Veterans' Affairs, Division of

Agency Web Site: https://veterans.ny.gov/

Mission

The core mission of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) 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. DVA’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

DVA is led by a Director. DVA’s workforce primarily consists of Veterans' Benefit Advisors located in all state regions to allow veterans better access to services. DVA is hosted by the Office of General Services, which provides administrative, budgetary, and human resources support.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2020 Executive Budget recommends $19.6 million for DVA. This represents a $1.7 million net decrease in funding from FY 2019, which reflects the elimination of legislative adds as well as increased funding for county and city VSA allocations and additional appropriation authority for the agency’s Veterans’ Benefits Advising Program. The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 98 Full-time Employees, unchanged from FY 2019 levels.

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 (Formerly 'Veterans' Counseling Services') 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.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category	Available FY 2019	Appropriations Recommended FY 2020	Change From FY 2019	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2020
State Operations	8,447,000	8,747,000	300,000	4,882,000
Aid To Localities	12,811,000	10,859,000	(1,952,000)	11,920,000
Total	21,258,000	19,606,000	(1,652,000)	16,802,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2019 Estimated FTEs 03/31/19	FY 2020 Estimated FTEs 03/31/20	FTE Change
Administration
General Fund	4	5	1
Veterans' Benefits Advising
General Fund	86	85	(1)
Veterans Education
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	8	8	0
Total	98	98	0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2019	Recommended FY 2020	Change
General Fund	6,422,000	6,722,000	300,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	2,025,000	2,025,000	0
Total	8,447,000	8,747,000	300,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2019	Recommended FY 2020	Change
Administration
General Fund	480,000	480,000	0
Veterans Education
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	2,025,000	2,025,000	0
Veterans' Benefits Advising
General Fund	5,942,000	6,242,000	300,000
Total	8,447,000	8,747,000	300,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	367,000	0	367,000	0
Veterans' Benefits Advising	5,804,000	300,000	5,781,000	300,000
Total	6,171,000	300,000	6,148,000	300,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried)		Holiday/Overtime Pay
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Veterans' Benefits Advising	0	0	23,000	0
Total	0	0	23,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	113,000	0	10,000	0
Veterans' Benefits Advising	438,000	0	63,000	0
Total	551,000	0	73,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	14,000	0	70,000	0
Veterans' Benefits Advising	104,000	0	181,000	0
Total	118,000	0	251,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	19,000	0
Veterans' Benefits Advising	90,000	0
Total	109,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Veterans Education	2,025,000	0	1,199,000	0
Total	2,025,000	0	1,199,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Veterans Education	826,000	0
Total	826,000	0

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2019	Recommended FY 2020	Change
General Fund	12,311,000	10,359,000	(1,952,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	500,000	500,000	0
Total	12,811,000	10,859,000	(1,952,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2019	Recommended FY 2020	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	4,932,000	2,980,000	(1,952,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	500,000	500,000	0
Total	12,811,000	10,859,000	(1,952,000)

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/15/2019

^Top