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

Find veterans benefits contacts for Williamson County, Illinois.

Offices for Williamson County

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

Getting help in Williamson 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)

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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 Williamson County

The ACS estimates about 4,590, give or take 381 civilian veterans in Williamson County.

By ACS estimates, Williamson County has the 19th largest veteran population among Illinois's 102 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureWilliamson CountyIllinoisUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating28 percent

above the Illinois share; below the national share.

22 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher13 percent

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

10 percent13 percent

Williamson County has about 1,050, give or take 163 veterans 75 and older, making up 23 percent of its veterans compared with 29 percent in Illinois.

Williamson County has about 298, give or take 119 veterans under 35, making up 7 percent of its veterans compared with 8 percent in Illinois.

Williamson County has about 433, give or take 139 women veterans; both the county and Illinois round to a 9 percent share.

Income, work and education in Williamson County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureWilliamson CountyIllinoisUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$55,432 ± $4,723$53,526 ± $625$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$37,950 ± $1,868$43,938 ± $182$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over8.9% ± 2.5 points7.4% ± 0.3 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over37.1% ± 5.7 points29.5% ± 0.5 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6473.8% ± 7.4 points75.8% ± 0.6 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 641.2% ± 1.9 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over96.4% ± 1.8 points95.1% ± 0.3 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over32.2% ± 5.3 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 5,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Williamson County

VA reports 1,841 veterans in Williamson County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent403
30 to 40 percent205
50 to 60 percent218
70 to 90 percent558
100 percent457

FY2019: 1,316 recipients. Change to FY2025: +525.

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 Williamson County

In 2025, lenders reported 141 VA-backed home loans out of 1,127 home loans made in Williamson County (12.5% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $245,000.

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 1,380, give or take 252) and Gulf War (1990s) only (about 843, give or take 204).

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

VA money in Williamson County

VA reported about $45.1 million in compensation and pension spending and about $90.3 million in medical care spending in Williamson 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 Williamson County's second-nearest medical center, about 91 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Williamson County is Metro East Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Swansea, IL, about 81 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 46.5 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 203.6 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 Williamson County

EPA Superfund National Priorities List

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 Williamson 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 Williamson County

  • Marion (city): about 16,836 residents
  • Herrin (city): about 12,226 residents
  • Carterville (city): about 5,818 residents
  • Johnston City (city): about 3,327 residents
  • Crainville (village): about 1,641 residents
More places (12)
  • Cambria (village): about 1,300 residents
  • Energy (village): about 1,050 residents
  • Hurst (city): about 700 residents
  • Pittsburg (village): about 682 residents
  • Crab Orchard (unincorporated community): about 394 residents
  • Bush (village): about 354 residents
  • Creal Springs (city): about 324 residents
  • Whiteash (unincorporated community): about 301 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Spillertown (village): about 246 residents
  • Blairsville (unincorporated community): about 231 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Colp (village): about 223 residents
  • Freeman Spur (village): about 149 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 Williamson County

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

Tiffanny Sievers

Attorney · Marion · IL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 9610

4.6 · 30 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Illinois

Martin Parsons

Attorney · Carterville · IL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2016 · checked

VA accreditation number 38305

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Your state: Illinois

Ryan Taylor

Attorney · Carbondale · IL · In your county

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 57047

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Your state: Illinois

Thomas Downey

Attorney · Carbondale · IL · In your county

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

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