Albany County Clerk: Free DD-214 Recording
Albany County records discharge certificates (DD-214) at the County Clerk's office free of charge for honorably discharged veterans.
www.albanycountyny.gov/veterans-record-discharge-certificate-dd214
VetTOC · Veteran benefits reference
Albany County, New York
Free help with a VA claim
- Albany County Veterans Service Bureau. Albany County's Veterans Service Bureau helps veterans and their dependents navigate the claims process, secure essential documents, and obtain benefits such as medical care, disability compensation, pensions, education assistance, burial support and VA home loans; its page body is rendered by script, so call the county before travelling. www.albanycountyny.gov/veterans-service-bureau-0
- New York County and City Veterans' Service Agencies. Every New York county outside New York City must run a county veterans' service agency, led by a director who must be a veteran and VA-accredited, to help veterans and families with federal, State and local benefits at no cost. A city may run its own, and New York City does. www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VET/14
Find a VA-accredited representative: www.va.gov/get-help-from-accredited-representative/find-rep
Albany County benefits
Albany County: Alternative Veterans Exemption and the 2026 Full-Exemption Local Law
Albany County grants the alternative veterans exemptions in its code sections 270-74 to 270-76, and Local Law H of 2026, introduced August 10, 2026, would add section 270-78…
Gate: Service-connected rating tiers under 458-a
New York benefits that apply here
New York Alternative Veterans Property Tax Exemption
Takes 15% off the assessed value of the home of a wartime veteran, another 10% for combat service, and a further slice equal to half the disability rating.
Gate: A rating adds an exemption equal to half its percentage
New York Burial of Veterans Without Means, and Headstones
Each county, and New York City, must arrange the burial of an honorably discharged veteran, or a veteran's spouse, surviving spouse, minor child or parent, who dies without…
New York Civil Service Examination Credits for Veterans
Ten points added to an open-competitive civil service exam score for a veteran rated 10% or more, five points for other veterans. Promotion exams get half that.
Gate: A rating of 10% or more doubles the credits
New York Cold War Veterans Property Tax Exemption
For service between September 2, 1945 and December 26, 1991 that does not meet a wartime test.
Gate: A rating adds an exemption equal to half its percentage
New York Eligible Funds Property Tax Exemption
The older exemption, worth up to $7,500 where a home was bought with pension, bonus, insurance, or prisoner of war money.
New York Free Recording of Discharge Papers with the County Clerk
Any county clerk in New York, New York City included, must record an honorable discharge or certificate of service free, and give the veteran or a parent, spouse, dependent or…
New York Full Property Tax Exemption for Permanently and Totally Disabled Veterans (Local Option)
From assessment rolls based on taxable status dates on or after October 1, 2026, a county, city, town, village or school district may fully exempt the primary residence of a…
Gate: VA letter stating permanent and total disability from service
New York Gold Star Families Annuity
An annual annuity for the parents, spouse, domestic partner, and children of a service member who died on active duty.
New York Lifetime Liberty Pass
A free pass that never expires, giving a New York veteran free vehicle entry to state parks, historic sites, and DEC day-use areas, free greens fees and pool entry, and…
New York MERIT Scholarship for Families of the Fallen and Severely Disabled
Military Enhanced Recognition Incentive and Tribute. Covers the cost of attendance, up to the average at a state-operated SUNY college, for the child, spouse or financial…
Gate: Severely and permanently disabled in the line of duty
New York Military Pension and Military Pay Income Tax Exemption
Military pension payments are totally exempt from New York State, New York City, and Yonkers income tax, with no dollar cap and no age test.
New York Operation Recognition High School Diploma
A New York high school diploma for a New York resident veteran with a satisfactory discharge who never finished high school, on any active-duty service (Education Law 305(29) to…
New York Paid Leave for Combat Veterans in Public Employment
A New York State employee who served in a combat theater or combat zone gets up to five paid workdays a year, charged to no leave credit, for health care related to that service…
New York Reduced Fee Hunting and Fishing License for Disabled Veterans
A $5 Sportsman license, covering fishing, big game, and small game, for a resident veteran rated 40% or more.
Gate: Service-connected rating of 40% or more
dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/sporting-and-use/sporting/free-reduced-fee
New York Regents Award for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans
A $450 a year award for a student whose veteran parent died, is missing, was a prisoner of war, or carries a service-connected disability rated 40% or more.
Gate: Parent rated 40% or more service-connected
New York Section 55-c Appointments for Veterans with Disabilities
Up to 500 State positions in the noncompetitive class, filled without an examination by disabled veterans (a compensable VA rating, 10% or more) or by veterans the Department of…
Gate: Service-connected disability rated 10% or more
New York Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Certification
State certification that opens a 6% statewide goal for participation on New York contracts.
Gate: Service-connected rating of 10% or more
New York State Blind Annuity for Wartime Veterans
An annuity of about $1,395 a year, paid monthly, to a legally blind New York wartime veteran or an unremarried surviving spouse.
New York State Veterans Homes
Five state-run skilled nursing homes, at Batavia, Montrose, Oxford, St. Albans in Queens, and Stony Brook on Long Island. A veteran rated 70% or higher pays nothing.
Gate: A rating of 70% or more means no cost
New York Veteran Driver License Designation and Military Plates
A free VETERAN designation on a driver license, permit, or non-driver ID with an honorable discharge.
New York Veteran's Peddler License
A New York resident who was honorably discharged and served in a war or overseas, or that veteran's surviving spouse, can get a free licence from the county clerk to sell goods…
New York Veterans Tuition Award
Pays tuition up to the SUNY rate at a New York college or approved vocational program, for a veteran with four years of active duty or qualifying combat service.
79 federal benefits apply here as well and are left off this page; the place page lists them.