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

Find veterans benefits contacts for Livingston County, Illinois.

Offices for Livingston County

IDVA - Livingston County

Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Pontiac

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

Area served: Livingston County. Physical office: Pontiac, Livingston County.

110 West Water St., Pontiac, IL, 61764

Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

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

Getting help in Livingston 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 Livingston County

The ACS estimates about 1,940, give or take 284 civilian veterans in Livingston County.

By ACS estimates, Livingston County has the 41st largest veteran population among Illinois's 102 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureLivingston CountyIllinoisUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating18 percent

below the Illinois share; below the national share.

22 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher4 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Livingston County has about 559, give or take 116 veterans 75 and older; both the county and Illinois round to a 29 percent share.

Veterans under 35 account for 8 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Livingston County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 6 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Livingston County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Livingston County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureLivingston CountyIllinoisUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$51,641 ± $8,668$53,526 ± $625$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$39,478 ± $1,407$43,938 ± $182$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over8.1% ± 4.4 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over28.8% ± 6.6 points29.5% ± 0.5 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6473.1% ± 10.6 points75.8% ± 0.6 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 647.2% ± 8.0 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over94.4% ± 3.4 points95.1% ± 0.3 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over16.9% ± 6.0 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 2,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Livingston County

VA reports 485 veterans in Livingston County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent101
30 to 40 percent48
50 to 60 percent63
70 to 90 percent160
100 percent113

FY2019: 370 recipients. Change to FY2025: +115.

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 Livingston County

In 2025, lenders reported 48 VA-backed home loans out of 719 home loans made in Livingston County (6.7% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $236,000.

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 644, give or take 131) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 376, give or take 144).

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

VA money in Livingston County

VA reported about $11.7 million in compensation and pension spending and about $9.0 million in medical care spending in Livingston County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Livingston County is Edward Hines Junior Hospital (opens in a new tab) in Hines, IL, about 76 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Livingston County is Richton Park Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Richton Park, IL, about 59 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

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
20953 W Hoff Road Elwood, IL 60421
815-423-9958

About 40.9 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 163.3 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.

Cleanup and former military sites in Livingston 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, Bloomington/Central Illinois CoC counted 23 veterans experiencing homelessness (17 sheltered, 6 unsheltered).

IL-512 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 18 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 Danville VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 217-554-3000. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Livingston 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 Livingston County

  • Pontiac (city): about 11,294 residents
  • Dwight (village): about 3,872 residents
  • Fairbury (city): about 3,713 residents
  • Chatsworth (town): about 1,172 residents
  • Forrest (village): about 994 residents
More places (9)
  • Odell (village): about 890 residents
  • Flanagan (village): about 849 residents
  • Cullom (village): about 471 residents
  • Cornell (village): about 389 residents
  • Saunemin (village): about 352 residents
  • Long Point (village): about 245 residents
  • Campus (village): about 172 residents
  • Emington (village): about 131 residents
  • Strawn (village): about 94 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)

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 Livingston County

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

Kathleen Doran

Attorney · Dwight · IL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2015 · checked

VA accreditation number 35211

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

Your state: Illinois

Gerald Schmitt

Claims agent · New Lenox · IL · About 49 miles away

VA-accredited since 2009 · checked

VA accreditation number 15268

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

Your state: Illinois

Phillip Lee

Attorney · Joliet · IL · About 49 miles away

VA-accredited since 2014 · checked

VA accreditation number 31606

4.7 · 13 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Illinois

Heidi Keenan

Attorney · Frankfort · IL · About 49 miles away

VA-accredited since 2009 · checked

VA accreditation number 12116

5.0 · 3 reviews

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Your request goes straight to Heidi Keenan'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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