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Ellis County, KS Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts for Ellis County, Kansas.

Offices for Ellis County

KOVS Hays Field Office

Kansas Office of Veterans Services

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Hays

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

Area served: Barton County, Ellis County, Ellsworth County, Graham County, Jewell County, Ness County, Norton County, Osborne County, Pawnee County, Phillips County, Rooks County, Rush County, Russell County, Smith County, Trego County. Physical office: Hays, Ellis County.

205 East 7th Street, Suites 106 and 107, Hays, KS 67601

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

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

Getting help in Ellis 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)

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 Ellis County

The ACS estimates about 879, give or take 186 civilian veterans in Ellis County.

By ACS estimates, Ellis County has the 32nd largest veteran population among Kansas's 105 counties and equivalents.

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

the same rounded estimate as the Kansas share; below the national share.

28 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher15 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Veterans 75 and older in Ellis County number about 272, give or take 91; their 31 percent share is above Kansas's 26 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 10 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Ellis County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

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

Income, work and education in Ellis County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureEllis CountyKansasUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$37,460 ± $9,801$53,041 ± $964$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$31,224 ± $1,348$40,823 ± $270$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over16.4% ± 9.8 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over34.7% ± 10.1 points31.6% ± 0.7 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6482.4% ± 13.6 points75.4% ± 1.3 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.0% ± 12.1 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over90.3% ± 8.2 points96.7% ± 0.4 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over31.2% ± 10.2 points31.7% ± 1.0 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 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 Ellis County

VA reports 365 veterans in Ellis County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent90
30 to 40 percent49
50 to 60 percent45
70 to 90 percent107
100 percent74

FY2019: 275 recipients. Change to FY2025: +90.

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 Ellis County

In 2025, lenders reported 26 VA-backed home loans out of 308 home loans made in Ellis County (8.4% 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 361, give or take 139) and Gulf War (1990s) only (about 144, give or take 82; a small survey sample; treat as rough).

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

VA money in Ellis County

VA reported about $8.7 million in compensation and pension spending and about $9.0 million in medical care spending in Ellis County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

Outside Kansas, in Grand Island, NE, Grand Island VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) is Ellis County's second-nearest medical center, about 149 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Ellis County is Wichita Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Wichita, KS, about 138 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Wichita RO (station 452); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Fort McPherson National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
12004 S Spur 56A Maxwell, NE 69151
308-582-4433

About 159.2 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Kansas Veterans Cemetery at WaKeeney (opens in a new tab)
403 S 13th St WaKeeney, KS 67672
785-743-5685

About 30.6 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 Ellis County

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, Kansas Balance of State CoC counted 79 veterans experiencing homelessness (62 sheltered, 17 unsheltered).

KS-507 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 66 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 Robert J. Dole Department of Veterans Affairs Medical and Regional Office Center (opens in a new tab), 316-685-2221. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Ellis 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 Ellis County

  • Hays (city): about 21,143 residents
  • Ellis (city): about 2,189 residents
  • Victoria (city): about 1,095 residents
  • Munjor (unincorporated community): about 247 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Catharine (unincorporated community): about 186 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
More places (1)
  • Schoenchen (city): about 181 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)

Kansas benefits

Qualifying Kansas veterans rated at least 50 percent service-connected can receive an income-based homestead refund of up to $700.

Kansas offers qualifying dependents and spouses of disabled military personnel a public college tuition and required fee waiver, subject to appropriated funding.

See every Kansas 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 Kansas 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 Ellis County

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

J. Clinkscales

Attorney · Hays · KS · In your county

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 13871

4.9 · 54 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Kansas

Kenneth Carpenter

Attorney · Topeka · KS

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 9031

4.2 · 54 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Kansas

Virginia Girard-Brady

Attorney · Lawrence · KS · About 216 miles away

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 9051

5.0 · 6 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Kansas

Benjamin Malotte

Attorney · Lawrence · KS · About 216 miles away

VA-accredited since 2018 · checked

VA accreditation number 45538

4.4 · 17 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Kansas

Sydney Michels

Attorney · Lawrence · KS · About 216 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 60912

5.0 · 6 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Kansas

VA-accredited attorneys in Kansas

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