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St. Mary Parish, LA Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts for St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.

Offices for St. Mary Parish

LDVA St. Mary Parish veterans office - Franklin

Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs

Type of help
Benefits and claims assistance
Location
Franklin

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

Area served: St. Mary Parish. Physical office: Franklin, St. Mary Parish.

500 Main Street, Franklin, Louisiana 70538

Monday: 9:30 am - 3:00 pm; Tuesday: 9:30 am - 3:00 pm; Wednesday: 9:30 am - 3:00 pm; Thursday: 9:30 am - 3:00 pm; Friday: Closed; Saturday: Closed; Sunday: Closed

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

Getting help in St. Mary Parish

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 St. Mary Parish

The ACS estimates about 1,850, give or take 316 civilian veterans in St. Mary Parish.

By ACS estimates, St. Mary Parish has the 25th largest veteran population among Louisiana's 64 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureSt. Mary ParishLouisianaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating28 percent

below the Louisiana share; below the national share.

30 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher10 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Veterans 75 and older in St. Mary Parish number about 455, give or take 131; their 25 percent share is above Louisiana's 24 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 8 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in St. Mary Parish; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 6 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in St. Mary Parish; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in St. Mary Parish

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureSt. Mary ParishLouisianaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$38,012 ± $5,570$48,927 ± $1,145$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$29,838 ± $1,361$32,904 ± $301$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over13.0% ± 5.9 points10.2% ± 0.6 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over34.0% ± 6.7 points33.9% ± 0.9 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6477.2% ± 13.7 points70.6% ± 1.2 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 641.7% ± 7.5 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over87.3% ± 5.5 points94.7% ± 0.4 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over15.5% ± 6.8 points25.9% ± 0.9 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 St. Mary Parish

VA reports 705 veterans in St. Mary Parish receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent180
30 to 40 percent70
50 to 60 percent73
70 to 90 percent219
100 percent163

FY2019: 594 recipients. Change to FY2025: +111.

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 St. Mary Parish

In 2025, lenders reported 29 VA-backed home loans out of 416 home loans made in St. Mary Parish (7.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $232,000.

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 698, give or take 178) and Gulf War (1990s) only (about 309, give or take 128).

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

VA money in St. Mary Parish

VA reported about $19.1 million in compensation and pension spending and about $17.4 million in medical care spending in St. Mary Parish for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to St. Mary Parish is Alexandria VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Pineville, LA, about 133 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to St. Mary Parish is Baton Rouge Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Baton Rouge, LA, about 59 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists New Orleans RO (station 321); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Louisiana National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
303 W Mount Pleasant Road Zachary, LA 70791
225-654-1988

About 71.4 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
1620 Evangeline Rd Jennings, LA 70546
337-246-7094

About 82.2 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 St. Mary Parish

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to St. Mary Parish.

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, Lafayette/Acadiana CoC counted 28 veterans experiencing homelessness (21 sheltered, 7 unsheltered).

LA-500 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 24 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 New Orleans VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 800-935-8387. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving St. Mary Parish

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 St. Mary Parish

  • Morgan City (city): about 11,064 residents
  • Franklin (city): about 6,461 residents
  • Patterson (city): about 5,744 residents
  • Berwick (town): about 4,607 residents
  • Bayou Vista (unincorporated community): about 3,842 residents
More places (7)
  • Baldwin (town): about 1,962 residents
  • Amelia (unincorporated community): about 1,712 residents
  • Charenton (unincorporated community): about 1,440 residents
  • Centerville (unincorporated community): about 685 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Sorrel (unincorporated community): about 564 residents
  • Siracusaville (unincorporated community): about 515 residents (small survey sample; treat as rough)
  • Glencoe (unincorporated community): about 144 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)

Louisiana benefits

Louisiana veterans rated 100 percent service-connected receive a primary residence exemption from ad valorem taxes, except certain municipal assessments.

Louisiana offers in-state tuition exemptions to eligible children of living veterans rated at least 90 percent or receiving 100 percent individual unemployability.

See every Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 St. Mary Parish

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

Wilbert Billiot

Attorney · Houma · LA · About 43 miles away

VA-accredited since 2025 · checked

VA accreditation number 59533

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

Your state: Louisiana

Jennings Jones III

Attorney · Lafayette · LA

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 10690

5.0 · 3 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Louisiana

Kelly Stribling

Attorney · New Orleans · LA

VA-accredited since 2022 · checked

VA accreditation number 52423

1.0 · 2 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Louisiana

Michael Sepanik

Attorney · Metairie · LA · About 84 miles away

VA-accredited since 2011 · checked

VA accreditation number 21533

5.0 · 13 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Louisiana

Shereka Devall

Claims agent · Monroe · LA · About 201 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 61423

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

Your state: Louisiana

VA-accredited attorneys in Louisiana

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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