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

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

You can get free claims help from an accredited VSO representative through Sarasota County Veterans Services in North Port, Sarasota, or Venice; confirm availability before traveling. The Sarasota and Venice offices are appointment only, so check the service location and hours as well. AMVETS also offers free remote VA-claims assistance, and membership is not required. PVA and FDVA provide referrals or routing to a service officer, rather than direct claims help. The Sarasota VA Clinic is 6 miles from the county center, and the Sarasota Vet Center is 7 miles; these are straight-line distances, not driving distances. Sarasota County’s largest veteran service-era group is Vietnam era only, at about 15,700, give or take 923. Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served. The linked state page has full benefit terms.

Offices for Sarasota County

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

Getting help in Sarasota County

Sarasota County Veterans Services - Sarasota: Appointment only. Sarasota County Veterans Services - Venice: Appointment only. Confirm the service location, hours and appointment with the provider before traveling.

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

The ACS estimates about 34,900, give or take 1,440 civilian veterans in Sarasota County.

By ACS estimates, Sarasota County has the 13th largest veteran population among Florida's 67 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureSarasota CountyFloridaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating22 percent

below the Florida share; below the national share.

31 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher8 percent

below the Florida share; below the national share.

14 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in Sarasota County number about 17,400, give or take 859; their 50 percent share is above Florida's 30 percent.

Sarasota County has about 992, give or take 277 veterans under 35, making up 3 percent of its veterans compared with 7 percent in Florida.

Sarasota County has about 1,890, give or take 294 women veterans, making up 5 percent of its veterans compared with 11 percent in Florida.

Income, work and education in Sarasota County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureSarasota CountyFloridaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$53,659 ± $3,308$52,753 ± $469$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$42,176 ± $583$36,879 ± $115$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over4.9% ± 0.8 points7.6% ± 0.2 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over35.1% ± 2.2 points31.0% ± 0.3 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6469.7% ± 4.4 points71.2% ± 0.5 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 644.4% ± 2.2 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over97.0% ± 0.7 points95.9% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over41.2% ± 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 26,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 33,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Sarasota County

VA reports 8,882 veterans in Sarasota County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent2,130
30 to 40 percent992
50 to 60 percent1,020
70 to 90 percent2,400
100 percent2,340

FY2019: 7,193 recipients. Change to FY2025: +1,689.

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 Sarasota County

In 2025, lenders reported 747 VA-backed home loans out of 12,535 home loans made in Sarasota County (6.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $430,000.

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 15,700, give or take 923) and between the Korean War and Vietnam eras (about 4,460, give or take 545).

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

VA money in Sarasota County

VA reported about $243.8 million in compensation and pension spending and about $168.5 million in medical care spending in Sarasota County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Sarasota County is James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital (opens in a new tab) in Tampa, FL, about 58 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Sarasota County is St. Petersburg Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in St. Petersburg, FL, about 44 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

Sarasota National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
9810 State Road 72 Sarasota, FL 34241
877-861-9840

About 3.1 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 328.6 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 Sarasota 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, Sarasota, Bradenton/Manatee, Sarasota Counties CoC counted 93 veterans experiencing homelessness (45 sheltered, 48 unsheltered).

FL-500 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 111 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 C.W. Bill Young Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 727-398-6661. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Sarasota 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 Sarasota County

The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Sarasota 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 Sarasota County

  • North Port (city): about 84,605 residents
  • Sarasota (city): about 56,970 residents
  • Venice (city): about 27,479 residents
  • Englewood (unincorporated community): about 20,091 residents
  • South Venice (unincorporated community): about 17,484 residents
More places (25)
  • Palmer Ranch (unincorporated community): about 16,867 residents
  • Fruitville (unincorporated community): about 15,172 residents
  • Sarasota Springs (unincorporated community): about 12,611 residents
  • Laurel (unincorporated community): about 11,741 residents
  • Bee Ridge (unincorporated community): about 10,334 residents
  • Gulf Gate (unincorporated community): about 7,998 residents
  • Osprey (unincorporated community): about 5,943 residents
  • Southgate (unincorporated community): about 5,772 residents
  • Siesta Key (unincorporated community): about 5,525 residents
  • The Meadows (unincorporated community): about 5,492 residents
  • Ridge Wood Heights (unincorporated community): about 5,366 residents
  • South Gate Ridge (unincorporated community): about 5,310 residents
  • South Sarasota (unincorporated community): about 4,837 residents
  • Plantation (unincorporated community): about 4,531 residents
  • Warm Mineral Springs (unincorporated community): about 4,470 residents
  • Kensington Park (unincorporated community): about 3,916 residents
  • Lake Sarasota (unincorporated community): about 3,595 residents
  • Nokomis (unincorporated community): about 3,452 residents
  • Venice Gardens (unincorporated community): about 3,280 residents
  • Vamo (unincorporated community): about 2,936 residents
  • North Sarasota (unincorporated community): about 2,824 residents
  • Old Miakka (unincorporated community): about 1,818 residents
  • Desoto Lakes (unincorporated community): about 1,735 residents
  • Desoto Acres (unincorporated community): about 641 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Pinecraft (unincorporated community): about 305 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)

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 Sarasota County

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

Brian Keisacker

Attorney · Sarasota · FL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2023 · checked

VA accreditation number 54005

4.9 · 405 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Florida

Brendan Baier

Attorney · Sarasota · FL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 60233

5.0 · 134 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Florida

William Sterbinsky

Attorney · Sarasota · FL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2018 · checked

VA accreditation number 45832

4.9 · 405 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Florida

Ryan Dell

Attorney · Sarasota · FL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 60791

5.0 · 132 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Florida

Christopher Neeley

Claims agent · Sarasota · FL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 61331

4.9 · 405 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Florida

VA-accredited attorneys in Florida

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.

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