Georgia offers various benefits for veterans. On this page, you’ll find a concise overview of each of these benefits.
Georgia Veterans Homes
Georgia operates two veterans homes, located in Augusta and Milledgeville respectively. These facilities welcome honorably discharged Georgia veterans who served during wartime. There is a nominal daily fee for admission. However, eligible veterans can apply for the federal Aid and Attendance benefit to assist with covering this fee. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 70% or higher, or those whose admission is due to a service-connected condition, are exempt from paying the fee. Their care and treatment are fully covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Georgia Veterans Financial Benefits
Exemption from Homestead Tax
Starting from 2022, retirees younger than 62 can exclude $17,500 of military retirement income. Additionally, those with over $17,500 of earned income in Georgia can exclude an extra $17,500.
Exemption from Homestead Tax
Veterans who are 100% disabled, including those receiving VA disability for vision or limb loss, along with their surviving un-remarried spouses, may qualify for property tax exemption on their homes. The maximum exemption, currently set at $93,356 and subject to annual adjustments, is determined by various factors. For specific information, individuals are advised to consult with the county tax assessor or refer to the provided link for further details.
Vehicle Tax Exemption
Permanently and totally disabled veterans, as well as individuals receiving VA disability benefits for vision or limb loss, are exempt from ad valorem tax on vehicles.
License Fees and Special Taxes
Veterans in Georgia with a VA disability rating of at least 10% and an honorable discharge qualify for a certificate exempting them from any occupation tax, administrative fee, or regulatory fee imposed by local governments for peddling, conducting a business, or practicing a profession or semi-profession. This exemption lasts for a period of 10 years.
Free Driver’s License
Honorably discharged Georgia veterans are eligible to receive a complimentary driver’s license. Additionally, individuals who are members or former members of the National Guard with 20 or more years of creditable service also qualify for this benefit.
Furthermore, any member of the Georgia National Guard or a Reserve component who is in good standing and has completed at least one year of satisfactory service is entitled to a free National Guard Driver’s License.
The spouse of a qualified veteran, unable to operate a motor vehicle due to disabilities, is eligible for a complimentary honorary driver’s license. To qualify, the veteran must fulfill the same residence and qualifying service requirements for a free veteran’s driver’s license. Similarly, the surviving un-remarried spouse of an eligible deceased veteran is entitled to a free honorary driver’s license, contingent upon meeting the same residence and qualifying service terms for a free veteran’s driver’s license.
Georgia Veterans Employment Benefits
Veterans Employment Preference
War veterans applying for state employment receive a five-point credit, while individuals with a VA service-connected disability of 10% or more are granted a 10-point credit.
Business Licenses
Certain honorably discharged veterans with a disability of at least 25% (or 10% for wartime veterans) are excused from paying occupational taxes and other associated fees for peddling, conducting business, or practicing a profession or semi-profession.
Firefighter Qualification
Military firefighter training is recognized as the necessary basic training for full-time, part-time, and volunteer firefighters, including those stationed at airports.
Georgia Veteran Recreation Benefits
Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Veterans
Returning veterans are eligible to receive a complimentary honorary hunting and fishing license valid for one year from the date of issuance. Additionally, all honorably discharged veterans qualify for a 20% discount on hunting and fishing licenses.
Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Permanently and Totally Disabled Veterans
Veterans rated as permanently and totally disabled by either the VA or the Defense Department are entitled to a discounted sportsman’s license.
Reduced State Park Admission Fees for Disabled Veterans
Georgia resident veterans with a service-connected disability and an honorable discharge are eligible to receive a discount card, granting them a 25% reduction on entrance fees to Georgia state parks, historical sites, and recreational areas.
Georgia State Veterans Cemeteries
Any veteran or their family is eligible for burial in one of the two Georgia State Veterans Memorial Cemeteries located in Milledgeville or Glennville. The eligibility criteria mirror those for burial in a VA cemetery, necessitating an other-than-dishonorable discharge.
