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South Carolina

Last Verified: Mar 2026South Carolina Department of Veterans' Affairs ↗

Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance only and may not reflect recent changes. Always verify with the official source linked below. This is not legal, medical, or financial advice.

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Property Tax

2 benefits

Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption

100%+

Veterans with 100% permanent and total service-connected disability receive a full exemption from property taxes on their primary residence and up to 1 acre (or up to 5 acres if the lot was the original purchase).

Eligibility: Veterans with 100% permanent and total service-connected disabilityHow to Apply: Apply through your county auditor with VA disability documentation.SC Code 12-37-220(B)(1)Applies to dependents/surviving spouse
Official Source

Senior Homestead Exemption (Veterans 65+)

All Veterans

Veterans aged 65 and older qualify for the Senior Homestead Exemption, which exempts $50,000 off the fair market value of their primary residence from property taxes.

Eligibility: Veterans aged 65 and older (also available to all SC residents 65+)SC Code 12-37-250
Official Source
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Income Tax

2 benefits

Military Retirement Pay Partial Exemption

All Veterans

South Carolina exempts up to $17,500 of military retirement income from state income tax for those under age 65. Veterans aged 65 and older can deduct up to $30,000 of retirement income.

Eligibility: All veterans receiving military retirement pay; higher deduction for age 65+SC Code 12-6-1170
Official Source

VA Disability Compensation Tax-Free

10%+

VA disability compensation is completely exempt from South Carolina state income tax, consistent with federal law.

Eligibility: All veterans receiving VA disability compensation38 U.S.C. Section 5301 (federal law)
Official Source
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Vehicle / Registration

2 benefits

Disabled Veteran License Plates and Free Registration

10%+

Veterans with service-connected disability can get DV license plates. Veterans with 100% disability receive free DV plates and free vehicle registration.

Eligibility: Veterans with a service-connected disability; free registration for 100% disabled veteransSC Code 56-3-1110
Official Source

Military Specialty License Plates

All Veterans

South Carolina offers specialty license plates for veterans including Veteran, Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, POW, and branch-specific plates.

Eligibility: Veterans and qualifying military personnel with appropriate documentationSC Code Title 56 Chapter 3
Official Source
🎓

Education

4 benefits

Free Tuition for Children of Certain Veterans

100%+

Children of SC veterans who were totally disabled, died in service, or are POW/MIA from wartime service receive free tuition at South Carolina public colleges and universities.

Eligibility: Children of SC veterans who were totally disabled, died in service, or are POW/MIA from wartime serviceSC Code 59-111-20Applies to dependents/surviving spouse
Official Source

SC National Guard College Assistance Program

All Veterans

Active South Carolina National Guard members receive tuition assistance at SC public institutions.

Eligibility: Active members of the South Carolina National GuardSC Adjutant General Tuition Assistance Program
Official Source

In-State Tuition for Veterans

All Veterans

Veterans using GI Bill benefits receive in-state tuition rates at South Carolina public institutions regardless of their state of residency.

Eligibility: Veterans using GI Bill benefits at SC public institutionsFederal Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act
Official Source

SC Merit-Based Scholarships (Palmetto Fellows/LIFE/HOPE)

All Veterans

South Carolina's Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, and HOPE scholarships are merit-based scholarships available to qualifying SC residents including veteran dependents at SC institutions.

Eligibility: SC residents meeting academic criteria; available to veteran dependents who qualifySC Commission on Higher Education Scholarship ProgramsApplies to dependents/surviving spouse
Official Source
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Employment

3 benefits

State Veteran Hiring Preference

All Veterans

Veterans receive preference in South Carolina state employment opportunities.

Eligibility: Honorably discharged veterans; enhanced preference for disabled veteransSC Code 25-1-2310
Official Source

SC Works Career Center Veteran Services

All Veterans

Veterans receive priority of service at SC Works career centers with access to dedicated LVER and DVOP specialist services.

Eligibility: All veterans; priority service for disabled and other eligible veteransJobs for Veterans State Grants Program
Official Source

Professional License Reciprocity

All Veterans

South Carolina recognizes military experience toward professional licensing and offers expedited licensing for veterans and military spouses.

Eligibility: Veterans and military spouses with qualifying military training or experienceSC Code 40-1-640
Official Source
🎣

Hunting & Fishing

2 benefits

Free Hunting/Fishing Licenses (50%+ Disabled)

50%+

SC resident veterans with 50% or higher service-connected disability receive free hunting and fishing licenses.

Eligibility: SC resident veterans with 50% or higher service-connected disabilityHow to Apply: Apply through SC DNR with VA disability documentation.SC Code 50-9-510
Official Source

Free Combination License with All Stamps (100% Disabled)

100%+

SC resident veterans with 100% service-connected disability receive a free combination hunting and fishing license with all stamps included.

Eligibility: SC resident veterans with 100% service-connected disabilityHow to Apply: Apply through SC DNR with VA disability documentation.SC Code 50-9-510
Official Source
🏥

Healthcare

3 benefits

VA Medical Centers in South Carolina

All Veterans

South Carolina has VA Medical Centers in Charleston (Ralph H. Johnson) and Columbia (Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn), with a CBOC network across the state.

Eligibility: Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare38 U.S.C. Chapter 17
Official Source

SC Veterans' Nursing Homes

All Veterans

South Carolina operates veterans' nursing homes in Anderson, Columbia, and Walterboro providing skilled nursing care for eligible veterans.

Eligibility: Eligible veterans requiring skilled nursing careSC DVA Veterans' Nursing Homes Program
Official Source

Vet Centers (Readjustment Counseling)

All Veterans

Free readjustment counseling services at Vet Centers located in Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and North Charleston.

Eligibility: Combat veterans, veterans who experienced military sexual trauma, and other eligible veterans38 U.S.C. Section 1712A
Official Source
🎁

Free Stuff & Parks

2 benefits

Free SC State Parks Admission for Disabled Veterans

10%+

Disabled veterans receive free admission to South Carolina state parks with valid DV documentation.

Eligibility: Veterans with a service-connected disability and valid DV documentationSC State Parks Disabled Veteran Policy
Official Source

Free VETERAN Designation on Driver's License

All Veterans

Honorably discharged veterans can get a free "VETERAN" designation on their South Carolina driver's license or state ID card.

Eligibility: Honorably discharged veterans with DD-214SC DMV Veteran Designation Program
Official Source
📌

Other Benefits

4 benefits

Free VA Claims Assistance

All Veterans

The SC Department of Veterans' Affairs provides free VA claims assistance through veteran service officers located across the state.

Eligibility: All veterans seeking VA benefitsSC DVA Claims Assistance Program
Official Source

Veterans Treatment Courts

All Veterans

Specialized veterans treatment courts are available in several South Carolina judicial circuits to provide alternatives to traditional criminal justice proceedings.

Eligibility: Veterans involved in the criminal justice system who meet program criteriaSC Judicial System Veterans Courts Program
Official Source

National Cemeteries in South Carolina

All Veterans

Free burial for eligible veterans at Beaufort National Cemetery, Florence National Cemetery, and Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

Eligibility: Eligible veterans, their spouses, and dependents38 U.S.C. Chapter 24Applies to dependents/surviving spouse
Official Source

Military Leave for State Employees

All Veterans

South Carolina state employees receive up to 15 days of paid military leave per year for military duty.

Eligibility: SC state employees who are members of the military reserve or National GuardSC Code 8-7-90
Official Source