New York's Veterans May Qualify for Education Benefits

ALBANY, NY (11/11/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) recognizes combat veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families this Veterans Day by reminding them of valuable education benefits. HESC is the State's student financial aid agency that helps people pay for college.

Enhanced Federal Post 9/11 GI Bill

Veterans planning to return to college may be eligible for the enhanced federal Post 9/11 GI Bill. New York veterans who served at least 90 days on active duty after September 11, 2001 and are enrolled full time at a college or university are eligible for Post 9/11 federal education benefits including:

  • Enhanced tuition benefits
  • A monthly housing allowance
  • Up to $1,000 a year for books and supplies
  • A one-time rural benefit payment of $500 for qualified veterans

New York State Veterans Tuition Awards

New York's Veterans Tuition Awards Program is available to combat veterans attending a New York State college or receiving vocational training. Eligible veterans can receive awards up to the cost of resident undergraduate tuition charged by the State University of New York. Veterans Tuition Awards are available for undergraduate and graduate study at both public and private New York State institutions or for approved vocational training programs in New York State.

Military Service Recognition Scholarship

The Military Service Recognition Scholarship covers up to four years of full-time undergraduate study (or five years in an approved five-year bachelor's degree program) to children or spouses of the U.S. or State military forces who died, became severely and permanently disabled, or were classified as missing in action in a combat zone while engaged in hostilities or training for hostilities.

NYS Regents Award for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans

The Children of Veterans Regents Awards provide up to $450 to students whose parent(s) served in the U.S. Armed Forces during specified periods of time and who: died as a result of such service; was discharged under other than dishonorable conditions; is now deceased; is classified as a former prisoner of war; or as missing in action.

Recruitment Incentive and Retention Program

The Recruitment Incentive and Retention Program is a New York State program designed to recruit and retain quality members for the State Military Forces (Army and Air National Guard, and Naval Militia). This competitive program will pay for study at both public and private institutions in New York State, up to the cost of resident undergraduate tuition charged by the State University of New York for eligible qualified applicants.

Details about New York State and federal veterans' student aid programs can be found by going to the HESC Web site at www.hesc.org and clicking on the Military Corner link.

About HESC: HESC is New York State's student financial aid agency, helping people pay for college by providing more grant and scholarship award money than any other state in the nation. At HESC's core are programs like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), numerous state scholarships, the New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs), federal college access grants, and a highly successful College Savings program. HESC puts college within the reach of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year through programs like these, and through the guidance it provides to students, families and counselors. In 2009-10, HESC helped more than 605,000 students achieve their college dreams by providing $4.4 billion in grants, scholarships and loan guarantees, including $901 million awarded through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to nearly 398,000 students.

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