Veterans Services

We help veterans and their families identify and apply for services they may be eligible to receive

Veterans Services

The County Veterans Service Office (VSO) was established by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to assist veterans, family members, and dependents in obtaining benefits from federal, state, and local agencies administering programs for veterans.

We are an office within the Alameda County Social Services Agency. While we are not the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet), we assist you with accessing their programs. Contact us to set up an appointment.

Below, we have described some of the programs that we can help you with, please check out the webpages for each program, this will help empower you and prepare you for navigating the systems. But don’t worry, we will be there with you, every step of the way.

  • Disability Compensation

    A tax free monetary benefit paid to Veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service.

  • VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC)

    Providing the surviving spouse, child, or parent of a service member who died in the line of duty, or the survivor of a Veteran who died from a service-related injury or illness, a tax-free monetary benefit called VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC).

  • Veterans Pension program

    Provides monthly payments to wartime Veterans who meet certain age or disability requirements, and who have income and net worth within certain limits.

  • VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits

    Provide monthly payments added to the amount of a monthly VA pension for qualified Veterans and survivors. If you need help with daily activities, or you’re housebound, find out if you qualify.

  • CalVet College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents

    Waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any State of California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus. The dependents of a Veteran who has a service-connected disability, or had a service-connected disability at the time of death, or died of service-related causes are eligible.

    This is different from the VA education benefits (GI Bill) program, and we can help you assess which is the most appropriate program for your family.

  • VA education benefits (GI Bill)

    Helps Veterans, service members, and their qualified family members with needs like paying college tuition, finding the right school or training program, and getting career counseling. This is different from the CalVet College Fee Waiver program, and we can help you assess which is the most appropriate program for your family.

  • "Veterans Designation" on your CA Driver License

    Eligible veterans have the opportunity to add the word "VETERAN" to the front of their driver license or ID card to indicate that they have served in the U.S. Military.

  • VA direct and VA-backed Veterans home loans

    Helps Veterans, service members, and their survivors to buy, build, improve, or refinance a home.

  • CalVet Home Loans

    A great benefit for veterans or active duty looking to purchase a home in California. These loans are designed to make buying a home in California much easier for veterans of all branches of the military, which includes members of the National Guard and Reserve.

  • Housing assistance

    VA’s specialized programs for homeless Veterans serve hundreds of thousands of homeless and at-risk Veterans each year.

    • HUD-VASH is a collaborative program between HUD and VA combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help Veterans who are homeless and their families find and sustain permanent housing.
    • Crisis Grants - The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program was established in 2011 to rapidly re-house homeless Veteran families and prevent homelessness for those at imminent risk due to a housing crisis.

Did You Know?

Last year, the value of benefits our office helped get awarded to vets living in Alameda County totaled $7.4 million.

The VA is now approving and processing Blue Water Claims.