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

Find veterans benefits contacts for Whitley County, Indiana.

Offices for Whitley County

Whitley County Veterans Service Office

Whitley County Veterans Service Office

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Columbia City

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

Area served: Whitley County. Physical office: Columbia City, Whitley County.

220 West Van Buren St. Suite 111, Columbia City, IN 46725

Call to confirm service hours; the state directory contains an inconsistent opening time.

Other offices serving Whitley 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 Whitley 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 Whitley County

The ACS estimates about 2,010, give or take 292 civilian veterans in Whitley County.

By ACS estimates, Whitley County has the 44th largest veteran population among Indiana's 92 counties and equivalents.

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

above the Indiana share; below the national share.

27 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher8 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Whitley County has about 352, give or take 100 veterans 75 and older, making up 18 percent of its veterans compared with 26 percent in Indiana.

Veterans under 35 in Whitley County number about 258, give or take 109; their 13 percent share is above Indiana's 7 percent.

Women veterans account for 7 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Whitley County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Whitley County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureWhitley CountyIndianaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$55,245 ± $10,092$48,849 ± $522$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$42,956 ± $1,871$39,059 ± $236$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over7.4% ± 4.7 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over25.6% ± 6.9 points31.6% ± 0.6 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6483.6% ± 3.4 points75.7% ± 0.9 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.0% ± 5.4 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over95.5% ± 2.9 points94.7% ± 0.3 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over20.4% ± 6.7 points22.3% ± 0.6 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 Whitley County

VA reports 716 veterans in Whitley County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent254
30 to 40 percent108
50 to 60 percent84
70 to 90 percent169
100 percent101

FY2019: 518 recipients. Change to FY2025: +198.

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 Whitley County

In 2025, lenders reported 61 VA-backed home loans out of 1,014 home loans made in Whitley County (6.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $313,000.

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 722, give or take 153) and post-9/11 only (about 432, give or take 160).

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

VA money in Whitley County

VA reported about $15.1 million in compensation and pension spending and about $14.8 million in medical care spending in Whitley County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Whitley County is Marion VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Marion, IN, about 43 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Whitley County is South Bend Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in South Bend, IN, about 51 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 42.9 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 164.8 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 Whitley County

EPA Superfund National Priorities List

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, 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 Fort Wayne VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 260-426-5431. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Whitley 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)

Veterans treatment courts in Whitley County

The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Whitley 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).

Cities and towns in Whitley County

  • Columbia City (city): about 9,897 residents
  • Churubusco (town): about 1,757 residents
  • South Whitley (town): about 1,660 residents
  • Tri-Lakes (unincorporated community): about 1,025 residents
  • Larwill (town): about 425 residents
More places (2)
  • Coesse (unincorporated community): about 154 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Laud (unincorporated community): about 101 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)

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 Whitley 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 23 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 23 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 23 miles away

VA-accredited since 2009 · checked

VA accreditation number 11787

3.9 · 18 reviews · Firm rating

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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

Kurt Bachman

Attorney · LaGrange · IN · About 35 miles away

VA-accredited since 2012 · checked

VA accreditation number 25664

5.0 · 4 reviews · Firm rating

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Are you Kurt Bachman? Update your details and see your referral activity.

Claim this profile, free

Send a consultation request to Kurt Bachman

Your request goes straight to Kurt Bachman'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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