Veteran Benefits
Welcome to the Greene County Veterans Service Agency Benefits page. Below, you’ll find an overview of the most widely used federal, state, and local benefits available to veterans and their families.
Need help with your claim?
While any veteran or family member can apply for VA and state benefits on their own, the process can often be complex and overwhelming. Our office provides free, accredited assistance to help you navigate applications, gather evidence, and avoid delays or denials. We strongly encourage veterans and their families to take advantage of our services to ensure no benefit is overlooked and every claim is handled correctly the first time.
Federal Benefits
VA Health Care
Eligible veterans can receive comprehensive health care services through the VA, including primary care, mental health, specialty care, prescriptions, and more.
Disability Compensation
Monthly tax-free payments to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Compensation is based on severity and may include additional amounts for dependents.
Total Disability Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU)
TDIU allows veterans who cannot maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities to receive compensation at the 100% disability rate, even if their combined rating is below 100%. Eligibility generally requires a single service-connected disability rated at 60%, or a combination of disabilities rated at 70% with one at least 40%, along with evidence showing the veteran is unable to work.
VA Pension
The VA Pension is a needs-based financial benefit for low-income wartime veterans who are age 65 or older or permanently and totally disabled.
Aid & Attendance (A&A) & Housebound
A&A: An additional monthly payment for pension-eligible veterans and survivors who require help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or feeding.
Homebound: An additional monthly payment for pension-eligible veterans and survivors who are substantially confined to the home or bedridden because of a permanent disability
Educational Benefits (GI Bill)
The GI Bill helps veterans, service members, and eligible family members cover the costs of tuition, housing, books, and training programs.
Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E)
Assists veterans with service-connected disabilities in preparing for, finding, and maintaining suitable employment or achieving independent living goals.
VA Home Loans
Help veterans and service members buy, build, or refinance a home with favorable loan terms and no down payment in most cases.
Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) & Special Home Adaptation (SHA)
The VA offers housing grants for Veterans and service members with certain service-connected disabilities so that they can buy or change a home to meet their needs and live more independently.
VA Life Insurance
Provides a range of life insurance options for veterans, especially those who may have difficulty getting private coverage due to service-connected conditions.
Survivor Benefits
Eligible surviving spouses, dependent children, or parents may qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), survivor pension, burial reimbursement, and other support.
CHAMPVA (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA)
CHAMPVA is a health care program for eligible spouses and children of veterans who are permanently and totally (P&T) disabled due to a service-connected condition, died from a service-connected condition, or died while rated 100% P&T. It covers a wide range of medical services and supplies, like TRICARE. CHAMPVA is not the same as VA health care and is administered separately.
Burial & Memorial Benefits
Eligible veterans may be entitled to burial in a VA national cemetery, government-furnished headstone or marker, a burial flag, and military honors.
New York State Benefits
Veterans Property Tax Exemption
New York offers partial property tax exemptions for eligible veterans, including wartime service, combat service, and service-connected disability.
Military Service Credit (NYS Retirement System)
Eligible public employees may purchase credit for active-duty military service to count toward their NYS retirement benefits.
Veterans Tuition Awards
Provides tuition assistance for eligible veterans attending approved colleges and vocational schools in New York State.
Gold Star Parent Annuity
Provides an annuity to parents of service members who died in service or from service-connected causes.
Veterans Blind Annuity
Monthly financial benefit available to legally blind wartime veterans and their unremarried surviving spouses, administered by NYS.
Veterans Emergency Housing Fund
A financial resource for New York State’s Veterans who are confronting emergency housing needs and lacking the funds to cover these immediate costs.
Disabled Veterans Employment Program
Through the NYS Department of Labor, disabled veterans receive individualized employment services, job matching, resume help, and career counseling.
Local Benefits – Greene County & Area
Medical Transportation
Greene Veteran’s Service Agency provides medical transportation for eligible veterans to appointments at the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center between the times of 8am and 12pm weekdays, holidays excluded, etc.
Transportation is on a first come first serve basis, seating is limited and must be reserved at least one week prior to the appointment.
To qualify for transportation services, passengers must:
- Be an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces (General and OTH discharges considered case-by-case)
- National Guard members qualify if they are service-connected and receive VA care OR if they have completed their full term of service they may be taken to community care appointments on a case-by-case basis.
- Demonstrate a transportation need. (i.e. no vehicle, income below the VA pension threshold, inability to drive, post medical restrictions).
- Passengers do not need to be ambulatory, but they must be able to travel independently or with a caregiver.
- Drivers provide minimal assistance (e.g., pushing a wheelchair, operating lifts). If a passenger requires additional help, they must bring a caregiver.
- Military Service must be verified and client packet signed before an eligible veteran can utilize the transportation services
Call (518)943-3703 to register or schedule.
Children of Veterans Scholarship Fund
This local fund provides scholarship assistance to eligible children of veterans residing in Greene County. Funding levels and application periods vary annually. Contact our office for current application info.
Community-Based Veteran Resources
We maintain a regularly updated list of food assistance programs, housing referrals, and nonprofit resources available to veterans and families in need. Call or visit our office for a current resource list.
Tyler Lynch, Director
Arin VanDemark, Deputy Director