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Pearl River County, MS Veterans Service Office (VSO)

Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Pearl River in Mississippi.

Offices for Pearl River County

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

Getting help in Pearl River County

Contact the listed office to confirm current services and appointment options. A county guide does not mean the office is physically in this county.

Official state directory (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 Pearl River County

The ACS estimates about 3,650, give or take 460 civilian veterans in Pearl River County.

By ACS estimates, Pearl River County has the 11th largest veteran population among Mississippi's 82 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasurePearl River CountyMississippiUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating35 percent

above the Mississippi share; above the national share.

33 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher16 percent

above the Mississippi share; above the national share.

15 percent13 percent

Veterans 75 and older in Pearl River County number about 1,010, give or take 176; their 28 percent share is above Mississippi's 22 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 5 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Pearl River County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Pearl River County has about 307, give or take 147 women veterans, making up 8 percent of its veterans compared with 11 percent in Mississippi.

Income, work and education in Pearl River County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasurePearl River CountyMississippiUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$43,488 ± $5,024$46,089 ± $1,150$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$27,724 ± $2,545$31,089 ± $190$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over7.7% ± 3.1 points9.1% ± 0.6 points7.4% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over43.7% ± 6.4 points34.9% ± 0.8 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6478.6% ± 12.1 points69.1% ± 1.5 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.0% ± 4.6 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over92.5% ± 3.6 points94.5% ± 0.5 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over16.8% ± 4.3 points25.8% ± 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 3,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 4,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Pearl River County

VA reports 1,498 veterans in Pearl River County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent281
30 to 40 percent179
50 to 60 percent195
70 to 90 percent415
100 percent428

FY2019: 1,106 recipients. Change to FY2025: +392.

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 Pearl River County

In 2025, lenders reported 178 VA-backed home loans out of 1,210 home loans made in Pearl River County (14.7% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $293,000.

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 1,480, give or take 276) and Gulf War (1990s) only (about 489, give or take 201).

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

VA money in Pearl River County

VA reported about $43.5 million in compensation and pension spending and about $29.7 million in medical care spending in Pearl River County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

Outside Mississippi, in New Orleans, LA, New Orleans VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) is Pearl River County's second-nearest medical center, about 64 miles in a straight line from the county center.

Outside Mississippi, in New Orleans, LA, New Orleans Vet Center (opens in a new tab) is Pearl River County's second-nearest Vet Center, about 64 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Jackson RO (station 323); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Biloxi National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
101 Memorial Drive Biloxi, MS 39531
228-388-6668

About 45.7 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Newton (opens in a new tab)
248 Honor Cir Newton, MS 39345
601-683-2959

About 111.9 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.

Cleanup and former military sites in Pearl River County

EPA Superfund National Priorities List

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, Gulf Port/Gulf Coast Regional CoC counted 7 veterans experiencing homelessness (1 sheltered, 6 unsheltered).

MS-503 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 8 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 Biloxi VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 228-523-5000. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Pearl River 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 Pearl River County

  • Picayune (city): about 11,900 residents
  • Nicholson (unincorporated community): about 3,146 residents
  • Poplarville (city): about 2,847 residents
  • Hide-A-Way Lake (unincorporated community): about 2,569 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)

Mississippi benefits

Honorably discharged Mississippi veterans with total service-connected disability receive a full homestead ad valorem tax exemption.

Mississippi lists one-dollar disabled veteran tags for qualifying residents rated at least 70 percent without permanent and total status.

See every Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Pearl River County

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

Jansen Owen

Attorney · Poplarville · MS · In your county

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 57747

4.2 · 33 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Mississippi

Terry Johnson

Claims agent · Pass Christian · MS · About 39 miles away

VA-accredited since 2022 · checked

VA accreditation number 52369

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

Your state: Mississippi

Ahmad Khreisheh

Claims agent · Biloxi · MS · About 39 miles away

VA-accredited since 2022 · checked

VA accreditation number 52368

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

Your state: Mississippi

Stephen Dummer

Attorney · Biloxi · MS · About 39 miles away

VA-accredited since 2012 · checked

VA accreditation number 23997

4.5 · 8 reviews · Firm rating

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

Your state: Mississippi

Charmaine Hilton

Attorney · Gulfport · MS · About 39 miles away

VA-accredited since 2023 · checked

VA accreditation number 53651

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

Your state: Mississippi

VA-accredited attorneys in Mississippi

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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