VA delivered all-time record care and benefits to Veterans in fiscal year 2024

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it delivered more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before in fiscal year 2024, exceeding last year’s record totals.

The reported outcomes for the nation’s Veterans build on continued efforts by the VA and the Biden-Harris Administration’s Unity Agenda to expand and improve care and benefits for those who served, much of which has been made possible by the PACT Act, which accounts for the largest expansion of VA health care and benefits in generations.

“Veterans deserve the very best from VA and our nation, and we will never settle for anything less,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “We’re honored that more Veterans are getting their earned health care and benefits from VA than ever before, but make no mistake: there is still work to do. We will continue to work each and every day to earn the trust of those we serve — and ensure that all Veterans, their families, and their survivors get the care and benefits they so rightly deserve.”

Key outcomes for Veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors from this fiscal year include:

-The VA delivered more than 127.5 million health care appointments, representing a 6% increase over last year’s record. During this fiscal year, wait times decreased and VA health care outperformed non-VA care on independent reviews for patient satisfaction and care quality.

-The VA delivered $187 billion in benefits (including $173 billion in compensation and pension benefits) to 6.7 million Veterans and survivors this year — all of which are all-time records. Additionally, the VA processed 2,517,519 disability benefit claims, a 27% increase over last year’s all-time record.

-Veteran trust in VA reached 80.4% this year, an all-time record and an increase of 25% since 2016. Veteran trust in VA health care also reached 92%, another record.

-More than 796,000 Veterans have enrolled in VA health care since the PACT Act was signed into law — a nearly 37% increase over the previous equivalent period; VA has received 4,414,334 claims for disability compensation benefits over the past two fiscal years — a 29.8% increase over the two years prior; and 913,459 Veterans have upgraded their priority groups, making them eligible for care with fewer copays.

-The VA provided no-cost emergency health care to more than 50,000 Veterans in acute suicidal crises. Additionally, the Veterans Crisis Line is supporting more Veterans than ever, receiving 1,123,591 million calls, texts, and chats — surpassing last year by 12%.

-519,453 spouses and dependents received survivor benefits from VA, representing a 4.5% increase over last year’s record and totaling an estimated $10.6 billion in earned benefits.

-This year, a record 741,259 women Veterans received compensation payments from VA this year, representing an 8.2% increase over last year and totaling an estimated $20.4 billion in earned benefits. Additionally, 52,130 women Veterans enrolled in VA health care in FY 2024. VA now has more women Veterans enrolled in its health care system than ever before.

-The VA continued helping Veterans, service members, and spouses become and remain homeowners by guaranting over 416,300 home loans, saved over 158,000 borrowers from foreclosure, and approved 2,439 Specially Adapted Housing grants.

-Giving Veterans final resting places in VA National Cemeteries: A record 5,572,495 million people — including 3,981,362 million Veterans — are now buried in VA national cemeteries.

The VA encourages all Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors to learn more about VA and apply for their world-class health care and earned benefits today.

Moving forward, VA will continue to aggressively reach out to and engage Veterans to encourage them to come to VA for the care and benefits they have earned.