A state veterans home is a care home run by a state for veterans, with VA support. Mississippi calls its homes the hallmark of its veterans agency, and they’ve won customer experience awards in recent years1.
Here’s what to know before you apply.
What a state veterans home is
Mississippi’s homes are run by MSVA, the state agency, not by VA Jackson or VA Gulf Coast1. VA pays state homes a daily per diem for eligible veterans: currently $153.47 a day for nursing home care and $66.24 for domiciliary care2.
Where the homes are
| Home | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Collins | 3261 Highway 49 | (601) 765-0403 |
| Jackson | 4607 Lindbergh Drive | (601) 353-6142 |
| Kosciusko | 310 Autumn Ridge Drive | (662) 289-7044 |
| Oxford | 120 Veterans Drive | (662) 236-7641 |
| Biloxi (Tradition, newest) | 11721 Tradition Parkway | (228) 295-7444 |
Source: Mississippi Veterans Affairs1
The Tradition home in Biloxi is the newest and has its own residency application, separate from the packet used for the other four1.
Who's eligible
- Veterans. Active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces and a discharge that wasn't dishonorable, shown on a DD-214 or equivalent1.
- Spouses. The spouse of a veteran who is currently a resident of a Mississippi State Veterans Home1.
- Residency. Applicants must be or have been Mississippi residents. A non-resident may be admitted if no Mississippi resident is waiting1.
- Medical exam. A physician's exam within 30 days of admission showing no communicable disease, no need for care the home can't provide, and no traits dangerous to the applicant or others1.
Choosing a home
Distance usually decides it. A spouse who still drives wants to visit often, and the trip from Southaven to Collins is long. Many families apply to the nearest home and keep a second in mind. Ask each home how long the wait is, whether it has a secured unit for residents who wander, and how it gets residents to VA appointments. Write the answers down and compare them; the homes share a system but not every detail.
What it costs
MSVA doesn’t post resident rates on its homes page, and we don’t print facility prices. Ask the administrator of the home you’re considering for the current monthly charge and what it covers1. Aid and Attendance can help with the bill; see Aid and Attendance in Mississippi.
When VA pays the whole bill
Under VA’s state home rules, a veteran rated 70% or more, or who needs nursing home care because of a service-connected condition, may have VA pay the full cost at a state home with a VA agreement3. Ask the home to confirm how that applies.
A Mississippi example
A Vietnam veteran who grew up in Philadelphia, Mississippi, retired to Alabama and now needs nursing care. Because he was once a Mississippi resident, he’s eligible for the Kosciusko home, about half an hour from his old hometown1. His daughter downloads the admission packet, books a physical within 30 days of the planned admission date, and calls an MSVA benefits specialist about Aid and Attendance at the same time14. If his wife later needs care, she can be admitted as the spouse of a resident1.
How the homes fit with other benefits
- Aid and Attendance. Helps with the resident's share5.
- Homestead exemption. Tied to owning and living in the home on January 1; ask the assessor before a permanent move6.
- Discharge rights. See state veterans home discharge rights.
Mistakes to avoid
How to apply
- Pick a first-choice home. Call it with questions; numbers are in the table above1.
- Download the packet. From MSVA's homes page, or the Tradition application for Biloxi1.
- Gather records. DD-214 or equivalent, plus the physician's exam1.
- Enroll in VA health care. MSVA links the 10-10EZ from the same page1.
- File VA benefits at the same time. MSVA's specialists file Aid and Attendance for free4.