Programs & services
Listed on the organization's official site (veterans.ny.gov), checked Aug 20, 2026. Always confirm availability with the organization.
- Claims AssistanceVeterans and their families, including a Veteran, spouse, child, or parent.
- Disability CompensationPeople with a current illness or injury who served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.
- Non-Service Connected PensionPeople who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge, meet income and net worth limits, and meet wartime service and age or disability criteria.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)Surviving spouses, surviving children, and surviving parents who meet the stated eligibility criteria.
- Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)Veterans as well as their spouses, surviving spouses, and parents with certain needs or disabilities.
- Pre-discharge ClaimService members on full-time active duty with a known separation date in the next 180 to 90 days.
Eligibility
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. Experienced and dedicated Veterans Benefits Advisors — each a Veteran — work in a network of field offices across the state and offer veterans and their families professional help to resolve social, medical, and economic matters.
How to apply
Summarized from the program's official site (veterans.ny.gov), checked Aug 20, 2026. Always confirm details with the program.
- Schedule an appointment with a Veterans Benefits Advisor by calling 1-888-838-7697, booking a phone or video consultation online, or finding a Services Office near you.
- Gather as much documentation as possible before your first appointment.
- Meet with the Veterans Benefits Advisor so they can review your documents and determine what benefits you are eligible to apply for.
- Provide any additional information the advisor needs so they can complete the necessary paperwork and file the claim on your behalf.
- Respond to any follow-up by telephone or email if the advisor needs clarification or more information before submitting the claim.
- Review the decision with the Veterans Benefits Advisor and discuss whether further action, such as an appeal, is necessary.
What to bring
- Military records
- Medical records
- Buddy statements
- Doctors' notes
- VA health records
- Service treatment records for your current period of service (for a pre-discharge claim)
What to expect
At the first appointment, the advisor reviews your documents, determines eligible benefits, takes notes, and begins the paperwork. The advisor may contact you by phone or email for clarification or more information, will follow up when the claim is successfully submitted, and can review the decision with you to discuss an appeal if needed.
Contact
- Serves all of New York
Next step
See every New York program for this need, how they fit together, and what to try first.
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Source: New York State Department of Veterans' Services, the official New York state veterans agency. Details can change; confirm directly with the program.
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