Apply for Blind Annuity

You may qualify if:

• You are legally blind. One of the following has to apply to be considered legally blind:
  • Vision of 20/200 in your better eye, even with corrective lenses.
  • A visual field limited to 20 degrees or less.
• You are a wartime veteran who served on active duty during a qualifying wartime period or received an expeditionary medal for certain conflicts.
• You are the unremarried surviving spouse of an eligible legally blind veteran.
• You served at least 90 days on active duty, unless you were discharged earlier because of a service-connected disability.
• You live in and are domiciled in New York State.

Annuity is paid out in monthly increments, the 2025 monthly rate is $141.33 per month.

Refer to this step-by-step process on how to apply for New York State Blind Annuity:

1. Download and complete:
   • Blind Annuity application
   • Report of Legal Blindness form
2. Gather the required documentation.
3. Submit the completed forms and supporting documents by mail.
   • If you want direct deposit, include a completed Direct Deposit form.
4. The Department of Veterans' Services will review your application.
5. Most applications are processed within 1 to 2 months.
6. You will receive a letter informing you whether your application was approved or denied.
7. If approved, payments begin and are retroactive to the date your application was received.
8. If denied, the letter will explain why and how to appeal.

Ready? Have with you:

• Proof that you live in New York State, such as:
  • New York driver license or non-driver ID
  • Utility bill
  • Property tax bill
  • Voter registration card
  • Income tax records
• Military discharge papers or statement of service
• Marriage and death certificates, if applying as an eligible surviving spouse
• Documentation of legal blindness, such as:
  • Form OCFS-4599
  • Doctor's prescription
  • Doctor's diagnosis on letterhead

Download and complete the following forms:

• Blind Annuity application
• Report of Legal Blindness form

Submit both forms and all required documentation to the NYS Department of Veterans' Services. The Report of Legal Blindness form is available in multiple languages.