Missouri disabled veteran benefits include a property tax credit of up to $1,100 (rising to $1,550 in 2026), free Disabled Veteran license plates, a full state income tax exemption on military retirement pay, ten extra points on state merit-system hiring exams, capped tuition at public colleges for combat veterans, free hunting for most game at a 60% rating, and admission to seven state-run veterans nursing homes. Most programs require an honorable discharge (or a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable) and a VA service-connected disability rating. The rating you need depends on the program: some open at any compensable rating, others require 60%, and the property tax credit requires 100%.
Property Tax Credit for 100% Disabled Veterans
If you’re rated 100% service-connected disabled, Missouri refunds a portion of the real estate taxes you paid on your primary residence. For the 2025 tax year, filed by April 15, 2026, the maximum credit covers up to $1,100 in property taxes paid. Starting with the 2026 tax year, that cap rises to $1,550.
The income calculation is what makes this credit reachable for many veterans. Under Sections 135.010 through 135.035 of the Revised Statutes, VA disability payments and benefits are excluded from the income figure used to determine your credit. Without that exclusion, VA compensation would push many 100% disabled veterans past the income thresholds and out of the program.
You file Form MO-PTC with the Missouri Department of Revenue, with your VA disability award letter and proof of taxes paid. The deadline is April 15 of the year following the tax year, but Missouri lets you file up to three years late and still get the credit.
Free Disabled Veteran License Plates
Any Missouri resident with a service-connected disability and an honorable discharge can get one free set of Disabled Veteran license plates. Free means no specialty plate fee, no processing fee, no transfer fee, and no replacement plate or tab fee. Personalizing the plate is also free. Additional sets beyond the first set carry standard registration and processing fees.
To apply, bring a VA statement confirming the disability is service-connected, your DD-214, and a completed application to the Department of Revenue’s motor vehicle office.
State Income Tax Exemptions
Missouri fully exempts military retirement pay from state income tax. You subtract 100% of retirement benefits from Armed Forces service, including reserve components and the Missouri National Guard, from your Missouri adjusted gross income on Form MO-1040. Survivor Benefit Plan payments fall under the same exclusion.
VA disability compensation is already tax-free federally under 26 U.S.C. § 104(a)(4). Because Missouri starts from federal adjusted gross income, that disability pay never shows up on your state return either. Veterans drawing both military retirement and VA disability get both exclusions.
State Hiring Preference
Under Section 36.220 of the Revised Statutes, a disabled veteran who passes a competitive examination for a Missouri merit-system job gets ten points added to the final score. Veterans without a service-connected disability get five. The boosted grade is what sets your rank on the eligibility register. If a veteran or disabled veteran ties with a non-veteran on all relevant job-related factors, the veteran gets the appointment.
You claim the preference by submitting your DD-214 and VA disability documentation when applying through the state’s recruitment system. The preference only covers positions in Missouri’s merit system, not every state job, so check the listing before counting on the extra points.
Education Programs
Missouri Returning Heroes Education Act
Combat veterans attending any public college or university that receives Missouri state funding pay no more than $50 per credit hour in tuition. “Combat veteran” has a defined meaning here: your military records must show service in a combat theater, receipt of combat service medals, or receipt of imminent danger or hostile fire pay. You also need to be a Missouri resident (or eligible to vote in Missouri), hold an honorable discharge, and keep a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.
If you qualify for other federal or state financial aid, you can choose to apply the $50 tuition cap before that aid is used. The institution has to notify you of this option in writing. The sequencing affects how far your GI Bill or other aid stretches.
Wartime Veteran’s Survivors Grant
This grant is for the spouses and children of veterans who died or were seriously injured in combat after September 11, 2001, or who became at least 80% disabled from combat injuries. Eligible survivors receive the lesser of actual tuition or the equivalent tuition at the University of Missouri–Columbia, up to $2,000 per semester for room and board, and up to $500 per semester for books. Children must be under 25. Spouses must have been married to the veteran at the time of death or injury, or within five years of the injury.
Applications go through the State Financial Aid Portal, coordinated with the financial aid office at your chosen public institution.
Hunting, Fishing, and State Park Camping
Veterans with a 60% or greater service-connected rating, and former prisoners of war, can hunt most wildlife in Missouri without buying a permit. Carry a certified statement of eligibility from the VA while in the field.
The exemption has real limits. It does not cover black bears, deer, elk, or turkeys, which still require their own permits. Trapping is not included. Migratory bird hunting requires a separate Missouri Migratory Bird Hunting Permit, and waterfowl hunters still need a Federal Duck Stamp. Veterans at the 60% threshold also pay resident prices for permits regardless of where they actually live, which matters if you live out of state and hunt in Missouri.
Camping at Missouri State Parks campgrounds is $2 per night cheaper year-round for all veterans, active-duty service members, and military retirees. Show military identification at check-in, such as a DD-214, CAC card, or dependent ID.
Missouri Veterans Homes
Missouri operates seven skilled nursing homes for veterans, with a combined 1,238 beds, in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mt. Vernon, St. James, St. Louis, and Warrensburg. To be admitted you need to meet VA criteria for veteran status, hold a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable, have lived in Missouri for at least 180 consecutive days before applying, and have a clinical need for 24-hour skilled nursing care. The homes also screen for sex offender registry status and felony history.
You send your application to the administrator at the home where you’d prefer to live, and you can rank multiple homes. The facility’s medical team decides whether it can meet your care needs. Approved applicants go on a waiting list based on bed availability and medical condition. You’ll need your DD-214, durable power of attorney paperwork, proof of residency, and medical records. Applications are available at any state veterans home or through a Missouri Veterans Commission service officer.
Getting Help With Your Claim
The Missouri Veterans Commission stations service officers across the state who help veterans file claims and navigate benefits at no cost. They have direct access to the VA’s Benefit Delivery Network, which lets them file claims and track pending benefits. If you’re not sure which benefits you qualify for, or you’ve been denied one you think you should receive, a service officer is the right first call. Contact information is available through the Missouri Veterans Commission.