South Carolina Exclusive State Benefits
Factoid: South Carolina is home to more than 400,000 veterans and has a long history of military tradition, including Fort Jackson, the largest U.S. Army Basic Combat Training facility; Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island; and Joint Base Charleston. The state offers robust property tax exemptions, education assistance, and a wide range of veteran support programs.
Key Contact:
South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs (SCDVA)
📍 1800 St. Julian Place, Suite 305, Columbia, SC 29204
🌐 https://scdva.sc.gov | 📞 (803) 734 0200
⚕️ State Veterans’ Nursing Homes
🟩 Four state operated veterans’ nursing homes located in Anderson, Columbia, Florence, and Walterboro provide skilled nursing, long term care, rehabilitation, and Alzheimer’s/dementia care to eligible veterans and their spouses.
🌐 https://scdva.sc.gov/veterans-nursing-homes | 📞 (803) 734 0200
🚗 Driver License & ID Benefits
🟩 Free “Veteran” designation on South Carolina driver’s licenses and ID cards for honorably discharged veterans.
🟩 Special license plates for disabled veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and Purple Heart recipients (some issued free for eligible disabled veterans).
📍 South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
🌐 https://scdmvonline.com | 📞 (803) 896 5000
🏠 Property Tax Exemption
🟩 Full property tax exemption on a primary residence and up to two private passenger vehicles for 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and former POWs.
📍 Apply through your local county tax assessor’s office.
🌐 https://dor.sc.gov | 📞 (803) 898 5000
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💵 Income Tax Benefits
🟩 Military retirement pay is partially exempt for veterans under age 65 and fully exempt for veterans age 65 and older.
🟩 VA disability compensation and survivor benefits are fully tax free.
🌐 https://dor.sc.gov | 📞 (803) 898 5000
🎓 Education Benefits
🟩 Free tuition at state supported colleges and universities for children of certain wartime veterans who were killed, missing in action, POWs, or who have a VA rated disability of 100%.
🟩 In state tuition for veterans and their dependents regardless of residency duration.
📍 South Carolina Commission on Higher Education
🌐 https://www.che.sc.gov | 📞 (803) 737 2260
💼 Employment Services
🟩 Veterans receive preference in state government hiring.
🟩 SC Works Centers provide veteran employment representatives for job search assistance, resume help, and career training resources.
🌐 https://scworks.org | 📞 (803) 737 2400
🌳 Recreation & Licenses
🟩 Free hunting and fishing licenses for 100% disabled veterans.
🟩 Discounted state park admission and camping fees for eligible veterans.
📍 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
🌐 https://www.dnr.sc.gov | 📞 (803) 734 3833
📍 South Carolina State Parks
🌐 https://southcarolinaparks.com | 📞 (803) 734 0156
⚖️ Legal Assistance
🟩 The South Carolina Bar’s Military and Veterans’ Law Section offers free legal clinics for veterans, covering civil issues, VA claims, and family law.
🟩 Veterans Treatment Courts are available in several counties to divert justice involved veterans toward treatment and rehabilitation.
🌐 https://www.scbar.org | 📞 (803) 799 6653
⚰️ State Veterans Cemeteries
🟩 The M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery in Anderson provides free burial for eligible veterans and nominal cost burial for spouses and dependents.
📍 140 Inway Drive, Anderson, SC 29621
🌐 https://scdva.sc.gov/veterans-cemeteries | 📞 (864) 332 2268
💡 Additional South Carolina Specific Programs
🟩 South Carolina Military Family Relief Fund offers emergency financial assistance to families of National Guard and Reserve members deployed on active duty.
🟩 Palmetto Pathfinder Program pairs newly separated veterans with trained veteran mentors to help them transition successfully to civilian life.
🌐 https://scdva.sc.gov | 📞 (803) 734 0200
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Disclaimer:
This is NOT an official handout from DoD, VA, DOL nor FFSC but created by Dr. Tony Astro, PhD, GCDF, CMCS, CCSP as part of his class & capstone counseling. To reach out for correction and additional information connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyastro. You can also subscribe to his Military Benefits and Transition page for an update on this at https://www.linkedin.com/company/tonyastro.