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Phelps County, NE Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Phelps County, Nebraska.

Offices for Phelps County

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

Getting help in Phelps County

Nebraska publishes a county service-officer roster. Use the listed contact when available, or ask the NDVA State Service Office for current claims help. A shared officer may serve more than one county.

Official county or service directory (opens in a new tab) · Official county or service 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 Phelps County

The ACS estimates about 537, give or take 133 civilian veterans in Phelps County.

By ACS estimates, Phelps County has the 24th largest veteran population among Nebraska's 93 counties and equivalents.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasurePhelps CountyNebraskaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating46 percent

above the Nebraska share; above the national share.

38 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher14 percent; a small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared

Veterans 75 and older in Phelps County number about 174, give or take 51; their 32 percent share is above Nebraska's 26 percent.

Veterans under 35 account for 4 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Phelps County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 15 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Phelps County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Phelps County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasurePhelps CountyNebraskaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$29,637 ± $14,642; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$41,009 ± $3,198$41,840 ± $259$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over25.9% ± 15.6 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over45.5% ± 11.8 points29.8% ± 0.7 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6460.3% ± 11.4 points81.2% ± 1.0 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.0% ± 19.7 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over92.9% ± 6.3 points96.0% ± 0.4 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over31.2% ± 11.5 points29.9% ± 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. VetPop2023 projections for small counties show direction only. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Phelps County

VA reports 285 veterans in Phelps County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent125
30 to 40 percent38
50 to 60 percent23
70 to 90 percent63
100 percent36

FY2019: 275 recipients. Change to FY2025: +10.

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 Phelps County

In 2025, lenders reported 14 VA-backed home loans out of 140 home loans made in Phelps County (10.0% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $251,000.

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 177, give or take 58) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 160, give or take 93; a small survey sample; treat as rough).

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

VA money in Phelps County

VA reported about $5.2 million in compensation and pension spending and about $5.5 million in medical care spending in Phelps County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Phelps County is Omaha VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Omaha, NE, about 186 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Phelps County is Lincoln Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Lincoln, NE, about 148 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists Lincoln RO (station 334); 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 68.2 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island (opens in a new tab)
3270 W Capital Ave Grand Island, NE 68803
308-661-1987

About 61.5 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 Phelps 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, Nebraska Balance of State CoC counted 18 veterans experiencing homelessness (18 sheltered, 0 unsheltered).

NE-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 31 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 Grand Island VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 308-382-3660. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Phelps 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 Phelps County

  • Holdrege (city): about 5,546 residents
  • Bertrand (village): about 718 residents
  • Loomis (village): about 375 residents
  • Funk (village): about 244 residents
  • Atlanta (village): about 133 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)

Nebraska benefits

Nebraska provides a homestead exemption for qualifying veterans rated 100 percent permanently disabled or 100 percent through individual unemployability, without income or value limits.

Nebraska waives public college tuition and tuition-related fees for eligible dependents of veterans rated 100 percent permanent and total from military service.

See every Nebraska 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 Nebraska 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 Phelps County

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

Matthew Miller

Claims agent · Kearney · NE · About 29 miles away

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 6949

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Your state: Nebraska

Paul Miller

Claims agent · Kearney · NE · About 29 miles away

VA-accredited since 2008 · checked

VA accreditation number 6950

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Your state: Nebraska

James Curfman

Claims agent · Kearney · NE · About 29 miles away

VA-accredited since 2014 · checked

VA accreditation number 31218

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Your state: Nebraska

Kathy Wiseman

Claims agent · Kearney · NE · About 29 miles away

VA-accredited since 2017 · checked

VA accreditation number 43177

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

Your state: Nebraska

Shane Curfman

Claims agent · Hastings · NE · About 48 miles away

VA-accredited since 2017 · checked

VA accreditation number 41563

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

Your state: Nebraska

VA-accredited attorneys in Nebraska

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