Karen McMahon headshot

Assemblymember

Karen McMahon

Assembly District 146

Supporting Our Local Heroes
A Veterans Resource Page provided by Assemblymember Karen McMahon

Resources

As a member of the New York State Assembly, I am dedicated to providing support to the brave individuals who have honorably served our country. I am grateful for the contributions and sacrifices that our Veterans and their families have made and hope that my Veteran's page can be a valuable resource. Within this page you will find a multitude of links and contacts that will lead you to websites and organizations that have the information you need to find the services you require. I encourage Veterans to visit my Veteran's page often to keep you and your families up to date on various issues, news, and legislation to benefit the Veterans of our great state.

Counseling & Emotional Support

National & NY State

  • National Suicide and Crisis Hotline Chat/Text/Phone: 998, press 1
  • 24-Hour Text Line offered by Mental Health America: Text MHA to 741-741
  • 24-Hour VA Nurses Helpline: 1 (800) 877-9676
  • Veteran’s Peer Support Line (Vet2Vet): 1 (877) 838-2838
  • National Call Center for Homeless Veterans: 1 (877) 424-3838
  • NYS Office of Mental Health: 1 (844) 863-9314 omh.ny.gov
  • NYS Veterans Advisor: 1 (888) 838-7697
  • NYS Problem Gambling & Chemical Dependency Hotline: 1 (877) 8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) for help and referrals to treatment
  • SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services: findtreatment.samhsa.gov

Erie County

  • Mental Health Advocates of WNY: 1 (716) 886-1242 • mhawny.org
  • 24-Hour Crisis Hotline for Buffalo & Erie County: 1 (716) 834-3131
  • Buffalo Vet Center (Readjustment Counseling) 24-Hour Call Center 1 (877) 927-8387 • Main Line 1 (716) 862-7350 • va.gov/buffalo-vet-center/
  • Horizon Health Services: 1 (716) 831-1800 • horizon-health.org
  • VA Western New York Mental Health Care: 1 (716) 862-3117

Telecommunications Device for the Deaf: (TDD) 1 (800) 829-4833

Employment & Education Information

Employment

National NY State Regional
  • Erie County Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program Specialist: 1 (716) 851-2645
  • Erie County Local Veterans’ Employment Representative: 1 (716) 851-2656
  • Buffalo Career Center: 1 (716) 851-2600 • dol.ny.gov/location/buffalo-career-center

Education

Federal NY State

Civil Service

Government Services

  • US Department of Veteran's Affairs: 1 (800) 827-1000
  • NYS Division of Veteran's Services: 1 (888) 838-7697
  • NYS Division of Military & Naval Affairs: 1 (518) 786-4581
  • NYS Division of Veterans’ Services Williamsville, NY: 1 (716) 632-4190
  • New York State Division of Veterans’ Services - c/o Buffalo VAMC: 1 (716) 862-8902
  • Erie County Veterans Service Agency: 1 (716) 858-6363

Blindness & Disability Benefits

*Veterans’ benefits are not awarded automatically.*

Transportation

  • Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Transportation for Veterans: va.gov/western-new-york-health-care/dav-vans-transportation-for-veterans/ • Note: DAV vans can only provide rides to ambulatory passengers (passengers who are able to move around without the driver’s help). For information on accessible transportation options, review our other Veteran shuttle services.
  • Veterans Transportation Program (VTP): 1 (716) 834-9200 or 1 (800) 532-8387 • vetride.va.gov/app/home • The VA’s VTP offers travel solutions to veterans to and from VA health care facilities at little or no cost to eligible veterans.
  • VA Beneficiary Travel (BT) Program: va.gov/health-care/get-reimbursed-for-travel-pay/ • VA travel pay reimbursement through the Beneficiary Travel program pays eligible Veterans back for mileage and other travel expenses to and from approved health care appointments.

Housing Services

National

NY State & Regional

New York State has a right-to-shelter obligation as the result of a court interpretation of the New York State Constitution. The counties are charged with fulfilling that state obligation. As a consequence, many shelters primarily take Departments of Social Service referrals. If you are a person experiencing homelessness, we advise you first visit the homeless teams of your respective Departments of Social Service.

Homeless people are considered residents of the counties they are currently in.

To find out if you or a loved one is eligible for any of these important services or to schedule an appointment with a Veterans Benefits Advisor, please call the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs Help Line: 1 (888) 838-7697 (VETSNYS).

Tax Exemptions

  • Property Tax Exemptions: 1 (888) 838-7697 • tax.ny.gov/pit/property/exemption/vetexempt.htm • Veterans should contact their local assessor’s office for information and an application.
  • NYS Income Tax Exemptions: tax.ny.gov/pit/file/military_page.htm • Military pay received for active service as a member of the United States Armed Services in an area designated as a combat zone is exempt from New York State, New York City and Yonkers income taxes.

Membership Organizations

National Organizations

  • American Ex-Prisoners of War: axpow.org
  • American Veterans Center: 1 (703) 302-1012
  • American Women Veterans: americanwomenveterans.org
  • AMVETS National: 1 (877) 726-8387
  • Blinded Veterans Association: 1 (800) 669-7079
  • Catholic War Veterans & Auxiliary of the United States: 1 (703) 549-3622
  • Center for Women Veterans (CWV): va.gov/WOMENVET/
  • Disabled Veterans National Foundation: 1 (202) 737-0522
  • Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America: 1 (212) 982-9699
  • Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.: 1 (202) 265-6280
  • Military Order of the Purple Heart: 1 (800) 668-1656
  • National Association for Black Veterans, Inc.: 1 (877) NABVETS
  • National Coalition for Homeless Veterans: 1 (800) VET-HELP
  • National League of POW/MIA Families: 1 (703) 465-7432
  • Paralyzed Veterans of America: 1 (800) 424-8200
  • Student Veterans of America: 1 (202) 223-4710
  • Women Marines Association: 1 (888)-525-1943
  • Women's Army Corps Veterans’ Association | Army Women United (WACVA-AWU): 1 (256) 820-6824
  • Wounded Warrior Project: 1 (212) 629-8881

State Organizations

  • Vietnam Veterans of America, New York State Council: 1 (518) 338-8147
  • The American Legion, Department of New York: 1 (518) 463-2215

Regional Organizations

  • Department of Veterans Affairs: 1 (800) 827-1000
  • AMVETS: 1 (716) 857-3115
  • Disabled American Veterans: 1 (716) 857-3354
  • Korean War Veterans Association (WNY): 1 (716) 876-5528
  • Military Order of the Purple Heart: 1 (716) 857-3346
  • Paralyzed Veterans of America: 1 (716) 857-3352
  • The American Legion Office: 1 (716) 857-3361
  • Vietnam Veterans of America: 1 (716) 857-3344
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): 1 (716) 857-3348

Local Posts

  • American Legion A. J. Jurek Post 1672: 1 (716) 688-9011 • 655 New Road, Swormville, NY 14051
  • Amherst AMVETS Post 49 • 1 (716) 835-1200 • 3758 Sheridan Dr. Amherst, NY 14226
  • Amherst VFW Post 416: 1 (716) 633-9019 • 18 E. Spring St., Buffalo, NY 14221
  • George F. Lamm Post 622: 1 (716) 204-2516 • 962 Wehrle Dr., Williamsville, NY 14221
  • Vietnam Veterans of America #77: 1 (716) 693-4479 • 57 Main St., Tonawanda, NY 14150

Burial

  • Federal Burial Benefits: 1 (800) 827-1000 • va.gov/burials-memorials/ • Financial assistance for burial and plot expenses is available for certain eligible veterans. Claims must be filed within two years after permanent interment. Burial in national cemeteries is available to veterans and certain family members. An American flag to drape the casket and be given to the next of kin is available.
  • NYS Burial Benefits: 1 (888) 838-7697 • veterans.ny.gov/indigent-burial-reimbursements • Burial expenses and the cost of headstones for indigent state veterans and certain family members are authorized by the county of the veteran’s residence.
  • NYS Supplemental Burial Allowance: 1 (888) 838-7697 • veterans.ny.gov/state-supplemental-burial-allowance
  • PGRNY Veteran Recovery Program (VRP): 1 (585) 866-1747 • The mission of the VRP is to locate, identify and inter any unclaimed remains of veterans to provide a final resting place to pay respect to lost and forgotten heroes.

Survivors’ Benefits

  • Federal Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): va.gov/survivors • DIC payments may be available to eligible spouses and certain dependents of veterans who died of service-related injuries or disease. Monthly awards are based on the veteran’s military rank. Certain remarried surviving spouses may also be eligible.
  • Federal Surviving Spouse Pension: benefits.gov/benefit/285 • Certain surviving spouses and single children of deceased wartime veterans may be eligible for a non-service related pension based on need. Minor children may be eligible even if the surviving spouse remarries.
  • Insurance Death Benefits: benefits.va.gov/INSURANCE/file_death_claim.asp • Designated beneficiaries of deceased persons covered by all forms of government insurance may submit their claims to the nearest counseling center of the state’s Division of Veterans’ Services. Visit va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/sgli/ to convert a Service Members’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) policy after discharge.

Additional Resources

For questions on this or any other state matter, contact Assemblymember Karen McMahon at:
5500 Main Street, Suite 224 Williamsville, NY 14221 • 716-634-1895 • mcmahonk@nyassembly.gov