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Jackson County, IL Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts for Jackson County, Illinois.

Offices for Jackson County

Illinois Dept of Veterans' Affairs - Jackson County

Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Carbondale

Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.

Area served: Jackson County. Physical office: Carbondale, Jackson County.

1130 E Walnut St, Room 108, Carbondale, IL, 62901

Monday & Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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

Getting help in Jackson County

Contact the listed county or regional service for benefits assistance. Confirm the appointment, eligibility and meeting location with the provider.

Official service information (opens in a new tab) · Official service information (opens in a new tab) · Official service information (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 Jackson County

The ACS estimates about 2,160, give or take 247 civilian veterans in Jackson County.

By ACS estimates, Jackson County has the 39th largest veteran population among Illinois's 102 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureJackson CountyIllinoisUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating25 percent

above the Illinois share; below the national share.

22 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher10 percent

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

10 percent13 percent

Jackson County has about 590, give or take 102 veterans 75 and older, making up 27 percent of its veterans compared with 29 percent in Illinois.

Veterans under 35 in Jackson County number about 221, give or take 83; their 10 percent share is above Illinois's 8 percent.

Women veterans account for 7 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Jackson County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Jackson County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureJackson CountyIllinoisUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$47,472 ± $6,752$53,526 ± $625$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$28,865 ± $1,538$43,938 ± $182$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over7.1% ± 3.4 points7.4% ± 0.3 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over37.6% ± 6.5 points29.5% ± 0.5 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6466.6% ± 8.6 points75.8% ± 0.6 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 649.6% ± 7.9 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over96.7% ± 1.4 points95.1% ± 0.3 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over39.1% ± 8.0 points28.4% ± 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 slightly fewer veterans here by 2035; both years round to about 3,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Jackson County

VA reports 1,021 veterans in Jackson County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent220
30 to 40 percent107
50 to 60 percent130
70 to 90 percent340
100 percent224

FY2019: 863 recipients. Change to FY2025: +158.

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 Jackson County

In 2025, lenders reported 59 VA-backed home loans out of 500 home loans made in Jackson County (11.8% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $207,000.

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 664, give or take 137) and post-9/11 only (about 388, give or take 126).

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

VA money in Jackson County

VA reported about $29.8 million in compensation and pension spending and about $34.9 million in medical care spending in Jackson County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

Outside Illinois, in St. Louis, MO, St. Louis VA Medical Center-Jefferson Barracks (opens in a new tab) is Jackson County's second-nearest medical center, about 70 miles in a straight line from the county center.

Outside Illinois, in Creve Coeur, MO, St. Louis Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Jackson County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 82 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Chicago RO (station 328); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Mound City National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
141 State Highway 37 Mound City, IL 62963
618-694-1391

About 49.6 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Sunset Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
1707 N 12th St Quincy, IL 62301
217-222-8641

About 185.5 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.

Cleanup and former military sites in Jackson 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, Southern Illinois CoC counted 12 veterans experiencing homelessness (12 sheltered, 0 unsheltered).

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

The HUD workbook reports 17 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 Marion VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 618-997-5311. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Jackson 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)

Cities and towns in Jackson County

  • Carbondale (city): about 22,158 residents
  • Murphysboro (city): about 6,735 residents
  • De Soto (village): about 1,654 residents
  • Harrison (unincorporated community): about 830 residents
  • Elkville (village): about 751 residents
More places (7)
  • Makanda (village): about 612 residents
  • Ava (city): about 561 residents
  • Grand Tower (city): about 502 residents
  • Campbell Hill (village): about 328 residents
  • Vergennes (village): about 303 residents
  • Dowell (village): about 299 residents
  • Gorham (village): about 248 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)

Illinois benefits

Illinois provides a primary residence assessment exemption for qualifying veterans rated 70 to 100 percent service-connected.

Dependents of qualifying Illinois veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total disability can receive a public college scholarship.

See every Illinois 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 Illinois listings

Nearby counties

Sources and method

ACS 2020-2024; VA FY2025; geography/locations/benefits 2026; adjacency 2024. Distances: straight line from county center. Full method.

VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents near Jackson County

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

Tiffanny Sievers

Attorney · Marion · IL · About 25 miles away

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 9610

4.6 · 30 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Illinois

Martin Parsons

Attorney · Carterville · IL · About 25 miles away

VA-accredited since 2016 · checked

VA accreditation number 38305

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Your state: Illinois

Ryan Taylor

Attorney · Carbondale · IL · About 25 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 57047

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Your state: Illinois

Thomas Downey

Attorney · Carbondale · IL · About 25 miles away

VA-accredited since 2022 · checked

VA accreditation number 51738

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

Your state: Illinois

VA-accredited attorneys in Illinois

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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