| On This Page: | Resources for Federal Aid | Resources for State Aid | Additional Resources |
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Resources for Federal Aid
Federal Student Aid – Information about repayment plans, deferment and forbearance, and other options available to assist with repayment of federal student loans.
DOD Student Loan Repayment Program - Information and resources for student loan repayment in various service branches.
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion - Nationwide consumer reporting agencies where you can place an active duty alert on your credit report. Simply enter "active duty alert" in the website search box to access forms and contact information.
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Military Corner – Provides up-to-date information for those who currently serve or have served in the military and are interested in obtaining grants and scholarships for higher education for themselves or their family members. Also provides links to veterans' sites with valuable information about education benefits.
New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs offers Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) for full-time study and part-time study for eligible veterans who will matriculate at an undergraduate or graduate degree-granting institution in New York State. Students must re-apply each year.
New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs – Information for current and former New York State National Guard members.
Additional Resources for Military Personnel
Addiction Center - Provides information regarding drug and alcohol addiction and connects veterans to treatment centers
Addiction Resource – The Addiction Resource was founded in 2014 to provide a community for those recovering from addiction and to help patients find the highest quality care for a successful recovery.
Center for Veteran Transition and Integration - Columbia University launched the Center for Veteran Transition and Integration to have a direct and lasting impact on the issue of veteran transition and upward mobility by creating and providing access to the best-in-class tools and programming veterans need as they transition from active service to college and the workforce.
Crisis Line – The Veterans Crisis Line connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, or chat online, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day. Support for deaf and hard of hearing individuals is available.
Digital - How to start a small business guide with tools and financial resources
Disabled American Veterans - DAV is a nonprofit charity that provides a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations and their families
DrugRehab.com - web resource provided and funded by Advanced Recovery Systems. Since 2015, the website has provided researched, fact-based resources for free. Readers can learn about risks of various substances, the latest approaches to treatment and real stories of recovery on DrugRehab.com.
Hire Heroes USA - personalized job search assistance for transitioning U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses.
Make the Connection - Connect with stories of help and hope
Medicare Plans Resource for Veterans- Explore the benefits of having Medicare with VA health insurance coverage
Northwell Health - Committed to making a difference in the quality of care and service received by military members, veterans and their families. As well as providing veterans with all of the opportunities needed to make a successful transition to a rewarding civilian career.
Quit Smoking Community – The Quit Smoking Community is a virtual community that offers support and information for those trying to quit smoking
Teachers College Resilience Center - The Resilience Center for Veterans & Families pairs groundbreaking research on human emotional resilience with clinical training of therapists to assist veterans and their families as they transition back to civilian life.
USAA - membership offers exclusive benefits, products and discounts for U.S. military members and their eligible family members.
Veterans Aid and Attendance (A&A) – The Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension provides benefits that reduce the cost of care for veterans and surviving spouses who require assisted living. Visit the website for concise information about the A&A benefit and to find free help and advice on its forums for those navigating this application process.
Veterans Care Guide - This guide helps veterans, their surviving spouses, and dependents determine their eligibility. It explains how to apply for benefits and covers the various veteran care options.
Know your lender. Your loan servicer is the company that manages your loans and handles your repayment plan and is the organization to whom you make payments. Find your servicer's name and contact information on the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Be aware that your loan servicer can change from time to time, and it is your responsibility to be aware of those changes. If you have borrowed more than one loan and have not consolidated your loans, it is possible to have more than one servicer.
Consider granting power of attorney to an individual you trust to allow him or her to manage your financial matters, including your student loans. The person to whom you give power of attorney can sign documents and act on your behalf. The legal assistance office on your military base can assist with establishing power of attorney. As an alternative, you can provide your loan servicer with the name of the person you approve to receive information about your loan(s).
Establish an account on your servicer's website, which will allow you to view information about your student loan and make payments online.
Provide your loan servicer with your current contact information, including an e-mail address, to ease communication.
Make interest payments, even if military deferment is available to you. This will keep your balance from increasing and could save you money in the long run.
Review your repayment options. Repayment plans based on income may provide a better outcome for federal student loans, as you may qualify for a low payment and loan forgiveness.
Sign up for automatic payments to help keep your loan in good standing.
Place an active duty alert on your credit report to reduce the risk that you'll become a victim of identity theft.