Georgia State Benefits for 100% Disabled Veterans (2023)

100% Government Benefits – Georgia

Note:The information for this document was gathered from a variety of sources, including:https://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-state-benefits/georgia-state-veterans-benefits.html

For more information, visit the Georgia Department of Veterans Services website:https://veterans.georgia.gov/

For local support:

GDVS Veterans Field Service Offices provide direct support to veterans. Veterans seeking assistance with their services can find contact information for their local office on our list of Veterans Field Service Offices.

The GDVS headquarters are located in:

Floyd Veterans Memorial Building

Suite E-970

Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4800
404-656-2300

givetsvc@vs.state.ga.us

Veteranenheime

For more information visit:https://www.nasvh.org/state-homes/statedir.cfm

Your eligibility for State Veterans Homes is based on clinical need and facility availability.

Each state sets eligibility and eligibility criteria for its homes.

Talk to a VA social worker about State Veterans Home eligibility requirements in your area and to develop a plan for paying for State Veterans Home nursing services.

Locations of Veterans Homes:

• GEORGIA WAR VETERANS HOME
  MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA
• GEORGIA WAS VETERANS NURSING HOME
  Augusta, Georgia

Admission is open to honorably discharged Georgia veterans who served during the war.

There is a small daily fee. Eligible veterans may apply for federal assistance and attendance allowance to offset this fee. Veterans with a service-related disability of 70% or greater, or who are admitted due to a service-related illness, do not have to pay the fee as this care and treatment is paid for in full by VA.

State military cemeteries

For more information visit: https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/state.asp?STATE=GA

National Veterans Cemeteries:

State military cemeteries:

Many states have established state veterans' cemeteries. Eligibility is as with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries, but may include residency requirements. Although they may have been established or enhanced with state funding through the VA Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, state veterans' cemeteries are operated solely by the states.

Financial Benefits for Georgia Veterans

Home tax exemption

Visit the following website for more information:https://veterans.georgia.gov/disabled-veteran-homestead-tax-exemption

Each qualifying disabled veteran may be granted an exemption of $50,000 plus an additional amount from paying county, community, and school property taxes.

The additional amount is determined according to an index rate established by the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The amount for 2020 is $98,492. The value of the property in excess of this exemption remains taxable.

Eligibility:
Honorably discharged Georgia veterans who are considered disabled by any of the following criteria:

• VA rated 100 percent permanent and fully disabled
• VA rated at less than 100 percent disability but eligible as 100 percent rate due to incapacity
• Eligible to receive a statutory award from VA for:
  • Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet
  • Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands
  • Loss of vision in one or both eyes
  • Permanent impairment of both eyes *
• Surviving unmarried spouses of qualifying deceased veterans
• Surviving minor children of qualifying deceased veterans

Contact your local appraisal office for detailed requirements regarding these exceptions.

Annual refilling is often required.

Find your local tax advisor at this link:https://www.publicrecords.onlinesearches.com/Assessor-and-Property-Tax-Records.htm

ad valorem tax on vehicles

No ad valorem tax on vehicles for permanently and totally disabled veterans or those receiving VA disability due to loss of vision or limb.

This exemption applies to either annual property tax or title tax, as applicable.

Eligibility:

• 100 percent completely and permanently disabled
• Veterans who have been classified as unemployed and who receive or are entitled to statutory awards from VA for:
  • (1) loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet;
  • (2) loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands;
  • (3) vision loss in one or both eyes; or
  • (4) permanent impairment of vision in both eyes to a prescribed level.

The exemption is granted ONLY for a vehicle owned by the veteran and showing the free Disabled Veteran's (DV) license plate. Veterans who qualify for the Purple Heart or Medal of Honor specialty plates are also exempt.

Contact your local tax office for more information on road tax exemptions.

Disabled license plate for veterans

Visit the following website for more information:https://veterans.georgia.gov/license-plates-disabled-veteran

A motorcycle version of this plate is available.

Note: This license plate is not issued for motorhomes.

Available for:

Honorably discharged Georgia veterans who are considered disabled by any of the following criteria:

• VA rated 100 percent fully disabled
• VA-rated at less than 100 percent disability but paid 100 percent due to unemployment
• Eligible to receive a statutory award from VA for:
  • Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet
  • Loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands
  • Loss of vision in one or both eyes
  • Permanent impairment of both eyes *

How to apply:

Qualified veterans who receive a VA Eligibility Letter stating the specific disability may apply directly to the Treasury Department's Special Day Unit. Call 404-968-3880 for more information.

Alternatively, qualified veterans may obtain a certified statement from an authorized physician and bring it to a GDVS Veterans Field Service Office along with discharge records or proof of active duty and a certificate of residency.

Fees:

There is no registration fee, production fee or annual fee for this license plate.

Veterans with a 100 percent service-related disability rating are exempt from ad valorem taxes on a vehicle. (See Ad Valorem section above.)

When a Veteran with Disability license plate is properly displayed, the Veteran is eligible to park in spaces designated for persons with disabilities. (No additional parking permit is required.)

Sales tax exemption for vehicle purchase/adaptation

A veteran with a disability who receives a VA grant to purchase and customize a vehicle is exempt from paying state sales tax on the vehicle (on the original grant only).

Contact your local tax office for more information on road tax exemptions.

Free driver's license

For more information and access to the application, visit the following website:https://dds.georgia.gov/military-veterans-and-national-guard

Eligibility:

• Honorably discharged Georgia veterans may receive a free driver's license. A member or former member of the National Guard with 20 or more years of service also qualifies.
• Any member of the Georgia National Guard or Reserve who is in good standing and has served at least one year of satisfactory service is eligible for a complimentary National Guard driver's license.
• The spouse of a qualifying veteran whose disability precludes driving a motor vehicle is eligible for a free honorary driver's license. To qualify, a veteran must meet the same residency and qualification requirements for a free veteran driver's license. The surviving unmarried spouse of an eligible deceased veteran is also eligible for a complimentary honorary driver's license. To qualify, you must meet the same residency and qualification requirements for a free veteran driver's license.

How to apply:

The applicant veteran must take their DD Form 214 and Proof of Residence to a GDVS Veterans Field Service Office for verification.

The veteran must then take:

• completed authorization certificate (DS-516)
• all necessary identification documents (birth certificate or passport; social security card; two documents showing residential address; and name change documents, if applicable)

Take the documents to a Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) office. A DDS representative will conduct an eye exam, verify the veteran's eligibility, and issue a Veteran's Driver's License.

Toll-free number plates and special category number plates

Visit the following website for more information:https://dor.georgia.gov/motor-vehicles

Georgia offers several veteran plates with no registration fee, establishment fee, or annual fee. Applicants are entitled to a second disk for a $25 production fee and an annual fee. Fees and eligibility differ for some of the license plates listed below.

As far as I can tell these signs do NOT bear the designation for disabled parking and do NOT require a medical certificate.

For a full list and eligibility requirements, visit the following website:https://veterans.georgia.gov/license-plates

Here is a short list of available plates:

• Veteran license plate
• Veteran license plate
• Retired military license plate
• Memorial Service Plate
• Military medal award license plate
• Reserve component identifier
• Special category license plates
• 1950 Chosin Reservoir Campaign (some additional charges included)
• License plate with gold star
• National Guard license plate
• Pear Harbor Survivor license plate
• Former prisoner of war license plate

Special veteran license plates are also available for motorcycles.

To apply for one of these plates, Form MV-9W must be completed, which is available at the following website:https://dor.georgia.gov/documents/forms

Keep in mind that many of these toll-free plates are also available to surviving unmarried spouses.

Parking lot for disabled veterans

When a Veteran with Disability license plate is properly displayed, the Veteran is eligible to park in spaces designated for persons with disabilities. (No additional parking permit is required.)

Employment Benefits for Georgia Veterans

Veteran Employment Preference

For more information, visit the following website:https://dol.georgia.gov/veterans-employment-rights

War veterans seeking government employment receive a 5 point credit. A 10-point credit is awarded to individuals with a VA service-related disability of 10% or more.

Commercial exemption certificate

Georgia veterans are eligible for a certificate granting an exemption from any professional tax, administrative fee, or governmental fee imposed by local governments for peddling, running a business, or practicing an occupation or semi-occupation for a ten-year period. This applies to veterans with a VA disability of at least 10% and an honorable discharge.

Veterans should contact the GDVS Atlanta field office to begin the application and provide a copy of their DD Form 214 and a VA Summary of Benefits letter. After verification, veterans should submit their application to their local County Probate Court Office. The County Probate Court Office issues a notarized letter confirming eligibility and sends the letter to the Secretary of State's Office.

Firefighter Qualifications

Military firefighter training is recognized as required basic training for full-time, part-time and volunteer firefighters, including airport firefighters.

Georgia Veteran Recreation Benefits

Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Permanently and Fully Disabled Veterans

Visit the following website for more information:https://georgiawildlife.com/licenses-permits-passes/disability

Veterans determined by the VA or DOD to be permanently and totally disabled are eligible for a reduced-rate athlete's license.

Discounted handicap hunting and fishing licenses are available to Georgia residents. This type of license cannot be purchased or renewed online - you must complete the application form and mail it along with supporting documents to the address provided on the form. If you require an application review, please call 1-800-366-2661.

Link to application form:https://georgiawildlife.com/sites/default/files/wrd/pdf/license-applications/Disability%20License%20Application.pdf

Individuals are strongly encouraged to consider purchasing three-year disability license types rather than annual types. Annual license renewal requires submissions each year of documents dated the previous year to demonstrate persistent disability, as opposed to a one-off for the three-year license. Paying transaction fees annually for the annual license types means people pay an additional $6 over a three-year period - the three-year license saves $6 over the three-year period and requires no annual paperwork.

Reduced state park admission fees for veterans with disabilities

Disabled veterans who are Georgia residents AND present a certificate of eligibility are eligible for a 25% discount on:

• Annual Park Passes
• friends memberships
• Individual accommodation
• Recreational fees such as miniature golf and boat rentals, golf fees
• Entrance to the historical site

For online reservations, your credit card will be charged in full. Your discount will be refunded upon check-in and presentation of your admission card.

To obtain your Certificate of Eligibility, visit your nearest Veteran Field Service Office with a copy of your DD Form 214 and disability classification letter. A field representative files a VSO 22 form on your behalf. Once approved, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service will mail you an authorization card.

For more information visitwww.veterans.georgia.gov/field-offices

Additional Benefits

Fuel service for disabled veterans

If a gas station offers both full service and self-service, a gas station attendant must provide full service at the self-service rate to a disabled veteran upon request, provided:

• the disabled veteran drives a vehicle with disabled veteran license plates, and
• The disabled veteran will not be accompanied by a fuel pump person (16 years of age or older and not disabled).

vital statistics

Veterans and their families may obtain copies of marriage, divorce, birth and death certificates free of charge provided the copies are to be used to establish claims for disability or death. For assistance, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records: 404-679-4702 orhttps://dph.georgia.gov/

High school diplomas for certain war veterans

A veteran who did not receive a high school diploma due to an interruption in education from service in World War II, Korea, or Vietnam is eligible to receive the diploma. Apply to the school board of the school district where the veteran attended high school.