State benefits for Georgia veterans : a summary of veterans benefits provided by the state of Georgia

State Benefits
For Georgia Veterans

A Summary of Veterans Benefits Provided by the State of Georgia
State of Georgia
Department of Veterans Service Floyd Veterans Memorial Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4800
Pete Wheeler, Commissioner

VSP14

July 2002

The Georgia Department of Veterans Service maintains a Claims Staff in the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Office, 1700 Clairmont Rd, in Decatur; operates field offices with itinerant service in the state's 159 counties; and provides representatives in the Atlanta, Augusta, and Dublin VA Medical Centers, and in the Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville, and the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home in Augusta.
The Department of Veterans Service assists veterans and their dependents in filing claims and securing medical evidence and other data necessary to prosecute their claims filed with VA and other federal and state agencies.
The Department ofVeterans Service also is the state approving agency for education programs administered by VA.
EXEMPTIONS FROM TAXATION:
A. Homestead Tax: Certain disabled veterans and certain widows/widowers, or minor children are allowed the maximum amount which may be granted under Section 2102 of Title 38 of the United States Code.
B. Sales Tax on Vehicles: A Qisabled veteran who receives a VA grant for the purchase and special adapting ofa vehicle is exempt from paying the state sales tax on the vehicle (only on the original grant).
C. Ad Valorem Tax on Vehicles: Exempt are veterans who are verified by VA to be 100 percent totally and permanently service-connected disabled and veterans who are receiving or who are entitled to receive statutory awards from VA for: (I) loss or permanent loss ofuse ofone or both feet; (2) loss or permanent loss ofuse of one or both hands; (3) loss of sight in one or both eyes; or (4) permanent impairment of vision of both eyes to a prescribed degree. Exemption is granted on the vehicle the veteran owns and upon which the free Handicapped Veterans (HV) Motor Vehicle license plates are attached.
D. State Income Tax: The period of time military personnel served on active duty as

members ofthe armed forces ofthe United States in combat activities during a period designated by the President plus the next 180 days thereafter shall be disreg~rded in determining whether any filing required by this title has been performed within the time limit prescribed for filing. For individuals who are hospitalized as a result of an injury or confined as a prisoner-of-war, the period of service in the combat zone, plus the period of confinement and the next 180 days thereafter shall be disregarded in .determining whether any filing required by this title has been performed within the time limit prescribed for filing.
EXEMPTION/REDUCTION OF FEES:
A. Business License: Disabled veterans are exempt from payment of occupational taxes, administration fees, and regulatory fees imposed by local governments for peddling, conducting a business, or practicing a profession or semi profession upon meeting the following eligibility requirements: (l) be discharged under honorable conditions from the armed forces of the United States; (2) have 10 percent disability for certain wartime veterans or a 25 percent service-connected disability for peacetime-only veterans; and (3) have an income that is not liable for state income taxes.
B. Hunting and Fishing Licenses: Any veteran who is a legal resident ofGeorgia, who files with the Game and Fish Division, Department of Natural Resources a letter from VA or a certificate from the Social Security Administration, Medicaid, Medicare, Railroad Retirement System or a unit of federal, state or local government recognized by the Board of Natural Resources by rule or regulation stating that he/she is a totally and permanently disabled veteran, and is not gainfully employed, is entitled to an honorary hunting and fishing license allowing the veteran to fish and hunt within the state without the payment of any fee. Persons issued an honorary license under disability provisions shall renew such license and recertifytheir eligibility for such licenses every three years, however, that honorary license in effect as of July I, 1998 shall

not require renewal. Persons who are at least 65 years old or who are rated totally blind also qualify.
C. Veterans Drivers' Licenses: Issued free to veterans who were residents of Georgia at the time ofenlistment or commissioning and are residents at the time of application for the license or who have been residents of Georgia for at least five years immediately preceding the date of application for the license. Individuals must have served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States or on active duty in a reserve component, including the National Guard, during wartime or any conflict when personnel were committed by the President, except for periodic transfer from reserve status to active duty status for training purposes, and who were discharged or separated under honorable conditions. The individual need not have been assigned to a unit or division which directly participated in such war or conflict. Additionally, any member or former member ofthe National Guard or reserve forces who has 20 or more years creditable service is entitled to a free driver's license.
D. Honorary Driver's License: Issued free to: (I) any Georgia resident who is the surviving spouse ofa veteran who was eligible for a veteran's license, so long as the surviving spouse does not remarry; or (2) any resident of Georgia who is the spouse ofa veteran who would qualify for a veteran's license were it not for the veteran's permanent disabilities which preclude the operation ofa motor vehicle.
E. Medal of Honor Tags: Special license plates are issued free to a veteran who is a legal resident of Georgia and who is a Medal ofHonor recipient. Two distinctive license plates will be issued to be placed on the front and rear of the motor vehicle owned by the Medal of Honor recipient.
F. HV Tags (Automobile/Motorcycle): Provided free ofcharge to: (I) any veteran who was separated under honorable conditions and who served on active duty in the armed forces or on Active duty in a reserve component, including the National Guard, and who is receiving or entitled to receive a statutory award from VA for (a) loss or permanent loss ofuse ofone or both feet; (b) loss or

permanent loss ofuse ofone or both hands; (c) loss of sight in one or both eyes; or (d) permanent impairment of both eyes to the extent that there is central visual acuity of 20/200 if there is a field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees in the better eye; or (2) any veteran separated under honorable conditions and verified by VA as receiving or entitled to receive compensation at the 100 percent rate as a result of being totally disabled permanently or totally disabled nonpermanently.
Georgia law allows a disabled veteran to own or operate only one vehicle with free license plates.
G. POW Tags: One free license plate will be issued free to any veteran who is a former prisonerof-war, who was discharged under honorable conditions, and who is a legal resident of Georgia. Additional plates may be purchased upon payment of the appropriate taxes and registration fees. A widow/widower of a deceased former POW is eligible for the issuance ofa free POW tag so long as they remain unmarried
H. Purple Heart Tags: Recipients of the Purple Heart medal are entitled to one free license plate. Additional tag(s) can be obtained by paying the regular license fees plus a manufacturing fee.
I. DV Tags: Disabled veteran tags are available to veterans who were separated under honorable conditions and who meet the same degree of disability which is required for the issuance ofHV tags, but are unable to qualify for a free license plate. DV tags are not issued free but may be purchased at regular license plate rates.
J. Pearl Harbor Tags: Veterans of the armed forces of the United States who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor are eligible to receive a special and distinctive vehicle license plate upon application and payment of an additional fee.
K. ID Cards: Personal identification cards are available to veterans who do not have a motor vehicle drivers license and who would, otherwise, be entitled to issuance of a free veterans driver's license.

L. Reduced Fees for Disabled Veterans: Any service connected disabled veteran who was discharged under honorable conditions can visit/use state parks historical sites and recreational areas at reduced rates.
M. Veterans License Plates: Retired personnel of the U.S. armed forces or individuals who served during WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War or Operation Desert Stonn are eligible to purchase special and distinctive vehicle license plates. All requests must be acco~pa~ied by payment of the appropriate taxes, ~eglstratlon fees and manufacturing fees. Motor VehIcle owners who retired from active duty with the Anned Forces of the United States shall be issued one free tag upon application.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS:
A. Handicapped Parking: Holders ofHV or DV license tags are authorized to park their vehicles displaying such tags in parking are~ d~signated ~or the handicapped without obtammg speCIal handicapped parking area pennits. This does not apply to federal parking areas.
B. Motor Fuel Service to Handicapped: When there is an option on the price offuel at a full-s ervice/ self-service facility, a station employee, upon request will dispense fuel at the lower price from the self-service pump into vehicles bearing HV or DV license tags if: (1) the handicapped/disable~ veteran is driving the vehicle into which fuel IS to .be dispensed; and (2) the veteran is not accompan~ed by a person at least 16 years ofage who is not bhnd or has impaired mobility.
C. State Veterans Memorial Cemetery: (Located in Milledgeville, GA.) Eligibilitycriteria same as federal law and the veteran/spouse (must have been a resident in the State of Georgia two (2) years prior to death
D. Employment Preference: Extended to war

veterans employed under the State Merit System.
Eo Guardianship: The Unifonn Guardianship Act provides for appointment of a guardian for incompetent veterans and for veterans' children when VA benefits are involved. These appointments are made on the basis ofcertificates issued only by VA.
F. War Veterans Homes: Treatment is provided all honorably discharged war veterans in the Georgia War Veterans Home, Milledgeville, and in the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, Augusta. The tenn "war veteran" for this benefit means any veteran who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, or on active duty in a reserve component, including the National Guard, during wartime or during the period January 31, 1955 through May 7, 1975. To determine eligibility for admission, see your local SDVS office.
G. Vital Statistics: Veterans, dependents, VA or veterans' organizations, may obtain copies of marriage, divorce, birth and death documents without charge, through the Department of Veterans Service, provided the copies are to be used for establishing disability or death claims with VA, and the request is in writing.
H. Service Records: There is no charge for recording of veterans' discharge certificates (DD Fonn 214) in county Superior Courts .
I. Where to go for Assistance: All Georgia veterans and their dependents are urged to visit the nearest office of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service for complete information on benefits for which they may be eligible as well as professional assistance in obtaining them. For the office nearest you, consult your telephone directory under Georgia Government listings.
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Veterans Service Field Offices

Albany Americus Athens Atlanta VAMC Augusta Augusta VAMC Bainbridge Blairsville Brunswick Canton Carrollton Cartersville Cedartown Clarkesville Columbus Conyers Cordele Dalton Dublin VAMC Eastman Elberton Gainesville Glennville Greensboro

Griffin Hartwell LaFayette LaGrange
Macon McRae Milledgeville Moultrie Newnan Rome Savannah Statesboro Swainsboro Thomaston Thomasville Tifton Toccoa Valdosta Vidalia Warner Robins Washington Waycross Waynesboro

Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery -Ceremonial Ground