Veterans’ Services, Department of
skip breadcrumbsAgency Web Site: https://veterans.ny.gov/
Mission
The core mission of the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) is to link veterans, members of the armed forces, and their families and dependents to various personal, medical, and financial benefits available to them as the result of active duty military service. DVS’s professional counseling staff prepares, presents and prosecutes claims, including applications for monthly compensation and pension awards, education benefits, burial benefits, vocational rehabilitation training, health care, nursing home care, tax exemptions and other services.
Organization and Staffing
DVS is led by a Commissioner. DVS’s workforce primarily consists of Veterans’ Benefit Advisors located in all State regions to allow veterans better access to services. DVS is hosted by the Office of General Services, which provides administrative, budgetary, and human resources support.
Budget Highlights
The FY 2025 Executive Budget recommends $30 million in appropriations for DVS. This represents a $2.8 million decrease from FY 2024 attributable to the expiration of $2.9 million in one-time legislative adds, $900,000 in one-time Veterans’ cemetery support, and a $600,000 decrease in the Homeless Veterans Assistance appropriation to more closely align with annual donations from the public. These decreases are offset by the addition of $1.5 million in workforce funding and approximately $33,000 for union settlement agreements.
The FY 2024 Enacted Budget included a new $1.1 million appropriation for the Homeless Veterans Assistance program to support veterans' emergency housing needs. The $1.1 million represented an accumulated balance generated over a number of years from donations made to the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund. The FY 2025 Executive Budget reappropriates the $1.1 million and provides an additional $500,000 appropriation for the program to more closely align with expected annual donations to the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund.
The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 110 full-time employees, which remains unchanged from FY 2024.
Program Highlights
Blind Veteran Annuity Assistance Program
The Blind Veteran Annuity Assistance Program provides annuities to legally blind veterans and eligible surviving spouses.
Veterans’ Benefits Advising Program
The Veterans’ Benefits Advising Program offers advocacy and assistance services to veterans to secure and maintain Federal Veterans’ Affairs benefits.
Veterans’ Education Program
The Veterans’ Education Program staff investigates and approves educational programs on behalf of veterans who qualify for these benefits.
Veterans’ Cemetery Program
The Veterans’ Cemetery Program supports the maintenance of the first State Veterans’ cemetery which provides a permanent resting place to honor New York’s veterans and their families.
| Category | Available FY 2024 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2025 |
Change From FY 2024 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 13,449,440 | 14,082,000 | 632,560 | 6,080,000 |
| Aid To Localities | 15,824,000 | 12,359,000 | (3,465,000) | 25,185,000 |
| Capital Projects | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 0 | 12,875,000 |
| Total | 33,273,440 | 30,441,000 | (2,832,440) | 44,140,000 |
| Program | FY 2024 Estimated FTEs 03/31/24 |
FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Veterans' Benefits Advising | |||
| General Fund | 99 | 99 | 0 |
| Veterans Education | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Total | 110 | 110 | 0 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 9,437,602 | 10,961,000 | 1,523,398 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 3,111,838 | 2,221,000 | (890,838) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 900,000 | 900,000 | 0 |
| Total | 13,449,440 | 14,082,000 | 632,560 |
| Adjustments: | |||
| Transfer(s) From | |||
| Special Pay Bill | |||
| General Fund | (412,440) | ||
| Appropriated FY 2024 | 13,037,000 | ||
| Program | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 1,025,690 | 1,030,000 | 4,310 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 900,000 | 0 | (900,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 900,000 | 900,000 | 0 |
| Veterans Education | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 2,211,838 | 2,221,000 | 9,162 |
| Veterans' Benefits Advising | |||
| General Fund | 8,411,912 | 9,931,000 | 1,519,088 |
| Total | 13,449,440 | 14,082,000 | 632,560 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 417,000 | 4,310 | 417,000 | 4,310 |
| Veterans' Benefits Advising | 8,972,000 | 1,269,088 | 8,949,000 | 1,269,088 |
| Total | 9,389,000 | 1,273,398 | 9,366,000 | 1,273,398 |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Veterans' Benefits Advising | 0 | 0 | 23,000 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 23,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 613,000 | 0 | 10,000 | 0 |
| Veterans' Benefits Advising | 959,000 | 250,000 | 63,000 | 0 |
| Total | 1,572,000 | 250,000 | 73,000 | 0 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 14,000 | 0 | 570,000 | 0 |
| Veterans' Benefits Advising | 104,000 | 0 | 352,000 | 250,000 |
| Total | 118,000 | 0 | 922,000 | 250,000 |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 19,000 | 0 |
| Veterans' Benefits Advising | 440,000 | 0 |
| Total | 459,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 900,000 | (900,000) | 0 | 0 |
| Veterans Education | 2,221,000 | 9,162 | 1,301,000 | (12,852) |
| Total | 3,121,000 | (890,838) | 1,301,000 | (12,852) |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 900,000 | (900,000) |
| Veterans Education | 920,000 | 22,014 |
| Total | 1,820,000 | (877,986) |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 14,224,000 | 11,359,000 | (2,865,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 500,000 | 500,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 1,100,000 | 500,000 | (600,000) |
| Total | 15,824,000 | 12,359,000 | (3,465,000) |
| Program | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 999,000 | 999,000 | 0 |
| Blind Veteran Annuity Assistance | |||
| General Fund | 6,380,000 | 6,380,000 | 0 |
| Veterans' Benefits Advising | |||
| General Fund | 6,845,000 | 3,980,000 | (2,865,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 500,000 | 500,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 1,100,000 | 500,000 | (600,000) |
| Total | 15,824,000 | 12,359,000 | (3,465,000) |
| Comprehensive Construction Program | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change | Reappropriations FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran's Nonprofit Capital Program | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,000,000 |
| Veterans' Cemetery | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 0 | 3,875,000 |
| Federal Capital Projects Fund | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 0 | 4,000,000 |
| Total | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 0 | 12,875,000 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2024