New York Veteran Benefits

B+

Benefits organized by category so you can quickly compare tax relief, education support, recreation perks, and more.

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How New York compares

New York compares well with many states, especially if you qualify for its stronger programs in Property Tax, Income Tax, Education, Employment.

Quick categories

🏠 Property Tax 💰 Income Tax 🎓 Education 💼 Employment 🎣 Recreation 🚗 Vehicle 🏥 Healthcare ⭐ Other 🏘️ Housing

🏠 Property Tax

5 tracked items

Alternative Veterans Exemption - Wartime Service

Rating: None for base; disability rating enhances benefit

15% reduction in assessed value for wartime veterans (non-combat). Additional 10% for combat zone service. Additional amount equal to half of VA disability rating percentage for disabled veterans.

Eligibility: Wartime veterans, combat veterans, and disabled veterans. Must be adopted by local taxing jurisdiction. Source

Cold War Veterans Exemption

Rating: None for base; disability enhances benefit

10% or 15% reduction in assessed value (as adopted by taxing jurisdiction). Additional reduction for service-connected disability equal to half of disability rating.

Eligibility: Veterans who served on active duty during the Cold War period. As of Dec 2025, Cold War veterans can also apply for Alternative Veterans Exemption. Source

100% Disabled Veterans Full Tax Exemption

Rating: 100%

Full property tax exemption on the primary residence for veterans rated 100% service-connected (or deemed unemployable by the VA) and their spouses. Enacted at the end of 2025 as a local option; an amendment makes it MANDATORY in every locality for assessment rolls with taxable status dates on or after Oct 1, 2026.

Eligibility: Veterans with 100% service-connected disability. Source

STAR Program

Rating: None (general homeowner benefit)

Basic STAR: income limit reduced to $250,000. Enhanced STAR: income limit $110,750 (2026). Annual growth in savings capped at 0%. Reduces school property taxes.

Eligibility: Homeowners meeting income requirements. Not veteran-specific but combinable with veteran exemptions. Source

Classified Service Veterans Exemption

Rating: None

10% property tax reduction for veterans whose service locations are classified or difficult to document (e.g., submarines, classified missions).

Eligibility: Veterans with classified service records. Source

💰 Income Tax

2 tracked items

Military Retirement Pay Exemption

Rating: None

Military retired pay is fully exempt from New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income taxes.

Eligibility: All military retirees. Source

Combat Zone Pay Exemption

Rating: N/A

Combat zone pay exempt from NY State, NYC, and Yonkers income taxes to the extent excluded from federal income.

Eligibility: Service members with combat zone pay. Source

🎓 Education

1 tracked item

Veterans Tuition Award (VTA)

Rating: None

Pays tuition only, the lesser of actual tuition or the average SUNY undergraduate tuition ($7,070 for 2025-26), for eligible New York veterans: up to 4 years full-time undergraduate (5 for approved 5-year programs), plus graduate and vocational study. Does NOT cover room, board, books or transportation.

Eligibility: Honorably discharged NY resident wartime veterans for undergrad, grad, or vocational training. Source

💼 Employment

1 tracked item

Civil Service Preference Points

Rating: None for 5-pt; any disability for 10-pt

5 additional points on competitive civil service exams for veterans; 10 points for disabled veterans.

Eligibility: Veterans (5 pts); disabled veterans (10 pts). Source

🎣 Recreation

1 tracked item

Discounted Hunting and Fishing Licenses

Rating: 40%+

$5 hunting and fishing licenses for qualifying disabled veterans.

Eligibility: Resident veterans with 40%+ VA service-related disability. Source

🚗 Vehicle

1 tracked item

Free NYS Thruway Travel

Rating: Eligible for the VA automobile grant

Disabled veterans who qualify for the VA Automobile and Adaptive Equipment grant and get a fee-exempt registration from NY DMV can enroll in the Thruway's Disabled Veteran Non-Revenue E-ZPass for free, unlimited Thruway travel. Eligibility is NOT based on rating percentage or specialty plates.

Eligibility: Disabled veterans eligible for fee-exempt vehicle registration. Source

🏥 Healthcare

1 tracked item

New York State Veterans Homes

Rating: None

State-operated veterans homes providing long-term care. Requires 30 days active service and honorable discharge.

Eligibility: Veterans who entered active duty from NY or were NY residents for 1 year before application. Source

⭐ Other

2 tracked items

Blind Annuity Program

Rating: None (blindness-based, not VA rating)

Annual annuity of $1,395.36 ($116.28/month) for legally blind wartime veterans or their surviving unremarried spouses. Blindness does not need to be service-connected.

Eligibility: NY resident legally blind wartime veterans (20/200 vision or 20-degree field limitation) with 90+ days active duty. Source

State Veterans Cemetery (Sampson)

Rating: None

New York's first state-operated veterans cemetery at Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Romulus.

Eligibility: Veterans with other-than-dishonorable discharge. Source

🏘️ Housing

1 tracked item

Homes for Veterans Program (SONYMA)

Rating: None

Fixed-rate mortgages at 0.375% below standard state mortgage rates, with down payment assistance.

Eligibility: Active duty, reserve, National Guard members, and honorably discharged veterans. Source
⚠️ Verify Before You Rely: State veteran benefits change frequently. The information above is summarized for general guidance and may not reflect the most current laws, amounts, or eligibility requirements. Always verify with your state VA office or state Department of Veterans Affairs before making financial decisions. Last reviewed: April 2026.