Find Michigan state and local veteran’s benefits including education, employment, tax deductions, veterans homes, financial assistance, and more below. The Great Lake State is home to over 600,000 veterans who can access these veterans benefits.
Michigan Veteran Education Benefits
Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
Michigan offers tuition assistance for natural or adopted children of certain deceased or disabled veterans. Grant recipients must be Michigan residents between 16-26 years old to be eligible. The grants are distributed based on the student’s enrollment status, and full-time students are eligible to receive up to $2,800 per academic year.
Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance
Active duty Michigan National Guard, including the traditional service of one weekend per month, two weeks per year – are eligible to receive tuition assistance to attend any public or private college, university, vocational school, technical school, or trade school in Michigan. Tuition assistance covers up to $600 per credit hour and up to $6,000 per year including tuition and fees.
Michigan Employment Benefits
Licensing Fees
MVAA helps veterans get established in various professions by waiving licensing fees for certain occupations and certain levels of experience.
Michigan Veteran Housing Benefits
Veterans Homes
Michigan hosts two Veterans Homes in Marquette and Grand Rapids. Both homes provide medical and nursing care, domiciliary care, in-house pharmacy, rehabilitation therapy, and recreational activities among other services. Veterans eligible for VA health care or financial assistance for long-term care may be admitted. Additionally, eligible veterans must have served at least 90 days active duty and been honorably discharged. Veterans who enlisted after Sept. 7, 1980 or who entered active duty after Oct. 16, 1981, must have served 24 continuous months or the full period for which they were called to active duty to be eligible. Spouses, surviving spouses, and parents of eligible veterans are also eligible for admission, space permitting.
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Michigan Veteran Financial Benefits
Income Tax
Active duty and retired pay is not taxed.
Property Tax Waiver
Veterans who are 100 percent permanently and totally disabled or entitled to veterans benefits at the 100 percent disability rate, as determined by the VA, may request a property tax waiver from the Michigan Department of Treasury. In order to apply, the veteran must be a Michigan resident and have been honorably discharged. Un-re-married surviving spouses of eligible veterans may also apply.
Income Tax Credit
Disabled veterans or surviving spouses receive a property tax credit. This benefit varies depending on disability rating and the family’s income.
Michigan Veterans Trust Fund
The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF) provides emergency assistance to Michigan veterans and dependents in the event of a short-term financial crisis. To be eligible, the veteran must be a Michigan resident and honorably discharged with either 180 days of service during a period of war, 180 days of active duty with the award of an Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or Marine Corps and Navy expeditionary medal, or have a service-incurred disability if served less than 180 days. Apply for an MVTF grant through your local MVTF County Committee.
Additional Michigan Veteran Benefits
Disabled Veteran Vehicle Registration
Veterans who have a service-connected total or permanent disability rating from the VA or ex-POWs, regardless of disability rating, are eligible to register one vehicle with a disabled veteran license plate at no charge. There is a one-time $5 administrative fee when the plate is first issued.
Veteran License Plates
The Michigan Department of State allows veteran and military designation on license plates starting at $5. Proof of military service must accompany the application. To obtain a special designation license plate, apply with your local Secretary of State office.
Veteran Driver’s License Designation
Veterans with an honorable or under honorable conditions (general) discharge are eligible to have a veteran designation printed on their state driver’s license or ID card. The designation is available when applying for an original or renewal Michigan license or ID at no additional charge.
Hunting and Fishing License
Michigan veterans with a 100 percent disability and active duty military are eligible to receive a state hunting and fishing license at no charge.
Free State Park Access
Medal of Honor recipients, 100 percent disabled veterans, and ex-POWs may enjoy free entry to Michigan state-owned parks, trails, and recreation areas. Eligible veterans must have the specialty license plate designation in order to gain free access.
Veteran Treatment Courts
Some veterans involved with the legal system have access to Veteran Treatment Courts – a hybrid court that incorporates elements of drug and mental health specialty courts to help veterans resolve underlying issues that may have contributed to their arrest. There are currently 25 Veteran Treatment Courts in Michigan.
Michigan Veterans Cemeteries
Any Michigan veteran eligible to be buried in a national cemetery is eligible for burial at one of the two national cemeteries in Michigan at no cost. Burial benefits include a gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a government headstone or marker, burial flag, and Presidential Memorial Certificate. Spouses are also eligible to be buried in Michigan’s national cemeteries. The two national cemeteries in Michigan are Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly and Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta.
Michigan Link to Veterans Services
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