Find veterans benefits contacts for Otsego County, Michigan.
Otsego County Veterans Services
County veterans service contact for benefits and claims questions. Confirm representation and appointments directly.
Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Michigan directory.
Otsego County Veterans Services appears in this guide. Call the provider to confirm the type of claims help, current appointment and meeting location.
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Call (833) 387-1649The ACS estimates about 2,050, give or take 304 civilian veterans in Otsego County.
Among Michigan's 83 counties and equivalents, Otsego County ranks 49th by its estimated number of veterans.
| Measure | Otsego County | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 24 percent the same rounded estimate as the Michigan share; below the national share. | 24 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 11 percent above the Michigan share; below the national share. | 10 percent | 13 percent |
Otsego County has about 485, give or take 112 veterans 75 and older, making up 24 percent of its veterans compared with 29 percent in Michigan.
Veterans under 35 account for 15 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Otsego County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Women veterans account for 6 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Otsego County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
| Measure | Otsego County | Michigan | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $51,580 ± $2,786 | $48,453 ± $466 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $37,854 ± $2,804 | $38,782 ± $167 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 1.7% ± 1.4 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 30.1% ± 4.2 points | 31.8% ± 0.5 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 75.2% ± 11.8 points | 70.9% ± 0.8 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 4.6% ± 6.4 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 97.8% ± 1.8 points | 95.1% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 17.6% ± 4.5 points | 24.1% ± 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 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 reports 756 veterans in Otsego County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 182 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 90 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 81 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 237 |
| 100 percent | 166 |
FY2019: 467 recipients. Change to FY2025: +289.
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 50 VA-backed home loans out of 726 home loans made in Otsego County (6.9% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $294,000.
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 648, give or take 119) and post-9/11 only (about 494, give or take 172).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $20.9 million in compensation and pension spending and about $20.3 million in medical care spending in Otsego County for FY2025.
Aleda E. Lutz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
1500 Weiss Street, Saginaw, MI 48602-5251
New-patient wait for primary care: 1 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 113 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Navy Corpsman Steve Andrews Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic (opens in a new tab)
2782 South Otsego Avenue, Gaylord, MI 49735-9404
New-patient wait for primary care: 1 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 5 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Traverse City Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
4960 Skyview Court, Traverse City, MI 49684
about 56 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Detroit VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
477 Michigan Avenue, Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, 12th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
about 201 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Otsego County is Oscar G. Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility (opens in a new tab) in Iron Mountain, MI, about 178 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Otsego County is Great Lakes Bay Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Bay City, MI, about 106 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Detroit RO (station 329); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Great Lakes National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
4200 Belford Road Holly, MI 48442
248-328-0386
About 156.7 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
N2665 Hwy QQ King, WI 54946
715-256-5000
About 229.3 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
This cemetery is in another state. State veterans cemeteries set their own eligibility rules, which can include residency in that state.
National Cemetery Administration lists checked October 2, 2026. Cemetery coverage and distance method.
No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Otsego 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, Michigan Balance of State CoC counted 54 veterans experiencing homelessness (39 sheltered, 15 unsheltered).
MI-500 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 51 veterans for the 2019 comparison. This CoC includes areas that merged after 2019.
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 Aleda E. Lutz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 989-497-2500. 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).
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)
Eligible Michigan veterans receiving benefits at the 100 percent permanent and total rate can request a property tax exemption.
Eligible children of veterans receiving benefits at the permanent and total rate may receive Michigan undergraduate tuition assistance.
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. Full method.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
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