South Carolina State
Veteran's Benefits
NOV 2016
The state of South Carolina provides veteran benefits. This section offers a brief description of each of
the following benefits.
Veteran Housing Benefits
Veteran and Active Duty Financial Assistance Benefits
Veteran Employment Benefits
Veteran Dependent Education Benefits
Other State Sponsored Veteran Benefits
Veteran Housing Programs
Specially Adapted Housing
Provides for the exemption of state, county, and municipal taxes on the residence of veterans who have
lost the use of their lower extremities or who has paralysis of one lateral half of the body resulting from
injury to the motor centers of the brain.
State Veterans Nursing Homes
There are three facilities in South Carolina: the E. Roy Stone Veterans Pavilion (ERSP), which is located
in Columbia, the Richard Michael Campbell (RMC)Veterans Nursing Home in Anderson, and the
Veterans' Victory House (VVH) in Walterboro.
Admission to these facilities is limited to veterans who have been separated from the U.S. Armed Forces
under general or honorable conditions and qualify as South Carolina residents who are in need of skilled
or intermediate nursing home care. To obtain additional information, or to apply for admission, contact
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your local county veterans affairs officer or the nursing home. For details on each facility refer to the
following websites listed at http://va.sc.gov/nursing.html
ERSP http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/dir_facilities.htm#CMT
RMC http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/victoryhouse
VVH http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/campbell
ERSP
RMC
VVH
Financial Assistance Benefits
Admissions Tax Exemption
Provides for the exemption of admissions taxes to athletic contests in which junior American Legion
athletic teams are participants unless the proceeds are given to individual players in the form of salary or
otherwise. For more information, call 803.612.1171.
Income Tax Exemption on Military Retirement Pay
Any person retired from the uniformed services or their surviving spouse, shall be allowed an exemption
from the S.C. State Income Tax of $3,000 until age 65. At age 65 $10,000 of retirement pay is exempt.
For more information, call 803.898.5709.
Property Taxes - Homestead Exemption
All persons who have been declared permanently and totally disabled by the Social Security
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, other state or federal agencies, are eligible for a
homestead exemption in an amount set by the General Assembly. This also applies to persons over age
65. For more information, contact your county and municipal tax offices.
Property Tax Exemption
Provides that the dwelling house in which a veteran resides who has been rated as permanently and totally
disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs may be tax exempt. The tax exemption may be
transferred when purchasing another dwelling. For more information, contact your county and municipal
tax offices. The Department of Revenue can be found on the web at www.sctax.org, or call 803.898.5700.
Tax Exemption for Compensation, Pension, Disability Retirement Pay and VA Payments
Provides that federal tax exempt moneys received from pension or compensation provided by the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, or disability pay from the Armed Forces will not be included in SC tax.
For more information, call 1.800.827.1000.
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Parking Fee Exemption
Provides for an exemption of municipal parking meter fees when a veterans vehicle bears a disabled
veteran (V tag), Purple Heart or Medal of Honor license plate. For more information, contact your
county and municipal government offices.
Active Duty Pay Relevant to the SC Department of Revenue & Taxation
Non-resident armed services personnel who are legal residents of other States stationed within South
Carolina by virtue of military orders, are not subject to South Carolina income tax on their service pay.
They are, however, subject to tax on any other income earned in South Carolina by spouses of service
personnel. For more information, visit the Department of Revenue on the web
at www.sctax.org/default.htm, or call 803.898.5700.
Employment Benefits
Veterans Preference
Preference will be granted to eligible members for employment and/or an appointment in public
departments or public works operating on a merit system.
Eligible members:
Must be Honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the U.S.
Must possess the skills and knowledge required for the position involved.
Veterans Reemployment Rights
Employees of the State/any political subdivision thereof, on or after June 25, 1950 has been, or will be,
commissioned, enlisted/selected for service in the Armed Forces of the U.S. shall be entitled to a leave of
absence from his/her duties as an employee of the State/any political subdivision thereof, without loss of
seniority or efficiency or register rating.
The Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), enacted in
October 1994, provides reemployment protection and other benefits for veterans and employees who
perform military service. It clarifies the rights and responsibilities of National Guard and Reserve
members, as well as their civilian employers. USERRA was significantly updated in 1996 and 1998 and
applies almost universally to all employers, regardless of the size of their business. Contact the US
Department of Labor at 1.866.487.2365, or the US Department of Defense Employer Support of the
Guard and Reserves (ESGR) at 1.800.336.4590, or visit them on the web atwww.esgr.mil.
Education Benefits
Education Assistance (Fee tuition for certain veteran's children)
Provides for free tuition to the children of certain war veterans attending South Carolina state supported
colleges and universities as well as state supported post high school technical education institutions.
Certain residency requirements apply. For questions or to apply contact 803.647.2434.
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Click here to download the Application for Tuition Assistance for Certain War Veterans Children.
Other State Veteran Benefits
Credit of State Retirement for Military Service
An active member of one of the retirement systems administered by the South Carolina Public Employee
Benefit Authority may also establish up to six years of service credit for any period of military service for
which he or she does not already have service credit in one of the correlated defined benefit plans. Go
to www.retirement.sc.gov and log into Member Access to request a cost estimate.
Free Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Provides for free hunting/fishing license to veterans who are totally disabled. License must be applied for
directly from SC Department of Natural Resources showing proof of disability. For more information,
call SCDNR at 803.734.3838, or visit them on the web at www.dnr.sc.gov.
State Parks Totally Disabled Persons
Provides that any South Carolina resident who is a permanently and totally disabled veteran may enter
any state park at a reduced rate upon presentation of supporting disability documentation. The veteran
may also apply for a reduced fee Palmetto Passport. Certain services may require an additional fee.
For more information, call South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at 803.734.0156,
or visit them on the web at www.southcarolinaparks.com.
Special License Plates
Upon establishing proof of eligibility to entitlement, the S.C. Department of Public Safety may issue
special motor vehicle license plates to the following:
National Guard
National Guard Retirees
Purple Heart Recipients
Disabled Veterans
U.S. Armed Forces Retirees
Ex-Prisoners of War
Medal of Honor Recipients
Pearl Harbor Survivors
Normandy Invasion Survivors
Marine Corps League
Gold Star Family
Presentation of the State Flag to Families of Deceased Members of the South Carolina National
Guard
Provides that the State Adjutant Generals Office shall present to the family of each deceased member of
the South Carolina National Guard a flag of the State of South Carolina, appropriate for use as a burial
flag, upon application of a member of the family of the deceased. For more information, call
803.734.0200.
Cemetery
The M.J. Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery opened in December 2007. Currently, 1,219 veterans,
spouses and dependents, have been buried with another 3,817 registered (pre-certified) with the cemetery
for burials in the future. Pre-certified means the cemetery has determined eligibility after receiving and
reviewing copies of a veterans DD-214 or discharge document and marriage certificate on file so when
there is a need, scheduling a burial can be done without delay. For eligibility information and a PreCertification Application form, click on the links on this page.
M.J. "Dolly" Cooper Veterans Cemetery
140 Inway Drive
Anderson, SC 29621
864.332.8022
The State of South Carolina through the National Cemetery Administration State Cemetery Grant
Program received a grant to build and initially equip this cemetery. Upon completion, operating and
maintaining the cemetery was turned over to the State of South Carolina, as part of the South Carolina
Office of Veterans Affairs.
Phase I of cemetery construction consisted of 30 acres with an administration office building, a
Committal Shelter, Flag Plaza, Memorial Walk, four Columbarium Walls, maintenance bays and buildings
with approximately 23 acres designated for over 16,000 burials or cremation interments. Phase II, which
is currently in the design and bid process, should be started in the summer of 2013.
It is the policy of cemetery administration to assist every veteran and her/his family in any way that we
can to include verifying service records, determining eligibility, helping obtain service records from the
National Personnel Records Center and providing names and phone numbers of other veteran agencies
who provide other services (health, death benefits, etc.). The cemetery office is open Monday through
Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closed on federal and state holidays. The cemetery is open seven days
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a week year-round. During Eastern Standard Time, the hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and are 8:00 a.m.
to dusk during Daylight Saving Time. We encourage personal visits to the cemetery.
Recording of Discharges
A certified copy of the recorded discharge may be obtained upon request. Any person desiring a certified
copy of any discharge or certificate of lost discharge, may apply to the County Clerk of Court or the
County Veterans Affairs Officer in which the discharge or certificate of lost discharge is registered and
shall be furnished a certified copy. Fees for furnishing a certified copy of discharge or DD Form 214 may
be established by each county, but may not exceed fifty cents.
Marriage, Birth, Death and Divorce Verification
Provides for the verification of marriage, birth, death, and divorce records without cost when such is
required by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the S.C. Division of Veterans Affairs, the County
Veterans Affairs Offices, or any out of state Veterans Affairs entities. For more information, call
803.734.0200.
Visit the South Carolina Veterans Affairs website http://va.sc.gov for contact information and benefits
assistance.
[Source: http://www.military.com/benefits/content/veteran-state-benefits/south-carolina-state-veteransbenefits.html NOV 2016 ++]
Military Discounts in South Carolina
1. MVDC has close to 4000 business locations in South Carolina that have discounts for military
personnel and veterans. In addition to businesses providing discounts, the state of Rhode Island also
provides discounts for those that have served. To find business discounts, enter your zip code and
category in the search box at http://militaryandveteransdiscounts.com/location/south-carolina.html,
2. Veterans Designation on drivers license: Yes
3. State Discounted Fees and Taxes for veterans
Free hunting and fishing licenses to qualified veterans who are totally disabled
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Reduced admission to state parks for permanently and totally disabled veterans who are South
Carolina residents.
Parking fee exemption for municipal meters for veterans' vehicles displaying disabled veteran
"V" tag, Purple Heart or Medal of Honor license plate
4. Property tax and Financial Benefits for veterans
Exemption of state, county, and municipal taxes on the residence of veterans who have lost the
use of the use of their lower extremities or who have paralysis of one lateral half of the body
resulting from injury to the motor centers of the brain.
Compensation, pension, disability, retirement pay, and VA payments are exempt from state tax.
Homestead exemption for permanently and totally disabled veterans
5. State Education Discounts for veterans
Priority given to reimbursement of tuition for state institutions due to activation
Free tuition to the children of certain war veterans attending SC state supported colleges and
universities as well as state supported post high school technical education institutions
6. To find businesses that provide military and veteran discounts refer to
http://militaryandveteransdiscounts.com.
[Source: http://militaryandveteransdiscounts.com/location/south-carolina.html NOV 2016 ++]
