Gold Star Parent Annuity
An annuity of $602.90 a year paid to each Gold Star parent of a deceased servicemember, with no income test. It is paid in two instalments a year, and the amount rises each year with the federal cost-of-living adjustment within a 1% to 4% band — the same escalator the spouse and child annuity uses.
Verified August 25, 2026
What this benefit is
An annuity of $602.90 a year paid to each Gold Star parent of a deceased servicemember, with no income test. It is paid in two instalments a year, and the amount rises each year with the federal cost-of-living adjustment within a 1% to 4% band — the same escalator the spouse and child annuity uses.
What it's worth: $602.90 a year, per parent
- Paid per Gold Star parent, so both parents may each receive it.
- There is no income requirement.
- $602.90 is the figure effective 1 January 2025. It escalates each year with the federal COLA, held within a 1% to 4% band, so a later year will be higher.
- Paid in two instalments a year rather than as a single payment.
Who is entitled to it
- You are the parent of a servicemember who died in service.
- You are a New York resident.
- Your home is in New York.
Not sure whether that describes you?
Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.
How to claim it
- 1Apply through the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services or your county veterans service agency.
- File with
- NYS Department of Veterans’ Services
- Documents you will need
- dd1300 ny · proof of relationship ny
- Re-certify annually
- Respond to the renewal notice or payments stop.
Sources
- authority · published policyNYS Department of Veterans’ Services — Gold Star Families Annuity Program
- operating · published policyNYS Department of Veterans’ Services
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.