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Jay County, IN Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts for Jay County, Indiana.

Offices for Jay County

Jay County Veterans Service Office

Jay County Veterans Service Office

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Portland

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

Area served: Jay County. Physical office: Portland, Jay County.

Courthouse, First Floor, 120 West Main Street, Portland, IN 47371-2116

Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 AM-1:00 PM 2:00 PM-4:00 PM (260) 726-6914

Other offices serving Jay County

Northeast District Service Officer

Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Indiana

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

Area served: Adams County, Allen County, Blackford County, DeKalb County, Delaware County, Grant County, Howard County, Huntington County, Jay County, LaGrange County, Madison County, Miami County, Noble County, Randolph County, Steuben County, Tipton County, Wabash County, Wells County, Whitley County.

Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.

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

Getting help in Jay 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)

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 Jay County

The ACS estimates about 907, give or take 167 civilian veterans in Jay County.

Among Indiana's 92 counties and equivalents, Jay County ranks 79th by its estimated number of veterans.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureJay CountyIndianaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating22 percent

below the Indiana share; below the national share.

27 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher3 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Veterans 75 and older in Jay County number about 306, give or take 81; their 34 percent share is above Indiana's 26 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 3 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Jay County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 4 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Jay County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Jay County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureJay CountyIndianaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$31,594 ± $7,503$48,849 ± $522$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$33,090 ± $1,339$39,059 ± $236$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over6.8% ± 3.8 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over36.6% ± 9.7 points31.6% ± 0.6 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6472.6% ± 6.2 points75.7% ± 0.9 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.0% ± 15.4 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over91.5% ± 4.4 points94.7% ± 0.3 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over11.0% ± 5.5 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

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 1,000 on September 30, 2026, and fewer than 1,000 by September 30, 2035. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Jay County

VA reports 412 veterans in Jay County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent176
30 to 40 percent63
50 to 60 percent50
70 to 90 percent79
100 percent44

FY2019: 341 recipients. Change to FY2025: +71.

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 Jay County

In 2025, lenders reported 14 VA-backed home loans out of 400 home loans made in Jay County (3.5% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $165,000.

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 321, give or take 98) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 146, give or take 70).

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

VA money in Jay County

VA reported about $7.4 million in compensation and pension spending and about $6.7 million in medical care spending in Jay County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Jay County is Fort Wayne VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Fort Wayne, IN, about 46 miles in a straight line from the county center.

Outside Indiana, in Kettering, OH, Dayton Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Jay County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 69 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Indianapolis RO (station 326); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Marion National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
1700 E 38th Street Marion, IN 46952
765-674-0284

About 33.6 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
1415 North Gate Rd Madison, IN 47250
812-273-9220

About 118.2 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 Jay County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Jay 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, Indiana Balance of State CoC counted 252 veterans experiencing homelessness (200 sheltered, 52 unsheltered).

IN-502 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid). This Balance of State area covers communities outside separate local CoCs.

The HUD workbook reports 303 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), 765-674-3321. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Jay 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 Jay County

  • Portland (city): about 6,416 residents
  • Dunkirk (city): about 1,861 residents
  • Redkey (town): about 1,332 residents
  • Pennville (town): about 619 residents
  • Bryant (town): about 258 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
More places (1)
  • Salamonia (town): about 218 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)

Indiana benefits

Qualifying Indiana veterans rated 100 percent can deduct 100 percent of assessed homestead value when an eligible nonprofit donated the home.

Eligible children of Indiana wartime veterans with service-connected disability can receive tuition and fee exemptions for up to 124 credits at state universities.

See every Indiana 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 Indiana 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 Jay County

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

Jesica Thorson

Attorney · Fort Wayne · IN · About 45 miles away

VA-accredited since 2011 · checked

VA accreditation number 19347

4.1 · 35 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Indiana

Heidi Adair

Attorney · Fort Wayne · IN · About 45 miles away

VA-accredited since 2011 · checked

VA accreditation number 20285

3.6 · 10 reviews · Firm rating

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Send a consultation request to Heidi Adair

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

Your state: Indiana

Charles Backs

Attorney · Fort Wayne · IN · About 45 miles away

VA-accredited since 2009 · checked

VA accreditation number 11787

3.9 · 18 reviews · Firm rating

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Are you Charles Backs? Update your details and see your referral activity.

Claim this profile, free

Send a consultation request to Charles Backs

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

Your state: Indiana

VA-accredited attorneys in Indiana

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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