Find veterans benefits contacts for Tompkins County, New York.
New York county veterans service agencies
Veterans benefits advice and help finding a claims appointment.
Area served: Tompkins County. Physical office: Ithaca, Tompkins County.
Human Services Annex, 111 N. Albany St, Ithaca, NY 14850Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the New York directory.
Tompkins County Veterans Service Agency appears 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 3,260, give or take 373 civilian veterans in Tompkins County.
Among New York's 62 counties and equivalents, Tompkins County ranks 43rd by its estimated number of veterans.
| Measure | Tompkins County | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 15 percent below 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 |
Veterans 75 and older in Tompkins County number about 1,100, give or take 175; their 34 percent share is above New York's 33 percent.
Veterans under 35 account for 7 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Tompkins County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
Women veterans account for 10 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Tompkins County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.
| Measure | Tompkins County | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $46,500 ± $8,435 | $52,375 ± $532 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $39,407 ± $1,450 | $44,412 ± $201 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 7.7% ± 4.0 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 32.6% ± 6.2 points | 29.4% ± 0.5 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 64.3% ± 2.9 points | 71.9% ± 0.6 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 3.3% ± 6.9 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 94.7% ± 2.9 points | 94.1% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 34.7% ± 5.7 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 slightly fewer veterans here by 2035; both years round to about 3,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 720 veterans in Tompkins County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 141 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 96 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 102 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 201 |
| 100 percent | 180 |
FY2019: 649 recipients. Change to FY2025: +71.
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 12 VA-backed home loans out of 1,122 home loans made in Tompkins County (1.1% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $372,000.
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 1,110, give or take 241) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 800, give or take 202).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $18.4 million in compensation and pension spending and about $15.7 million in medical care spending in Tompkins 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 44 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Tompkins County VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
2309 North Triphammer Road, Cayuga Shopping Center, Unit 3, Ithaca, NY 14850-1060
New-patient wait for mental health: 38 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 28 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 2 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Binghamton Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
53 Chenango Street, Binghamton, NY 13901-2820
about 38 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 126 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Tompkins County is Bath VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Bath, NY, about 45 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Tompkins County is Binghamton Mobile Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Binghamton, NY, about 38 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 45.3 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 29.7 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 26.9 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.
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, Ithaca/Tompkins County CoC counted 2 veterans experiencing homelessness (2 sheltered, 0 unsheltered).
NY-510 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).
The HUD workbook reports 7 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).
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. Full method.
Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.
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