New York Veteran Benefits

Military retired pay received by retired service members is exempt from New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income taxes.

A nonresident spouse of a noresident service member stationed in New York under military orders is exempt from New York income taxes on wages earned in New York. The nonresident spouse must pay taxes (if required) to their state of residence.

Military pay received by an active duty service member serving in an area designated as a combat zone is exempt from New York taxes.

New York National Guard Service members called to state or federal active duty can subtract their military pay from their adjusted gross income. Service members can take this subtraction for the duration of their active duty service. Active duty for training does not qualify.

Military disability retirement pay received as a pension, annuity or similar allowance for personal injury or sickness resulting from active service in the U.S. Armed Forces should not be included in taxable income. Some of the payments which are considered disability benefits include:

DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of U.S. Armed Forces service members who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-connected injury or disease.

SBP, RCSBP and RSFPP annuities are not taxed in New York.

New York offers three different property tax exemptions for qualifying Veterans and their eligible family members. New York property taxes are assessed by local cities, towns, school districts, or villages that may choose to offer one or more of these exemptions.

New York State does not tax Social Security benefits.

VTA offers awards for full-time and part-timestudy for eligible Veterans enrolled in an approved undergraduate or graduate degree programs, or an approved vocational training program in New York. Awards are granted up to the SUNY (State University of New York) tuition rates.

The New York State MERIT Scholarship provides financial aid to the children, spouse and financial dependents of service members who were serving in the U.S.

The CDDV Award provides financial aid to students whose parent(s) served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specific times of military conflict, were disabled or declared missing in action, or a prisoner of war. This award is $450 per year.

New York State residency requirements to be eligible for educational financial assistance from the Higher Education Services Corporation is waived for an active duty service member stationed in New York and their dependents.

The New York Patriot Plan provides an educational leave of absence for students who are service members called to active duty service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The RDVF Scholarship Program provides undergraduate scholarships to Soldiers assigned to the 42 nd Infantry Division and descendants of RDVF members. Scholarship amounts have ranged from $500 to $5,000 based on available funding.

New York offers high school diplomas to Veterans who left high school before graduating to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Who is eligible for New York State Operation Recognition, High School Diplomas for Veterans? To be eligible, Veterans must meet the following requirements:

New York State public employees who are service members serving in a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces are authorized 22 workdays (30 calendar days) of military leave with full pay per calendar year.

Eligible Veterans can receive an exemption of vehicle registration fees and vehicle plate fees. Who is eligible for New York Vehicle Registration Fee Exemptions for Veterans? To be eligible, Veterans must meet one of the following requirements:

New York offers a full exemption from New York sales and use tax on a motor vehicle purchased in another state by a New York resident service member serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

New York resident service members who do not live in New York can defer their sales tax payment until they separate from the U.S. Armed Forces or return to New York. Who is eligible for the New York Vehicle Sales Tax Deferral? Service members must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

The SGLI Premium Reimbursement Program provides reimbursement for premiums that service members pay for SGLI during qualifying periods of service.

The New York Gold Star Families Annuity is a semi-annual payment to eligible family members of a U.S. Armed Forces service member who dies while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Blind Annuity Program pays annuities to legally blind wartime Veterans or a deceased Veteran's surviving spouse. Who is eligible for the New York State Blind Annuity Program? To be eligible Veterans must be legally blind (20/200 vision in the better eye with best correction or has 20-degree limi

New York resident Veterans who have a 40% or more service-connected disability rating from the VA are eligible for:

The New York State Patriot Plan provides unlimited day-use vehicle entry to most facilities operated by New York State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation. This wallet-sized card can be shared within a household and is not assigned to a specific vehicle.

New York State Career Centers offer free job search services to all jobseekers. Dedicated staff at New York Career Centers help assess an individual's needs, skills, and interests and guide them through their job search.

The Experience Counts campaign, strives to reform state licensing and higher education systems to recognize military experience more effectively as service members transition from service in the U.S. Armed Forces to civilian life.

New York offers Veterans' preferencewhen hiring for state employment and promotio ns. Preference is given by adding additional credits on passing competitive examinations to Veterans.

New York employers must offer paid family leave to assist with family situations arising when a service member is serving on active duty in a foreign country or has been notified of an impending mobilization for active duty to a foreign country.

Section 55-c of the New York State Civil Service Law authorizes 500 entry level positions to be filled with qualified wartime Veterans with disabilities. Eligible Veterans who meet the minimum qualifications for the position will not be required to take an initial written examination.

The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act allows eligible Veteran business owners to become certified as a New York SDVOB, with the goal of encouraging and supporting them to play a greater role in state contracting opportunities. New York has a 6% goal to include SDVOBs in state contracting.

Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of spouses, surviving spouses, or mothers of Veterans. Both a mother and a spouse (including surviving spouse) may be entitled to preference based on the same Veteran's service if they both meet the requirements.

Health and pension plan coverage for service members is provided for by USERRA. Individuals performing military duty of more than 30 days may elect to continue employer sponsored health care for up to 24 months; however, they may be required to pay up to 102% of the full premium.

The VA provides valuable life insurance benefits to Veterans, active and reserve component service members and their families to provide financial security given the extraordinary risks involved in military Service. The VA provides the following life insurance benefit programs:

TRICARE Reserve Select is a premium-based plan, available worldwide for Selected Reserve, (U.S. Armed Forces Reserve and National Guard service members) and their families who meet the following qualifications:

Mothers and fathers of a service member who died while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (Gold Star Parents) are also eligible (30 day active duty requirement does not apply).

New York offers surviving family members of a service member who died as a result of service in a combat zone a Supplemental Burial Allowance of up to $6,000. This money is used to pay for funeral and burial costs not covered by the federal government.

The West Point Post Cemetery isAmerica's oldest post cemetery and provides a serene, historic location for the burial of those eligible.

The VA National Cemetery Administration maintains eleven national cemeteries in New York. Please see the local location listing for the nearest cemetery.

The New York State Thruway Authority offers free, unlimited travel anywhere on the Thruway for disabled Veterans who have a fee-exempt vehicle registration for a specially adapted vehicle (see section above).

New York offers 53 military and Veteran distinctive license plates to honor the service and sacrifice of eligible service members, Veterans, retired service members, and certain family members. Specific eligibility and documentation requirements will apply.

Recipients of the Medal of Honor are eligible for the New York Congressional Medal of Honor license plates. There are no fees for this license plate, and it cannot be personalized. Applicants must provide official documentation as proof they were awarded the Medal of Honor when they apply.

Recipients of the Purple Heart are eligible for New York Purple Heart license plate. Veterans must provide their DD214, Certification of Military Service (NA FORM 13038), or other official documentation as proof they received the Purple Heart.

New York offers the Disabled Veteran license plate to Veterans who have a New York license plate with the universal symbol of access. There is an initial custom plate fee of $28.75, no annual plate renewal fee and it cannot be personalized.

Veterans who served in the U.S. Army are eligible for the New York U.S. Army Veteran license plate. Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214, Certification of Military Service (NA FORM 13038), or discharge papers that indicate they served in the U.S. Army.

New York offers the Gold Star Mother license plates to mothers of service members who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Applicants must provide official documentation stating their child died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

New York driver licenses and vehicle registrations of service members serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces are extended throughout a service member's military service and until six months after discharge or separation.

Service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces who are unable to visit the New York Department of Motor Vehicles to register or sell a vehicle can authorize another person to conduct the transaction for them.

New York offers a CDL military skills test waiver to service members and former service members based on their military training and experience. Who is eligible for the New York CDL Military Skills Test Waiver? Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

The New York Veterans Speaker Program maintains a pool of Veterans who can be invited as speakers to supplement classroom instruction concerning a particular era in American Military History.

New York resident service members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces and their family members stationed outside New York may register as a military voter. This registration authorizes them to receive an absentee ballot for all federal, state, and local elections they are eligible to vote in.

The New York Incarcerated Veterans Program is designed to address the readjustment and reentry needs of Veterans returning to society following incarceration.

Veterans who served overseas in the U.S. Armed Forces and received a discharge other than dishonorable and their surviving spouses are eligible for a free lifetime Veterans vendor's license.

The New York Department of Veterans' Services can help to restore access to state Veterans benefits to Veterans who received an Other Than Honorable Discharge, or a General, Under Honorable Conditions Discharge due to certain conditions.

The New York DVS Veterans Benefits Advisors offer FreshConnect Checks to active duty service members, Veterans, their immediate family members, as well as unremarried surviving spouses of Veterans.

The VA has numerous resources and locations throughout the state available to assist Veterans and family members. To find a VA location in New York enter New York in the location field and choose the facility type you are searching for from the drop down menu at the "Learn more…" link below.