SUFFOLK COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE AGENCY

(631) 853-VETS (our Hauppauge Office at 100 Veterans Memorial Highway), or (631) 852-1410 (our Riverhead Office at 300 Center Drive), or via email at servingheros@suffolkcountyny.gov or veteransinfo@suffolkcountyny.gov .

NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

The New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA or Division) advocates on behalf of New York’s Veterans and their families, as individuals and as a group, to ensure they receive benefits granted by law for service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Division provides free benefits advising. Experienced and dedicated advisors — each a Veteran — work in a network of field offices across the state and offer Veterans and their families with professional help to resolve social, medical, and economic matters.

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.  Veterans Benefits Advisors also assist by responding to follow-up correspondence and, appealing an unfavorable ruling.

By working closely with other State, federal, local, and private agencies, the Division of Veterans’ Affairs utilizes the expertise and resources of others to help Veterans and their families with specific needs, such as economic, employment, rehabilitation, medical treatment, home health care, education, and tax exemption.

The Division plans and coordinates outreach services within the community and works closely with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other state agencies. The Division strives to educate the general public and governmental, and private agencies to the special skills and needs of Veterans, particularly those men and women who served in combat and who may have specific medical, employment, and other needs or skills  uniquely resulting from wartime experience.

The Division also administers a Blind Annuity program that provides a monthly stipend to visually impaired Veterans and eligible surviving spouses, a Gold Star Parent Annuity that authorizes payment to eligible parents of service members killed in action, and the Veterans Education Bureau, which investigates and certifies postsecondary educational and vocational institutions as providing legitimate and quality education for Veterans seeking to utilize their federal education benefits to attend such facilities.

A toll-free information and referral hotline — 1-888-VETS-NYS (1-888-838-7697) — is available to refer Veterans and their families to the nearest Veterans Benefits Advisor Office.

Download the APP here: NYSVETERANS

VA VETERANS SERVICES

Veterans of the United States armed forces may be eligible for a broad range of programs and services provided by the VA. Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions, and certain benefits require service during wartime. If you are new to the VA, the Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents and Survivors booklet will help you get started.

VA DISABILITY CLAIMS

To apply for VA Benefits click here: VA CLAIMS

MY HEALTHEVET

Provides veterans with access to their healthcare they receive through the VA Hospital. Track appointments, update information, talk with your doctors, refill prescriptions.

EBENEFITS

Allows veterans to manage and track their benefits from their service and with the VA.

A staggering 20 veterans commit suicide every day, and the VFW is committed to helping change the narrative and stigma surrounding mental health in America.

In order to raise awareness, foster community engagement, improve research and provide intervention for those affected by invisible injuries and emotional stress, the VFW has teamed up with the nationwide organizations Give an Hour and the Campaign to Change Direction, One Mind, PatientsLikeMe and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to combat this critical issue.

SUFFOLK COUNTY UNITED VETERANS

Serve the homeless Veterans of Suffolk County. They offer housing programs provide emergency shelter, along with transitional and permanent housing. Case management, peer support, educational assistance/job training, transportation, & two food pantries all support the Veteran to heal &reintegrate successfully back into the community.

Contact their office: (631) 924-8088 or go to their website mhaw.org

HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS

The Warrior Hope and Care Centers™ provide medical care, mental health counseling, professional training and education, physical conditioning and transition services for wounded, ill, and injured Marines and Sailors.

The concept for the Warrior Hope and Care Centers was conceived by Hope For The Warriors leadership after attending the ribbon cutting for the Center for the Intrepid (CFI) in San Antonio, Texas in 2007. It was the goal of Hope For The Warriors to provide Marines and Sailors based at Camp Lejeune the same quality care as those at CFI. Architectural plans for the Warrior Hope and Care Center were drawn and Hope For The Warriors donated those plans to the Marine Corps

VETJOBS

VetJobs services makes it easy to reach transitioning military, National Guard, Reserve Component Members and veterans that have separated over the last several decades and, due to the services provided by VetJobs, are now productive members of the civilian work force in all disciplines as well as their family members. Visit at http://vetjobs.com

GUARD YOUR HEALTH

Guard Your Health is a resource for Army National Guard Soldiers and family members. Find health-related tools and information. Hear from fellow Soldiers and Families. Make medical readiness part of your personal mission. Visit here: http://www.guardyourhealth.com

LONG ISLAND CARES

Long Island Cares understands the challenges faced by returning soldiers and their families as troops transition from the front lines to the home front. To help veterans from both Nassau and Suffolk Counties facing financial hardship and food insecurity as they assimilate back into civilian life, we offer several veterans’ service programs:

• Military Appreciation Tuesdays:  Hosted each week at Long Island Cares’ pantrieslocated in Huntington Station, Lindenhurst, and Freeport, this is a chance for veterans and their families to access food, as well as personal care items, household products, pet food, and school supplies when available. All veterans are provided with information and resources pertaining to veteran-specific benefits. We are grateful to have BNY Mellon Wealth Management as the sponsor of this critical program.

• Mobile Pantry:  Delivers nutritious groceries to homebound, disabled veterans unable to access their local pantries.

• VetsWork:  Assistance that can help veterans build job skills (i.e. cover letter and résumé writing), aid in their job search process, and facilitate real workplace experience through various volunteer and training opportunities.

• Community Outreach Initiatives:  By collaborating with both the Nassau and Suffolk County Veterans Service Agencies and the Northport VA Hospital, we are able to support events such as Veteran Stand Downs which provide vital health and social services to veterans of all ages and circumstances. In addition, our services are made available to various community organizations providing counseling, homeless outreach, and emergency assistance to veterans in need.

FAMILY SERVICE LEAGUE

The brave men and women in our armed forces, who have selflessly served our country, deserve our utmost respect, honor and encouragement as they return home. Family Service League lends our help and support to service men, women and their families with counseling and economic support to aid in their reentry into civilian life. In general, we provide information and treatment for the unique mental health problems associated with Veterans, such as depression, substance abuse, and posttraumatic stress disorder. FSL also supports returning vets with programs that address practical day-to-day needs, like family/child services, housing and homelessness issues and help for senior family members.

Military Family Assistance Program provides emergency relief and financial assistance for veterans in need of one-time, non-recurring expenses.  AMAP is available to Long Island military, reservist, and National Guard personnel who actively served in Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Additionally, this program also aids the families of those who served. Requests are made in person through the Family Centers’ Community Advocacy Information and Resources (CAIR) program.

1444 Fifth Avenue, Bay Shore, NY 11706   (631) 647-3100
90 East Fifth Street, Huntington Station, NY 11746  (631) 425-9694
338 Blanco Drive, Mastic Beach, NY 11951   (631) 874-1323
208 Roanoke Avenue. Riverhead, NY 11901  (631) 369-0104

Computer Literacy for Veterans provides computer classes for veterans that includes structured group/individual instruction related to Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Keyboarding, and Internet applications. Computer classes are provided throughout the year and based on specific skill level – beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Roslyn location.

Roslyn High School, 475 Round Hill Road, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577  (631) 470-1441

S:US.ORG

Reintegration to civilian life is the toughest challenge veterans face. This is true for those who served decades ago or in recent conflicts.  Seventy percent live with chronic mental illness and substance use disorders. Of the nearly 3,000 veterans and their families we serve, most satisfy the federal guidelines for “very low income”. We are among NYC’s largest veterans’ services providers. In addition to serving veterans with the greatest barriers to independence and a full community embrace, we serve the needs of veterans at the highest risk of suicide.

US DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS – HOMELESS VETERANS

Explore the VA Homeless web page to learn about VA’s programs for Veterans and to find out what you, your neighbors, and your community can do to help Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (877) 424-3838 or click here: VA Homeless Vets

LAPTOPS FOR VETERANS

Requirements for a free laptop from Laptops For Veterans

1. Must be a U.S. Military veteran, active-duty or reserve service member, or immediate family member (spouse or child), and be able to provide proof of service (ex. DD-214).
2. Not punitively discharged (bad conduct discharge or dishonorable discharge).
3. Understand and agree that laptops are awarded based on 1) urgency of the need, and 2) length of time on the waitlist.  Laptops For Veterans reserves sole discretion to determine need based on the information you provide.  The length of time you may have to wait depends on how many donations we collect and how many other people are on the list ahead of you.  We cannot guarantee when or if you will receive your free laptop, but we do the best we can to serve as many as quickly as possible!

THE SOLDIERS PROJECT

The Soldiers Project provides free and confidential treatment to thousands of military service members and their families, and provided trainings in best clinical practices to thousands of clinicians via in-person conferences, symposia and online webinars.

NYS HOMES FOR VETERANS PROGRAM

SONYMA, in conjunction with the New York State Department of Veterans’ Affairs, is pleased to offer the Homes for Veterans Program that will enable more U.S. military veterans and active duty U.S. military personnel to buy their first home (or move to a different home if you are a U.S. military veteran). A change in Federal law enables SONYMA to waive the first-time homebuyer requirement for any veteran (and their spouse or co-borrower) who:

• Served in active military, naval, or air service; and
• Has been discharged or released from their military duties under conditions other than dishonorable.

Or any first time homebuyer may take advantage of the program benefits if they are:

• A U.S. military personnel stationed in New York State, regardless of discharge status;
• An active or honorably discharged National Guardsman and reservists.

Features and requirements of the Homes for Veterans Program.

Current interest rates for the Homes for Veterans Program.

Down payment assistance is available for the Home for Veterans Program. Learn more about Down Payment Assistance Loan (DPAL).

SONYMA offers a mortgage product that finances both the purchase and renovation of a home in need of improvements or repairs.

• Learn about SONYMA’s RemodelNY

To apply for a SONYMA loan you must contact one of our Participating Lenders, located statewide, offering the Homes for Veterans Program. SONYMA’s Participating Lenderlist.