Find veterans benefits contacts for Rensselaer County, New York.
The American Legion
The American Legion lists a department service officer for free VA benefits and claims help. Call to confirm the current representative.
Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
New York State Department of Veterans' Services
Veterans benefits advice and help finding a claims appointment.
Area served: Rensselaer County. Physical office: East Greenbush, Rensselaer County.
99 Troy Road, 3rd Floor, East Greenbush, NY 12061Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
New York county veterans service agencies
Veterans benefits advice and help finding a claims appointment.
Area served: Rensselaer County. Physical office: East Greenbush, Rensselaer County.
99 Troy Road, East Greenbush, NY 12061Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the New York directory.
NYS Veterans Services - East Greenbush, Rensselaer County Veterans Service Agency, American Legion department service officer contact appear in this guide. Call the provider to confirm the type of claims help, current appointment and meeting location.
Call the Claim Raven 24-hour VSO prep line to get your records ready before your appointment. Claim Raven is not a VSO office. Your VSO's number is listed above.
Call (833) 387-1649The ACS estimates about 7,810, give or take 610 civilian veterans in Rensselaer County.
By ACS estimates, Rensselaer County has the 20th largest veteran population among New York's 62 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Rensselaer County | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 27 percent above the New York share; below the national share. | 21 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 8 percent below the New York share; below the national share. | 9 percent | 13 percent |
Rensselaer County has about 2,150, give or take 209 veterans 75 and older, making up 28 percent of its veterans compared with 33 percent in New York.
Rensselaer County has about 333, give or take 131 veterans under 35, making up 4 percent of its veterans compared with 7 percent in New York.
Rensselaer County has about 632, give or take 179 women veterans; both the county and New York round to a 8 percent share.
| Measure | Rensselaer County | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $50,882 ± $7,142 | $52,375 ± $532 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $47,471 ± $1,425 | $44,412 ± $201 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 5.6% ± 2.0 points | 8.5% ± 0.3 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 29.6% ± 3.6 points | 29.4% ± 0.5 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 66.3% ± 6.8 points | 71.9% ± 0.6 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 9.9% ± 5.9 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 94.5% ± 2.5 points | 94.1% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 29.0% ± 4.1 points | 29.1% ± 0.6 points | 31.8% ± 0.2 points |
Income is in 2024 dollars. These figures describe civilians. Poverty and disability shares use veterans whose poverty status is determined. Census disability measures daily functioning, not a VA service-connected rating. Tables and method.
VA projects fewer veterans here in 2035: about 6,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 8,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 1,946 veterans in Rensselaer County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 456 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 232 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 271 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 581 |
| 100 percent | 406 |
FY2019: 1,764 recipients. Change to FY2025: +182.
VA does not publish some small counts. Those show as “Not published.” VA county compensation data (opens in a new tab).
In 2025, lenders reported 96 VA-backed home loans out of 3,088 home loans made in Rensselaer County (3.1% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $343,000.
The 2026 FHFA one-unit county loan limit here is $832,750. This limit matters for a VA loan only when part of your entitlement is still tied to another VA loan. VA explains remaining entitlement and loan limits (opens in a new tab).
The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 2,570, give or take 380) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 1,630, give or take 352).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $48.7 million in compensation and pension spending and about $57.3 million in medical care spending in Rensselaer County for FY2025.
Samuel S. Stratton Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
113 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208-3410
New-patient wait for mental health: 32 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 37 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 14 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Clifton Park VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
963 Route 146, Clifton Park, NY 12065-4397
New-patient wait for mental health: 107 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 44 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 19 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Albany Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
17 Computer Drive West, Albany, NY 12205-1614
about 15 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Hartford VA Regional Benefit Office at Newington VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
555 Willard Ave, Newington, CT 06111
about 80 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
Outside New York, in Leeds, MA, Edward P. Boland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab) is Rensselaer County's second-nearest medical center, about 49 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Outside New York, in West Springfield, MA, Springfield, MA Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Rensselaer County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 60 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists New York RO (station 306) and Buffalo RO (station 307); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
200 Duell Road Schuylerville, NY 12871
518-581-9128
About 22.4 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
New York State Veterans Cemetery - Finger Lakes (opens in a new tab)
6632 NY-96A Romulus, NY 14541
607-379-0197
About 170.9 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
State veterans cemeteries set their own eligibility rules.
National Cemetery Administration lists checked October 2, 2026. Cemetery coverage and distance method.
Military branch is not listed in the USACE FY2024 property data.
These lists use site points within county boundaries. A site may extend into another county.
For VA’s service-location rules, see the presumptive conditions list. A location listing does not establish personal exposure or eligibility.
On one night in January 2024, Troy/Rensselaer County CoC counted 3 veterans experiencing homelessness (2 sheltered, 1 unsheltered).
NY-512 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).
The HUD workbook reports 5 veterans for the 2019 comparison.
This is a one-night count for the whole CoC area, not a county or annual total. CoC mapping method.
If you need housing help, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. You can call any time, day or night.
Your nearest VA medical center by straight-line distance is Samuel S. Stratton Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 518-626-5000. Ask for the homeless coordinator.
VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).
The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 2 veterans treatment courts in Rensselaer County as of December 31, 2025.
These courts connect participating veterans involved in the justice system with treatment and support. Each court sets its own eligibility rules. National Treatment Court Resource Center maps (opens in a new tab).
Census incorporated places and census-designated places, sorted by ACS 2020-2024 population. Figures are ACS estimates for the whole place, not only the part inside this county. Places are assigned by their 2024 Census internal point and may cross county boundaries. Sources and mapping method.
For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. VA crisis support (opens in a new tab)
New York localities may fully exempt qualifying primary residences of veterans with permanent and total service-connected disability.
New York provides $450 annually to qualifying children of veterans who suffered at least 40 percent disability through service during specified wartime or emergency periods.
Ask the office about VA Form 21-0966 to preserve a potential benefits start date while gathering evidence. Check your intent to file deadline.
ACS 2020-2024; VA FY2025; geography/locations/benefits 2026; adjacency 2024. Distances: straight line from county center. Full method.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
Claims agent · Albany · NY · About 25 miles away
Are you Zachary Cole? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Attorney · Albany · NY · About 25 miles away
Contact details not available. Check VA's accreditation search. (opens in a new tab)
Are you Alex Dell? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeAre you Patrick Sorsby? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeAre you Mitchell Kessler? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you Ashley Emery? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeVA-accredited attorneys in New York
Claim Raven is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We do not recommend or endorse any attorney or claims agent. Listings come from VA's public accreditation records. Paid placements are advertising. Check an attorney's accreditation on VA's accreditation search (opens in a new tab) before you hire them.
Directories cover all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Choose another state.