACTIVE DUTY

Any legal resident of the State of Mississippi who is the unremarried surviving spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, a reserve component of the Armed Forces or of the National Guard, who, while on active duty, is killed or dies in time of war or national emergency declared by the President of the United States, or in an area determined by the Secretary of Defense to be of immediate military hazard, is privileged to purchase annually, one (1) motor vehicle license plate or tag for a private passenger vehicle or pickup truck in the county of his or her legal residence, for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) in total cost. The KIA license plate or tag is exempt from all privilege taxes.

MISSING IN ACTION - PRISONERS OF WAR

Individuals supporting service members who have been classified as Missing In Action or Prisoners of War can purchase a special license plate indicating support for MIA/POW for an additional tag fee of $30, $12 of which benefits indigent veterans residing in the State Veterans Nursing Homes.

MISSISSIPPI VETERANS MONUMENT

Supporters of the Mississippi Veterans Monument can purchase a special license plate for an additional tag fee of $30, $24 of which supports the Mississippi Veterans Monument Commission.

PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS

Any resident of the State of Mississippi who is an honorably discharged former member of one of the Armed Forces of the United States and while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States was present during the attack on the island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, on December 7, 1941, between the hours of 7:55 a.m. and 9:45 a.m., Hawaii time, is privileged to obtain one (1) distinctive motor vehicle license plate or tag for an additional tag fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) for use on a private passenger vehicle (to include station wagons, recreational motor vehicles and pickup trucks) in the county of his or her legal residence.

PURPLE HEART

Any resident of the State of Mississippi who is an honorably discharged former member of one of the Armed Forces of the United States and can provide written proof that while serving in the Armed Forces of the United State he or she was awarded the Purple Heart Medal is privileged to obtain one free distinctive license plate or tag for use on a private passenger vehicle (to include station wagons, recreational motor vehicles and pickup trucks) in the county of his or her legal residence.

The unmarried surviving spouse of a deceased person who was issued a Purple Heart Medal license plate or tag may apply for or retain one (1) such license plate or tag which shall be exempt from taxes and fees.

RESERVE, NATIONAL GUARD, MERCHANT MARINE, RETIRED

Reserve, National Guard, Merchant Marine, Retired- any resident of the State of Mississippi who has completed an active duty career with the Armed Forces of the United States and active duty and retired members of the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, United States Reserves and those United States Merchant Marines in maritime service during the period from December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1945, and their surviving spouses may be issued distinctive motor vehicle license plate or tag at no additional cost in the county of his or her legal residence.

SILVER STAR OR BRONZE STAR MEDAL

Veterans who were awarded the Silver Star or Bronze Star Medal while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States may purchase a special license plate recognizing that award. The applicant must present official written proof of the award of the medal and pay an additional $30 tag fee, $24 of which benefits indigent veterans residing in the State Veterans Nursing Homes.

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY

Graduates, students and the parents of graduates and students attending the Air Force Academy can purchase a special license plate which displays the emblem of the U.S. Air Force Academy for an additional tag fee of $50.

UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES ACTIVE DUTY

Active duty members of the Armed Forces can purchase a special license plate signifying their active duty status for an additional tag fee of $30, $24 of which supports operation of the State Veterans Nursing Home.

UNITED STATES ARMY SPECIAL FORCES

Active duty members of the Army Special Forces may purchase a special license plate recognizing that service. The applicant must present proof of their active duty Army service in the Special Forces and pay an additional $30 tag fee, $24 of which supports operation of the State Veterans Nursing Homes.

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ACADEMY

Graduates, students and the parents of graduates and students attending the Coast Guard Academy can purchase a special license plate which displays the emblem of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for an additional tag fee of $50.

UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY

Graduates, students and the parents of graduates and students attending the Military Academy can purchase a special license plate which displays the emblem of the U.S. Military Academy for an additional tag fee of $50.

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY

Graduates, students and the parents of graduates and students attending the Naval Academy can purchase a special license plate which displays the emblem of the U.S. Naval Academy for an additional tag fee of $50.

VETERAN

In recognition of the patriotic service rendered by Mississippians who are honorably discharged veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces, any such person is privileged to obtain distinctive motor vehicle license plates or tags for each motor vehicle registered in his name identifying his status as a veteran. In addition, decals indicating branch and period of military service are to be affixed to the license tags. An additional annual tag fee of Thirty Dollars ($30.00) shall be collected for such license plates for the benefit of indigent veterans who are residents of the State Veterans Nursing Homes.

VIETNAM SERVICE

Veterans awarded the Vietnam Service Ribbon can purchase a special license plate recognizing such service for an additional tag fee of $30 which benefits indigent veterans residing in the State Veterans Nursing Homes.

OTHER RESOURCES

U.S. Veterans Resource

[maria]

State of Mississippi provides several veteran benefits like housing benefits,financial assistance benefits,employment benefits and education benefits.And also state veteran Nursing homes having 150 beds.It is so useful to the veterans.

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Maria

Mississippi Treatment Centers