State file · NY
Veteran benefits in New York
New York fully exempts military pensions from state and city income taxes and layers on the Lifetime Liberty Pass, five state veterans homes, and a deep bench of VA facilities. Here's the landscape, category by category.
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Financial benefits
Military retirement pay exemption
Pension payments received by retired military personnel or their beneficiaries are totally exempt from New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income taxes.
Combat zone pay
Military pay received for active service in a designated combat zone is exempt from New York State, New York City, and Yonkers taxes.
Military spouse withholding relief
Spouses who qualify under the Service Members' Civil Relief Act may claim exemption from New York State personal income tax withholding.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
DIC payments to eligible survivors are tax-free.
Property tax exemptions
New York offers three different property tax exemption programs for veterans of the Armed Forces; eligibility and amounts vary by program and locality.
Sales tax picture
Statewide sales tax is 4.0%, with county additions of up to about 4.875%; the combined average is roughly 8.23%.
Recreation
Hunting & fishing license discounts
New York resident veterans with a 40% or greater disability rating can get low-cost hunting and fishing licenses, and active-duty members stationed outside New York who are home on leave for 30 days or less are entitled to free hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses.
Lifetime Liberty Pass
Wartime veterans with a 40% or greater disability rating are eligible for the Lifetime Liberty Pass, which provides free vehicle entry to state parks, free golf at 28 state courses, free entry to 36 state pools, and discounted camping.
Education programs
Recruitment Incentive and Retention Program (RIRP)
Pays tuition up to SUNY rates for New York State Military Forces members who meet residency and enrollment requirements.
Veterans Tuition Awards
Tuition help for eligible veterans enrolled in approved undergraduate, graduate, or vocational programs.
Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans
Provides $450 per year for students whose parent died as a result of service, has a disability rating of 40% or more, or is classified as missing in action or a prisoner of war.
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
Eases school enrollment, placement, and on-time graduation issues for children of military families moving between states.
Veteran housing
New York State Veterans Homes
New York operates five state veterans homes — at Batavia, Long Island (on the Stony Brook University campus), Montrose, Oxford, and St. Albans. Eligibility generally requires Armed Forces service with deployment, a discharge other than dishonorable, and New York residency; spouses, surviving spouses, and Gold Star Parents may qualify, and charges for care may apply.
Employment & job training
Civil service credit preference
On original appointment exams, disabled wartime veterans receive a 10-point credit, wartime veterans receive 5 points, and other veterans receive 2.5 points.
Veterans with Disabilities Employment Program (55-c)
Allows up to 500 state positions to be filled with qualified wartime veterans with disabilities without an examination.
Department of Labor Career Centers
New York State career centers provide priority service for veterans and eligible spouses.
USERRA protections
Federal law protects the civilian job rights and benefits of veterans and reserve members returning from duty.
Burials & memorials
Supplemental burial allowance
New York provides up to $6,000 for military personnel killed in combat or while on active duty in hostile or imminent-danger locations on or after September 29, 2003.
National cemeteries in New York
Options include Bath National Cemetery, Cypress Hills National Cemetery, Calverton National Cemetery, Woodlawn National Cemetery in Elmira, Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, and the Albany Rural Cemetery Soldiers' Lot.
VA resources in New York
New York Regional Benefit Office
Serves downstate New York for benefits claims and questions.
Official siteBuffalo Regional Benefit Office
Serves upstate and western New York for benefits claims and questions.
Official siteVA medical centers statewide
New York hosts a dense network of VA medical centers, including the Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses of the NY Harbor Healthcare System, the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx, Northport VA Medical Center on Long Island, the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, Syracuse VA Medical Center, the Western New York Healthcare System in Buffalo and Batavia, Bath and Canandaigua VA Medical Centers, and the Hudson Valley Health Care System campuses at Montrose and Castle Point.
Before you apply
- First-time applicants generally need a copy of their DD-214 or discharge paperwork — keep certified copies somewhere safe.
- Most programs require a discharge under other than dishonorable conditions; a dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge may bar eligibility.
- “Active service” has a specific definition for many programs — training periods don’t always count. When in doubt, ask the agency directly.
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