Veterans' Affairs
New York State’s county governments, through their Veterans’ Service Agencies, are a vital resource to the 676,000 veterans living in our state. By working in partnership with the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs, County Veterans’ Service Agencies ensure our veterans have access to the Federal benefits and services they’ve earned, including compensation for disabilities, life insurance, health care, home loan support, access to records, and local tax exemptions. Local Veterans’ Service Agencies also assist with transportation to VA medical centers, in-home visits for housebound individuals, connecting veterans with peer support programs.
Latest Veterans’ Affairs News and Resources
Operation Green Light
To help raise awareness of the local resources available to veterans, counties partnered with Governor Kathy Hochul and the State of New York last year to launch Operation Green Light.
As part of that initiative, counties successfully advocated for an increase in funding for Veterans’ Service Agencies and for increased support to peer services, securing an increase in the minimum annual State funding to Veterans’ Service Agencies from $10,000 to $25,000, as well as $7.7 million to expand the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Veterans’ Support Program statewide in the SFY 23 Budget.
This funding represents a significant step forward in strengthening peer support and counseling services to veterans who are transitioning from military service to civilian life.
Contact Us
New York State Association of Counties
515 Broadway, Suite 402
Albany, NY 12207
Phone: (518) 465-1473
Fax: (518) 465-0506