Veteran Benefits in Michigan

Michigan offers a variety of benefits to veterans that can help improve their quality of life. These benefits range from financial assistance to educational opportunities. This guide will cover key benefits available to veterans in Michigan, including property tax exemptions, income tax exemptions for military retirement, education benefits, vehicle registration discounts, and hunting/fishing licenses.

Property Tax Exemptions

In Michigan, veterans may qualify for property tax exemptions that can significantly reduce their tax burden. The following are key points regarding property tax exemptions for veterans:

Income Tax Exemptions for Military Retirement

Michigan provides specific tax benefits for military retirees, which can help them retain more of their income. Here are the details:

Education Benefits

Michigan offers several education benefits for veterans and their dependents. These benefits can help ease the financial burden of higher education:

Vehicle Registration Discounts

Michigan provides discounts on vehicle registration fees for veterans, making it more affordable to own and operate a vehicle:

Hunting and Fishing Licenses

Veterans in Michigan can also benefit from reduced fees for hunting and fishing licenses:

In conclusion, Michigan provides a range of benefits for veterans that can enhance their lives and support their families. From property tax exemptions to education benefits and recreational discounts, veterans in Michigan can take advantage of these resources to improve their financial and personal well-being.

Michigan Veterans Trust Fund: Emergency Financial Assistance

If a veteran or their family hits a short-term financial crisis — a shut-off notice, an urgent home repair, a rent or mortgage payment they can't make — the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF) offers emergency grants to help bridge the gap. The fund was created by the state Legislature in 1946 and is intended for unforeseen, temporary emergencies where a grant can resolve the immediate problem and the veteran can show they'll be able to cover future expenses. Eligible expenses can include utility bills, home repairs, and rent or mortgage assistance. Originally focused on wartime-era veterans, the program was expanded in December 2021 to also offer financial counseling and emergency aid to peacetime veterans age 65 and older. The MVTF also partners with organizations like GreenPath Financial Wellness to provide financial education and debt-management help.

To apply, contact your local County Veteran Service Office (CVSO) or call 1-800-MICH-VET (1-800-642-4838) to be connected with the office that serves your area. A CVSO can walk you through documentation requirements and help determine whether your situation fits the program.

State Employment and Contracting Preferences for Veterans

Michigan gives veterans an edge both as job applicants and as business owners competing for state work.

Hiring preference for state jobs

Michigan Civil Service Commission Rule 3-8 authorizes a veterans' preference in selection processes for state classified-service positions. The preference applies to veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications for the job, and it has been expanded to also cover current state employees, military retirees, and active-duty service members who meet eligibility criteria.

Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOB) preference

Businesses that are 51% or more owned by one or more veterans with a service-connected disability can qualify as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business under Public Act 91 of 2005, which allows an SDVOB to receive up to a 10% pricing preference when bidding on State of Michigan contracts. Public Act 133 of 2008 additionally set a goal of directing 5% of total state spending on goods, services, and construction to qualified SDVOBs. To claim the preference, a business indicates its SDVOB status in its bid response and provides documentation of the owner's service and discharge conditions (typically a DD-214). Details and forms are available through the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) at Michigan.gov/SDVOB.

Free State Park Access for 100% Disabled Veterans

Most Michigan state parks, state forest campgrounds, boating access sites, and trails require a Recreation Passport to enter. Veterans rated 100% disabled by the VA, Medal of Honor recipients, and former prisoners of war can get in without paying the Recreation Passport fee. To use this benefit, a resident veteran generally needs to have one of the qualifying Michigan license plates — the Disabled Veteran, Ex-Prisoner of War, or Medal of Honor plate — issued by the Secretary of State, which also serves as the proof of eligibility at the gate.

The benefit covers entry to Michigan's state parks and recreation areas, 140-plus state forest campgrounds, and boating access sites across the state. If you have questions about how the discount applies at a specific location, the Department of Natural Resources' Parks and Recreation Division can be reached at DNR-ParksAndRecreation@Michigan.gov or 517-284-7275.

Children of Veterans Tuition Grant

Beyond the GI Bill and other education benefits a veteran earns through their own service, Michigan runs a separate program for the children of certain disabled or deceased veterans: the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant. It provides undergraduate tuition assistance to the natural or adopted child of a Michigan veteran who either died while on active duty in a war or war-condition service, or who has been rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled as a result of their service.

To qualify, the student generally must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, between 16 and 26 years old, and enrolled full-time or part-time in undergraduate classes at an eligible Michigan institution. The grant is administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury, not the MVAA — families can get current award amounts and application instructions by calling 888-447-2687 or visiting Michigan.gov/MiStudentAid.

VA Health Care and Long-Term Care Options in Michigan

Michigan is home to several full-service VA medical centers, each anchoring a network of community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) that bring VA primary and specialty care closer to home. Major VA medical centers include the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, the Battle Creek VA Medical Center, and the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw — each serving veterans across a multi-county region through both the main hospital and satellite CBOCs. Because clinic locations and services change over time, the most reliable way to find the VA facility or CBOC nearest you is the VA's official facility locator at va.gov/find-locations.

For veterans who need long-term, skilled nursing, or memory care rather than outpatient treatment, Michigan Veteran Homes (MVH) operates three state veterans homes: Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids, the D.J. Jacobetti home in Marquette (serving the Upper Peninsula), and the newer Michigan Veteran Homes at Chesterfield Township in southeast Michigan. These homes provide long-term and short-term nursing care, rehabilitation and therapy, dementia and memory care, palliative care, and domiciliary services, with eligibility and VA benefit coordination described at Michigan.gov/MVH.