Find veterans benefits contacts for Will County, Illinois.
If you live in Will County, free claims help is available from an accredited VSO representative at the Will County Veterans Assistance Commission, Illinois Dept of Veterans' Affairs offices in Joliet and Lockport, and the American Legion (Itinerate) in Joliet; confirm availability before traveling. You can also contact the IDVA statewide Veteran Service Officer access or the listed DAV, American Legion, VFW, AMVETS, or PVA service routes to find a current representative and arrange benefits assistance. The county has the 2nd largest veteran population among Illinois's 102 counties and equivalents, and its largest service-era group is Vietnam era only, about 8,250, give or take 628. Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served. The Joliet VA Clinic is 7 miles away, measured in a straight line from the center of the county. The linked state page gives full benefit terms.
Will County Veterans Assistance Commission
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Will County.
Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Will County. Physical office: Joliet, Will County.
1300 Copperfield Ave. Suite 200, Joliet, IL, 60435Monday, Wednesday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Will County. Physical office: Joliet, Will County.
2625 Ingalls Ave., Joliet, IL, 60435Tuesdays, "Appointments Only"
Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Will County. Physical office: Lockport, Will County.
1463 S. Farrell Rd, Lockport, IL, 60041Monday - Thursday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (Closed on Fridays)
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Illinois directory.
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)
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) 387-1649The ACS estimates about 25,500, give or take 1,030 civilian veterans in Will County.
By ACS estimates, Will County has the 2nd largest veteran population among Illinois's 102 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Will County | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 20 percent below the Illinois share; below the national share. | 22 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 9 percent below the Illinois share; below the national share. | 10 percent | 13 percent |
Will County has about 6,920, give or take 466 veterans 75 and older, making up 27 percent of its veterans compared with 29 percent in Illinois.
Will County has about 1,990, give or take 345 veterans under 35; both the county and Illinois round to a 8 percent share.
Will County has about 2,290, give or take 302 women veterans; both the county and Illinois round to a 9 percent share.
| Measure | Will County | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $61,866 ± $2,394 | $53,526 ± $625 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $49,498 ± $707 | $43,938 ± $182 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 5.1% ± 1.0 points | 7.4% ± 0.3 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 27.0% ± 2.1 points | 29.5% ± 0.5 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 79.7% ± 2.2 points | 75.8% ± 0.6 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 4.6% ± 1.7 points | 4.7% ± 0.5 points | 4.1% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 95.9% ± 0.9 points | 95.1% ± 0.3 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 29.3% ± 2.5 points | 28.4% ± 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 fewer veterans here in 2035: about 24,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 26,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 7,061 veterans in Will County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 1,231 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 685 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 777 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 2,302 |
| 100 percent | 2,066 |
FY2019: 4,759 recipients. Change to FY2025: +2,302.
VA does not publish some small counts. Those show as “Not published.” VA county compensation data (opens in a new tab).
In 2025, lenders reported 762 VA-backed home loans out of 16,624 home loans made in Will County (4.6% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $393,000.
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).
The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 8,250, give or take 628) and post-9/11 only (about 4,340, give or take 518).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $210.3 million in compensation and pension spending and about $170.4 million in medical care spending in Will County for FY2025.
Edward Hines Junior Hospital (opens in a new tab)
5000 South 5th Avenue, Hines, IL 60141-3030
New-patient wait for mental health: 16 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 39 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 29 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Joliet VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
1201 Eagle Street, Joliet, IL 60432-2031
New-patient wait for mental health: 15 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 36 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 7 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Orland Park Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
8651 West 159th Street, Suite 4, Orland Park, IL 60462
about 13 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Chicago VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
2122 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612
about 33 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Will County is Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Chicago, IL, about 33 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Will County is Richton Park Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Richton Park, IL, about 13 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Chicago RO (station 328); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
20953 W Hoff Road Elwood, IL 60421
815-423-9958
About 8.5 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Sunset Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
1707 N 12th St Quincy, IL 62301
217-222-8641
About 206.9 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.
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.
On one night in January 2024, Joliet, Bolingbrook/Will County CoC counted 12 veterans experiencing homelessness (11 sheltered, 1 unsheltered).
IL-506 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 Edward Hines Junior Hospital (opens in a new tab), 708-202-8387. Ask for the homeless coordinator.
VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).
The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Will 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).
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.
For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. VA crisis support (opens in a new tab)
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.
Ask the office about VA Form 21-0966 to preserve a potential benefits start date while gathering evidence. Check your intent to file deadline.
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.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
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