Five benefits New York Veterans can take advantage of right now. Do you know other benefits New York has to offer?

RallyPoint News — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 12:14:44 -0400

The more than 760,000 Veterans residing in New York have many reasons to call the state home — two Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean, Niagara Falls and the Catskills, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and The Big Apple. You also have many great benefits you can use right now. Take advantage of these New York-specific programs and live life to the fullest after your military service:

1. Connect with a Veterans benefits advisor or file a discharge upgrade application. If you haven’t done so already, meet with your benefits advisor at the applicable county Veterans service office. These advisors are qualified to provide you with free counseling in applying for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Work together to seek VA compensation and pensions, the GI Bill, health care, home loans and more, or get help filing appeals. They can also assist you in accessing state benefits (see below) or in submitting military discharge upgrade applications. New York is also the first state in the nation to provide you with free access to a Discharge Upgrade Advisory Board. If you have a worthy argument for an upgrade, the board can issue an opinion that may strengthen your case when going before review panels.

Learn more: Find your nearest benefits advisor at https://rly.pt/3dxclXS (click on “Find an Office Near Me.”) Learn how to appeal your discharge status at https://rly.pt/31g5xZJ.

2. Get a state home loan. You may know about the VA home loan guarantee (https://rly.pt/2GTP467). But the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) also has the Homes for Veterans program. If you’re a veteran or a spouse of one discharged under conditions other than dishonorable you may qualify for a low-interest, fixed-rate loan 0.375% below the already low-interest-rate loans offered through SONYMA. The program also provides down payment assistance of up to $3,000 or 3% of the purchase price of the home (not to exceed $15,000).

Learn more: https://rly.pt/3o0CvqC.

3. Look into education benefits. New York also has a few opportunities for you or your children to get a higher education at reduced or no cost:

• Veterans Tuition Awards: If you meet service criteria — generally extending to New York State Veterans who served in hostilities after 1961 and who were discharged under honorable conditions — you can receive tuition awards for study at a New York degree-granting institution or vocational training program. Details: https://rly.pt/2TdHk21.

• Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute (MERIT) Scholarship: Tuition assistance is available to children, spouses or financial dependents of New York residents who died or became severely and permanently disabled in military service. Details: https://rly.pt/3j5LD9K.

• Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans: New York also provides $450 annually to students whose parents served in times of war or national emergency and, as a result, died or received a VA service-connected disability rating of 40% or greater. Details: https://rly.pt/3jbJnhC.

4. Explore housing modification funds and property tax exemptions. If you are a low- or moderate-income veteran living with a disability in New York, you could receive funding to adapt your home under the Access to Homes for Heroes/Veterans program.

And if you own your New York home, you may be able to reduce your property tax burden. The state notes three programs of interest to Veterans:

• Alternative Veterans’ Exemption: For service during a designated time of war or receipt of an expeditionary medal, with additional reductions available for combat and VA service-connected disability ratings.

• Cold War Veterans’ Exemption: For service during the Cold War, with additional reductions available for VA service-connected disability ratings.

• Eligible Funds Exemption: Partial exemptions for certain property purchases.

Learn more: For details about Access to Homes for Heroes/Veterans, visit https://rly.pt/37j9i4F. For property tax information, call [login to see] or visit https://rly.pt/2IsC0p.

5. Start a business. After the military, you may choose a career in health care, high tech, the service sector or another industry (https://rly.pt/34494fx). Or you can become an entrepreneur. Here are a few resources to get your veteran-owned business off the ground in The Empire State:

• Consult with a New York Small Business Development Center (SBDC). This nationwide business assistance network is partly funded by Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The network (https://rly.pt/33Ldx5F) gives you access to free and at-cost training to start, grow and expand your small business. New York’s SBDC Network State Office (https://rly.pt/37c7PwJ) oversees an in-state network of 22 campus-based centers and outreach offices, which provide no- and low-cost business advice and training to new and existing small businesses. New York’s SBDC has a specific program providing targeted training, counseling and mentoring to Veterans. Services include personal advice sessions, business plan workshops and business concept assessment. Details: https://rly.pt/2IsCj3d.

• Locate other trainings. Also check out SBA’s Boots to Business training offerings for transitioning service members, Veterans and military spouses at https://rly.pt/2ZBUTvp. In addition, find local, no-cost business advisers at https://rly.pt/2E3xICV, https://rly.pt/33A6Xi0 and https://rly.pt/3hy2eTc.

• Get verified as Veteran-owned. Once your veteran business is set up, get help getting verified from VA’s Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (https://rly.pt/3kheSZ6) and start doing business directly with VA, the second largest federal agency.

More resources for New York Veterans

• New York Division of Veterans’ Services: https://rly.pt/3dxclXS.

• NYS Veterans app: Android (https://rly.pt/3dyy7KN) or iOS (https://rly.pt/3dAkwT6).

New York State Division of Veterans' Services |

The New York State Division of Veterans’ Services (DVS or Division) advocates on behalf of New York’s Veterans and their families, as individuals and as a group, to ensure they receive benefits granted by law for service in the United States Armed Forces.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Nov 6 at 2020 11:13 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 23:13:58 -0500

Thank you for the information!

Response by Pvt Patrick Bryan made Nov 20 at 2020 5:06 PM

Pvt Patrick Bryan — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 17:06:55 -0500

I can't wait to get moved out of this corrupt state!!! Even the VA here is corrupt!!!

Response by PO2 Cyrus Barberia made Nov 25 at 2020 5:41 PM

PO2 Cyrus Barberia — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 17:41:56 -0500

The VA came through when I needed a job I worked at a national cemetery on Long island doing maintenance work for a while it is for a year and they were good to me I recommend working for the VA and maybe low pay to start but they have good benefits

Response by CDR William Kempner made Dec 7 at 2020 12:18 AM

CDR William Kempner — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 00:18:45 -0500

I am aware of most of these things , but thanks for the reminder and sharing with everyone!

Response by Pvt Patrick Bryan made Dec 12 at 2020 10:15 AM

Pvt Patrick Bryan — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 10:15:23 -0500

When will the Veterans of this state wake up and see neither this Governor nor US Senators truly stand behind us, the Veterans?? YES, I have written proof from Chuck Schumer's office they will not contact another Gov agency over a Veterans issue!! They only use us for political propose, not really help us!!!!

Response by LTC Michael Hrycak made Dec 12 at 2020 5:28 PM

LTC Michael Hrycak — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 17:28:19 -0500

What a great explanation of New York benefits. thank you.

Response by SSG Christopher Allen made Dec 13 at 2020 10:54 AM

SSG Christopher Allen — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 10:54:34 -0500

The property tax exemption helps but it is not what I was led to believe. It is not applied to school//county tax and the property value reduction does not add up. I get the combat veteran, disabled veteran and one other reduction. It adds up to 100%. With that math I should pay 0 property tax. It was that math that convinced me to move back to NY. NY math is different though, I pay over $4000 property tax a year.

Response by PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster made Dec 13 at 2020 2:16 PM

PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 14:16:58 -0500

I am in Michigan, not New York.

Response by PV2 Leonard Jerram made Dec 14 at 2020 4:40 PM

PV2 Leonard Jerram — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 16:40:54 -0500

I served as a draftee as an 11B in the Army and went to Viet Nam with the 1/12th 4th Division C company. I applied for the minimal disability but I think I was told that having served in a combat zone there that naybe I was entitled to an additional benefit because of agent orange. I was diagnosed with Diabetes after I came home and I guess that was a reason for the compensation. Is this true and should I request an additional benefit?

Response by PVT William Murphy made Dec 24 at 2020 3:53 PM

PVT William Murphy — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 15:53:39 -0500

Thanks!

Response by Sgt Erle Mutz made Mar 9 at 2021 3:04 PM

Sgt Erle Mutz — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:04:40 -0500

A LOT of great information for Veterans!!! Thanks. Stay SAFE!

Response by SGT Kathy Dean made Jul 28 at 2021 3:51 PM

SGT Kathy Dean — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 15:51:38 -0400

Super Info! I already knew this but it doesn't matter. Not everyone does!

Response by SPC Daniel Cahill made Aug 24 at 2021 8:09 PM

SPC Daniel Cahill — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 20:09:45 -0400

Stranded Afghans Delete Social Media As Taliban Seizes US Surveillance Equipment

Authored by Ken Silva via The Epoch Times,

QUOTE
The New York-based group Human Rights First announced on Aug. 16 that Taliban fighters captured U.S. surveillance tools. These devices, known as Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment (HIIDE), were used by soldiers to scan the biometrics of Afghans to match fingerprints on improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and for other such forensic investigations.

“We understand that the Taliban is now likely to have access to various biometric databases and equipment in Afghanistan, including some left behind by coalition military forces,” the human rights group said.

“This technology is likely to include access to a database with fingerprints and iris scans, and include facial recognition technology.”

The Human Rights First advisory included multilingual guides for Afghan allies on protecting their digital identities.

The warning corresponds with numerous reports of Afghans deleting their social media profiles in an attempt to protect their privacy from the Taliban. USAID reportedly circulated emails to its partners in Afghanistan to “remove photos and information that could make individuals or groups vulnerable.”
UNQUOTE
More...
.
.
https://www.nationandstate.com/2021/08/22/stranded-afghans-delete-social-media-as-taliban-seizes-us-surveillance-equipment/

Stranded Afghans Delete Social Media As Taliban Seizes US Surveillance Equipment

Stranded Afghans Delete Social Media As Taliban Seizes US Surveillance Equipment Authored by Ken Silva via The Epoch Times,Concerned that they co

Response by MAJ Hugh Blanchard made Jul 23 at 2022 3:59 PM

MAJ Hugh Blanchard — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 15:59:08 -0400

I have never lived in New York. That place is under the dictatorial control of the Welfare Empire, so I would never live there.