- Type of help
- Claims assistance
- Location
- The Villages
DAV service office documented by DAV Florida.
8900 SE 165th Mulberry Lane, The Villages, FL 32162Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Local help and county facts
Sumter County, FL Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address
Find veterans benefits contacts serving Sumter County, Florida. Compare the listed providers and contact an office directly.
Sumter County has about 18,300 veterans, give or take 1,350, and the 28th largest veteran population among Florida's 67 counties and equivalents. Veterans 75 and older make up 51 percent of the county's veterans, above Florida's 30 percent. The largest service era is Vietnam era only, with about 8,700 veterans, give or take 789; Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served. For care, The Villages VA Clinic is 19 miles away and the Lake Baldwin VA Clinic is 46 miles away, measured in a straight line from the county center. Free claims help is listed at offices in The Villages and Wildwood; confirm availability before traveling. AMVETS offers free remote claims assistance. PVA and FDVA provide referrals or routing, not claims representation.
Offices for Sumter County
- Type of help
- Claims assistance
- Location
- The Villages
State veterans service officer site; statewide access is available through FDVA.
8900 SE 165th Mulberry Lane, Rooms 162/164, The Villages, FL 32162Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
Sumter County Veterans Services - Wildwood
County veterans services
- Type of help
- Claims assistance
- Location
- Wildwood
County veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the office for an appointment and ask what to bring.
7375 Powell Road, Ste. 105, Wildwood, FL 34785Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Florida directory.
Getting help in Sumter County
Sumter County Veterans Services - Wildwood: Appointment only. Confirm the service location, hours and appointment with the provider before traveling.
County Veterans Service Officers Directory (opens in a new tab) · Sumter 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) 387-1649Veterans in Sumter County
The ACS estimates about 18,300, give or take 1,350 civilian veterans in Sumter County.
By ACS estimates, Sumter County has the 28th largest veteran population among Florida's 67 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Sumter County | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 26 percent below the Florida share; below the national share. | 31 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 8 percent below the Florida share; below the national share. | 14 percent | 13 percent |
Veterans 75 and older in Sumter County number about 9,390, give or take 855; their 51 percent share is above Florida's 30 percent.
Veterans under 35 account for 1 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Sumter County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Sumter County has about 1,450, give or take 422 women veterans, making up 8 percent of its veterans compared with 11 percent in Florida.
Income, work and education in Sumter County
| Measure | Sumter County | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $58,387 ± $4,496 | $52,753 ± $469 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $37,368 ± $1,498 | $36,879 ± $115 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 3.7% ± 1.3 points | 7.6% ± 0.2 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 31.0% ± 3.6 points | 31.0% ± 0.3 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 59.6% ± 11.2 points | 71.2% ± 0.5 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 0.0% ± 2.7 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 97.3% ± 1.4 points | 95.9% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 42.2% ± 4.6 points | 35.0% ± 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 more veterans here in 2035: about 18,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 16,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA disability compensation in Sumter County
VA reports 6,376 veterans in Sumter County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 1,624 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 764 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 727 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 1,648 |
| 100 percent | 1,613 |
FY2019: 3,532 recipients. Change to FY2025: +2,844.
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 Sumter County
In 2025, lenders reported 444 VA-backed home loans out of 5,762 home loans made in Sumter County (7.7% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $366,000.
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).
When they served
The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 8,700, give or take 789) and between the Korean War and Vietnam eras (about 2,390, give or take 630).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA money in Sumter County
VA reported about $165.1 million in compensation and pension spending and about $107.5 million in medical care spending in Sumter County for FY2025.
Nearest VA locations
VA medical center
Lake Baldwin VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
5201 Raymond Street, Orlando, FL 32803-8208
New-patient wait for mental health: 6 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 19 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 46 miles in a straight line from the county center.
VA clinic
The Villages VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
8900 Southeast 165th Mulberry Lane, The Villages, FL 32162-5884
New-patient wait for mental health: 41 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 19 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 19 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Vet Center
Clermont Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
1655 East Highway 50, Suite 102, Clermont, FL 34711
about 24 miles in a straight line from the county center.
VA regional benefit office
St. Petersburg VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
9500 Bay Pines Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33744
about 75 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Sumter County is James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital (opens in a new tab) in Tampa, FL, about 50 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Sumter County is Ocala Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Ocala, FL, about 31 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 11.1 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 224.5 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 Sumter County
Formerly Used Defense Sites
- BUSHNELL ARMY AIRFIELD (opens in a new tab)
- LEESBURG AIR SERVICE CENTER (opens in a new tab)
- LEESBURG POW CAMP (opens in a new tab)
- WITHLACOOCHEE CWS SITE (opens in a new tab)
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 Lake Baldwin VA Clinic (opens in a new tab), 407-646-5500. Ask for the homeless coordinator.
Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Sumter County
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul South Pinellas, Inc.: 1-844-455-7783
VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).
Veterans treatment courts in Sumter County
The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Sumter 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 Sumter County
- The Villages (unincorporated community): about 83,498 residents
- Wildwood (city): about 17,608 residents
- Lake Panasoffkee (unincorporated community): about 4,768 residents
- Bushnell (city): about 3,187 residents
- Webster (city): about 1,574 residents
More places (2)
- Center Hill (city): about 1,304 residents
- Coleman (city): about 705 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
- VA disability calculator
- Back pay calculator
- Florida veteran benefits
- Claims guide
- Presumptive conditions
- Condition guides
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.
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
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 Sumter County
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
Eric Millhorn
Attorney · Oxford · FL · In your county
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Claim this profile, freeSarah Elyaman
Attorney · The Villages · FL · In your county
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