N.Y.
Social Services Law Section 168
Definitions
1.
Veteran means a person, male or female, who has served in the armed forces of the United States in time of war, or who was a recipient of the armed forces expeditionary medal, navy expeditionary medal or marine corps expeditionary medal for participation in operations in Lebanon from June first, nineteen hundred eighty-three to December first, nineteen hundred eighty-seven, in Grenada from October twenty-third, nineteen hundred eighty-three to November twenty-first, nineteen hundred eighty-three, or in Panama from December twentieth, nineteen hundred eighty-nine to January thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety, and who (1) has been honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from such service or furloughed to the reserve, or(2)
has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans’ services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or(3)
is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans’ services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.2.
In time of war means the periods herein set forth for the following wars and conflicts:(1)
Civil war; from twentieth day of April, eighteen hundred sixty-one to and including the ninth day of April, eighteen hundred sixty-five.(2)
Spanish-American war; from the twenty-first day of April, eighteen hundred ninety-eight to and including the eleventh day of April, eighteen hundred ninety-nine.(3)
Philippine insurrection; from the eleventh day of April, eighteen hundred ninety-nine to and including the fourth day of July, nineteen hundred two.(4)
World war I; from the sixth day of April, nineteen hundred seventeen to and including the eleventh day of November, nineteen hundred eighteen.(5)
World war II; from the seventh day of December, nineteen hundred forty-one to and including the thirty-first day of December, nineteen hundred forty-six, or who was employed by the War Shipping Administration or Office of Defense Transportation or their agents as a merchant seaman documented by the United States Coast Guard or Department of Commerce, or as a civil servant employed by the United States Army Transport Service (later redesignated as the United States Army Transportation Corps, Water Division) or the Naval Transportation Service; and who served satisfactorily as a crew member during the period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to August fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels in oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further to include “near foreign” voyages between the United States and Canada, Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in oceangoing service or foreign waters and who has received a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or an Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the Department of Defense or who served as a United States civilian employed by the American Field Service and served overseas under United States Armies and United States Army Groups in world war II during the period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one through May eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (i) was discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or(ii)
has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans’ services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or(iii)
is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans’ services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or who served as a United States civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee of Pan American World Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affiliates and served overseas as a result of Pan American’s contract with Air Transport Command or Naval Air Transport Service during the period of armed conflict, December fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one through August fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (iv) was discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or(v)
has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the veterans’ services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or(vi)
is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the veterans’ services law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.(6)
Korean conflict; from the twenty-seventh day of June, nineteen hundred fifty to and including the thirty-first day of January, nineteen hundred fifty-five.(7)
Viet Nam conflict; from the first of November, nineteen hundred fifty-five to and including the seventh day of May, nineteen hundred seventy-five.(8)
Persian Gulf conflict; from the second day of August, nineteen hundred ninety to and including the end of such conflict.3.
Veteran organization means the: (a) Grand Army of the Republic; (b) United Spanish War Veterans; (c) American Legion; (d) Disabled American Veterans; (e) Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States; (f) Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Incorporated; (g) Catholic War Veterans, Incorporated; (h) Army and Navy Union of the United States;(i)
Italian American War Veterans of the United States, Incorporated; (j) Polish Legion of American Veterans, Incorporated; (k) The Marine Corps League; (l) Military Order of the Purple Heart, Inc.; (m) Amvets. (n) American Veterans of World War II; (o) Veterans of World War I, U.S.A., Inc. (p) Polish-American Veterans of World War II; (q) Masonic War Veterans of the state of N.Y., Inc.; (r) American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.; (s) Regular Veterans Association, Inc.; (t) Vietnam Veterans of America; (u) Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association;4.
Veteran assistance means safety net assistance given pursuant to the provisions of this title, to the persons eligible therefor.
Source:
Section 168 — Definitions, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/SOS/168 (updated Apr. 7, 2023; accessed Oct. 26, 2024).
