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South Carolina Veteran benefits

27 benefits from South Carolina for Veterans and their families, on top of what VA gives. Many need no disability rating.

Each one says who qualifies, how to apply, the official link, and the date we last checked it. Rules change, so the official page has the final word.

Free help in South Carolina

South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 803-734-0200 State agency website

A Veterans service officer (VSO) helps with VA claims and state benefits for free.

Find a service officer near you South Carolina's list of local offices
Your VA disability rating
Who is it for?

27 benefits

Property tax

  • 100% P&T

    Property Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans (Home)

    South Carolina veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition pay no property tax on their home and the lot it sits on. Surviving spouses can keep the exemption if they remain unmarried and living in the home.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Veteran must be permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability and file a certifying certificate with the SC Department of Revenue; covers the dwelling and lot not exceeding five acres.
    How to apply
    Apply through SCDOR's MyDORWAY portal or submit form PT-401I with a county service officer or VA disability certificate; no MyDORWAY account required.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • 100% P&T

    Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans' Vehicles

    Totally and permanently disabled veterans can register up to two personal vehicles in South Carolina without paying annual property tax on them. A surviving spouse may keep the exemption on one vehicle.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Veteran must have special disabled veteran license tags or a certificate from a county service officer or the VA certifying total and permanent disability; applies to vehicles owned or leased by the veteran.
    How to apply
    File Application for Exemption (PT-401I) with SCDOR by mail, MyDORWAY, or in person at a Taxpayer Assistance Office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Property Tax Exemption for Medal of Honor Recipients and Former POWs

    South Carolina residents who received the Medal of Honor or were prisoners of war in specified wars get a full property tax exemption on their home and land. The exemption also passes to a qualifying surviving spouse.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be a Medal of Honor recipient (any era) or a former POW from World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, or the Vietnam Conflict, and reside in South Carolina.
    How to apply
    Apply through SC Department of Revenue using the property exemption application (PT-401I) or MyDORWAY.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouse of Service Member Killed in Action

    Surviving spouses of US Armed Forces members killed in action receive a property tax exemption on their dwelling and lot if they remain unmarried and acquire ownership in fee or for life.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Surviving spouse of US Armed Forces member killed in action. Must remain unmarried, reside in the house, and own the property in fee or for life.
    How to apply
    First get the 4 percent legal residence rate from your county assessor. Then file form PT-401I with the SC Department of Revenue. Apply online in MyDORWAY, by mail, or at a DOR service center. Include the DD 1300 Report of Casualty, the death certificate, VA proof you are the survivor, and your deed. Questions: 803-898-5700. Processing takes 10 to 12 weeks.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • 100% P&TFor family or survivors

    Vehicle Property Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouse of Disabled Veteran

    Surviving spouses of 100% disabled veterans who move to South Carolina after the veteran's death can claim property tax exemption on one vehicle. Exemption applies regardless of whether the disabled veteran previously applied.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Surviving spouse of veteran with 100% total and permanent service-connected disability rating. Spouse must have moved to SC after veteran's death. Vehicle must be in spouse's name or held in trust with spouse as income beneficiary.
    How to apply
    Apply through MyDORWAY online portal or submit application to South Carolina Department of Revenue
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Full State Income Tax Exemption for Military Retirement Pay

    South Carolina fully exempts military retirement pay from state individual income tax, regardless of the retiree's age. A surviving spouse receiving a deceased spouse's military retirement income can also claim the deduction.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applies to taxpayers with military retirement income included in SC taxable income; the deduction has no age requirement.
    How to apply
    Claim the deduction when filing SC Form SC1040; no separate application needed.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military Service Credit Purchase for State Retirement

    Active members of South Carolina's state retirement systems can buy up to six years of service credit for prior military service, boosting their eventual state pension.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be an active member of a PEBA-administered retirement system and have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; cost is based on an actuarially neutral payment.
    How to apply
    Request a service purchase cost estimate through your PEBA Member Access account, then submit payment or set up an installment plan.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • No rating needed

    "Veteran" Designation on Driver's License or ID Card

    SC veterans can add a "Veteran" marking to their driver's license, permit, or ID card at no charge, giving quick proof of veteran status for benefits and discounts.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must have served honorably in the U.S. Armed Forces and present qualifying military discharge documentation, such as a DD-214 showing an honorable or general-under-honorable-conditions discharge.
    How to apply
    Visit any SCDMV branch with acceptable military documentation; no fee is charged for the designation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    "Veteran" Special License Plate

    Honorably discharged veterans can get a "Veteran" license plate for a private vehicle or motorcycle registered in South Carolina. Plates for veterans with a service-connected disability also display the word "disabled."

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, active or reserve, and been honorably discharged; up to four plates may be issued per person.
    How to apply
    Submit SCDMV Form MV-37 with military discharge documentation by mail to SCDMV Headquarters in Blythewood.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • Certain disabilities

    Disabled Veteran License Plate and Registration Fee Waiver

    Wartime disabled veterans who are totally and permanently disabled, or who lost use of limbs or vision, can register a vehicle without paying the usual registration fee. Up to two such plates may be issued.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Certain serious disabilities (see who qualifies). Veteran must be classified as totally and permanently disabled due to service-connected disability, or meet specific loss-of-limb/vision criteria, as shown by VA records or a county veterans officer certificate.
    or totally and permanently disabled due to service-connected disability
    How to apply
    Submit SCDMV Form MV-37 along with VA or county veterans officer documentation of disability by mail to SCDMV Headquarters.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Family License Plate

    Immediate family members of service members killed in action receive a special license plate with no cost. The plate allows free parking at municipal parking meters. Available as standard, motorcycle, or personalized version.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Immediate family members (parent, spouse, sibling, or child) of US Armed Forces members killed in action. Must provide DD-2064 (Certificate of Death Overseas) or DD-1300 (Report of Casualty).
    How to apply
    Mail completed Application for Military License Plate (Form MV-37) with required documentation to SCDMV
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • No rating needed

    Free Disability Hunting and Fishing License

    South Carolina residents who receive disability benefits, including from the VA, can get a free three-year combination hunting and fishing license. Applicants who are paraplegic, quadriplegic, or legally blind receive a lifetime license instead.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be an SC resident for at least 365 days and currently receive disability benefits from an approved agency such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
    How to apply
    Complete the Disability Recreational Hunting and Fishing License application online or by mail with proof of residency and disability documentation, or email DisabilityLicense@dnr.sc.gov.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • 100% P&T

    Free State Park Admission for Permanently and Totally Disabled Veterans

    South Carolina resident veterans whom the VA has classified as permanently and totally disabled can enter any state park free of charge by showing proof of their disability from their county veterans affairs office.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Must be an SC resident veteran certified by the VA as permanently and totally disabled.
    How to apply
    Present an identification card from the county veterans affairs office stating the disability to park staff at the entrance.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    SC National Guard College Assistance Program (SCNG CAP)

    Active drilling members of the SC Army or Air National Guard can receive state tuition assistance covering much of their in-state college costs. The program is run jointly by the Commission on Higher Education and the SC National Guard.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be an active drilling member of the SC Army or Air National Guard, have completed Basic Training and AIT/IADT, and enroll in an eligible two- or four-year SC institution.
    How to apply
    Apply each academic year through the CHE/National Guard portal during set application windows; funds are paid directly to the school.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Free Tuition for Children of Certain Wartime Veterans

    Children of qualifying wartime veterans, including those killed, disabled, or former POWs, can attend any SC state-supported college or technical school tuition-free until age 26.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran must have served honorably during a war period set in South Carolina law and meet SC residency rules. The child must be 26 or younger and working on a first (undergraduate) college degree.
    How to apply
    Apply through the SC Department of Veterans' Affairs Education office for approval before enrolling at the chosen institution.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    In-State Tuition for Veterans, Active Duty, and Dependents

    Service members, veterans, and their dependents stationed in or moving to South Carolina qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges without the usual residency wait. Veterans using certain VA education benefits can pay in-state tuition regardless of how long they've lived in the state.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Active-duty members, retirees, and honorably discharged veterans assigned to SC, or veterans/dependents using Chapter 30, 31, or 33 VA education benefits who served ninety days or longer on active duty.
    How to apply
    Provide proof of military status/orders or a VA education benefit award letter to the college's admissions or registrar's office when applying for residency classification.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • No rating needed

    Operation Palmetto Employment & Veteran Priority at SC Works

    South Carolina veterans and military spouses get priority service at SC Works centers, including resume help, job referrals, and career coaching. Veteran-community job seekers also get an early look at new job postings on SC Works Online Services.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to all veterans and eligible spouses using SC Works Centers or SC Works Online Services.
    How to apply
    Register with SC Works Online Services or visit a local SC Works Center and identify as a veteran or military spouse.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Workshops

    SC Works partners with the Department of Labor, Defense Department, and VA to offer TAP workshops that help transitioning service members translate military experience into civilian job skills.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to transitioning service members and veterans through SC Works centers.
    How to apply
    Register for a TAP workshop through your installation's transition office or a local SC Works center.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veterans' Preference for State Government Employment

    Honorably discharged veterans applying for South Carolina state agency and higher education jobs get hiring preference, and at least one qualified veteran must be interviewed for each posted full-time position.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be an honorably discharged member of the U.S. Armed Forces who would receive federal employment preference, and meet the minimum training/experience requirements for the position.
    How to apply
    Submit a DD Form 214 along with your state job application to the hiring agency to claim the preference.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • No rating needed

    SC Veterans Business Program (Small Business Development Center)

    The state's Small Business Development Center runs a Veterans Business Program to help active, reserve, and veteran entrepreneurs start and grow businesses, including market research and business plan assistance.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to active duty, reserve, and veteran business owners or prospective owners in South Carolina.
    How to apply
    Contact the SC Small Business Development Center's Veterans Business Program for free consulting services.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    M.J. "Dolly" Cooper Veterans Cemetery

    South Carolina's state veterans cemetery in Anderson provides burial at no cost to eligible veterans, including the plot, grave liner, marker, and opening/closing of the gravesite. Spouses and dependent children can also be buried there for a fee.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran must meet state and federal eligibility standards; spouses qualify with a marriage certificate, and unmarried dependent children under the age of 21 (or incapable adult children) may also be eligible.
    How to apply
    Submit a Pre-Certification Application with a copy of the veteran's DD-214 and marriage certificate (if applicable) to the cemetery in advance of need.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military Honors at Funeral Ceremonies

    South Carolina provides military funeral honors at M.J. Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery, including flag folding and presentation and Taps played by bugler or electronic recording. Requests typically made through funeral director.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veterans buried at M.J. Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery
    How to apply
    Request through funeral director who forwards to cemetery personnel for coordination
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    State Veterans Nursing Homes

    South Carolina operates six state veterans nursing homes offering skilled and intermediate nursing care to eligible veterans, run under the SC Department of Veterans' Affairs.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Must be separated from the U.S. Armed Forces under general or honorable conditions, qualify as a South Carolina resident, and need skilled or intermediate nursing home care.
    How to apply
    Contact your county Veterans' Affairs officer or the specific veterans home directly to apply for admission.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Money, grants and bonuses

  • No rating needed

    Veterans' Trust Fund of South Carolina

    This state-established fund awards grants to nonprofits, veteran service organizations, and county veterans affairs offices to support programs that improve quality of life for SC veterans and their families, supplementing existing state services.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Grants are awarded to organizations serving veterans; individual veterans are typically served indirectly through funded partner programs.
    How to apply
    Organizations submit grant proposals to the Veterans' Trust Fund Board of Trustees; veterans can ask their county veterans affairs office about funded local programs.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    SC Military Family Relief Fund

    This fund gives emergency grants to families of SC National Guard members and SC residents in Reserve components called to active duty because of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, helping cover housing, utilities, food, and medical costs.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Service member must be a SC National Guard member or SC resident Reservist called to active federal duty due to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; grant type and amount depend on financial need and status.
    How to apply
    Submit the SCMFRF grant application, available through the SC Department of Veterans' Affairs.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Other help

  • No rating needed

    County Veterans' Affairs Officer Claims Assistance

    Every South Carolina county has a Veterans' Affairs Office that helps veterans and their families file federal VA claims and appeals at no cost, with SCDVA regional staff also reviewing claims and providing appeal representation in some cases.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to any veteran, dependent, or survivor seeking help with a benefits claim; the assistance is free.
    How to apply
    Contact your county Veterans' Affairs Office to schedule an appointment with a claims specialist.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Support

    SCDVA works with state and community partners to connect veterans, service members, and their families to mental health and suicide prevention resources, including events like the Governor's Summit on veteran wellbeing.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to South Carolina veterans, service members, and their families seeking mental health or crisis support connections.
    How to apply
    Contact SCDVA or your county Veterans Affairs Office to be connected with mental health resources.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Also check

Education only. Helping The Brave is not a government agency. Confirm details with the agency before you apply.