The state of New York provides several veteran benefits. This section offers a brief description of each of the following benefits.

New York Veteran Housing Programs

State Veterans Home
A 242 bed veterans home is operated by the State Department of Health at Oxford, Chenango County, for veterans, spouses and certain parents. The Department of Health also operates a 250-bed facility at St. Albans, Queens, a 126-bed facility adjacent to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Batavia, Genesee County and a 250-bed facility in Montrose, Westchester County. A 350-bed Veterans Home is located on the campus of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Long Island, and is operated by the university’s Health Sciences Center. Health related care and skilled nursing services are available at all facilities.  Admission preference is based on severity of illness or disability and need for care.

Learn more about the State Veterans Home

New York State Homes For Veterans Program
Homes for Veterans Program offers fixed-rate mortgages with interest rates 0.5% below the already low interest rates charged on SONYMA mortgages with closing cost assistance.

Learn More about Homes for Veterans.

 

New York Financial Assistance Benefits

Property Tax Exemption
Partial exemption from real property taxes is based on condition of service, with additional benefits based upon degree of service-connected disability. Applications must be filed before Taxable Status Day. Qualifying widow(er)s may file for benefit based on their spouse's service. Exemption applies to local and county property taxes.

Learn more about Property Tax Exemption

Supplemental Burial Allowance
A supplemental burial allowance of up to $6,000 is authorized for certain military personnel killed in combat or while on active duty in hostile or imminent danger locations on or after September 29, 2003.

Learn more about Supplemental Burial Allowance

New York State Blind Annuity
A New York State Blind Annuity (2008 rate is $1,128.72 annually) is available to visually impaired wartime veterans and certain unremarried spouses. For More Information, Call 1-888-838-7697 or 518-486-3602

Learn more about the New York State Blind Annuity

New York State Gold Star Annuity
Gold Star Parent Annuity authorizes an annuity payment of up to $500 per Gold Star parent of a deceased veteran.

Learn more about the Gold Star Annuity program.


New York Employment Benefits

Disabled Veterans Civil Service Preference
Qualified handicapped disabled veterans eligible for appointment to non-competitive State employment positions under Sections 55-b and 55-c of the New York State Civil Service Law.

For additional information call
1-518-473-1328 or toll-free at 1-877-324-8695
or on the web: www.cs.state.ny.us/dpm/c55.cfm

Learn more about the Disabled Veterans Civil Service Preference

Civil Service Credit Preference
Ten-point additional credit preference toward original appointment for disabled wartime veterans; five-points for wartime service; and two and a half points for competitive promotional exams.  Job retention rights applicable to veterans and spouses of totally disabled veterans.

Contact the NY State Department of Civil Service for more information.

New York Education Benefits

Veterans Tuition Award
Provides up to $1,000 per semester for full-time study or $500 per semester for part-time study to eligible New York State residents discharged under other than dishonorable conditions from the U.S. Armed forces and are:

  • Vietnam Veterans who served in Indochina between Dec. 22, 1961 and May 7, 1975.
  • Persian Gulf Veterans who served in the Persian Gulf on or after Aug. 2, 1990.
  • Afghanistan Veterans who served in Afghanistan during hostilities on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

Learn more about Veterans Tuition Award

New York State Regents Awards (for Children)
Regents Awards for Children of Deceased & Disabled Veterans provide up to $450 per year to students whose parent(s) served in the US Armed Forces during specified times of national emergency.

Learn more about NYS Regents Awards for Children of Veterans

Military Service Recognition Scholarship
Available to certain dependents of military personnel killed, severely and permanently disabled or missing in combat or a combat zone of operation since August 2, 1990.

Learn more about the Military Service Recognition Scholarship

Operation Recognition - High School Diplomas
Operation Recognition allows certain veterans to earn high school diplomas if they left school without graduating.

Learn more about Operation Recognition.

Other New York State Veteran Benefits

Hunting Licenses & Permits
Veterans with a 40-percent or greater disability rating are eligible for low-cost hunting and fishing licenses, and free use of state parks, historic sites and recreation sites.

Learn more about Licenses & Permits

Customized Military and Veteran License Plates
Specialty plates for veterans and military members. All vehicles that are registered in NYS as a passenger class vehicle or as a commercial class vehicle are eligible. Certain custom plates are available for Motorcycles also.

Learn more about NY Military and Veteran License Plates