Veteran Benefits in Mississippi
Servicemembers may apply for VA benefits in Mississippi through the state Veterans Affairs Board (SVAB), an agency working to connect military members and their families with the many programs and services available to them. Through these veterans benefits, servicemembers receive access to employment resources, financial assistance, tax exemptions and funeral benefits.
Additionally, federal veterans administration benefits include health care, pensions, disability compensation and home loans. However, other veterans assistance programs are available to surviving spouses or the children of deceased servicemembers. To learn more about benefits for veterans in MS and how to obtain them, review the information below.
Disability Benefits for Veterans in Mississippi
Servicemembers may apply for VA disability pay in Mississippi if they have a service-connected illness, injury or disability.
Available VA disability benefits include Dependency and Indemnity (DIC), disability compensation and Special Monthly payments (SMC). Veterans may file DIC VA disability claims by completing VA Form 21-534EZ, or they may apply for SMC by completing Form 21-2680.
To apply for general disabled veterans benefits, veterans may complete VA Form 21-526EZ.
Additionally, servicemembers may enroll in VA life insurance if they wish to obtain any of the following policies:
- Servicemembers’ Group Life
- Veterans’ Group Life
- Family Servicemembers’ Group Life
- Servicemember’s Group Life (Traumatic Injury Protection)
- Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance
- Veterans’ Mortgage Life
Note: To enroll in veterans life insurance, applicants may obtain a paper application from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), or they may apply for Veterans’ Group or Service-Disabled Insurance online.
Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in Mississippi
Veterans who meet VA health care qualifications may apply for benefits online, in person, by telephone or by mail.
To apply for VA health insurance in person or by telephone, servicemembers must visit a local veteran’s medical facility, or they may call 1-877-222-8387. Alternately, veterans may apply for VA medical benefits by completing an Application for Health Care and mailing it to the following address:
Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
After enrolling in veterans health insurance in Mississippi, servicemembers receive benefits such as preventative and emergency care services, prescription medications, and access to any of the four Veterans Nursing Homes in the state.
To learn more about VA health care eligibility or to receive application assistance, servicemembers may contact a State Veteran Service Officer.
Pension Benefits for Veterans in Mississippi
Several types of VA pension options are available to low-income veterans and/or their surviving family members. These veterans pension programs include survivors payments, Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound allowances.
To apply for VA pension benefits in Mississippi, claimants must complete VA Form 21P-527EZ, or they may complete an Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits (21P-534EZ) to apply for payments as a surviving spouse or dependent.
To apply for Housebound benefits, applicants must mail medical evidence to the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center Attention: Milwaukee Pension Center P. O. Box 5192 Janesville, WI 53547-5192
Housing Benefits for Veterans in Mississippi
Available VA housing benefits include skilled nursing care, a VA home loan, financial counseling and mortgage assistance.
Mississippi Veterans housing assistance is available to service members requiring long-term health care through any of the four Veterans Nursing Homes in Collins, Jackson, Oxford and Kosciusko.
To apply for VA housing assistance in MS, veterans must obtain an admissions application in person or online through the SVAB website. Additionally, applicants must complete the following forms:
- Social History (SVAB Form NH – 12)
- Application for Health Benefits (VA Form 10-10EZ)
- Appointment of Veterans Service Organization as Claimant’s Representative (VA Form 21-22)
- Medical History and Physical (SVAB Form NH – 10)
- Pulmonary History
- Statement of Attending Physician Form (SVAB Form NH-11)
In addition to nursing home veterans housing assistance, servicemembers may apply for a home loan if they meet eligibility requirements and complete a Request for a Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 26-1880).
Veterans who meet VA home loan qualifications may apply for a Purchase Loan, Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL), Adapted Housing Grant or a Native American Direct Loan (NADL).
Note: VA Foreclosure counseling and mortgage assistance also exist for veterans. To learn more about these programs, contact the VA’s Loan Guaranty Office at 1-877-827-3702.
Education Benefits for Veterans in Mississippi
Several VA education benefits are available to servicemembers and their eligible dependents, including scholarships for veterans, in-state tuition and educational assistance. Veteran scholarships are available to the children of former prisoners of war or servicemembers deemed missing in action.
Under these veterans education benefits, children of servicemembers receive one free eight-semester scholarship, excluding expenses such as books and food supplies. Additional grants are available to National Guard members under the state’s Adjutant General.
Other VA school benefits in MS include honorary high school diplomas. To qualify, veterans must have served in World War II or the Vietnam or Korean Conflict. Servicemembers may apply for the diploma on their own, or a surviving spouse or family member of the deceased veteran may apply on their behalf.
Through the federal GI bill, additional benefits are available to servicemembers and their families. To apply for post 911 gi bill benefits, veterans must complete an Application for VA Education Benefits (VA Form 22-1990).
Employment Benefits for Veterans in Mississippi
Service members seeking Mississippi VA jobs assistance can take advantage of the many benefits available to them, including employment preference and the services under the state Department of Employment Security (MDES).
In addition to helping applicants find jobs for veterans, the MDES assists vets in applying for unemployment insurance benefits. Other local veteran jobs resources include the state’s network of WIN Job Centers.
Note: To find your local VA employment facility, contact the MDES at 888-844-3577.
Funeral Benefits for Veterans in Mississippi
Mississippi VA death benefits include burial at either of the two memorial cemeteries in the state, including the facilities in Kilmichael and Newton. These VA burial benefits are available to eligible servicemembers as well as their spouses and certain eligible dependents.
Additional VA death benefits include the following:
- The furnished grave, grave liner or columbarium space
- The opening and closing of the grave
- Supply and installation of the headstone or grave marker
- Perpetual care
Note: To learn more about veterans burial benefits, contact the Newton facility at 601-683-2959 or the Kilmichael cemetery at 662-262-4232.