Regents Awards for Children of Deceased & Disabled Veterans provide up to $450 per year
to students whose parent(s) served in the US Armed Forces during specified times of national emergency.
Who is eligible?
Eligible students are those whose veteran parent(s) are NYS residents
and who served in the US Armed forces during one of the following periods of war or national emergency:
WW I between Apr 6, 1917 and Nov 11, 1918; or inWW II between Dec 7, 1941 and Dec 31, 1946; or inKorea between June 27, 1950 and Jan 31, 1955; or inVietnam between Dec 22,
1961 and May 7, 1975; or inPersian Gulf on or after Aug 2, 1990; or inAfghanistan on or after Sept 11, 2001
Or students whose parent(s) was the recipient of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy
Expeditionary Medal or the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal for participation in operations in Lebanon, Grenada or Panama.
And as a result of service, the veteran either died, suffered a 40% or more disability, was classified as missing in action,
or was a prisoner of war.
What is required to apply?Must establish
eligibility by applying to the Higher Education Services Corp 1-888-697-4372.Veteran parent must be a NYS residentHave applied for the Tuition Assistance Program and Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA)
All applications must be completed by May 1st of the academic year for which an
award is sought.
For Additional Information contact
Higher
Education Services Corp (HESC) 1-888-697-4372.
The
Blind Annuity Program benefit is for legally blind NYS wartime veterans
or the surviving un-remarried spouse of the blind veteran. The program authorizes an annuity payment of up to $1,173.84 per
veteran.
Who is eligible for the Blind Annuity?
To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following
requirements:Resident
of New York State Veteran has been determined legally blind*
(20/200 vision in the better eye with best correction)
Or
20 Degree limitation of field of vision
AND
Served on active duty (other than for training) for 90 days or more during any of the following:
April 11, 1899 – July 4, 1902 May 9, 1916 - April 4, 1917 April 6, 1917 - Nov 11, 1918 Dec 7, 1941 - Dec 31, 1946 June 27, 1950 - Jan 31, 1955 Feb 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975 Aug 2, 1990 – End of conflict
Or
Received the Armed Forces, Navy, or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, for participation
in:
Lebanon – June 1, 1983 – Dec
1, 1987Grenada – Oct 23, 1983 – Nov 21, 1983 Panama – Dec 20,
1989 – Jan 31, 1990
How do you apply for the Blind Annuity?
Complete and submit the following forms to the NYS Division
of Veterans’ Affairs:Evidence
of Military Service Marriage and Death Certificate (for un-remarried surviving spouse)
What documentation is required to prove eligibility?
Evidence
of Military Service (DD 214/copy of a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) Marriage or death certificate
if applicable.
For More Information
Call 1-888-838-7697 or 518-486-3602
Homes for Veterans Program offers
fixed-rate mortgages with interest rates 0.5% below the already low interest rates charged on SONYMA mortgages with closing
cost assistance.
The Homes for Veterans Program features the following:
Veterans,
and their spouses or co-borrowers, need not be a first-time homebuyer.Interest rates that are 0.50% lower than our standard interest rates (for loans
with closing cost assistance).
Closing cost assistance up to the greater of $3,000 or 3% of the requested loan amount.No points or origination fees.
Minimum borrower cash contribution only 1% (the remaining 2% can come from a gift or other
acceptable source).
Who is eligible for the mortgage program?
To
be eligible, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
The applicant must be a veteran who serve in the active military, naval, or air service
who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
What documentation is required to prove eligibility?
In order to qualify for the Homes
for Veterans Program, veteran must supply the following documentation with their SONYMA mortgage application:
DD214 – Certificate
of Release or Discharge from Active Duty;Military
Veteran’s Eligibility Affidavit (SONYMA Form 243) [Required only if veteran (or their spouse or co-borrower) is not
a first-time homebuyer
How do you apply?
Contact the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) at 1-800-382-HOME
(4663).
For More Information,
Call 1-888-838-7697 or 518-474-6784
Gold Star Parent Annuity authorizes
an annuity payment of up to $500 per Gold Star parent of a deceased veteran.
Who is eligible for the Gold Star Parent Annuity?
To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
The applicant must be a Gold Star Parent (as defined in 10 USC 1126)The applicant must be a resident of New
York StateThe applicant
must verify that their income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. This verification is based upon the submittal
of a copy of their latest calendar year Federal Tax return, or an affirmation that certifies that they are not required to
file a federal income tax return.
What documentation is required to document evidence of military service of the
deceased?
DD Form 1300 (Report
of Casualty) or a copy of the telegram from the Department of Defense advising the parent of his or her loss, shall be submitted
with the application.
What is the Income limit to qualify for the Annuity?
In order to qualify for the Annuity
Program, the applicant’s income must be at or below 200% the federal poverty level. For 2009: Household Maximum Income
Allowed for eligibility is $21,660 for one person, $29,140 for two, for each addition person, add $7,480.
What documents must be submitted to prove income eligibility?
Submit a copy of the current year’s
Federal Tax Return. If not required to file an income tax return the past year, a completed affirmation form to certify that
income eligibility.
How do you apply for the Gold Star Parent’s Annuity? What forms must be
completed?
All forms and supporting documentation with the exception
of the direct deposit form are to be submitted to the NYS Division of Veterans’ Affairs Evidence of Military Service of the Deceased VeteranCopy of the previous year’s Federal
Tax Return, or a fully executed affirmationDirect
Deposit FormProof
of NYS Residency
Are there deadlines for submitting an application, and when will payment be
approved?
Applications may be sent at anytime; payments will be authorized
and disbursed in semi-annual installments (March and September)
Is there a recertification process?
Yes. Applicants approved for the Gold Star Parent Annuity
payments are required to verify their eligibility on a yearly basis.
Does incarceration affect a gold star parent’s eligibility to receive
the annuity?
Yes:
No entitlement shall be paid to or for a gold star parent who is incarcerated. Pursuant to a misdemeanor or felony conviction
for any part of the period beginning sixty-one days after his or her imprisonment begins and ending with his or her release.
For More Information,
Call 1-888-838-7697 or 518-474-6784
NYS Veterans' Property Tax Exemption
provides a partial exemption on real property taxes to veterans’ of defined periods of war, veterans who received expeditionary
medals or certain family members, as allowed by law.There are three levels of benefits, depending on whether the veteran served in combat and/or
was disabled. Exemptions are also subject to dollar limitations, pursuant to state and local law.
Section 458
of the Real Property Tax Law provides a partial exemption on property owned by a veteran that has been purchased with pension,
bonus, or insurance monies – referred to as “eligible funds”
Section 458-a
of the Real Property Tax Law is available only for residential property of veterans who served during wartime or received
an expeditionary medal – referred to as “alternative veterans’ exemption”
Section 458-b
of the Real Property Tax Law is available only for residential property of veterans who served during the Cold War period
– referred to as “Cold War exemption”
Who is eligible for the Property Tax Exemption?
To be eligible, an applicant
must be one of the following:
A qualified veteran The spouse of a qualified veteran (un-remarried surviving spouse)
What documentation is required to prove eligibility?
A copy of a Certificate of Release or
Discharge from Active DutyCopy
of deed to home (title must be veterans’ or spouses name)
How do you apply?
An Application for Veterans Exemption from Real Property
Taxation (Form RP-458) must be filed with the local assessor. Application Form Evidence
of Military Service
(DD214/copy of a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty)
Are there deadlines for submitting applications?
Applications must be filed
on or before taxable status date. Check with your assessor for exact date. The Exemption and Abatement Application for Owners
must be received by March 15th for benefits beginning on July 1st of that same year.
For Additional Information:
1-888-838-7697
