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Citrus County, FL Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts serving Citrus County, Florida. Compare the listed providers and contact an office directly.

If you live in Citrus County, free claims help is available from an accredited VSO representative at Citrus County Veterans Services - Lecanto; contact the office to confirm availability, appointment needs and meeting location before traveling. AMVETS also says its VA-claims assistance is free and remote, with no membership required. PVA and FDVA offer referrals or routing to a service officer, not direct claims help. The county has about 17,700 veterans, give or take 892, and ranks 30th among Florida's 67 counties by ACS estimates. Vietnam era only is the largest service era, with about 7,360 veterans, give or take 559; Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served. Straight-line distances from the county center are 8 miles to Lecanto VA Clinic and 55 miles to James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa.

Offices for Citrus County

For statewide phone and remote help, see the Florida directory.

Getting help in Citrus County

Citrus County Veterans Services - Lecanto: Contact the provider to confirm appointment requirements and the meeting location. Confirm the service location, hours and appointment with the provider before traveling.

County Veterans Service Officers Directory (opens in a new tab) · Citrus County Veterans Services (opens in a new tab)

Office closed right now?

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) 387-1649

Veterans in Citrus County

The ACS estimates about 17,700, give or take 892 civilian veterans in Citrus County.

By ACS estimates, Citrus County has the 30th largest veteran population among Florida's 67 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureCitrus CountyFloridaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating30 percent

below the Florida share; the same rounded estimate as the national share.

31 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher15 percent

above the Florida share; above the national share.

14 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in Citrus County number about 6,950, give or take 491; their 39 percent share is above Florida's 30 percent.

Citrus County has about 657, give or take 217 veterans under 35, making up 4 percent of its veterans compared with 7 percent in Florida.

Citrus County has about 1,950, give or take 443 women veterans; both the county and Florida round to a 11 percent share.

Income, work and education in Citrus County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureCitrus CountyFloridaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$41,596 ± $2,156$52,753 ± $469$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$30,293 ± $1,190$36,879 ± $115$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over13.1% ± 3.8 points7.6% ± 0.2 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over37.0% ± 2.4 points31.0% ± 0.3 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6454.2% ± 5.2 points71.2% ± 0.5 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 644.5% ± 2.9 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over96.9% ± 0.9 points95.9% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over20.4% ± 2.4 points35.0% ± 0.4 points31.8% ± 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 14,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 17,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Citrus County

VA reports 6,667 veterans in Citrus County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent1,362
30 to 40 percent732
50 to 60 percent731
70 to 90 percent1,970
100 percent1,872

FY2019: 4,124 recipients. Change to FY2025: +2,543.

VA does not publish some small counts. Those show as “Not published.” VA county compensation data (opens in a new tab).

VA home loans in Citrus County

In 2025, lenders reported 765 VA-backed home loans out of 5,177 home loans made in Citrus County (14.8% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $304,000.

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).

HMDA 2025 and FHFA 2026 sources.

When they served

The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 7,360, give or take 559) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 2,650, give or take 506).

For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.

VA money in Citrus County

VA reported about $193.9 million in compensation and pension spending and about $160.7 million in medical care spending in Citrus County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Citrus County is Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Gainesville, FL, about 57 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Citrus County is Pasco County Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in New Port Richey, FL, about 43 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists St. Petersburg RO (station 317); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Florida National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
6502 SW 102nd Avenue Bushnell, FL 33513
352-793-7740

About 28.8 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Glennville (opens in a new tab)
8819 U.S. Hwy 301 Glennville, GA 30427
912-654-5398

About 218.5 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

This cemetery is in another state. State veterans cemeteries set their own eligibility rules, which can include residency in that state.

National Cemetery Administration lists checked October 2, 2026. Cemetery coverage and distance method.

Cleanup and former military sites in Citrus County

Formerly Used Defense Sites

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.

Veterans experiencing homelessness

On one night in January 2024, Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Sumter Counties CoC counted 49 veterans experiencing homelessness (17 sheltered, 32 unsheltered).

FL-520 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 57 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 James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital (opens in a new tab), 813-972-2000. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Citrus County

VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).

VA homeless programs (opens in a new tab)

Veterans treatment courts in Citrus County

The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Citrus 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).

Cities and towns in Citrus County

  • Homosassa Springs (unincorporated community): about 15,701 residents
  • Citrus Springs (unincorporated community): about 12,215 residents
  • Sugarmill Woods (unincorporated community): about 10,782 residents
  • Pine Ridge (unincorporated community): about 10,762 residents
  • Beverly Hills (unincorporated community): about 9,650 residents
More places (10)
  • Citrus Hills (unincorporated community): about 9,304 residents
  • Hernando (unincorporated community): about 9,299 residents
  • Inverness (city): about 7,770 residents
  • Inverness Highlands South (unincorporated community): about 7,449 residents
  • Lecanto (unincorporated community): about 7,398 residents
  • Floral City (unincorporated community): about 5,437 residents
  • Crystal River (city): about 3,638 residents
  • Inverness Highlands North (unincorporated community): about 2,830 residents
  • Homosassa (unincorporated community): about 1,942 residents
  • Black Diamond (unincorporated community): about 1,298 residents

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.

Free tools and help

For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. VA crisis support (opens in a new tab)

Florida benefits

Qualifying Florida veterans with at least 10 percent disability may receive a $5,000 assessed value reduction.

Florida offers scholarships to eligible children and spouses of veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability.

See every Florida benefit by rating

Get ready for your appointment

  • Your DD-214 or other discharge papers
  • Any VA decision letters you have received
  • Medical records you want to discuss

Full appointment checklist

Starting a new claim? Ask about an intent to file

Ask the office about VA Form 21-0966 to preserve a potential benefits start date while gathering evidence. Check your intent to file deadline.

Search or filter Florida listings

Nearby counties

Sources and method

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.

VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents near Citrus County

Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.

Margaret Shaw

Claims agent · Floral City · FL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 62244

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Send a consultation request to Margaret Shaw

Your request goes straight to Margaret Shaw's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Florida

Cornelius Suarez

Claims agent · Spring Hill · FL · About 21 miles away

VA-accredited since 2022 · checked

VA accreditation number 52346

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Send a consultation request to Cornelius Suarez

Your request goes straight to Cornelius Suarez's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Florida

Robert Evans

Claims agent · Bronson · FL · About 32 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 61502

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Your request goes straight to Robert Evans's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Florida

Douglas Bissi

Claims agent · New Port Richey · FL · About 38 miles away

VA-accredited since 2018 · checked

VA accreditation number 45205

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Send a consultation request to Douglas Bissi

Your request goes straight to Douglas Bissi's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Florida

VA-accredited attorneys in Florida

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