Chautauqua County is proud of all of our veterans and pleased they call Chautauqua County home. These men, women and their families have given so much to insure our country’s security and freedom.

Our county has a veteran’s service agency and two health care clinics — one in Dunkirk and another in Jamestown. Outside of our county there is the Buffalo VA Medical Center, the Erie Pa., VA Medical Center and an additional clinic in Warren Pa. The Chautauqua County government has a section on their website dedicated to Veterans services which can be seen at hautauqua.ny.us/498/Benefits

There are resources related to benefits for veterans including property tax exemptions and pensions. If you are a veteran or a family member of a veteran in need of help review this resource or please call NY Connects at 753-4582.

An often overlooked veteran’s benefit relates to Surviving Spouses. Many believe that when a veteran dies that his or her VA benefits end. That is not true in all cases. For example if the deceased veteran served during a wartime era (WWII, Korea, Vietnam) and had at least 90 days of active military service, the widow of the deceased veteran may be entitled to a death pension from the VA. The death pension is based upon the widow’s income and health care needs, whether at home paying for home health aides or in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility.

Additionally, if the veteran died of a service connected disability or was 100 percent disabled at the time of death, the widow may be entitled to Dependent Indemnity Compensation. If eligible these are benefits that may be awarded to the surviving spouse of a qualified veteran for the rest of her life. It is important to remember that every family member’s situation may be different, so it is important to call our Chautauqua County Veterans Service Agency and see if you qualify. You can call NY connects at 753-4582, 363-4582 or 661-7582 or e-mail us at CCNYC@co.chautauqua.ny.us. and we can assist you with information and even help with making a referral for you or your loved one to the correct Veterans service office. The Veterans office in Jamestown is 610 W. Third St. and in Dunkirk it is at 166 E. Fourth St.

The NY Connects Helpline at 753-4582, 363-4582 or 661-7582 or e-mail us at CCNYC@co.chautauqua.ny.us. NY Connects is the place to call to get connected to the help you need. NY Connects assists people of all ages. NY Connects offers information and assistance services and it is confidential and free and focused on the consumer’s needs and resources available to them. NY Connects is brought to you by the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging and the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services.