Find veterans benefits and claims contacts for Whatcom County, Washington.
In Whatcom County, you can get free claims help from Whatcom County Veterans Services in Bellingham. An accredited VSO representative can help with claims at no cost; confirm availability before traveling. You can also ask WDVA which contracted service officer currently serves your county or tribal community. These are referral contacts, so ask WDVA about current service officer availability. The county has about 11,800 veterans, give or take 861, and the 9th largest veteran population among Washington's 39 counties and equivalents by ACS estimates. The largest service-era group is Vietnam era only, about 4,630, give or take 468. Agent Orange exposure questions depend on where and when you served. From the county center, straight-line distances are 37 miles to Mount Vernon VA Clinic, 30 miles to Bellingham Vet Center and 91 miles to Seattle VA Medical Center. The linked state page gives full benefit terms.
WDVA-listed claims assistance provider
WDVA resources list claims assistance for this provider. Call to confirm the current service officer and appointment location.
Area served: Whatcom County.
Hours are not confirmed. Contact the provider before planning a visit.
For statewide phone and remote help, see the Washington directory.
WDVA lists contracted claims-assistance contacts and a state phone line. Where no local listing is verified here, ask WDVA which current service officer can help this county.
Official county or service directory (opens in a new tab) · Official county or service directory (opens in a new tab)
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 11,800, give or take 861 civilian veterans in Whatcom County.
By ACS estimates, Whatcom County has the 9th largest veteran population among Washington's 39 counties and equivalents.
| Measure | Whatcom County | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share with a service-connected rating | 22 percent below the Washington share; below the national share. | 30 percent | 30 percent |
| Share rated 70 percent or higher | 9 percent below the Washington share; below the national share. | 12 percent | 13 percent |
Veterans 75 and older in Whatcom County number about 3,660, give or take 348; their 31 percent share is above Washington's 24 percent.
Whatcom County has about 618, give or take 179 veterans under 35, making up 5 percent of its veterans compared with 9 percent in Washington.
Whatcom County has about 835, give or take 214 women veterans, making up 7 percent of its veterans compared with 12 percent in Washington.
| Measure | Whatcom County | Washington | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $56,502 ± $5,241 | $60,846 ± $594 | $54,224 ± $147 |
| Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income | $41,519 ± $966 | $48,932 ± $235 | $41,154 ± $99 |
| Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over | 6.9% ± 1.9 points | 6.5% ± 0.3 points | 7.4% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over | 29.6% ± 2.6 points | 30.0% ± 0.5 points | 30.7% ± 0.1 points |
| Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 64 | 74.9% ± 5.8 points | 74.8% ± 0.7 points | 73.9% ± 0.2 points |
| Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 64 | 3.6% ± 2.2 points; small survey sample; treat as rough | Not compared | Not compared |
| Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over | 97.2% ± 1.1 points | 96.6% ± 0.2 points | 95.5% ± 0.1 points |
| Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over | 37.2% ± 4.0 points | 33.7% ± 0.5 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 11,000 on September 30, 2035, compared with 12,000 on September 30, 2026. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.
VA reports 3,646 veterans in Whatcom County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.
| Rating group | Recipients |
|---|---|
| 0 to 20 percent | 876 |
| 30 to 40 percent | 464 |
| 50 to 60 percent | 485 |
| 70 to 90 percent | 1,036 |
| 100 percent | 785 |
FY2019: 3,333 recipients. Change to FY2025: +313.
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 306 VA-backed home loans out of 4,775 home loans made in Whatcom County (6.4% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).
Average VA loan amount reported: about $552,000.
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 4,630, give or take 468) and Gulf War (1990s) only (about 1,810, give or take 368).
For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange presumptive conditions list; eligibility depends on your service and condition.
VA reported about $90.3 million in compensation and pension spending and about $44.6 million in medical care spending in Whatcom County for FY2025.
Seattle VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab)
1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108-1532
New-patient wait for mental health: 29 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
New-patient wait for primary care: 41 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 91 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Mount Vernon VA Clinic (opens in a new tab)
307 South 13th Street, Suite 200, Mount Vernon, WA 98274-4100
New-patient wait for primary care: 41 days (VA, as of October 1, 2026).
about 37 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Bellingham Vet Center (opens in a new tab)
3800 Byron Avenue, Suite 124, Bellingham, WA 98229
about 30 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Seattle VA Regional Benefit Office (opens in a new tab)
915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174
about 89 miles in a straight line from the county center.
Call to confirm hours before you go.
The second-nearest medical center to Whatcom County is American Lake VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Tacoma, WA, about 122 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The second-nearest Vet Center to Whatcom County is Everett Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Everett, WA, about 67 miles in a straight line from the county center.
The state registry lists Seattle RO (station 346); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.
Tahoma National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
18600 SE 240th Street Kent, WA 98042
425-413-9614
About 101.3 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.
Washington State Veterans Cemetery - Medical Lake (opens in a new tab)
21702 W Espanola Rd Medical Lake, WA 99022
509-299-6280
About 208.7 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, Washington Balance of State CoC counted 357 veterans experiencing homelessness (220 sheltered, 137 unsheltered).
WA-501 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 433 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 Seattle VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 800-329-8387. 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)
Qualifying Washington veterans rated at least 80 percent or compensated at 100 percent can receive income-based property tax relief on their primary residence.
Eligible dependents of qualifying Washington veterans rated 100 percent disabled receive undergraduate tuition and fee waivers for up to 200 quarter credits.
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.
Attorney · Bellingham · WA · In your county
Contact details not available. Check VA's accreditation search. (opens in a new tab)
Are you Joshua Bruner? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you David Oliver? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeAre you Chelsea Hicks? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you Thomas Farrell? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, free
Are you Robert Taylor? Update your details and see your referral activity.
Claim this profile, freeVA-accredited attorneys in Washington
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.
Directories cover all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Choose another state.