The New York State Division of Veterans’ Services (DVS or Division) advocates on behalf of New York’s Veterans and their families, as individuals and as a group, to ensure they receive benefits granted by law for service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Division provides free benefits advising. Experienced and dedicated advisors — each a Veteran — work in a network of field offices across the state and offer Veterans and their families with professional help to resolve social, medical, and economic matters.

Veterans Benefits Advisors assist the claimant — whether a Veteran, spouse, child, or parent — in completing applications, obtaining necessary documentation, and filing claims for a broad spectrum of federal, State, local, and private Veterans’ benefits.  Veterans Benefits Advisors also assist by responding to follow-up correspondence and, appealing an unfavorable ruling.

By working closely with other State, federal, local, and private agencies, the Division of Veterans’ Services utilizes the expertise and resources of others to help Veterans and their families with specific needs, such as economic, employment, rehabilitation, medical treatment, home health care, education, and tax exemption.

The Division plans and coordinates outreach services within the community and works closely with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Division strives to educate the general public and governmental, and private agencies to the special skills and needs of Veterans, particularly those men and women who served in combat and who may have specific medical, employment, and other needs or skills  uniquely resulting from wartime experience.

The Division also administers a Blind Annuity program that provides a monthly stipend to visually impaired Veterans and eligible surviving spouses, a Gold Star Parent Annuity that authorizes payment to eligible parents of service members killed in action, and the Veterans Education Bureau, which investigates and certifies postsecondary educational and vocational institutions as providing legitimate and quality education for Veterans seeking to utilize their federal education benefits to attend such facilities.

A toll-free information and referral hotline — 1-888-VETS-NYS (1-888-838-7697) — is available to refer Veterans and their families to the nearest Veterans Benefits Advisor Office.