Veteran Benefits for South Carolina

• South Carolina Income Tax Exemption for Military Retired Pay: South Carolina does not tax military retired pay.

  Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) does not withhold taxes for state or local income tax, but it is reported annually on IRS Form 1099-R. All TSP distributions are subject to state taxes, and early distributions may incur higher taxes.

   

• South Carolina Taxes on Military Pay: South Carolina taxes military pay received by South Carolina residents serving active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
• South Carolina Taxes on Military Disability Retirement Pay: Military Disability Retirement Pay received as a pension, annuity, or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income. Some of the payments that are considered disability benefits include:
  • Disability compensation and pension payments for disabilities paid to Veterans or their Families
  • Grants for homes designed for wheelchair living
  • Grants for motor vehicles for Veterans who lost their sight or the use of limbs or
  • Benefits under a dependent-care assistance program

   

• South Carolina Income Tax Exemption on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid by the VA to eligible survivors of military Service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death was caused by a service-connected injury or disease.
• South Carolina Income Tax Exemption for Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)/ Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP)/ Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP): Surviving Spouses are not required to pay South Carolina income taxes on SBP, RCSBP, RSFPP annuities.
• South Carolina Property Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans, Former Prisoners of War (POWs), and Medal of Honor Recipients: South Carolina provides property tax exemptions for the following Veterans and Surviving Spouses:

  Disabled Veterans: Veterans who have a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating from the VA qualify for the following property tax exemptions:

  • Home and land up to five acres that is owner occupied and titled solely to the Veteran or jointly with their Spouse; exemption passes to the un-remarried Surviving Spouse if they maintain sole ownership.
  • Two private passenger vehicles owned or leased by the Veteran or jointly with their Spouse; one vehicle exemption passes on to the un-remarried Surviving Spouse if they maintain sole ownership

  Former POWs and Medal of Honor Recipients: Veterans who were former POWs or Medal of Honor recipients qualify for the following tax exemptions:

  • Home and land up to one acre that is owner occupied and titled solely to the Veteran or jointly with their Spouse; exemption passes to the un-remarried Surviving Spouse if they maintain sole ownership.
  • Two private passenger vehicles owned or leased by the Veteran or jointly with their Spouse; one vehicle exemption passes on to the un-remarried Surviving Spouse of a Purple Heart recipient, a two-vehicle exemption passes to the un-remarried Surviving Spouse of a Medal of Honor recipient if they maintain sole ownership
• South Carolina Reserve Component Service Member Tax Exemptions for Training: Income received by National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Service members for annual training, weekend drills, and other inactive duty training is generally exempt from South Carolina Income Tax.
• Who is eligible for the South Carolina Reserve Component Service Member Tax Exemptions for Training? National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Service members are eligible for the following tax exemptions:
  • All inactive duty pay for weekend drills and other inactive duty training.
  • 15 days of annual training pay
  • 14 days of inactive duty annual training pay, plus up to two days of travel time (must be listed on orders)
  • 15 days of annual training pay and up to 24 days of weekend drill pay (a maximum of 39 days) for full-time Active Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserves, paid at a daily rate
• South Carolina Military Spouse Residency Relief Act: A nonresident Military Spouse with the same state of residence as a nonresident Service member stationed in South Carolina under military orders is exempt from state income taxes on wages earned in South Carolina. The nonresident military Spouse must pay taxes (if required) to their state of residence.
• South Carolina Taxes on Military Pay Received for Service in a Combat Zone and Extension to File: South Carolina does not tax combat or hazardous duty pay. Service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in a combat zone have 180 days after leaving the combat zone to file and pay South Carolina income taxes.

Sales Tax:

• Statewide: 6.0%
• Counties: can levy an additional sales tax of no more than 1.0%
• Current average sales tax (with local taxes included): 7.43%

Recreation

• South Carolina Reduced Fee State Park Passes for Disabled Residents and South Carolina National Guard: The South Carolina All Park Passport is available for purchase at half price for senior citizens (age 65 and older), legally blind, or 100% disabled residents and active members of the South Carolina National Guard.
• All Park Passport:The All Park Passport is $49.50 and provides unlimited entry to all South Carolina state parks for everyone in the pass holder’s vehicle. The hangtag pass is valid for one year from the date of purchase and can be transferred from one vehicle to another.

  The All Park Passport also comes with the following added benefits:

  • Free admission to regularly scheduled historic home tours at Redcliffe, Rose Hill, and Hampton plantations (maximum four people per visit)
  • Free admission to the historic lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park (maximum four people per visit)
  • Free admission to the historic Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park (maximum four people per visit)

  Passes can be purchased at any South Carolina state park, at the South Carolina State Park Service central office in Columbia, at the State House Gift Shop in the South Carolina State House, or by calling 803-734-0156. Applicants must be able to provide documentation proving eligibility.

  The person eligible for the passport must be in the vehicle when entering the park. A park employee may request the ID of the passport holder at the time the passport is presented.

• Free South Carolina Hunting and Fishing Privileges for Disabled Resident Veterans: The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) offers free Disability Combination and Fishing licenses to disabled Veterans. These licenses are good for three years.

  Disability Combination licenses authorize:

  • Freshwater fishing
  • Freshwater set hook
  • Saltwater fishing
  • State hunting
  • Big game hunting
  • Wildlife Management Area Permit
  • Migratory Waterfowl Permit

  The Disability Fishing Licenses authorizes:

  • Freshwater fishing
  • Saltwater fishing

Who is eligible for Free South Carolina Hunting and Fishing Privileges for Disabled Resident Veterans? Resident veterans with a disability rating from the VA who are eligible for compensation may apply. Applicants must Include a copy of their unexpired state driver’s license or ID card and a current copy of their disability certification from the VA (dated within the last 12 months).

• South Carolina Resident Hunting and Fishing License Privileges for Nonresident Service Members and their Dependents: Service members and their dependents stationed at a duty station in South Carolina for thirty days or longer or who live in South Carolina are eligible for resident hunting and fishing privileges. Valid military ID must be presented when applying.
• Hunting and Fishing License Exemptions for Resident Active Duty Service Members Stationed Outside South Carolina and Home on Leave: Resident active duty Service members who are stationed outside of South Carolina and home on leave may fish and hunt without purchasing a hunting, freshwater fishing, or saltwater fishing license.

  Permits are still required to hunt big game, migratory birds, and migratory waterfowl and hunt on Wildlife Management Area land. Tags are required to hunt antlerless deer and turkey, use nongame fish devices, or take shrimp overbait. Service members must carry their Leave and Earnings Statement (that declares South Carolina as their home state) and military ID when hunting or fishing.

Education Programs

• South Carolina National Guard College Assistance Program (SCNG CAP): SCNG CAP will pay 100% of college tuition and fees at state-supported institutions up to $5,500 annually, with a lifetime cap of $22,000 for eligible South Carolina National Guard Service members.
• South Carolina Education Assistance, Free Tuition for Certain Veteran’s Children: South Carolina provides a tuition waiver to the Children of certain war Veterans attending South Carolina state-supported colleges and universities or post-high school technical education institutions.
• Who is eligible for South Carolina Education Assistance, Free Tuition for Certain Veteran’s Children? For the Child of a Veteran to be eligible, the Veteran must meet the following requirements:
  • Served during a wartime period
  • Received an “other than dishonorable” discharge from active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces
  • Resident of South Carolina at the time of entry into service, during service, and currently a resident or
  • Resident of South Carolina for at least one year and currently a resident, or
  • If the Veteran is deceased, they were a resident for one year before their death

  In addition, the Child’s Veteran parent must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Killed in action
  • Died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces
  • Died from a service-connected disease or disability
  • Prisoner of war or declared missing in action
  • Permanent and total disability rating from the VA from any cause
  • Medal of Honor recipient
  • Received the Purple Heart

  Children must be 26 years or younger to be eligible for this waiver. 

• In-State Tuition Rates at South Carolina Public Institutions of Higher Education for Veterans, Service Members, and Dependents: Veterans, active and reserve component Service members, and dependents are authorized in-state tuition and fee rates regardless of how long they have lived in South Carolina.

  For a Child dependent whose parent is on active duty outside of South Carolina, the student must be receiving transferred VA educational financial assistance to be eligible for in-state rates. Once the VA assistance has been exhausted, students will be charged out-of-state rates unless they can claim South Carolina residency.

• South Carolina Residency for Tuition Purposes for Nonresident Service Members and their Dependents: Nonresident Service members stationed in South Carolina and their dependents are charged in-state tuition and fees without establishing a permanent home in South Carolina.
• South Carolina Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children (MIC3): The purpose of this compact is to remove barriers to educational success imposed on Children of military Families because of frequent moves and deployment of their parents by:
  • Facilitating the prompt 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 variations in attendance requirements, scheduling, sequencing, grading, course content, or assessment do not disadvantage Children of military Families. 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 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 to achieve educational success for the student

   

• South Carolina Purple Star School Designation for Military-Friendly Schools: The South Carolina Purple Star School Designation recognizes schools with a significant commitment to students and Families connected to the U.S. Armed Forces.

  For a school to qualify for the Purple Star Award, they must appoint a school liaison specially trained to handle the unique challenges experienced by military Families. This liaison will ensure that other teachers at their school are aware of special considerations that students from military Families can benefit from.

 

Housing: The following are the sites for Veterans Homes

South Carolina State Veterans Nursing Homes: South Carolina has five state Veterans nursing homes for Veterans who require skilled or intermediate nursing care.

South Carolina State Veterans Home at Daytona Beach

South Carolina State Veterans Home at Land O’ Lakes

South Carolina State Veterans Home at Pembroke Pines

South Carolina State Veterans Home at Panama City

South Carolina State Veterans Home at Port Charlotte

South Carolina State Veterans Home at St. Augustine

Some of the services provided at South Carolina State Veterans Nursing Homes include:

• Medical care
• Nursing care
• Rehabilitative therapies
• Pharmacy service
• Recreational and therapeutic activities
• Social services
• Beauty and Barber services
• Transportation service
• Laundry service

Who is eligible for care at the South Carolina State Veterans Nursing Homes? Veterans must meet the following requirements to be eligible for admission to a South Carolina State Veterans Nursing Home:

• Veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and received an honorable discharge
• South Carolina resident for at least one year
• Require skilled or intermediate nursing home care as determined by the VA

Employment and Job Training: Veterans Preference

Military Leave for South Carolina State Employees: State employees receive 15 paid military leave days for training.

A state employee serving on active duty in a combat zone and using all available military leave is entitled to receive an additional 30 days of military leave in any year.

In addition, an employee may use up to 45 days of annual leave and up to 90 days of sick leave in a calendar year to serve on active duty because of an emergency or conflict declared by the President. 

Who is eligible for Military Leave for Military Duty for South Carolina State Employees? South Carolina National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserve Service members who are state employees are eligible for military leave for military duty.

• South Carolina State Employee Veterans Hiring Preference: South Carolina offers veterans hiring preference when hiring for state employment by requiring at least one qualified Veteran to be interviewed for every full-time equivalent position.

Who is eligible for South Carolina State Employee Veterans Hiring Preference? To be eligible, the Veteran must meet the following requirements:

• Served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (other than for training) and was discharged under honorable conditions
• Must meet the minimum training and experience requirements for the position

South Carolina Public Employees Receive Retirement Credit for Military Service: An active member of the South Carolina Retirement System (SCRS) may purchase up to six years of service credit for any period of service in the U.S. Armed Forces. They are not eligible to purchase service credit if they already have service credit in SCRS, the Police Officer Retirement System, or the General Assembly Retirement System.

The cost calculation is based in part on the employee’s current age and service credit and their career highest annual pay at the time South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA) receives the service purchase request.

The cost, which PEBA’s independent actuary determines, will not be less than 16% of their career’s highest annual pay for each year purchased. The Service members must have received a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable. Service members may decide in advance to continue making contributions to their retirement account when on military leave or may make the contributions after returning from military service.

• South Carolina Operation Palmetto Employment: South Carolina Operation Palmetto Employment is a statewide initiative supported by the South Carolina National Guard, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, and other business and state agency partners. Operation Palmetto Employment is a commitment to help Service members, Family members, and Veterans find meaningful civilian careers by:
  • Accurately identifying South Carolina’s military community
  • Streamlining the employment process
  • Leveraging military expertise
  • Ensure cooperation between providers and employers

Who is eligible for South Carolina Operation Palmetto Employment Services? Unemployed Service members, Family members, or Veterans are eligible for assistance.

• SC WORKS Centers, Veteran Services: SC WORKS Centers across South Carolina have staff specifically trained to assist Service members and Veteran jobseekers in finding civilian employment.

Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) representatives provide intensive case management services for targeted Veterans who are economically or educationally disadvantaged.

Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives (LVER) conduct employer outreach to help develop employment and training opportunities for Veterans. They market job-seeking Veterans and serve as advocates for Veterans with businesses, industries, and other community-based organizations.

Veterans will receive priority employment services, which include group and individual career coaching, job referrals, resume preparation, and job training programs and services.

• • Veterans also receive priority service through the SC WORKS Online Services webpage. For the first 24 hours that a job is listed, only Veterans and Service members can view and apply for the position.

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.

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA) pays tribute to eligible Veterans and their family members by providing a final resting place and a lasting memorial to commemorate the Veteran’s dedicated service to the nation.

The burial benefits encompass a gravesite in any of our open cemeteries with available space, the opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, a government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate, all at no cost to the family. Some Veterans may also meet the criteria for a burial allowance. Cremated remains are interred or inurned in national cemeteries with the same honors and respect as casketed remains.

Burial benefits extend to eligible spouses and dependents, including burial alongside the Veteran and perpetual care of the interment site. The name and relevant dates of birth and death of the spouse or dependent are inscribed on the Veteran’s headstone at no expense to the family. Importantly, spouses and qualified dependents are eligible for burial even if they pass away before the Veteran and are not required to be interred in the same national cemetery as the Veteran.

National Cemeteries include:

Beaufort: Beaufort National Cemetery

Columbia: Fort Jackson National Cemetery

Florence: Florence National Cemetery

South Carolina VA Benefit Resources

South Carolina provides Veterans with a Regional Benefits Office and a VA Medical Center.

South Carolina VA Regional Benefits Office

• Columbia: Columbia Regional Office

South Carolina VA Medical Centers

• Charleston: Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

Important information for South Carolina 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, 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 and medical records in a safe place where you and your family can access 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 conditions other than dishonorable. Active service means full-time service as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or 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 November 2023

 

South Carolina Veteran Benefits

If you are a disabled Veteran in South Carolina 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.