Missouri veteran benefits
Veteran Compass lists 33 Missouri programs for veterans and their families. Each one links to the official government page, because rules, amounts and deadlines change. This is a guide to what is worth looking into, not a decision about whether you qualify. Federal VA benefits, such as health care, disability compensation and the GI Bill, also apply in Missouri; see the full directory or use the Benefit Finder.
Burial
Missouri State Veterans Cemeteries
State veterans cemeteries provide interment for eligible veterans, spouses and dependent children with several services and items at no charge. Pre-certification is available online or on paper.
Who it may help: Eligibility follows national cemetery rules, including a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable and required service length for most veterans. There is no residency requirement. A DD-214 is needed for pre-certification. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
Education
Missouri Returning Heroes Act (Reduced Tuition)
Combat veterans enrolled at Missouri public colleges and universities may receive a reduced tuition rate. The page describes a per-credit-hour cap for undergraduates and a percentage-based cap for most graduate programs.
Who it may help: Applicants must be combat veterans discharged under honorable conditions, with service records showing combat service, and be Missouri residents or registered or eligible to vote in Missouri. Undergraduates must keep a minimum GPA, and benefits expire after set periods following discharge. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
Wartime Veteran's Survivor Grant
A state grant helping spouses and children of certain Missouri veterans with college costs at participating public institutions. It covers tuition up to a set level plus allowances for room and board and books, and the program takes a limited number of students each year.
Who it may help: Spouses and children of Missouri-resident veterans whose death or injury is tied to combat qualify under the page's rules, with the Missouri Veterans Commission making the final determination. Applicants must be enrolled at least half-time as undergraduates, and children must be under 25. Applications go through the State Financial Aid Portal. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
Operation Recognition (Honorary High School Diploma)
Missouri awards honorary high school diplomas to veterans and civilian POWs who left school to serve and never finished. Family members may apply on behalf of a deceased veteran.
Who it may help: Applicants must be honorably discharged veterans or civilian POWs who are current or former Missouri residents and did not return to school afterward. A copy of the DD-214 is submitted through the Missouri Veterans Commission. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
Missouri National Guard State Educational Assistance (Tuition Assistance)
A state grant that helps Missouri National Guard members pay undergraduate tuition at approved public or private schools, applied after eligible federal tuition assistance. The state document is undated, so confirm current rules with the Missouri National Guard.
Who it may help: Must be a Guard member in good standing with required training completed, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, without a prior bachelor's degree, enrolled or accepted as an undergraduate, and keeping a minimum GPA stated on the page. Coverage is capped by credit hours. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Board of Nursing Military Connect
A Missouri State Board of Nursing resource page linking service members, veterans and families to military resources and advisors at participating Missouri nursing and college programs.
Who it may help: The page states no formal eligibility; it is aimed at military members, veterans and families seeking to apply military education and training toward academic goals. Services are described on each linked school's site. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Employment
Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVE) Certification
A state certification for service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. Certified firms may receive bid preference points on state contracts, and the state sets a contract-award goal for SDVEs.
Who it may help: A service-disabled veteran must own at least half (51%) of the for-profit business and control its management, and the business must operate in Missouri or have a Missouri office. Documentation of ownership, control, veteran status and service-connected disability is required, and certification is renewed periodically. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
Missouri State Parks Veteran Hiring Preference
Under state law, Missouri State Parks gives hiring preference to veterans, their family members and survivors of veterans when they are similarly qualified to other applicants.
Who it may help: Applies during selection when candidates are similarly qualified; the page does not describe it as a guarantee of hire. Applicants are encouraged to list military experience on every application. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
MO Heroes Connect Training and Supportive Services
Missouri Job Centers offer occupational skills training, on-the-job training, apprenticeships and supportive services for veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses.
Who it may help: Active duty veterans must meet the federal veteran definition, have separated (not retired) within the last 5 years, and not have a dishonorable discharge. Guard or Reserve members need a qualifying federal deployment within a time window. Spouses must be unemployed or underemployed with documentation. Supportive services have a cap stated on the page. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Show-Me Heroes On-the-Job Training
A Missouri Job Center on-the-job training option where employers can request training funds for hiring eligible veterans, service members or military spouses who are dislocated workers.
Who it may help: Applicants must be dislocated workers who are recent veterans (not dishonorably discharged, discharged within five years), qualifying deployed Reserve Component members, or unemployed spouses of such members. The employer submits the request through local workforce staff; this page does not state a reimbursement rate. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Unemployment Insurance for Military Spouses Who Relocate
A military spouse who quits a job to move with an active or reserve service member may be eligible for Missouri unemployment insurance.
Who it may help: Spouse of active or reserve military personnel who left work to relocate with the service member. Must file in the state of last employment, register with a job center where moving, search for work weekly and request payment weekly. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Military Spouse Professional License Reciprocity
A 2020 state announcement says Missouri gives active duty military spouses who move to the state full professional license reciprocity, recognizing licenses held from other states.
Who it may help: Applies to spouses of active duty military moving to Missouri. The page does not list covered professions or the process; contact the relevant licensing board. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Family
We Shall Not Forget Plate for Families of Service Members Killed in the Line of Duty
A Missouri plate with a gold star design for immediate family of a Missouri-resident service member killed in the line of duty. The plate chart lists no initial or renewal fee.
Who it may help: The chart lists immediate family members, including step-family, of a Missouri-resident service member killed in the line of duty, and the applicant signs to certify eligibility. The chart does not list a proof-of-death requirement; additional requirements may apply, so confirm with the Department of Revenue. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Financial
Property Tax Credit for Disabled Veterans
The Missouri Department of Revenue's military reference guide describes a property tax credit for veterans who are totally disabled from military service, available to homeowners and renters up to set limits.
Who it may help: The guide covers veterans who are 100% disabled. For a disability from military service, a VA letter stating that is attached and VA benefits are not counted in household income; for a 100% disability not from military service, VA benefits count toward household income and a VA letter showing benefit amounts is attached. Renters in facilities that do not pay property taxes are not eligible. Additional requirements apply; confirm with the Missouri Department of Revenue. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
Missouri Military Income Tax Deduction
Missouri lets eligible service members subtract certain military pay from state taxable income: active duty pay, and National Guard and Reserve training pay under a separate deduction that was phased in over several years.
Who it may help: Applies to military income included in federal adjusted gross income and not already deducted elsewhere. Claimed on the Military Income Deduction line of the MO-1040 with Leave and Earnings Statements attached. Inactive duty training is excluded from the active duty deduction. Questions go to the Department of Revenue military contact. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Homestead Property Tax Exemption for Former POWs with Total Service-Connected Disability
The Missouri Constitution exempts the homestead of a qualifying former prisoner of war who has a total service-connected disability from property tax.
Who it may help: Must be a former prisoner of war and a veteran with a total service-connected disability who owns and lives in the homestead as a primary residence. Proof includes county ownership records, a VA or U.S. government letter confirming the disability, and a DD 214 or records letter showing former POW status. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Missouri Military Family Relief Fund
Financial hardship grants for families of Missouri National Guard members and of Missouri residents serving in U.S. Armed Forces reserves, awarded by the Adjutant General. The state document is undated, so confirm current application steps.
Who it may help: Families must meet eligibility requirements and submit sufficient documentation; incomplete packets are denied. Funding is subject to appropriation and goes first to families most in need. This is a state budget document, so confirm current application steps with the Missouri National Guard. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Healthcare
Missouri Veterans Homes
The Missouri Veterans Commission runs veterans homes that provide skilled nursing care. A single waitlist application covers all of the homes.
Who it may help: Applicants must meet VA criteria for veteran status, have lived in Missouri for 180 consecutive days before applying, have physician documentation of a need for 24-hour skilled nursing care, and not be on a sex offender registry or have certain serious felony convictions. A DD-214 and other paperwork are required. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
Missouri Department of Mental Health Veteran Resources
The state mental health department's veteran page lists the Live Life Mission wellness campaign, no-cost in-person suicide prevention training from the Missouri Veterans Suicide Prevention Team, online screening tools and a behavioral health services map.
Who it may help: The page states no formal eligibility; it is aimed at service members, veterans and families. Third-party providers on the map are not endorsed by DMH. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Missouri Governor's Challenge Suicide Prevention Website
A state interagency team runs mogovchallenge.com with resources for service members, veterans and families, including free online military culture and suicide prevention training. The state announcement is from 2023, so confirm the site is still active.
Who it may help: Open to service members, veterans, families and anyone supporting them. This page is a 2023 launch announcement, so check the site for current resources. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-25
Legal
Missouri Veterans Service Program (Service Officers)
Accredited Veterans Service Officers help veterans and dependents with counseling and with preparing and filing benefit claims, including compensation, pension, education, burial and survivor benefits. A locator on the Commission website helps find the nearest office.
Who it may help: The page does not state formal eligibility requirements; it describes the program as serving veterans and their dependents statewide. Check the official page for current contact details.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
MVC Free Estate Planning Clinics for Veterans
The Missouri Veterans Commission lists free clinics for simple wills, powers of attorney, advance health care directives and beneficiary deeds; trusts are not included.
Who it may help: Serves veterans and their spouses who are Missouri residents; RSVP required. See the page for the registration link and phone number. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Other
Veteran Designation on Driver License or ID
Eligible veterans can ask to have a Veteran designation added to a Missouri driver license or nondriver ID. The guide says standard fees apply with no added cost for the designation.
Who it may help: Applicants show a discharge document with a status of honorable or general under honorable conditions, such as a DD-214, at a license office. A local Veterans Service Officer can help if no acceptable document is available. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
Recreation
Missouri Conservation Permit Benefits for Veterans
The Missouri Department of Conservation lets certain disabled veterans and former POWs hunt most wildlife without a permit and buy other permits at resident prices. The page also describes free fishing events for service members at trout parks.
Who it may help: Honorably discharged veterans with a 60% or greater service-related disability, or former POWs, who carry a certified statement of eligibility from the VA. Deer, elk, turkey and black bear are excluded from the no-permit hunting, and migratory bird permits still apply. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
Missouri State Parks Military Camping Discount
Veterans, retirees, active-duty members and family members of active-duty personnel receive a per-night campground discount year-round at Missouri State Parks.
Who it may help: Show valid military ID such as a CAC, DD Form 1173 or DD 214 at the campground. The discount applies to campsites; the page lists special promotions that change by year. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Veterans Free Fishing Day at Roaring River State Park
Anyone with veteran status can fish free at Roaring River State Park on Veterans Free Fishing Day, with permits picked up at the park store.
Who it may help: Veteran status is the stated requirement. The page does not give the date; confirm the day and any other conditions with the park. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Hero Hunt Managed Deer Hunt for Veterans (Mark Twain State Park)
Missouri State Parks and the Missouri Veterans Commission offer an all-inclusive managed deer hunt for a limited number of drawn veterans and service members, with lodging, food, deer tags, a guide and deer processing included. The 2026 application deadline has passed, so check the Missouri Veterans Commission for the next year.
Who it may help: Open to U.S. veterans and active-duty service members, including reservists and Guard members; prior Mark Twain Hero Hunt participants are ineligible. Names are drawn from applicants. The page's 2026 application deadline has already passed, so check for next year's dates. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Transportation
Disabled Veteran License Plates
Eligible disabled veterans can get Disabled Veteran license plates, with one set available without the usual specialty plate and processing fees. Additional plates carry standard fees.
Who it may help: Applicants must be Missouri residents who served and were honorably discharged, with a service-connected disability shown by a recent VA statement. Form 4601 is required. Disabled Veteran plates do not allow disabled-space parking unless the wheelchair symbol is displayed. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-22
Former Prisoner of War License Plates
Qualifying former prisoners of war can get Missouri license plates with no fee, including personalized plates with no personalized-plate fee.
Who it may help: Must be a Missouri resident who served and was honorably discharged and is a former prisoner of war. Apply with form DOR-4601 plus a POW member card or a recent VA statement of former POW status. Limited to one set per applicant. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Military Personalized and Specialty License Plates
Missouri offers a range of military-themed personalized and specialty plates for eligible service members and veterans, ordered with a dedicated military application form.
Who it may help: Apply on form 4601 with proof of honorable discharge, or proof of active duty if applicable, plus proof of the award or decoration for plates that require one. The page lists a plate application fee; the specific plate designs are not listed on that page. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Purple Heart License Plates
The Department of Revenue plate chart lists Purple Heart plates, stock or personalized, for people who received the medal, with no initial or renewal fee shown.
Who it may help: The chart says a person discharged with the Purple Heart, or currently serving with orders or a certificate showing the award, may qualify. Apply through the military plate application process; additional requirements may apply. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Military Award Parking Placard
Veterans who earned certain medals or were former POWs may get a no-fee placard allowing free parking in certain metered spaces (subject to local approval) and in public college and university lots in Missouri.
Who it may help: Eligible awards named in the Department of Revenue guide include the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Former POW status and several others. Apply on form 4601 with a qualifying specialty plate or a DD214, DD215 or citation letter. Applies to vehicles at or under a stated weight; confirm local acceptance before use. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
Commercial Driver License Test Waivers for Military Drivers
Missouri may waive the CDL skills test, or both knowledge and skills tests under an even-exchange process, for applicants with qualifying military commercial-driving experience.
Who it may help: Skills test waiver requires recent regular employment operating a commercial vehicle and at least two years operating one for the military before separation; knowledge exams still apply. The even-exchange option covers listed military occupations and uses separate forms. Details are in the Department of Revenue Military Reference Guide. Check the official page for current rules.
Official source ↗ (opens in a new tab)Reviewed 2026-10-24
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