What will we be covering in this review?

In this review of the New York State Blind Annuity Program for Veterans, we will be going over the following information:

  • What the program is
  • How it works
  • Who is eligible
  • Income benefits that are offered
  • How to apply

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Today, one of the biggest concerns on the minds of retirees is running out of income while they still need it. With longer life expectancy, savings and income will oftentimes need to be stretched out for 20 or more years.

In the case of U.S. wartime Veterans, there are various programs available to assist in paying for living expenses and other financial needs in retirement. One such benefit is the New York State Blind Annuity Program.

We will be reviewing this annuity for Veterans here so that you know what you can anticipate from the program, as well as whether or not you (or your spouse) is eligible, and how to move forward with the application process.

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Our annuity reviews will offer you information regarding the good and the bad, which in turn, can allow you to make a much more informed decision as to whether or not an annuity or annuity program is right for you.

So, if you’re ready to learn more about the Blind Annuity Program for Veterans through the State of New York, let’s go ahead and dive in!

The New York State Blind Annuity Program at a Glance

Year of BirthMinimum Retirement Age for Full Benefits
1937 or Before65
193865 + 2 months
193965 + 4 months
194065 + 6 months
194165 + 8 months
194265 + 10 months
1943 to 195466
195566 + 2 months
195666 + 4 months
195766 + 6 months
195866 + 8 months
195966 + 10 months
1960 or Later67

Opening Thoughts on the New York State Blind Annuity Program

Veterans in the United States are eligible for a wide range of healthcare and financial benefits. These benefits may be provided through the Federal government and/or the individual state where they reside.

The Blind Annuity Program benefit is for legally blind wartime U.S. Veterans – or their surviving un-remarried spouses – who live and are domiciled in New York State.

Income from the annuity is paid out in monthly benefit increments. The monthly rate in 2020 is $121.93. Prior to the income benefit starting, an approved applicant will receive a letter from the Division of Veterans’ Services.

While applicants can sometimes take up to two months to be processed, the income payments from this program are effective and retroactive to the date that the application was received by the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs.

Before we get into the gritty details, here are some legal disclosures we need to provide…

This is an independent product review, not a recommendation to buy or sell an annuity. The New York State Blind Annuity Program has not endorsed this review in any way, nor do we receive any type of compensation for providing this review. This review is meant to be an independent review at the request of readers so that they may see our perspective when breaking down the positives and negatives of this particular annuity. Prior to purchasing any type of investment or insurance product, it is important that you do your own due diligence and that you consult a properly licensed professional if you should have any specific questions that relate to your individual circumstances. All names, marks, and materials that were used for this review are the property of their respective owners.

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How New York State Describes the Blind Annuity Program

The New York State Blind Annuity Program is described as a benefit that is available for legally blind wartime Veterans or surviving un-remarried spouses of legally blind wartime Veterans, who live and are domiciled in New York State.

Who is Eligible for the Blind Annuity Program in New York State?

Although the cause of a Veteran’s blindness does not have to be service-related, a qualifying Veteran must be a New York State resident and domiciliary who is determined to be legally blind – which is deemed as having 20 /200 vision in the better eye with best correction, or 20-degree limitation of field of vision.

The Veteran also must have served on active duty during specific wartime periods or received an expeditionary medal for certain conflicts. Generally, the Veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty other than training purposes. (But fewer than 90 days active duty is acceptable if the Veteran was discharged for a service-connected disability.)

In order to prove New York State residency, a Veteran or an un-remarried surviving spouse of a Veteran must submit a copy of one authoritative document. These may include:

  •  A New York State driver’s license
  •  A New York State non-driver ID card
  •  A voter registration notification card
  •  Current utility bill (such as electricity, water, cable TV, etc.)
  •  Proof of a current mortgage
  •  Residential lease that was issued within one year of the current date
  •  Property tax or school tax bill (or receipt for the current year)
  •  Assisted living facility or nursing home statement
  •  Federal or New York State income tax W-2 form
  •  Federal or New York State tax or earning statement
  •  Any other official document that shows the applicant’s current status as a New York State resident

If a Veteran met all of the qualification criteria for the New York State Blind Annuity program benefits, but never actually received the benefit during his or her lifetime, then the un-remarried surviving spouse of that Veteran may still be eligible to receive the benefit.

How to Apply for the New York State Blind Annuity Program

The annuity income benefits from the Blind Annuity program in New York may not be offered or sold via individual insurance or financial advisors. Rather, they must be applied for through the state’s website, or by calling the program issuer directly.

In order to apply for the New York State Blind Annuity Program, an application – along with the Veteran’s military discharge paperwork – must be completed and submitted to the Division of Veterans Affairs. In addition, a “Report of Legal Blindness” form must also be filled out and submitted.

Information regarding forms, as well as additional information regarding the New York State Blind Annuity Program, can be found by going here.

The Annuity Gator’s End Take on the New York State Blind Annuity Program for Veterans

While the monthly income amount that is generated from the New York State Blind Annuity Program is not substantial, it is certainly another income stream that can be added to your overall incoming cash flow in retirement.

In 2020, the amount of income payment from the Blind Annuity Program in New York State is $121.93, which equates to over $1,463 for the year. For additional details on this program, as well as the steps that must be taken to apply, you can visit the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services here or the website for the state of New York here.

In Summary

If you are considering all of your potential income sources in retirement, it is possible that you could qualify for state-sponsored Veteran’s benefits like the New York State Blind Annuity Program.

Even if you have other income sources, this benefit could ideally be coordinated into your overall retirement income plan. You may also be considering the purchase of a personal annuity. If this is the case and you’d like to get an idea of how all of your income sources may work together, we can perform annuity “testing” for you – at no cost and no obligation. So, please feel free to reach out to us here to set up a convenient time that works for you.

Still Have Questions on the Blind Annuity Program for Veterans in New York?

We realize that this annuity program review was a bit lengthy – and for that, we thank you for sticking with us through to the end. But we would much rather provide too much detail than not enough. So, if you felt that this review was helpful, then please feel free to forward it on to anyone else that you think may benefit from it, too.

Also, as humans will often do, we also understand that benefit information can oftentimes change quickly. Therefore, if you happened to notice any details in this review that were out of date or that need correction, please let us know that as well, and we will get it fixed quickly.

Are there any other income programs or annuities that you would like to also see reviewed?

If you have checked out our list of annuity reviews and there is another annuity (or more than one other annuity) or retirement income program that is not currently in our review database, but that you would like to see reviewed, please let us know and our team of annuity “geeks” will get right on it.

Best,

The Annuity Gator

New York State Blind Annuity Program for Veterans a Good Benefit for You?