Veteran Benefits in New York
New York VA benefits are available under the State Division of Veterans’ Affairs and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These veterans benefits include services such as property tax exemptions, burial allowances and educational scholarships.
Additional benefits include health care coverage, disability pay, pension programs for low-income servicemembers and employment resources. To receive assistance when applying for any of these programs, servicemembers may visit a local Vet Center. To learn more about veterans administration benefits in NY and how to apply for benefits, review the information below.
Disability Benefits for Veterans in New York
Federal VA disability pay is New York is available to veterans with service-connected illnesses or disabilities. These VA disability benefits include Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) and general disability pay, which is a tax-free monetary payment.
To enroll in disabled veterans benefits in NY, veterans must complete the following applications:
- Application for Disability Compensation and Related Benefits (VA Form 21-526EZ)
- Application for DIC, Death Pension and/or Accrued Benefits (VA Form 21-534EZ)
- Examination for Housebound Status or Permanent Need for Regular Aid and Attendance (VA Form 21-2680)
Service members may enroll in VA life insurance, as well, to protect themselves and their families in a financial or medical emergency. Available veterans life insurance policies include Veterans’ Group Life; Veterans’ Mortgage Life and Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance.
Additional life insurance options include Servicemembers’ Group Life, Family Servicemembers’ Group Life and Servicemembers’ Group Life (Traumatic Injury Protection).
Health Insurance Benefits for Veterans in New York
Federal and New York VA health care is available to eligible servicemembers and their families.
Military members who meet VA health insurance eligibility receive access to local Vet Centers throughout the state, veterans’ nursing homes, and basic health care services such as emergency aid and prescription drug coverage.
To apply for VA medical benefits in NY, servicemembers must complete an Application for Health Care (VA Form 10-10EZ), or an Application for Extended Care (10-10EC) to apply for long-term medical coverage.
Veterans must mail veterans health insurance applications to the following address:
Health Eligibility Center 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30329-1647
Note: Alternately, servicemembers may apply for health insurance in person at a VA medical center, online through the VA’s website, or by telephone at 1-877-222-8387.
Pension Benefits for Veterans in New York
Servicemembers may apply for a VA pension, survivors benefits, or additional pension allowances such as Housebound or Aid and Attendance (A&A). To obtain a veterans pension, claimants must complete VA Form 21P-527EZ to apply as a veteran, or 21P-534EZ to enroll as a surviving family member.
To apply for A&A or Housebound VA pension benefits, however, claimants must submit medical evidence to the following address:
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center Attn: Philadelphia Pension Center P.O. Box 5206 Janesville, WI 53547-5206
Additional veterans pension benefits in New York include the following:
- The Gold Star Parent Annuity Program – complete an Application for Gold Star Parent Annuity
- The Military Service Credit – apply by mailing the applicant’s name, contact information and a copy of his or her DD-214 papers to the Military Service Unit in Albany
- The Blind Annuity Program – complete an Application for Blind Annuity
Note: For assistance in obtaining these benefits, applicants may call 1-888-838-7697.
Housing Benefits for Veterans in New York
Available VA housing benefits include property tax exemptions, real property tax deadline extensions, the VA home loan guaranty service, the federal supportive housing program, homes for veterans and long-term nursing care.
Through the homes for veterans housing assistance program, eligible service members receive affordable VA home loan rates under the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA).
Additionally, the supportive VA housing assistance program (HUD-VASH) moves homeless veterans and their families into affordable, permanent housing. Veterans who meet VA home loan requirements may apply for a Purchase Loan, Interest Rate Reduction Loan, Native American Direct Loan, or an Adapted Housing Grant.
To learn more about tax exemptions, contact the state Department of Taxation and Finance. To learn more about real property tax extensions, contact a local property tax office.
An additional veterans housing assistance program in NY includes the five military nursing homes in the state, including the facilities in Jamaica, Batavia, Oxford, Montrose and Stony Brook. To apply for admission into these veteran housing programs, patients must contact the facility directly at the telephone numbers below:
- Jamaica: 718-990-0353
- Batavia: 585-345-2049
- Oxford: 607-843-3121
- Montrose: 914-788-6000
- Stony Brook: 631-444-8387
Education Benefits for Veterans in New York
Federal and New York VA education benefits are available to eligible veterans and their families. These NY veterans education benefits include scholarships, tuition waivers, student loan deferments and programs such as Operation Recognition. Specific scholarships for veterans include the following:
- Military Service Recognition Scholarships (MSRS)
- Military residency tuition waivers for active duty spouses and dependents
- The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship
- Veterans Tuition Awards
- Regents Awards for the children of deceased or disabled veterans
- Military service or post-active duty service deferments
- Operation Recognition
Federal benefits under the GI bill, Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP), post 911 GI bill and Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) also exist to help veterans with their educational expenses.
Note: To learn more about these veteran scholarships and other educational benefits, contact the state’s Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) at 1-888-697-4372.
Employment Benefits for Veterans in New York
Service members seeking New York VA jobs assistance can take advantage of the many services available to them, including employment and training programs under the state Department of Labor (DOL).
To help find jobs for veterans in NY, the DOL provides services such as resume preparation, job referrals, career assessments and job-search planning. However, additional va employment benefits include the following:
- Civil service credits for veterans with disabilities
- The Experience Counts Campaign
- Credits for veteran-friendly business under the Hire-a-Vet program
- Peddler’s licenses
- Entrepreneurship assistance
- The Veterans with Disabilities Employment Program
- The Veterans Temporary Hiring Program
Servicemembers who cannot find suitable veteran jobs may qualify for unemployment benefits under the DOL.
Funeral Benefits for Veterans in New York
Federal VA death benefits in New York include a gravesite at any of the national cemeteries throughout the country, a government headstone, burial flag and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
Other VA burial benefits include perpetual care and the opening and closing of the grave. Additional veterans death benefits in NY include supplemental burial allowances of up to $6,000.
To apply for these veterans burial benefits, claimants must complete an Application for Supplemental Burial Allowance and submit it along with all required documentation.
Additional funeral benefits include reimbursements of up to $2,000 for indigent families of eligible servicemembers. To apply for burial reimbursements, claimants must complete an Application for Indigent Burial Reimbursement and mail it to the following address:
NYS Division of Veterans' Affairs 2 Empire State Plaza, Floor 17 Albany, NY 12223