Missouri offers a range of benefits for veterans, covering areas such as education, employment, housing, and healthcare, among others. Here’s an overview of some key benefits available to veterans in Missouri:
Educational Benefits
- Missouri Returning Heroes Act: This act limits undergraduate tuition at any state college to no more than $50 per credit hour for Missouri residents with other than dishonorable discharge and who served in a combat zone after Sept. 11, 2001.
- War Veteran’s Survivor Grant Program: Available to children and spouses of veterans whose deaths or injuries were a result of combat action, or were attributed to an illness contracted while serving in combat action, or who became 80% disabled as a result of injuries or accidents sustained in combat action since Sept. 11, 2001.
- Educational Assistance: Missouri provides several forms of educational assistance, including in-state tuition benefits for service members, veterans, and their families, as well as specific programs for children of POWs and MIAs and scholarships for active members of the Missouri National Guard.
Employment Benefits
- State Employment Preference: Veterans receive a five-point preference when testing for any state employment position, with ten points for service-connected disabled veterans. Spouses of eligible veterans may also qualify.
- Show-Me Heroes Program: Offers on-the-job training support by reimbursing businesses for 50% of the wages of workers hired through the program, for up to 1040 hours of OJT.
- Professional License Qualifications: Missouri considers military education, training, or service as valid qualifications for professional licensing or certification.
Housing and Financial Assistance
- Missouri Veterans Homes: There are seven veterans homes across Missouri, providing skilled nursing care for veterans who require it and meet eligibility criteria.
- Tax Benefits: Missouri offers various tax benefits for veterans, including income tax exemptions for active duty and reserve pay, as well as property tax credits for 100% VA disabled veterans.
- Missouri FIRST Program: Supports veteran-owned small businesses through low-interest loans, aiming to grow and expand economic opportunities.
Additional Benefits
- Driver and Vehicle Licenses: Veterans can obtain a “veteran” designation on their driver’s licenses and state IDs and access various military-themed license plates.
- Recreational Benefits: Disabled veterans with a service-connected disability of 60% or more, as well as active duty members and their families stationed in Missouri, can receive hunting and fishing licenses at resident rates or even for free in certain conditions.