🏠 Property Tax Exemptions
🟩 Alternative Veterans’ Exemption: Reduces assessed value of a primary residence for wartime service, combat service, and/or VA rated disability.
🟩 Cold War Veterans’ Exemption: For those who served during the Cold War era.
🟩 Eligible Funds Exemption: For homes purchased with eligible funds such as VA pension, compensation, or insurance.
📍 Apply through local municipal assessor’s office
🌐 https://veterans.ny.gov/content/property-tax-exemptions-veterans | 📞 (518) 457 2571
💵 Income Tax Benefits
🟩 Military pay earned out of state is tax free for NY residents on active duty.
🟩 NYS military pension and VA disability benefits are exempt from state income tax.
🌐 https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/file/military.htm | 📞 (518) 457 5181
🎓 Education Benefits
🟩 Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) cover tuition for full or part time study at approved institutions for eligible combat veterans.
🟩 MERIT Scholarship for children, spouses, and dependents of fallen service members.
🟩 In state tuition rates for veterans at SUNY and CUNY schools regardless of residency.
📍 New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC)
🌐 https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/military-corner.html | 📞 (888) 697 4372
🚌 Transportation Benefits
🟩 Half fare reductions on many public transit systems for veterans with qualifying disability or senior status.
🟩 Many counties provide free or reduced cost veteran shuttle services to VA medical centers.
📍 Contact county veterans’ service office for local details
🌐 https://veterans.ny.gov/counties
🌳 Recreation & Licenses
🟩 Free or reduced fee hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for disabled veterans.
🟩 Lifetime Liberty Pass grants free access to state parks, historic sites, and recreational facilities for veterans with disabilities.
📍 NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Albany, NY
🌐 https://parks.ny.gov/admission/liberty-pass.aspx | 📞 (518) 474 0456
⚖️ Legal Assistance
🟩 Veterans Defense Program offers specialized criminal defense for veterans in the justice system.
🟩 Veteran Treatment Courts available in multiple counties.
🌐 https://veterans.ny.gov/content/legal-services-veterans | 📞 (888) 838 7697
⚰️ Burial Benefits
🟩 Burial in state veterans’ cemeteries and free grave markers for eligible veterans.
🟩 County level burial assistance programs available in certain municipalities.
🌐 https://veterans.ny.gov/content/burial-benefits | 📞 (888) 838 7697
💡 Unique NYS Programs
🟩 Blind Annuity Program: Monthly payment to wartime veterans who are legally blind, or their surviving spouses.
🌐 https://veterans.ny.gov/content/blind-annuity-program | 📞 (888) 838 7697
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Disclaimer:
This is NOT an official handout from DoD, VA, DOL nor FFSC but created by Dr. Tony Astro, PhD, GCDF, CMCS, CCSP as part of his class & capstone counseling. To reach out for correction and additional information connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyastro. You can also subscribe to his Military Benefits and Transition page for an update on this at https://www.linkedin.com/company/tonyastro.