Veteran Benefits for Missouri

• Missouri Combat-pay Tax Exclusion: Missouri allows subtraction of all military income received while serving in a combat zone, which is included in federal adjusted gross income and is not otherwise excluded.
• Missouri Military Pension Income Tax Exemption: As of January 1, 2016, all military pension income is tax-free.
• Missouri Active Duty Military Income Tax Exemption: For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, for purposes of calculating the Missouri taxable income, one hundred percent of the income received by any person as salary or compensation in any form as a member of the active-duty component of the Armed Forces of the United States, and to the extent that such income is included in the federal adjusted gross income, may be deducted from the taxpayer’s Missouri adjusted gross income to determine such taxpayer’s Missouri taxable income.
• Nonresident Spouses of Military Service Members are Exempt from Missouri Income Tax: If you are the Spouse of a military servicemember, are in Missouri because the military servicemember is stationed in Missouri on military orders, and your state of residence is another state, any income earned by you is not taxable to Missouri. However, if you earn more than $600 you must file a Missouri return (Form MO-1040) and provide verification of your state of residence.
• Property Tax Credits: The Missouri Property Tax Credit Claim gives credit to some Veterans who have a 100% disability rating for a portion of the 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 (taxable and non-taxable).
• Missouri Property Tax Exemption for Total Service-Connected Disabled Prisoners of War: Constitutional Amendment 2 exempts from property taxes all real property used as a homestead by any Missouri citizen who is a former prisoner of war with total service-connected disability. This exemption is not administered by the Missouri Department of Revenue.
• Missouri State Taxes on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.

Sales Tax:

• Statewide: 4.225%
• Counties: can levy an additional sales tax of no more than 5.875%
• Current average sales tax (with local taxes included): 6.963%

Recreation

Free Fishing & Hunting License for Disabled Veterans: Any honorably discharged Veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 60% or more can fish or hunt without a permit. You must have proof of eligibility on your person, some trout or turkey tags may be required. Guard & Reserve members who are currently (or have in the last 12 months) mobilized under federal orders can get a fishing and hunting license for $5.

Active Duty Hunting & Fishing Licenses: Active duty members, and their families, stationed in Missouri can get hunting & fishing licenses at the residential rate.

Education Programs

Missouri Wartime Veteran’s Survivors Grant Program: This grant is provided annually to Children and Spouses of Veterans whose death or injuries were: a result of combat action or were attributed to an illness that was contracted while serving in combat action, or who became 80% disabled as a result of injuries or accidents sustained in combat action since September 11, 2001. The total number of Veterans that may receive a grant in any year is limited by statute to 25. The Veteran must have been a Missouri resident when first entering the military service or at the time of death or injury. The Missouri Veteran’s Commission determines whether the Veteran meets the program’s requirements.

Missouri Returning Heroes Act: The Missouri Returning Heroes Act, established August 28, 2008, provides reduced tuition for certain combat Veterans attending public institutions of higher education. The Missouri Returning Heroes Education Act requires Missouri public postsecondary institutions to limit eligible combat Veterans’ tuition to $50 per credit hour. If you are attending an institution that measures coursework in clock hours rather than credit hours, your institution will apply a credit hour to clock hour conversion formula to determine the amount of the tuition limitation.

Missouri Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children: It is the purpose of this compact to remove barriers to educational success imposed on children of military families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by:

• Facilitating the timely enrollment of children of military families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer of educational records from the previous school district or variations in entrance or age requirements.
• Facilitating the student placement process through which children of military families are not disadvantaged by variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content or assessment.
• Facilitating the qualification and eligibility for enrollment, educational programs, and participation in extracurricular academic, athletic and social activities.
• Facilitating the on-time graduation of children of military families.
• Providing for the promulgation and enforcement of administrative rules implementing the provisions of this compact.
• Providing for the uniform collection and sharing of information between and among member states, schools and military families under this compact.
• Promoting coordination between this compact and other compacts affecting military children.
• Promoting flexibility and cooperation between the educational system, parents and the student in order to achieve educational success for the student.

Housing: The following are the sites for Veterans Homes

Missouri State Veterans Home at Cameron

Missouri State Veterans Home at Cape Girardeau

Missouri State Veterans Home at Mexico

Missouri State Veterans Home at Mt. Vernon

Missouri State Veterans Home at St. James

Missouri State Veterans Home at St. Louis

Missouri State Veterans Home at Warrensburg

Eligibility for admission:

• Discharged other than on dishonorable accounts
• The Veteran must have lived in Missouri for 180 days
• The Veteran must require skilled nursing care

Employment and Job Training: Veterans Preference

All honorably discharged Veterans can have 5 points added to any state employment examination scores. Those with a VA service-connected disability will get 10 points added to their score. Spouses of eligible veterans may also qualify.

Commercial Driver Exam (CDL) Exemption: Active duty or retired military can get a waiver of the skills testing portion of a CDL. You must have a minimum of 60 days of active duty driving experience in a commercial motor vehicle with the military within 2 years of applying for the waiver. You must still complete the required knowledge examinations for the commercial driver’s license.

Missouri Local Veterans Employment Representatives and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program: The Division of Workforce Development has staff throughout the state to specifically assist Veterans. Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER) facilitate or provide assistance in job placement, accessing needed services, and advocate for Veterans by developing employment opportunities with businesses. Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialists provide case management and develop career and job training opportunities for Veterans, with special emphasis on Veterans with service-connected disabilities.

Military Experience Allowed for Missouri Professional License Qualifications: All professional licensing boards or commissions of the State of Missouri shall accept education, training, or service completed by an individual who is a member of the United States Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard toward the qualifications to receive the license or certification upon presentation of satisfactory evidence by an applicant for certification or licensure.

Missouri Professional License Extensions due to Military Service: A person whose job requires licensing or certification by the State of Missouri who is called to active duty in the National Guard or any Reserve Component of the Armed Services will not be required to attend the continuing education or training required to maintain the licensing or certification during the time of active duty. Upon returning from active duty the person will not have to make up or retake any training or education missed during that time.

Missouri Priority of Service for Qualified Veterans Employment and Training Programs: State agencies, which administer federally funded employment and training programs for Veterans, shall give priority to qualified Veterans and other eligible persons.

Burials and Memorials

Please note that your preference regarding burial in a national cemetery and use of a headstone provided by VA should be documented and kept with your paperwork and medical records. There is no charge for any of the services provided. Eligibility is the same as for a federal cemetery, there is no residency requirement. Spouses and dependents may be eligible for burial.

National Cemeteries include:

Jefferson City: Jefferson City National Cemetery

Kansas City: Union Confederate Monument Site

Springfield: Springfield National Cemetery

St. Louis: Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery

Missouri VA Benefit Resources

Missouri provides Veterans with a District Benefits Office and a Regional Benefits Office, along with VA Medical Centers.

Missouri VA District Benefits Office

• St. Louis: Northeast District

Missouri VA Regional Benefits Office

• St. Louis: St. Louis Regional Office

Missouri VA Medical Centers

• Columbia: Harry S. Truman Memorial
• Kansas City: Kansas City VA Medical Center
• Poplar Bluff: John J. Pershing VA Medical Center
• Saint Louis: VA St. Louis Health Care System – Jefferson Barracks Division

Important information for Missouri Veteran Benefits:

For Veterans applying for VA benefits for the first time, you must submit a copy of your DD 214 (discharge paperwork). This will provide your discharge status, along with your full name, social security number, branch of service, and dates for which you served. Honorable and general discharges qualify a Veteran for most VA benefits.

You should always keep your paperwork, along with your medical records, in a safe place where you and your family can have access to them. It is imperative to have it in a location where it cannot be destroyed or tampered with, which includes a safe.

Your eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, the Environmental Services Administration or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Any Veteran discharged from the military under the conditions of “Dishonorable” due to bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees may be eligible for certain VA benefits. VA regional offices can clarify the eligibility of prisoners, parolees, and individuals with multiple discharges issued under differing conditions.

*This information is accurate as of December 2019

Missouri Veteran Benefits

If you are a disabled Veteran in Missouri and are VA rated 90% or less, you may be eligible for additional benefits. Contact Veterans Guardian for a free consultation with no obligation. Let us review your claim to determine whether you qualify for additional benefits.