Mississippi Veterans Home Purchase Board
The Veterans Home Purchase Board provides low interest mortgage loans for eligible veterans and unmarried surviving spouses to purchase an existing single family home or to construct a new home. Eligibility requires that the veteran be a Mississippi resident prior to entering military service or be a resident for two (2) consecutive years prior to applying for the loan. The veteran must have or obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for Home Loan Guaranty from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and be discharged from extended active duty under honorable conditions. The unmarried surviving spouse of eligible persons who died as a result of service or service-connected injuries qualifies, as well as the unremarried spouse of any eligible veteran who has not purchased a home since the veteranÂ’s death are eligible.

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State Veterans Nursing Homes
Each of the four State Veterans Nursing Homes have 150 beds and they provide skilled nursing home care for eligible veterans and spouses. Eligibility for admission to the Homes requires that a veteran be or have been a Mississippi resident, have active duty military service, have a "good" military discharge, or be the spouse of a veteran who resides in one of the Veterans Homes. Out of state veterans may be admitted to the Homes if there are no Mississippi residents waiting to accept a bed. Applicants must have a medical need for nursing home care and must be able to pay the daily charge for care in the Home. Applications for admission to the Veterans Homes can be obtained from any of our offices. Indigent veterans can request assistance with the expense of care in the facilities.

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Re-employment
Any person who is a member of any reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States who, in order to perform duties or receive training with the Armed Forces of the United States or of the State of Mississippi leaves a position, other than a temporary position, in the employ of any employer, and who shall give evidence of the satisfactory completion of such duty or training, and who is still qualified to perform the duties of such position, shall be entitled to be restored to his previous or a similar position, in the same status, pay, and seniority. Such period of absence for military duty or training shall be construed as an absence with leave but may be without pay.

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Employment Preference
The State Personnel Board grants each veteran who is fully qualified preference over other applicants for initial or promotional appointments (5 points). Disabled veterans are given additional preference (10 points). In state layoffs, veterans are granted preference and additional preference is given disabled veterans.

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State Retirement
Members of the State Public Employees Retirement System who served in the Armed Forces of the United States or who served in Maritime Service during periods of hostility in WWII shall be entitled to up to four (4) years credit for active duty in the Armed Forces or in such Maritime Service, provided they entered State Service after discharge from the Armed Forces or after completion of such Maritime Service. Credit may be extended beyond four (4) years for those persons who can provide positive proof that they were retained in the Armed Forces or such Maritime Service during WWII by causes beyond his control and without opportunity for discharge.

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Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board
The State Veterans Affairs Board is charged with assisting former and current members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their dependents in securing any benefits or privileges to which they are entitled, with operation of the four Mississippi State Veterans Nursing Homes, with approval of programs and institutions of education and training under the GI Bill, and with advising the governor and legislature on veterans’ affairs.

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Administrative Division
SVAB receives and maintains copies of military discharges for individuals recently released from military service who list Mississippi as their home of record, maintains Mississippi draft records from WW II through post Korea, maintains some records pertaining to WWII and Korean War discharges, KIA's and non-battle deaths, and certifies POW and MOH status for automobile license plate purposes. SVAB provides speakers for meetings and works closely with the legislature, governor and veterans organizations regarding veterans issues.

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State Veterans Claims Division
Claims Division veterans service officers provide free advice and guidance to veterans and dependents regarding VA claims, casework, hearings, appeals, and discharge upgrades. These service officers are also responsible for the training of county veterans service officers. Claims Division employees represent the Mississippi State Veterans Affairs Board and are accredited representatives for the American Ex-Prisoners of War, American Legion, American Red Cross, Blinded Veterans Association, Fleet Reserve Association, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Noncommissioned Officers Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

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State VA Hospital Service Offices
State VA Hospital Service Offices provide free advice and guidance to veterans and dependents with VA claims, with VA medical care and treatment problems, hospitalization and nursing home placement issues. Our hospital service officers provide free representation to veterans on issues of disagreement and at personal hearings held in the VA Hospitals in Biloxi, Jackson and Memphis.

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State Approving Agency Division
The State Approving Agency inspects and approves programs of education and training at universities, colleges, junior colleges, vo-tech schools, flight schools, on-the-job- training programs, etc., for GI Bill educational eligibility. If you have questions concerning a school or a training program being approved to teach veterans under the GI Bill, contact the State Approving Agency.

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Mississippi Department of Archives and History
The Mississippi Department of Archives and History maintains historical records and a reference library concerning Mississippi residents and units which served during the Civil War, the Spanish American War and World War I.

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Mississippi State Personnel Board
Applications for state employment are processed by the State Personnel Board (SPB). The SPB also maintains an internet web site listing state jobs which are on recruitment. The SPB web site also provides job descriptions and minimum qualifications for the positions on recruitment.

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Mississippi Military Department (Army and Air National Guard)
The Mississippi Military Department maintains personnel and military discharge records for members of the Mississippi Army and Air National Guard. Contact the Mississippi Military Department to request those records.

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County Veterans Service Office
The majority of counties in Mississippi employ a County Veteran Service Officer who is employed to assist county residents with VA claims and provide hands on assistance. County Veteran Service Officers can answer questions about applying for VA benefits, contact the VA for claim status, assist in completing paperwork and provide advice and assistance to veterans and dependents. County Veterans Service Officers are required to attend training courses each year and are required to pass an annual test concerning VA benefits. Mississippi law requires that a County Veterans Service Officer be an honorably discharged veteran with wartime or police action military service or be the surviving spouse or child of such veteran. Look for the County Veterans Service Officers telephone number in the County Government section of the telephone book, or contact the Chancery Clerk or Board of Supervisors in your county for information.

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County Veterans Service Officers
Counties may employ a County Veterans Service Officer who shall be (a) honorably discharged or honorably released veteran of any war or police action in which the Armed Forces of the United States have been, are or shall be committed for action; (b) the surviving spouse or child of any such deceased veteran; or (c) any person employed as a County Veterans Service Officer in any county of the State of Mississippi on March 30, 1990.

County Veterans Service Officers must be certified by the Mississippi State Veterans Affairs Board which requires that they (a) attend at least one of the two annual training programs provided each year and successfully complete a written examination each year on the duties and responsibilities of and assistance available to such officers and veterans. No County Veterans Service Officer shall be entitled to any compensation for their service unless they are annually certified by the State Veterans Affairs Board.

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Documents
The State Bureau of Vital Statistics is to furnish, without charge, copies of birth and death certificates when they are needed to establish claims for dependency, disability, or survivors benefits for any veterans who are legal residents of the State of Mississippi or their claimants.

The State Bureau of Vital Statistics is to furnish, at no expense, and immediately upon application a certified copy of birth certificates for any person volunteering for service in one of the armed forces of the United States.

Chancery and Circuit Clerks are to furnish, without charge, copies of marriage licenses, divorce decrees, adoption decrees and any and all other records when the same are needed to establish claims for dependency, disability or survivors benefits for any veterans who are legal residents of the State of Mississippi or their claimants.

Chancery Clerks shall record, without cost whatsoever to any person of the Armed Forces of the United States residing in the same county, all honorable discharges and all certificates of service of any and all members of the Armed Forces of the United States. Certified copies will be furnished free without cost to the soldier, sailor, marine, coast guardsman, or nurse.

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Hunting and Fishing Licenses
Veterans who have a total service-connected disability from the Veterans Administration are not required to purchase a hunting or fishing license, but must have on their person proof of age, residency and disability status while engaged in hunting or fishing.

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Vehicle License Plates
The following are special vehicle military license plates issued to eligible persons in Mississippi:

• Medal of Honor
• Disabled American Veteran
• Distinguished Flying Cross & Air Medal
• Former Prisoner of War
• Killed on Active Duty
• Missing in Action - Prisoners of War
• Mississippi Veterans Monument
• Pearl Harbor Survivors
• Purple Heart
• Reserve, National Guard, Merchant Marine, Retired
• Silver Star or Bronze Star Medal
• United States Air Force Academy
• United States Armed Forces Active Duty
• United States Army Special Forces
• United States Coast Guard Academy
• United States Military Academy
• United States Naval Academy
• Veteran
• Vietnam Service

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