New York's Veterans May Qualify for Higher Education Tuition Benefits

ALBANY, NY (11/10/2011)(readMedia)-- The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) recognizes veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families this Veterans Day and reminds them that they may qualify for valuable education benefits. HESC is the State's student financial aid agency that helps people pay for college.

Post-9/11 GI Bill

New York veterans who served at least 90 days of active duty on or 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

The Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011 authorizes the Veterans Administration (VA) to pay more than $17,500 in tuition and fees for certain students under the Post-9/11 GI Bill who attend private colleges and universities in New York State. Details about this important federal Veterans benefit are available at the VA Website.

New York State Veterans Tuition Awards

New York's Veterans Tuition Awards Program is available to veterans attending a New York State college or receiving vocational training. Eligible veterans can receive awards up to $5,295. 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.

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.

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.

Details about New York State and federal veterans' student aid programs can be found on the Military Corner of HESC.org.

About HESC: HESC is New York State's student financial aid agency that helps people pay for college and a national leader in providing need-based grant and scholarship award money to college-going students. 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 2010-11, HESC helped more than 413,000 students achieve their college dreams by providing $991 million in grants, scholarships and federal student loan guarantees, including $855 million awarded through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

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