Veterans Benefits
Department of Veterans Affairs Services
Quick Facts
FY 2025 Total Budget
$369 Billion
Veterans Enrolled
9.1 Million
Disability Compensation
$184 Billion
6.9M veterans & survivors
Patients Treated
7.3 Million
In FY 2025
How Veterans Benefits Are Funded
Veterans benefits are funded through general federal tax revenue:
- Discretionary funding: $134 billion for VA health care, facilities, and operations
- Mandatory funding: $235 billion for disability compensation, pensions, GI Bill education, and insurance
- Toxic Exposures Fund: $24.5 billion for veterans exposed to burn pits and toxic substances
- No dedicated tax: Unlike Social Security, there is no specific veterans tax
Note: The FY 2025 budget represents a $33 billion (9.8%) increase over 2024, driven largely by expanded care for toxic exposure-related conditions under the PACT Act.
What Veterans Benefits Cover
Disability Compensation ($184B)
Monthly tax-free payments to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Rates vary from 10-100% disability rating. Also includes payments to surviving spouses and dependents. Average payment is approximately $2,200/month per disabled veteran.
Healthcare Services ($134B Discretionary)
Comprehensive healthcare at 1,298 VA health care facilities including hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, and readjustment counseling centers. Services include primary care, specialty care, mental health, substance abuse treatment, and long-term care.
Education & Training (GI Bill)
Post-9/11 GI Bill pays for tuition, housing allowance, and books for college, vocational training, and apprenticeships. Also includes Montgomery GI Bill and vocational rehabilitation programs. Over 800,000 veterans and family members use education benefits annually.
Home Loan Guarantees
VA-guaranteed home loans with no down payment requirement and no private mortgage insurance. The VA doesn't loan money directly but guarantees loans made by private lenders. Over 3.9 million veterans have active VA-guaranteed home loans.
Pensions for Low-Income Veterans
Needs-based benefits for wartime veterans age 65+ or permanently disabled with limited income. Also includes Aid and Attendance benefits for veterans who need help with daily activities.
Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
Specialized mental health services, PTSD treatment, crisis intervention, and the Veterans Crisis Line (988 then press 1). The VA operates the largest integrated mental health care system in the nation with over 300 Vet Centers providing readjustment counseling.
FY 2025 Budget Breakdown
Mandatory spending
Discretionary appropriation
GI Bill and training programs
PACT Act implementation
Loan guarantees, insurance, cemeteries
VA System Stats
- 448,170 full-time equivalent VA employees
- 1,298 VA health care facilities nationwide
- 171 VA Medical Centers
- 1,113 outpatient clinics
- 300+ Vet Centers for readjustment counseling
- 155 VA national cemeteries
- 6.9 million veterans receiving disability compensation
- 7.3 million unique patients treated in FY 2025