Find veterans benefits contacts for Lake County, Indiana.
Lake County has the 2nd largest veteran population among Indiana's 92 counties and equivalents, by ACS estimates. Veterans 75 and older make up 28 percent of the county’s veterans, above Indiana’s 26 percent. The largest service era is Vietnam era only, with about 8,030 veterans, give or take 654. If you have Agent Orange exposure questions, where and when you served matter. The Lake County Veterans Service Office in Crown Point handles claims; an accredited VSO representative can help with claims at no cost, so confirm availability before traveling. The Indiana Veterans Center statewide contact and other listed organizations can refer you to a current representative. The Adam Benjamin Jr., Veterans' Administration Outpatient Clinic is 2 miles away, and the Gary Area Vet Center is 3 miles away. Distances are straight-line measurements from the county center.
Lake County Veterans Service Office
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Lake County. Physical office: Crown Point, Lake County.
Government Center, 2293 North Main Street, Room 100, Crown Point, IN 46307By Appointment Only 8:00-4:30
Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans benefits and claims assistance. Contact the provider to arrange help and confirm what to bring.
Area served: Benton County, Carroll County, Cass County, Elkhart County, Fulton County, Jasper County, Kosciusko County, LaPorte County, Lake County, Marshall County, Newton County, Porter County, Pulaski County, St. Joseph County, Starke County, Tippecanoe County, White County.
Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Indiana 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)
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 22,200, give or take 1,220 civilian veterans in Lake County.
By ACS estimates, Lake County has the 2nd largest veteran population among Indiana's 92 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Lake County | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 21 percent below the Indiana share; below the national share. | 27 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 8 percent below the Indiana share; below the national share. | 9 percent | 13 percent |
Veterans 75 and older in Lake County number about 6,230, give or take 438; their 28 percent share is above Indiana's 26 percent.
Lake County has about 1,310, give or take 332 veterans under 35, making up 6 percent of its veterans compared with 7 percent in Indiana.
Lake County has about 1,680, give or take 357 women veterans; both the county and Indiana round to a 8 percent share.
| Measure | Lake County | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $50,759 ± $2,721 | $48,849 ± $522 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $38,553 ± $833 | $39,059 ± $236 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 6.8% ± 1.3 points | 7.0% ± 0.3 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 28.0% ± 2.6 points | 31.6% ± 0.6 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 75.3% ± 3.7 points | 75.7% ± 0.9 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 4.3% ± 1.9 points | 3.9% ± 0.6 points | 4.1% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 94.1% ± 1.2 points | 94.7% ± 0.3 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 16.8% ± 1.7 points | 22.3% ± 0.6 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 18,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 24,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 6,346 veterans in Lake County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 1,216 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 739 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 768 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 2,024 |
| 100 percent | 1,599 |
FY2019: 5,014 recipients. Change to FY2025: +1,332.
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 670 VA-backed home loans out of 12,067 home loans made in Lake County (5.6% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $298,000.
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 8,030, give or take 654) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 3,770, give or take 415).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $183.4 million in compensation and pension spending and about $157.3 million in medical care spending in Lake County for FY2025.
Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
820 South Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612-3728
New-patient wait for mental health: 19 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 19 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 32 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Adam Benjamin Jr., Veterans' Administration Outpatient Clinic (opens in a new tab)
9301 Madison Street, Crown Point, IN 46307-7745
New-patient wait for mental health: 15 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 26 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 2 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Gary Area Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
107 East 93rd Avenue, Crown Point, IN 46307
about 3 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 32 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
Outside Indiana, in Hines, IL, Edward Hines Junior Hospital (opens in a new tab) is Lake County's second-nearest medical center, about 35 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Outside Indiana, in Richton Park, IL, Richton Park Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Lake County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 18 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Indianapolis RO (station 326); 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 39.2 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
1415 North Gate Rd Madison, IN 47250
812-273-9220
About 214.9 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, 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 Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 312-569-8387. 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 Lake 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)
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.
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.
Are you Adam Mindel? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you Brian Marlowe? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeAttorney · Munster · IN · In your county
Are you Erica McCain? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeAttorney · Merrillville · IN · In your county
Are you Bryan Bullock? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeAttorney · Munster · IN · In your county
Contact details not available. Check VA's accreditation search. (opens in a new tab)
Are you Joshua Matejczyk? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeVA-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.
Directories cover all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Choose another state.