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Georgia Veteran benefits

26 benefits from Georgia for Veterans and their families, on top of what VA gives. Many need no disability rating.

Each one says who qualifies, how to apply, the official link, and the date we last checked it. Rules change, so the official page has the final word.

Free help in Georgia

Georgia Department of Veterans Service is the state Veterans agency. They can tell you what you qualify for and help you apply.

Call 404-656-2300 State agency website

A Veterans service officer (VSO) helps with VA claims and state benefits for free.

Find a service officer near you Georgia's list of local offices
Your VA disability rating
Who is it for?

26 benefits

Property tax

  • 100%+

    Disabled Veteran Homestead Property Tax Exemption

    Georgia exempts a large part of a disabled veteran's home value from state, county, city, and school property taxes. The amount follows the VA specially adapted housing limit and changes each year. It was $121,812 for 2025. County notices list $126,526 for 2026. Value above the exemption stays taxable.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating, or paid at the 100% rate through TDIU (also called IU). Honorably discharged Georgia veteran who owns and lives in the home. Must be VA-rated 100% totally disabled, or paid at the 100% rate due to unemployability (IU), or getting special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss or loss of use of a hand or foot, or loss of sight. Extends to an unremarried surviving spouse or minor children who keep living in the home.
    How to apply
    File an Application for Homestead Exemption with your county tax officials (county Board of Tax Assessors/Tax Commissioner).
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • 100%+For family or survivors

    Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouse and Minor Children

    Unremarried surviving spouses and minor children of qualified disabled veterans get a homestead property tax exemption on the home they keep living in. It covers all property taxes: state, county, city and school.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating, or paid at the 100% rate through TDIU (also called IU). Unremarried surviving spouse or minor children of a qualified disabled veteran who keep living in the home. The veteran must have been honorably discharged and met one of these: VA-rated 100% totally disabled, rated under 100% but paid at 100% due to unemployability (IU), or getting special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss or loss of use of feet or hands, loss of sight, or lasting damage to both eyes.
    How to apply
    File an Application for Homestead Exemption with county tax officials. Contact your county tax commissioner's office to apply and verify requirements may vary by county.
    Official page

    Last checked September 28, 2026.

Income tax, retirement pay and other taxes

  • No rating needed

    Extension of State Tax Filing Deadline for Combat Deployment

    Service members deployed in combat activities get extra time to file Georgia state taxes. The deadline is pushed back to allow time after the deployment ends.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Active duty members of the U.S. armed forces who served in combat activities during a period designated by the President.
    How to apply
    No separate application; the extension applies automatically when filing after return from deployment.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Military Retirement Income Tax Exclusion

    Georgia allows retired service members to exclude a set amount of military retirement pay from state income tax, with the excludable amount rising by age bracket. This reduces state taxable income for qualifying retirees.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Available to military retirees who are Georgia taxpayers; amount depends on age (under 62, 62-64, or 65 and older) and, for those under 62, on having earned income.
    How to apply
    Claim the Retirement Income Exclusion on the Georgia individual income tax return using the worksheet in the IT-511 instruction booklet.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Vehicles, driver's licenses and plates

  • No rating needed

    Free Veteran Driver's License / ID Card

    Georgia issues a free driver's license or ID card to qualifying veterans, and to the spouse of a disabled veteran or the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran. National Guard members with 20+ years of service also qualify.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Georgia resident veterans with an honorable or medical discharge; National Guard/reserve members with 20+ years creditable service; spouse of a disabled separated veteran or surviving (non-remarried) spouse.
    How to apply
    Bring DD-214 (Member 4 copy) or GDVS Certificate of Eligibility plus proof of residency and required ID documents to a DDS Customer Service Center.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    PTSD Notation on Driver's License or ID Card

    Georgia allows a driver's license or ID card to be marked to show the holder has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, an option offered to members of the military and veterans. A doctor's diagnosis is required.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Members of the armed services and veterans who provide a diagnosis from a licensed medical doctor.
    How to apply
    Request the notation at a DDS Customer Service Center and provide required medical documentation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • Certain disabilities

    Sales Tax Exemption for VA-Granted Adapted Vehicle Purchase

    A disabled veteran who receives a VA grant to purchase and specially adapt a vehicle does not have to pay Georgia state sales tax on that vehicle purchase. The exemption applies only to the original grant-funded purchase.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Certain serious disabilities (see who qualifies). Veteran must have received a VA grant for purchase and special adaptation of a vehicle due to disability.
    VA grant for purchase and special adaptation of a vehicle due to disability
    How to apply
    Present the VA grant letter to the dealer/county tag office when titling the vehicle.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Special Military and Veterans License Plates

    Georgia offers a large selection of distinctive license plates honoring service members, veterans, retirees, and certain family members, including Disabled Veteran, Purple Heart, Medal of Honor, POW, and Gold Star designs. One set is free per eligible vehicle.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Eligibility varies by plate type and generally requires proof of service, discharge status, award, or family relationship to a service member killed in the line of duty.
    How to apply
    Complete Form MV-9W and bring it with your DD-214 or other supporting documentation to your county tag office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • Certain disabilities

    Vehicle Tax (TAVT) Exemption for Disabled Veterans

    Qualifying disabled veterans do not have to pay Georgia's annual property tax or one-time title tax on one vehicle they own. The exemption also covers Purple Heart and Medal of Honor recipients and former POWs.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: Certain serious disabilities (see who qualifies). Veteran must be VA-verified 100% totally and permanently service-connected disabled, rated unemployable (TDIU), or getting special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of feet, hands or sight. One vehicle only.
    100% totally and permanently service-connected disabled, rated unemployable (TDIU), or getting special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of feet, hands or sight
    How to apply
    Present required VA documentation and a qualifying veteran license plate to your county tag office/County Tax Office at titling.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    Gold Star Family License Plate

    Georgia issues a free Gold Star license plate to immediate family members of a service member who died in the line of duty. It is a way for the state to honor surviving family of the fallen.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Applicant must have had an immediate family member die in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces; documentation such as a death certificate and DEERS listing is required.
    How to apply
    Submit the veteran's death certificate and required family documentation with Form MV-9W to your county tag office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Hunting, fishing and parks

  • No rating needed

    Annual ParkPass Military/Veteran Discount

    Georgia State Parks offers a 25 percent discount on the Annual ParkPass for active military and veterans, purchasable in person at any park office.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Active military members and veterans; discounted passes must be purchased in person.
    How to apply
    Purchase the discounted Annual ParkPass in person at a Georgia State Park or Historic Site office with valid military/veteran ID.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • 100% P&T

    Disability Hunting and Fishing License

    Georgia residents with a permanent and total disability, including many disabled veterans, can get discounted 1-year or 3-year full-privilege hunting and fishing licenses. A free lifetime license is also available for total blindness.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: 100% VA rating that is Permanent and Total (P&T). Georgia resident with a permanent and total disability certified by the VA or another qualifying government agency (Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, or Railroad Retirement).
    How to apply
    Apply online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com using the WRD Certification of Disability application, or mail the paper application with supporting documents.
    Official page

    Last checked October 26, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    One-Time Veterans Hunting and Fishing License

    Georgia gives recently discharged resident veterans one free full-privilege sportsman's license covering hunting, big game, migratory birds, and fishing, valid for one year and issuable only once.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Georgia resident veteran who served on active federal duty for 90 or more days and was honorably discharged on or after July 1, 2005.
    How to apply
    Apply online at GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com or through a retail license agent with a copy of your DD-214.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    State Park 25% Disabled Veteran Discount

    Georgia gives certified disabled veterans a 25 percent discount on state park entrance fees, campsites, cabins, golf, historic site admission, and other recreation fees. Immediate family staying with the veteran also receives the discount on lodging.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Honorably discharged veteran with a physical disability incurred during military service who is a Georgia resident, certified as a disabled veteran by the Commissioner of Veterans Service.
    How to apply
    Bring DD-214 and disability verification to a GDVS Veterans Field Service Office; if approved, a state park discount card is mailed to you.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

School and tuition

  • No rating needed

    Georgia HERO Scholarship

    The HERO (Helping Educate Reservists and their Offspring) Scholarship gives combat-zone Georgia National Guard and Reserve members, and their spouses and children, financial help for college. Awards are capped per year and over the life of the program.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Member (or spouse/child of a member) of the Georgia National Guard or U.S. Military Reserves who served at least 181 cumulative days in a designated combat zone on or after February 1, 2003 (or was evacuated for severe injuries).
    How to apply
    File a HERO application with the Georgia Student Finance Authority through your eligible postsecondary institution's financial aid office; renewal required each academic year.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    TCSG Out-of-State Tuition Waiver for Military

    Technical College System of Georgia colleges waive out-of-state tuition for active duty military members and their spouses and dependent children stationed in Georgia, letting them pay in-state rates.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Active duty military personnel stationed in Georgia, and their spouses and dependent children.
    How to apply
    Contact the TCSG college's admissions or veterans coordinator to request the waiver with proof of active duty orders.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    USG Waiver of Mandatory Fees for Combat Veterans

    The University System of Georgia waives mandatory student fees, such as health, parking, technology, and athletics fees, for Georgia National Guard and Reserve members who served in combat. Housing, food, and special/elective fees are not covered.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Georgia resident, active member of the Georgia National Guard or U.S. Military Reserves who served in a combat zone for at least 181 consecutive days since September 11, 2001, was fully disabled from combat injuries, or was evacuated due to severe injuries.
    How to apply
    Meet admissions requirements at a USG institution and request the fee waiver through the institution's registrar or veterans certifying official.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating neededFor family or survivors

    USG Resident Tuition Rates for Nonresident Service Members, Veterans, and Dependents

    The University System of Georgia charges in-state tuition rates to certain nonresident active-duty members, recently separated veterans, and their spouses and dependent children, even if they do not otherwise qualify as Georgia residents.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Includes service members stationed in or near Georgia, Georgia National Guard/Reserve members, and those separated from service within 36 months who live in or intend to reside in Georgia, plus their spouses and dependents.
    How to apply
    Apply for the waiver through the institution's Office of the Registrar with military documentation such as orders or DD-214.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Jobs and hiring preference

  • No rating needed

    VECTR Center (Veterans Education Career Transition Resource)

    VECTR is Georgia's one-stop center consolidating state and local agencies to help veterans and military-affiliated students with GI Bill navigation, education coaching, and job training programs.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to Georgia veterans, service members, and their families seeking education, training, or transition assistance.
    How to apply
    Visit or contact a VECTR Center location for on-site assistance from partner agencies including GDVS and TCSG.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veterans' Preference in State Employment

    Georgia law requires points to be added to passing exam scores, or preference in non-scored hiring, for eligible veterans and certain spouses applying for initial state jobs. Veterans and spouses/widows must also be retained over non-veterans in a reduction in force.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Honorably discharged veterans who served during armed conflict, veterans over 55 receiving disability pension/compensation, spouses of disqualified disabled veterans, and unmarried surviving spouses of veterans; applies to initial appointments only.
    How to apply
    Indicate veteran's preference on the State of Georgia employment application and attach DD-214 or other required documentation.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Business certification and contracts

  • No rating needed

    Georgia Business Certification Program (Veteran-Owned Businesses)

    DOAS certifies veteran-owned small businesses (along with minority- and women-owned businesses) to help them access the state's procurement process and contracting opportunities.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Business must be domiciled in Georgia with its primary place of business in the state and intend to remain permanently, and meet veteran-ownership criteria under the program.
    How to apply
    Apply for certification through the DOAS Georgia Business Certification Program portal.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Veterans Business Certificate of Exemption

    Eligible Georgia veterans can get a certificate exempting them from local occupation tax, administrative fees, or regulatory fees for peddling, conducting business, or practicing a profession, for a set number of years.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Georgia veterans who meet conditions set by the Commissioner of Veterans Service (documentation required, including DD-214 and VA Summary of Benefits letter).
    How to apply
    Complete VS Form 40-025 and bring it with an ID card, DD-214, and VA Summary of Benefits letter to your County Probate Court to register with the County Tax Commissioner.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Homes, Veterans homes and cemeteries

  • No rating needed

    Georgia Dream Peach Select VA Loan Program

    An extension of the state's Georgia Dream homeownership program, Peach Select offers eligible veterans a below-market interest rate VA-backed mortgage, with the first-time homebuyer requirement waived.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Borrowers who qualify for a traditional Georgia Dream VA Loan; must meet DCA's financial and program criteria and use a participating lender.
    How to apply
    Apply through a Georgia Dream participating lender; borrowers must complete a homebuyer education workshop or counseling.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemeteries

    Georgia operates two state veterans cemeteries, in Glennville and Milledgeville, providing free gravesites, vaults, markers, and use of the committal chapel for eligible veterans and eligible family members.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran must meet VA-established service eligibility rules; spouses and certain dependents (with proper documentation such as marriage or birth certificates) may also be eligible for burial with the veteran.
    How to apply
    Contact cemetery staff at Glennville or Milledgeville with a DD-214 or other proof of service to determine eligibility and schedule burial.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

  • No rating needed

    Georgia War Veterans Homes (Skilled Nursing Care)

    GDVS owns and maintains two skilled nursing homes, in Milledgeville and Augusta, for eligible war veterans, offering skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and memory care. A nominal daily fee applies, which VA Aid & Attendance may help offset.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Veteran must have served on active duty during a qualifying wartime period, have a discharge other than dishonorable, be VA-approved for skilled nursing care, and be free of contagious disease or serious behavioral/psychiatric problems.
    How to apply
    Contact the Admissions Office at the Milledgeville or Augusta home, or any GDVS Veterans Field Service Office.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Other help

  • No rating needed

    GDVS Benefits Assistance and Claims Support

    GDVS Veterans Field Service Offices provide free, personal, VA-accredited assistance to veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors with filing claims and appeals for state or federal veterans benefits.

    Who qualifies
    Rating: No disability rating needed. Open to veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors seeking help with benefits claims.
    How to apply
    Schedule an appointment online or visit a nearby GDVS Veterans Field Service Office; walk-ins accepted as time permits.
    Official page

    Last checked September 27, 2026.

Also check

Education only. Helping The Brave is not a government agency. Confirm details with the agency before you apply.