Veterans' Affairs, Division of

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Agency Web Site: http://veterans.ny.gov/Link to External Website

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 functions.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2019 Executive Budget recommends $19.1 million for DVA. This represents a $1.6 million net decrease in funding from FY 2018, which reflects the elimination of legislative adds and increased appropriation authority to fully support implementation of the agency's new data management system. The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 98 Full-time Employees, unchanged from FY 2018 levels.

Program Highlights

The New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs will become the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services, which differentiates the agency from the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs. This measure reduces the confusion that arises from the closely related agency names.

Blind Veteran Annuity Assistance Program

The Blind Veteran Annuity Assistance Program provides annuities to legally blind veterans and eligible surviving spouses.

Veterans' Counseling Services Program

The Veterans’ Counseling Services Program offers advocacy and assistance services to veterans to secure and maintain Federal Veterans’ Affairs benefits.

New or expanded Veterans’ Counseling Services initiatives include the following:

  • The Access to Justice initiative will be expanded by offering current grant recipients the chance to renew the Justice for Heroes grants for the next two years. This proposal reinforces the State’s commitment to addressing the unmet legal needs of the New York veteran population.
  • A proposal to prevent financial exploitation of veterans and their families will reduce pension poaching by implementing new disclosure requirements for businesses that advertise fee-based services for the filing of claims and appeals for 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 2018		 Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2019		 Change From
FY 2018		 Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2019
State Operations 8,317,000 8,447,000 130,000 5,149,000
Aid To Localities 12,401,000 10,656,000 (1,745,000) 9,665,000
Total 20,718,000 19,103,000 (1,615,000) 14,814,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2018
Estimated FTEs
03/31/18		 FY 2019
Estimated FTEs
03/31/19		 FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 4 4 0
Veterans Counseling Services
General Fund 86 86 0
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 2018		 Recommended
FY 2019		 Change
General Fund 6,292,000 6,422,000 130,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 2,025,000 2,025,000 0
Total 8,317,000 8,447,000 130,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2018		 Recommended
FY 2019		 Change
Administration
General Fund 480,000 480,000 0
Veterans Counseling Services
General Fund 5,812,000 5,942,000 130,000
Veterans Education
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 2,025,000 2,025,000 0
Total 8,317,000 8,447,000 130,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 367,000 0 367,000 0
Veterans Counseling Services 5,504,000 0 5,481,000 0
Total 5,871,000 0 5,848,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)		 Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Veterans Counseling Services 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 2019 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 113,000 0 10,000 0
Veterans Counseling Services 438,000 130,000 63,000 0
Total 551,000 130,000 73,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 14,000 0 70,000 0
Veterans Counseling Services 104,000 0 181,000 130,000
Total 118,000 0 251,000 130,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 19,000 0
Veterans Counseling Services 90,000 0
Total 109,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2019 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
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 2019 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
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 2018		 Recommended
FY 2019		 Change
General Fund 11,901,000 10,156,000 (1,745,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 500,000 500,000 0
Total 12,401,000 10,656,000 (1,745,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2018		 Recommended
FY 2019		 Change
Administration
General Fund 999,000 999,000 0
Blind Veteran Annuity Assistance
General Fund 6,380,000 6,380,000 0
Veterans Counseling Services
General Fund 4,522,000 2,777,000 (1,745,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 500,000 500,000 0
Total 12,401,000 10,656,000 (1,745,000)

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2018

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