10
A summary for veterans, dependents and survivors
State Benefits for Georgia Veterans
• Panama Liberation: December 30, 1989 – February 15, 1990
• Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Persian Gulf: August 2, 1990 –
ending date unknown at this time
Also, honorable military service qualifies if a veteran is a member
or former member of the National Guard and has 20 or more years
of creditable service. The veteran should obtain certification from
the Adjutant General of the State of Georgia and include it with
his/her documentation when he/she visits a Georgia Department of
Veterans Service field office.
In order to obtain a free driver’s license, a veteran should take
proof of his/her qualifying service and residency to a Georgia
Department of Veterans Service field office. A Field Service Officer
will verify the veteran’s eligibility and issue him/her a completed
Certificate of Eligibility (DS-516).
Once a veteran receives a completed Certificate of Eligibility,
he/she should take the certificate to a Georgia Department of
Driver Services (DDS) office, along with documentation of his/her
identity, residential address, full social security number, and U.S.
citizenship or proof of lawful presence in the United States. A DDS
representative will administer a vision exam, verify the veteran’s
eligibility, and issue a free veteran’s driver’s license. DDS also
requires a vision exam for renewal after 60 years of age. For more
information, call 678-413-8400 inside the Metro Atlanta area; or
866-754-3687 inside Georgia, but outside the Metro Atlanta area or
visit the DDS website: dds.ga.gov.
[O.C.G.A. § 40-5-36]
Honorary Driver’s Licenses – Spouses
The spouse of a qualified veteran, whose disabilities preclude
him/her from operating a motor vehicle, is eligible for a free honorary
driver’s license. Residence and qualifying service terms are the
same as stated for a free veteran’s driver’s license.
The surviving spouse of an eligible deceased veteran is also
eligible for a free honorary driver’s license as long as he/she does
not remarry. Residence and qualifying service terms are the same
as stated for a free veteran’s driver’s license.
In order to obtain a free honorary driver’s license, one should
take proof of his/her spouse’s qualifying service and residency to
a Georgia Department of Veterans Service field office. One should
also provide verification that his/her spouse’s disabilities preclude