Find veterans benefits contacts for Onondaga County, New York.
If you live in Onondaga County, free claims help is available from an accredited VSO representative; contact NYS Veterans Services - Syracuse or Onondaga County Veterans Service Agency in Syracuse to confirm claims help, appointments and meeting locations before traveling. The New York State Veterans Services appointment line can connect you with a Veterans Benefits Advisor or county service contact; these are referral contacts, so confirm where accredited claims help is available. The Syracuse VA Medical Center is 4 miles away and the Syracuse Vet Center is 5 miles away, measured in a straight line from the county center, not by road. The largest veteran service-era group is Vietnam era only, about 6,600, give or take 545; Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served. See the linked state page for full benefit terms.
New York State Department of Veterans' Services
Veterans benefits advice and help finding a claims appointment.
Area served: Onondaga County. Physical office: Syracuse, Onondaga County.
Hughes State Office Building, 333 East Washington Street Room 430, Syracuse, NY 13202-1422Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
New York county veterans service agencies
Veterans benefits advice and help finding a claims appointment.
Area served: Onondaga County. Physical office: Syracuse, Onondaga County.
421 Montgomery Street 10th floor, Syracuse, NY 13202Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the New York directory.
NYS Veterans Services - Syracuse, Onondaga County Veterans Service Agency appear in this guide. Call the provider to confirm the type of claims help, current appointment and meeting location.
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) 387-1649The ACS estimates about 20,600, give or take 899 civilian veterans in Onondaga County.
By ACS estimates, Onondaga County has the 10th largest veteran population among New York's 62 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Onondaga County | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 21 percent the same rounded estimate as the New York share; below the national share. | 21 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 9 percent the same rounded estimate as the New York share; below the national share. | 9 percent | 13 percent |
Onondaga County has about 6,690, give or take 438 veterans 75 and older, making up 32 percent of its veterans compared with 33 percent in New York.
Onondaga County has about 1,540, give or take 302 veterans under 35; both the county and New York round to a 7 percent share.
Women veterans in Onondaga County number about 1,930, give or take 280; their 9 percent share is above New York's 8 percent.
| Measure | Onondaga County | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $51,724 ± $3,231 | $52,375 ± $532 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $42,511 ± $671 | $44,412 ± $201 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 7.1% ± 1.2 points | 8.5% ± 0.3 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 30.9% ± 2.1 points | 29.4% ± 0.5 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 77.0% ± 4.0 points | 71.9% ± 0.6 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 4.8% ± 1.9 points | 4.9% ± 0.4 points | 4.1% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 95.5% ± 0.9 points | 94.1% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 33.0% ± 2.5 points | 29.1% ± 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 fewer veterans here in 2035: about 17,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 22,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 5,590 veterans in Onondaga County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 1,128 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 699 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 744 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 1,713 |
| 100 percent | 1,306 |
FY2019: 4,828 recipients. Change to FY2025: +762.
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 277 VA-backed home loans out of 8,764 home loans made in Onondaga County (3.2% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $301,000.
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 6,600, give or take 545) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 3,630, give or take 401).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $144.5 million in compensation and pension spending and about $203.2 million in medical care spending in Onondaga County for FY2025.
Syracuse VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
800 Irving Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210-2716
New-patient wait for mental health: 8 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 14 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 4 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Auburn VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
47 East Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021-4027
New-patient wait for primary care: 10 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 19 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Syracuse Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
109 Pine Street, Suite 101, Syracuse, NY 13210
about 5 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Buffalo VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
130 South Elmwood Ave, Suite 601, Buffalo, NY 14202
about 136 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Onondaga County is Canandaigua VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Canandaigua, NY, about 55 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Onondaga County is Binghamton Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Binghamton, NY, about 64 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists New York RO (station 306) and Buffalo RO (station 307); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Bath National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
San Juan Avenue Bath, NY 14810
607-664-4853
About 74.2 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Woodlawn National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
1825 Davis Street Elmira, NY 14901
607-732-5411
About 69.7 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: cremation only.
New York State Veterans Cemetery - Finger Lakes (opens in a new tab)
6632 NY-96A Romulus, NY 14541
607-379-0197
About 40.5 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.
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.
On one night in January 2024, Syracuse, Auburn/Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga Counties CoC counted 55 veterans experiencing homelessness (54 sheltered, 1 unsheltered).
NY-505 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).
The HUD workbook reports 41 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 Syracuse VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 315-425-4400. 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).
The National Treatment Court Resource Center lists 1 veterans treatment court in Onondaga County as of December 31, 2025.
These courts connect participating veterans involved in the justice system with treatment and support. Each court sets its own eligibility rules. National Treatment Court Resource Center maps (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)
New York localities may fully exempt qualifying primary residences of veterans with permanent and total service-connected disability.
New York provides $450 annually to qualifying children of veterans who suffered at least 40 percent disability through service during specified wartime or emergency periods.
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. The summary paragraph was drafted by AI from the facts on this page and checked automatically against them. Full method.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
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