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Five benefits Georgia veterans can take advantage of right now
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About 700,000 veterans reside in Georgia, constituting 7% of the state’s population. And just like veterans nationwide, you have earned benefits you can use right now. Take advantage of these Georgia-specific programs and live life to the fullest after your military service:
1. Connect with a Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) field office.
If you haven’t done so already, start by meeting with your field office representative. Field office services are free, and each is represented by staff certified to counsel you in applying for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Work together to apply for VA compensation and pensions, the GI Bill, health care, home loans and more. They may also help you access Georgia-based benefits (see below).
Learn more: Find your local field office by visiting https://rly.pt/362yxar.
2. Get a homestead tax exemption.
If you own a home in Georgia and use it as a primary residence, were honorably discharged and meet certain disability criteria, or are a surviving spouse or minor child of a qualified deceased veteran, you can apply for an exemption from property taxes. The amount exempted from taxation in 2019 was $85,645. If you have a service-connected disability, you may be exempt from other taxes and fees, including vehicle and business taxes and fees.
Learn more: Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Exemption, https://rly.pt/33W0BJU; and other tax exemptions, https://rly.pt/2RTDU3u.
3. Explore the outdoors.
As a Georgia veteran, get outside by taking advantage of the following price breaks on state park entrance fees or free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses:
• If you’re an honorably discharged veteran with a VA service-connected disability rating, receive a 25% reduction in the entrance fee to state parks, historical sites and recreation areas. Apply: You apply for a state park discount card through your GDVS field office. The process is described at https://rly.pt/32Tq8Ew.
• If hunting and fishing are more your speed, Georgia also offers free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses. If you’re a veteran returning to Georgia after service, apply for a free One Time Veterans License; discounted licenses are also available. Apply: View hunting license eligibility rules and apply at https://rly.pt/2G26Dk2.
Learn more: Learn about driver’s license extensions, state employment preferences, high school diplomas and other special state programs for Georgia veterans at https://rly.pt/32Tq8Ew.
4. Look into the Georgia Dream Homeownership program.
Explore this Georgia Department of Community Affairs program if you’re active military or have a disability and are a first-time home buyer or a home buyer who has not owned a home within the past three years and meet other income requirements.
Learn more: Read the FAQs and find lists of lenders at https://rly.pt/2FTfrJo. You can also call 1-800-359-HOME (4663).
5. Start a business.
After the military, you may choose a career in health care, high tech, the service industry or something else. Or you can become an entrepreneur. Here are a few resources to get your veteran-owned business off the ground in the Peach State:
• Consult with one of Georgia’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC). This is a nationwide business assistance network partly funded by Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The network (https://rly.pt/33Ldx5F) gives you access to free and at-cost training to start, grow and expand your small business. Georgia’s SBDC Network State Office (https://rly.pt/3i0v6n8) oversees an in-state network of 18 SBDC centers, which is staffed by experienced business consultants. The network has helped 1,300 Georgia veterans secure more than $42 million in capital through training such as setting up record-keeping systems and identifying foreign markets to sell products and services.
• Locate other trainings. Also check out SBA’s Boots to Business training offerings for transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses at https://rly.pt/2ZBUTvp. In addition, find local, no-cost business advisers at https://rly.pt/2E3xICV, https://rly.pt/33A6Xi0 or https://rly.pt/3hy2eTc.
• Get verified as veteran-owned. Once your veteran business is set up, get help getting verified from VA’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (https://rly.pt/3kheSZ6) and start doing business directly with VA, the second largest federal agency.
More resources for Georgia veterans
• Download the PDF book, “State Benefits for Georgia Veterans,” which details these and other state benefits for Georgia veterans: https://rly.pt/3cqO8Sy.
• Search the Georgia Department of Veterans Service: https://rly.pt/33S2t6G.
1. Connect with a Georgia Department of Veterans Service (GDVS) field office.
If you haven’t done so already, start by meeting with your field office representative. Field office services are free, and each is represented by staff certified to counsel you in applying for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Work together to apply for VA compensation and pensions, the GI Bill, health care, home loans and more. They may also help you access Georgia-based benefits (see below).
Learn more: Find your local field office by visiting https://rly.pt/362yxar.
2. Get a homestead tax exemption.
If you own a home in Georgia and use it as a primary residence, were honorably discharged and meet certain disability criteria, or are a surviving spouse or minor child of a qualified deceased veteran, you can apply for an exemption from property taxes. The amount exempted from taxation in 2019 was $85,645. If you have a service-connected disability, you may be exempt from other taxes and fees, including vehicle and business taxes and fees.
Learn more: Disabled Veteran Homestead Tax Exemption, https://rly.pt/33W0BJU; and other tax exemptions, https://rly.pt/2RTDU3u.
3. Explore the outdoors.
As a Georgia veteran, get outside by taking advantage of the following price breaks on state park entrance fees or free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses:
• If you’re an honorably discharged veteran with a VA service-connected disability rating, receive a 25% reduction in the entrance fee to state parks, historical sites and recreation areas. Apply: You apply for a state park discount card through your GDVS field office. The process is described at https://rly.pt/32Tq8Ew.
• If hunting and fishing are more your speed, Georgia also offers free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses. If you’re a veteran returning to Georgia after service, apply for a free One Time Veterans License; discounted licenses are also available. Apply: View hunting license eligibility rules and apply at https://rly.pt/2G26Dk2.
Learn more: Learn about driver’s license extensions, state employment preferences, high school diplomas and other special state programs for Georgia veterans at https://rly.pt/32Tq8Ew.
4. Look into the Georgia Dream Homeownership program.
Explore this Georgia Department of Community Affairs program if you’re active military or have a disability and are a first-time home buyer or a home buyer who has not owned a home within the past three years and meet other income requirements.
Learn more: Read the FAQs and find lists of lenders at https://rly.pt/2FTfrJo. You can also call 1-800-359-HOME (4663).
5. Start a business.
After the military, you may choose a career in health care, high tech, the service industry or something else. Or you can become an entrepreneur. Here are a few resources to get your veteran-owned business off the ground in the Peach State:
• Consult with one of Georgia’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC). This is a nationwide business assistance network partly funded by Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The network (https://rly.pt/33Ldx5F) gives you access to free and at-cost training to start, grow and expand your small business. Georgia’s SBDC Network State Office (https://rly.pt/3i0v6n8) oversees an in-state network of 18 SBDC centers, which is staffed by experienced business consultants. The network has helped 1,300 Georgia veterans secure more than $42 million in capital through training such as setting up record-keeping systems and identifying foreign markets to sell products and services.
• Locate other trainings. Also check out SBA’s Boots to Business training offerings for transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses at https://rly.pt/2ZBUTvp. In addition, find local, no-cost business advisers at https://rly.pt/2E3xICV, https://rly.pt/33A6Xi0 or https://rly.pt/3hy2eTc.
• Get verified as veteran-owned. Once your veteran business is set up, get help getting verified from VA’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (https://rly.pt/3kheSZ6) and start doing business directly with VA, the second largest federal agency.
More resources for Georgia veterans
• Download the PDF book, “State Benefits for Georgia Veterans,” which details these and other state benefits for Georgia veterans: https://rly.pt/3cqO8Sy.
• Search the Georgia Department of Veterans Service: https://rly.pt/33S2t6G.
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That's nice but it needs to be said that most of these only work if you have a 100% disability rating. Anything less and GA basically gives us nadda. Just taxes our pensions.
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Lt Col John Tringali
MCPO Nate Klinner that’s the one I use, and plates but all the really good ones (homestead etc) are for 100% rating only.
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Lt Col John Tringali
CPT Lawrence Allendorf - It's a Georgia specific post, ergo the reply is for limitations on Georgia specifically not the advantages / disadvantages of various state programs.
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I was given the opportunity to tour SHARE at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. I was impressed by the brain injury care they provide to our military / veteran community https://www.rallypoint.com/organizations/shepherd-center/answers/share-an-epic-voyage-in-self-discovery
Shepherd Center
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Cpl Kyle Rollins
I worked with the SHARE program at Shepard - Col Spencer Smith (RET) was a member of American Legion Post 140 and he is the brother of Alana Shepherd who started the center. Amazing program that does great work for those with TBI and / or severe PTSD. Shepherd Center is an amazing place.
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