New York State Department of Veterans' Services
Seal of New York | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | April 1, 2023 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Jurisdiction | New York State government |
| Headquarters | 2 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York |
| Agency executive |
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| Website | veterans |
The New York State Department of Veterans' Services (DVS) is a cabinet-level agency of the State of New York that serves as the state's primary advocacy and assistance office for military veterans, service members, and their families. The department provides free benefits-advising and representation to help claimants access federal, state, local, and private veterans' benefits, and works with other public agencies and community partners on issues such as health care, housing, education, and employment.
The department was formally established on April 1, 2023, when the long-standing New York State Division of Veterans' Services—created in 1945—was elevated to a standalone department under a new Veterans' Services Law. According to the state budget office and contemporary news coverage, the creation of the department marked the first time in more than fifty years that New York established a new state agency, the last being the Department of Environmental Conservation in 1970.
The department is led by the New York State commissioner of veterans' services, a position that must be held by a veteran and is appointed by the governor. As of 2023, the commissioner is Viviana DeCohen, a United States Marine Corps veteran who previously directed the Division of Veterans' Services.