Michigan Veteran Benefits

Military retired pay is exempt from Michigan individual income tax.

Active duty military pay is exempt from Michigan individual income tax.

DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.

Survivor annuities paid to the surviving spouse of retired service members are exempt from Michigan individual income tax.

Service members, Veterans, and surviving spouses may be able to claim a property tax credit on their Michigan primary residence for up to $1,900. The credit, for most people, is based on a comparison between household income and property taxes. Homesteads can have a taxable value up to $165,400.

Michigan offers a total property tax exemption of the primary residence that is owned and occupied by an eligible disabled Veterans or their surviving spouse.

Email: [email protected] Phone: 888-447-2687 Fax: 517-241-5835

The Michigan National Guard has coordinated with several Michigan universities and colleges to offer tuition grants. These grants, used in conjunction with other available tuition assistance programs and the G.I.

Michigan will award a high school diploma to Veterans who left high school before receiving their diploma to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Michigan UI program provides temporary financial assistance for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. UI is a partial, short-term replacement for lost wages while workers are seeking other work and is not intended to be a permanent source of income.

The Michigan Military Family Relief Fund Act authorizes financial assistance grants to qualifying families of service members serving in the Michigan National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces Reserves who are called to active duty.

Michigan residents serving on federal active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible for free hunting and fishing licenses not obtained through a lottery.

Michigan resident disabled Veterans who have a 100% disability rating or are declared individually unemployable are eligible to receive all non-lottery licenses for free.

Medal of Honor Recipients, 100% disabled Veterans and former prisoners of war are eligible for a free entry into facilities that require a Michigan Recreation Passport .

If a mechanical or random screening process is used to reduce the number of applicants, the applicants eligible for preference must be retained and placed in the final candidate pool. All applicants will then be considered using the same merit appraisal system.

In addition to the federal rights provided by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (see section below), active and reserve component service members have several protections under Michigan Law.

Michigan VES at Michigan Works! Service Centers provides individualized career and training-related services through Veterans' Career Advisors and Local Veterans' Employment Representatives , to Veterans, and their spouses. VES also helps employers fill their workforce with job-seeking Veterans.

LARA offers the following benefits for active duty service members, Veterans, and their spouses:

Qualified SDVOBs can receive up to a 10% pricing preference when bidding on Michigan State projects. SDVOB preference can be used for Request for Quotes (RFQs), and Request for Proposals (RFPs).

Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of spouses, surviving spouses, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a spouse (including surviving spouse) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran's service if they both meet the requirements.

Health and pension plan coverage for service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium.

SSLI offered through the National Guard Association of Michigan is made up of several voluntary group life policies that are designed to help meet the needs of Michigan National Guard Service members and their families.

The VA provides valuable life insurance benefits to Veterans, active and reserve component service members and their families to provide financial security given the extraordinary risks involved in military Service. The VA provides the following life insurance benefit programs:

TRICARE Reserve Select is a premium-based plan, available worldwide for Selected Reserve, (U.S. Armed Forces Reserve and National Guard service members) and their families who meet the following qualifications:

Veterans, their spouse or surviving spouse who meet residency and asset limits, may qualify for a $300 burial expense paid by the County Board of Commissioners, or the Board of County Auditors.

Michigan's Veterans Treatment Courts assist Veterans who are involved in the Michigan court system. Veterans Treatment Courts use a hybrid integration of drug court and mental health court principles that promotes sobriety, recovery, and stability.

The VA National Cemetery Administration maintains four national cemeteries in Michigan. Please see the local location listing for the nearest cemetery.

Eligible Veterans can have a "Veteran" designation on their Michigan driver's license or ID card. Who is eligible for the Michigan "Veteran" Designation for Driver's Licenses and ID Cards? The designation is offered to Veterans who served in an active or reserve component of the U.S.

Immediate family members of a service member who died in combat are eligible for the Michigan Gold Star Family license plate.

Michigan offers a waiver of the CDL knowledge skills test and on-road driving skills test requirements for service members and former service members based on their military training and experience.

Michigan provides a state retirement benefit for former Michigan National Guard Service members who served a minimum of 19 years, 6 months and 1 day of active service.

MVTF provides emergency grants to honorably discharged Veterans to help them through short-term financial crisis.

Veterans who have temporary financial issues and require assistance with utility bills, vehicle or home repairs, medical bills or other debts can request assistance from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA).

The Michigan National Guard Family Programs Office helps National Guard families by providing information, education, programs, and resources.

MIVIP provides pre-release education, employment assistance and career guidance to incarcerated Veterans at seven correctional facilities in Michigan.

The VA has numerous resources and locations throughout the state available to assist Veterans and family members. To find a VA location in Michigan enter Michigan in the location field and choose the facility type you are searching for from the drop down menu at the "Learn more…" link below.