How Disabled Veterans in New York Can Improve Finances

Author: Pavel Kuljuk
Published: 9 Oct 2026
Publication Type: Informative

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This report examines how disabled veterans in New York State can improve their financial situation as the share of veterans leaving the military with a service-connected disability keeps climbing. Between 2018 and 2023, 62.8% of discharged or demobilized veterans in the state had a disability, up from 31% in 2010. Over the same period the average disability rating rose from 38% to 68.5%. This matters because 43% of disabled veterans in New York face financial hardship, compared with 25% of veterans without a disability. The report lays out three practical paths. The first is making fuller use of federal benefits under the PACT Act. The second is finding civilian work, especially in government jobs. The third is moving to counties or states with stronger economies and better support for veterans. It draws on federal benefit data, national employment figures, New York civil service law, and state-by-state rankings. That makes it a useful guide for veterans, their families, caregivers, and advocates, including older veterans and people living with serious disabilities who are trying to make a limited income go further.*

At a Glance

1 - New York ranks 26th among U.S. states for overall appeal to disabled veterans, with Florida, Virginia, and Texas rated best.
2 - Nationwide, veterans with a 100% combined disability rating grew from 1,295,105 in fiscal year 2023 to 1,847,449 in fiscal year 2025.
3 - A 100% disability rating brings an estimated average annual payment of $50,793, nearly $16,000 above the national average for disabled veterans.
4 - In 2024, 20.5% of disabled veterans worked for the federal government, compared with 7.9% of veterans without a service-connected disability and 2.1% of non-veterans.

Topic Definition

VA Disability Rating: A VA disability rating is a percentage, set in steps of 10 from 0 to 100, that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs assigns to a veteran's service-connected health conditions. It reflects how much those conditions reduce the veteran's overall health and ability to earn a living. When a veteran has more than one condition, the VA combines the individual ratings with a formula rather than simply adding them, which produces a combined disability rating. The rating sets the amount of monthly tax-free disability compensation. It also affects access to VA health care, state benefits, property tax exemptions, and employment programs. A 100% combined rating brings the highest standard payment. Laws such as the PACT Act of 2022 have made it easier for veterans exposed to toxic substances to prove a service connection and qualify for higher ratings.

Overview

How Can Disabled Veterans Improve Their Financial Situation in New York?

Three popular paths to success take into account state support, personal hard work, and relocation.

The proportion of veterans in New York State with disabilities-among those discharged or demobilized-has nearly doubled. Between 2018 and 2023, 62.8% of veterans who left the military had a disability. By comparison, in 2010, only 31% of discharged or demobilized veterans had a disability. Concurrently, the average disability rating increased; in 2023, this figure stood at 68.5%, whereas in 2010, the average disability rating was 38%.

These trends exacerbate financial hardships among veterans, as disabled veterans generally have more limited financial resources than their non-disabled counterparts. In New York State, 43% of disabled veterans face financial hardship, whereas the figure for non-disabled veterans is only 25%.

How can disabled veterans improve their financial situation? There are several common courses of action.

1. Make More Effective Use of State Support

The PACT Act was enacted in August 2022. This law established a presumption of a link between military service and a wide range of health conditions associated with exposure to toxic substances. But even more importantly, it simplified the process of proving health conditions linked to military service that had previously been officially denied.

Veterans have become more effective at establishing their disability status. As a result, in 2025, the number of veterans with a 100% combined disability rating increased by 299,607. This represents an increase of nearly 20% compared to 2024. Nationwide increase in the number of veterans with a 100% combined disability rating:

Fiscal Year 2023: 1,295,105 veterans
Fiscal Year 2024: 1,547,842 veterans
Fiscal Year 2025: 1,847,449 veterans

Obtaining a 100% disability rating makes it possible to receive substantial federal support. The estimated average annual payment is $50,793. This is nearly $16,000 higher than the national average payment for disabled veterans. As we can see, utilizing the PACT Act allows for an improved financial situation. However, this is not the only option available.

2. Employment in a Civilian Occupation

Having a disability is no barrier to earning an income. Veterans with disabilities are particularly successful in securing employment within government agencies. In the civil service, the proportion of veterans with disabilities is higher than that of veterans without disabilities, and even higher than that of non-veterans without disabilities. This is a nationwide trend.

In 2024, there were 5.5 million disabled veterans in the United States. Of these, 2.7 million were employed. 36.5% of these individuals worked for federal or local government agencies. 20.5% of disabled veterans worked for the federal government, compared with 7.9 percent of veterans with no service-connected disability and 2.1 percent of non-veterans.

New York State operates two specialized programs-the 55-b and 55-c programs-for the employment of veterans with disabilities. Here is what the state government website says about them:

"Section 55-b of the New York State Civil Service Law authorizes the New York State Civil Service Commission to designate up to 1,700 positions normally filled through competitive examination to be filled through the appointment of qualified persons with disabilities. Section 55-c authorizes the designation of up to 500 positions in the non-competitive class to be filled by qualified veterans with disabilities. In general, an entry-level position that is filled only through an open-competitive examination (one open to the public) may be used for a 55-b or 55-c appointment".

The number of disabled veterans working in government administration is unknown. However, the overall share of veterans working in this sector is 27.35%, compared to 15.75% for non-veterans.

The proportions of working veterans are as follows:

Federal Employee 9,29%,
State Employee 6,60%,
Local Employee 11,46%.

As we can see, statistics confirm the successful employment of disabled veterans in government agencies.

3. Internal Migration

Relocating within New York State or the United States can improve employment prospects and enhance living conditions. In the article "Where Disabled Veterans Prefer to Live in New York State", we found that disabled veterans are most likely to relocate within New York State. The most popular locations among this group are Rockland, Westchester, and the Bronx, as well as New York and Kings counties. These counties boast some of the highest GDP figures in the state, indicating a more developed economy and, consequently, better employment opportunities. A high GDP also expands the resources available to local budgets. This lays the groundwork for better infrastructure and, by extension, a more comfortable quality of life.

In addition to migration within New York State, there is the possibility of moving to other U.S. states. New York State is characterized by a moderate level of appeal for disabled veterans. It ranks 48th in terms of the highest share of disabled veterans. Consequently, the state ranks 46th for the highest total VA expenditure per veteran. The situation is not redeemed even by the fact that New York ranks second for the most veterans' charities per capita. Overall, New York ranks 26th among all U.S. states in terms of its appeal to disabled veterans. Living conditions are best in Florida, Virginia, and Texas, while the worst conditions are found in Delaware, Vermont, and Mississippi.

Based on this data, you can choose a new place to live where your chances of success will be higher than in your previous location.

The aforementioned methods for improving one's financial situation are not absolute truths. You might find a solution of your own. The main thing is that we must fight for our own personal happiness ourselves. This is something that must be done throughout one's life, even after military service has ended. That is an absolute truth.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

Is VA disability compensation taxable income in New York?

No. VA disability compensation is exempt from federal income tax, and New York does not tax it either, so the veteran keeps the full monthly payment.

What is Total Disability Individual Unemployability?

Total Disability Individual Unemployability, often called TDIU, lets the VA pay at the 100 percent rate when service-connected conditions keep a veteran from holding steady gainful work, even if the combined rating is below 100 percent. Veterans generally need one condition rated at 60 percent, or a combined rating of 70 percent with at least one condition at 40 percent.

Can a veteran with a 100 percent disability rating still work?

Yes. A veteran with a 100 percent schedular rating can work full time with no limit on earnings. Veterans paid at the 100 percent rate through TDIU must generally keep their earnings within marginal employment limits, which are tied to the federal poverty threshold.

Do disabled veterans get extra points on New York civil service exams?

Yes. New York adds 10 points to passing scores on original appointment exams for veterans with a service-connected disability and 5 points for other eligible veterans, with smaller credits on promotion exams. Each credit can be used only once in a career.

Do disabled veterans in New York get a property tax break?

Many do. The Alternative Veterans Exemption lowers the assessed value of a primary home for eligible veterans, with extra reductions for combat service and for a service-connected disability rating. Each county, city, town, and school district decides whether to offer it.

What is the VA Veteran Readiness and Employment program?

Veteran Readiness and Employment, formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, helps veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs through counseling, training, education costs, and job placement support. Eligibility generally requires a disability rating of at least 10 percent.

Will moving to another state change VA disability payments?

No. VA disability compensation is a federal benefit paid at the same rate in every state. State benefits such as tax exemptions, tuition aid, and hiring preferences vary widely, so they should be checked before a move.

Where can New York veterans get free help filing a disability claim?

The New York State Department of Veterans Services offers free help with claims through accredited counselors across the state. Accredited veterans service organizations such as the DAV, VFW, and American Legion also file claims at no cost.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: For a veteran, a disability rating, a job, and a home address can each shape income for decades. New York sets aside up to 1,700 competitive-class positions under Section 55-b for qualified people with disabilities and up to 500 non-competitive positions under Section 55-c for qualified veterans with disabilities. Even so, the state does not track how many disabled veterans actually work in government administration, and that gap is worth closing. Veterans as a whole are well represented in public work: 27.35% of working veterans hold government jobs, compared with 15.75% of non-veterans, and local government is the largest of those employers at 11.46%. Location matters too. Within the state, Rockland, Westchester, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn draw the most disabled veterans. Nationally, New York ranks 46th for total VA spending per veteran even though it ranks second for veterans' charities per capita. For anyone leaving service with a disability, and especially for older veterans on a fixed income, the lesson is to weigh benefits, employment, and where to live together rather than one at a time.*

Author Credentials: Pavel Kuljuk's articles and poems are published in Australia, North America, and Europe. In recent years, he has been constantly collaborating with Australian Rural & Regional News (Australia), Red Hook Daily Catch and OpEd News (USA), and Disabled World (US/Canada). Kuliuk's individual publications are in Forbes (Kazakhstan), Rural 21 (Germany), London Loves Business (UK), Karrep (India), RealClearDefense (RCD), Change Links, Daily Caller (USA), and many others. Explore Pavels' complete biography for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.