Find Kern County veterans services in Bakersfield. Compare the published contact details and schedules below before choosing a location.
Kern County has about 31,800 veterans, and by ACS estimates it has the 12th largest veteran population among California's 58 counties and equivalents. The largest service-era group is Vietnam era only, at about 9,200; Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served. For free claims help, contact Kern County Veterans Services in Bakersfield, where an accredited VSO representative can help at no cost. By appointment; call for available times and confirm availability before traveling. CalVet provides information and referrals, not claims help; tell CalVet your county and ask for the current local or regional claims contact. From the county center, the Bakersfield VA Clinic is 18 miles away, the Bakersfield Vet Center is 17 miles away, and the Sepulveda VA Medical Center is 78 miles away. These are straight-line distances, not driving distances. The linked state page gives full benefit terms.
County veterans services
County veterans benefits and claims assistance. Schedule an appointment before visiting.
1120 Golden State Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301By appointment; call for available times.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the California directory.
By appointment; call for available times. Schedule an appointment before visiting.
Official service and access information (opens in a new tab)
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 31,800, give or take 1,350 civilian veterans in Kern County.
By ACS estimates, Kern County has the 12th largest veteran population among California's 58 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Kern County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 36 percent above the California share; above the national share. | 29 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 14 percent above the California share; above the national share. | 12 percent | 13 percent |
Kern County has about 7,330, give or take 469 veterans 75 and older, making up 23 percent of its veterans compared with 30 percent in California.
Veterans under 35 in Kern County number about 4,320, give or take 621; their 14 percent share is above California's 10 percent.
Women veterans in Kern County number about 3,130, give or take 398; their 10 percent share is above California's 9 percent.
| Measure | Kern County | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $54,673 ± $3,292 | $59,258 ± $574 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $31,763 ± $482 | $43,129 ± $137 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 10.3% ± 1.8 points | 8.0% ± 0.2 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 30.3% ± 2.0 points | 30.5% ± 0.3 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 68.7% ± 1.6 points | 72.5% ± 0.5 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 8.9% ± 3.9 points | 5.8% ± 0.3 points | 4.1% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 93.8% ± 1.2 points | 95.2% ± 0.1 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 25.4% ± 1.7 points | 35.4% ± 0.4 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 26,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 32,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 13,536 veterans in Kern County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 2,885 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 1,356 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 1,643 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 4,169 |
| 100 percent | 3,483 |
FY2019: 11,533 recipients. Change to FY2025: +2,003.
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 1,229 VA-backed home loans out of 14,916 home loans made in Kern County (8.2% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $396,000.
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 9,200, give or take 699) and post-9/11 only (about 7,880, give or take 789).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $364.2 million in compensation and pension spending and about $161.2 million in medical care spending in Kern County for FY2025.
Sepulveda VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
16111 Plummer Street, Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center, Sepulveda, CA 91343-2036
New-patient wait for mental health: 51 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 52 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 78 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Bakersfield VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
1801 Westwind Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93301-3028
New-patient wait for mental health: 57 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 49 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 18 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Bakersfield Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
1110 Golden State Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301-2416
about 17 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Los Angeles VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
11000 Wilshire Blvd., Federal Building, Los Angeles, CA 90024
about 91 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Kern County is West Los Angeles VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Los Angeles, CA, about 91 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Kern County is Bakersfield Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Bakersfield, CA, about 17 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Oakland RO (station 343) and Los Angeles RO (station 344) and San Diego RO (station 377); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Bakersfield National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
30338 E Bear Mountain Boulevard Arvin, CA 93203
661-867-2250
About 7.5 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Big Sandy Rancheria Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
37387 Auberry Mission Rd Auberry, CA 93602
559-374-0066
About 126.3 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, Bakersfield/Kern County CoC counted 93 veterans experiencing homelessness (44 sheltered, 49 unsheltered).
CA-604 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).
The HUD workbook reports 121 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 Sepulveda VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 818-891-7711. 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 1 veterans treatment court in Kern 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)
Qualifying California veterans rated or compensated at 100 percent receive an annually adjusted basic residence exemption.
California Plan A waives public college system tuition and fees for eligible children of qualifying totally service-connected disabled veterans.
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. The summary paragraph was drafted by AI from the facts on this page and checked automatically against them. Full method.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
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