Georgia is a popular destination for veterans, as more than 750,000 call the state home.  With their honorable service, veterans have earned many benefits and privileges. However, it can sometimes be difficult to know how and where to access them.

There is a long list of major veterans service organizations operating in Georgia, maintained by the Georgia Department of Veterans Service. These groups focus on specific elements of service, such as conflict served, service-related injuries, or branch served. To learn more about these organizations, view the list of links and contact information.

Also helpful are the GDVS Veterans Field Service Offices located throughout Georgia and staffed by professional service officers who can advise veterans and their families regarding earned federal and state veterans benefits. These professionals are certified to counsel and assist veterans in all matters pertaining to veterans benefits, from determining to gathering documents and information to support benefits claims, to following claims as they are processed.

Georgia veterans needing skilled nursing in a senior community can utilize two locations that offer treatment at no charge to all honorably discharged war veterans. The Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home in Augusta is a 192-bed skilled nursing care facility located adjacent to the campus of the Augusta University and the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The home provides health care services including physical therapy, occupational therapy procedures, and daily physician coverage by the medical director and family medicine residents.

The Georgia War Veterans Home in Milledgeville is situated on approximately 17 acres and offers 375 beds to serve Georgia veterans. Residents have access to several recreational facilities, including a fitness center, an 18-hole putt-putt golf course, a library, computers, and a multi-purpose recreation center. Many civic and religious organizations host events at the center for the veterans to enjoy, such as bingo and picnics. The facility also includes a wing dedicated specifically to Alzheimer care.

Georgia veterans with a honorable discharge from the U.S. armed forces and a VA service-connected disability rating are eligible for a 25% reduction of the entrance fee to state parks, historical sites, and recreational areas. To apply, bring DD Form 214, verification of service-connected disability, and proof of residency to a GDVS Veterans Field Service Office. A service officer will verify eligibility and forward the application to the GDVS Central Office. If approved, you’ll receive the discount card in the mail.

The GDVS Appeals Division assists veterans and their families who choose to dispute the disposition of their claims for veteran benefits, and provides support for claims filed at GDVS Veterans Field Service Offices. GDVS Appeals Officers can assist at a personal hearing before the local VA Hearing Officer or before the Travel Section of the Board of Veterans Appeals from Washington, D.C. as well as the Discharge Review Boards from the Department of Defense Military Service Departments (when convened in Atlanta). The Appeals Division is located within the Atlanta VA Regional Office Building at 1700 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033. You should call ahead (404-929-5345) before visiting, as this office is open on an appointment-only basis.

There are two locations that provide final resting places for Georgia's veterans. The Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Milledgeville is located on 142 acres approximately 5 miles south of downtown Milledgeville along Georgia Highway 112. To be eligible for burial in the cemetery, a veteran must have military service under the rules established by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the proper documentation must be provided. These cemeteries host memorial events and flag and wreath ceremonies on a regular basis.

There are also numerous resources specific to veterans living in the Atlanta area including the Atlanta VA Medical Center and veteran-focused programs from the Atlanta Housing Authority. For more resources in the Atlanta area, visit our Atlanta benefits and services page.

To find out what veterans benefits exist in other states in the U.S. please visit our complete Veterans Benefits by State guide here.

Veterans Benefit in Georgia for Assisted Living

The Aid and Attendance pension benefit is available to Georgia senior veterans and their spouses to help pay for senior care like assisted living, home care, or nursing home care. Here is more information on how the Aid and Attendance benefit helps Georgia veterans.

Written by Megan Hammons