ADVOCACYVA program
State Veterans Affairs Offices
States and territories run their own veterans affairs agencies, separate from VA, with benefits and services that vary by state, such as State Veterans Homes and help finding a job.
Step-by-step guide
What you get
States run their own veterans affairs offices, separate from VA.
What your state office can do
- The office for your stateYour state has a veterans affairs office. VA's benefits guide lists State Departments of Veterans Affairs as a resource to find yours.
Source: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
Two ways your state office can help
- Your state veterans affairs office
A state department of veterans affairs is run by the state, not by VA. VA's benefits guide names State Veterans Homes, which the states own and operate, and employment help from state departments of veterans affairs.
Source: VA's 2026 federal benefits guide: State Veterans Homes and state employment help (opens in new tab); VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
- Help with a VA claim
VA keeps a list of recognized Veterans Service Organizations. It includes many state departments of veterans affairs and the national association of county veterans service officers. An accredited VSO representative can help you file a VA claim or request a decision review, and their help on VA claims is free.
- A VA Form 21-22 naming the organizationTo have a VSO represent you, you and the representative sign VA Form 21-22. Ask the representative which organization to name on it.
Source: VA.gov: VA-recognized Veterans Service Organizations (opens in new tab); VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA Form 21-22 (opens in new tab)
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your state office contact The name and contact details of the veterans affairs department for your state. | Where to go for state programs | VA's benefits guide lists State Departments of Veterans Affairs as a resource. | |
| VA Form 21-22 The form that names a Veterans Service Organization as your representative. | Who can work with VA on your claim for you | You and the representative both sign it. It goes to VA, not to BeneVets. |
Records go to your state office or to VA, not to BeneVets. BeneVets does not ask you to type or send them here.
Steps, in order
- Find your state office
Look up the veterans affairs department for the state where you live. VA's list of recognized organizations gives the city and phone for each state department on it.
Source: VA.gov: VA-recognized Veterans Service Organizations (opens in new tab); VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab)
- See state and local offerings on BeneVets
BeneVets lists state and local offerings in its Network catalog at /network. VA's benefits guide names State Veterans Homes and state employment help as programs the states run.
Source: VA's 2026 federal benefits guide: State Veterans Homes and state employment help (opens in new tab)
- Check the office is VA-recognized
For help with a VA claim, check that the office or its representative is on VA's list of recognized organizations.
Source: VA.gov: VA-recognized Veterans Service Organizations (opens in new tab)
- Appoint a representative
Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you. To appoint one, you and the representative sign VA Form 21-22.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA Form 21-22 (opens in new tab)
Good to know
States own and operate State Veterans Homes. State departments of veterans affairs offer employment information, job counseling, and training help.
Source: VA's 2026 federal benefits guide: State Veterans Homes and state employment help (opens in new tab)
An accredited VSO representative can help you file a VA claim, at no cost. Many state veterans affairs offices, and the national association of county veterans service officers, are VA-recognized organizations.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA.gov: VA-recognized Veterans Service Organizations (opens in new tab)
VA helps pay for care at State Veterans Homes that VA recognizes.
Source: VA's 2026 federal benefits guide: State Veterans Homes and state employment help (opens in new tab)
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 8, 2026: VA: Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers (2026) (opens in new tab), VA's 2026 federal benefits guide: State Veterans Homes and state employment help (opens in new tab), VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab), VA.gov: VA-recognized Veterans Service Organizations (opens in new tab), VA Form 21-22 (opens in new tab)