NEWS RELEASE PROVIDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS

WASHINGTON —The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it is delivering disability compensation benefits to a record number of women Veterans. Right now, 702,557 women Veterans are receiving disability compensation benefits from VA — an all-time record and an increase of 180,959 women Veterans (or 26%) over five years ago.

The average woman Veteran who receives disability compensation benefits from VA has a 68% combined disability rating, and they receive an average of $26,809 in earned disability compensation benefits per year from VA. The average grant rate for women Veterans is 89.2%, meaning that 89% of women Veterans who have applied for disability benefits with VA have received benefits for at least one condition.

Women Veterans are the fastest growing cohort at VA, and — in addition to delivering record levels of disability compensation benefits — VA is now serving more women Veterans in its health care system than ever before. The sharp increase in women Veteran benefits in recent years is largely due to the PACT Act, which has empowered VA to expand health care and benefits to millions of Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving the country.

President Biden believes the nation has a sacred obligation to take care of Veterans, which is why he made supporting Veterans a key pillar in his Unity Agenda for the nation. Expanding access to benefits and services for women Veterans has been a key priority for VA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration. During his State of the Union address to the nation, President Biden reinforced his commitment to ensure all Veterans get the care and benefits they earned and deserve.

“Women Veterans have fought in every war since the American Revolution, but they have not always been able to access the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserved. But now, at VA, we’re making sure that those days are over,” said Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tanya Bradsher, the first woman Veteran deputy secretary of VA. “These record numbers demonstrate that we’ve made tremendous progress in recent years, but they are still just the beginning — we won’t rest until every woman Veteran is coming to VA.”

“We want women Veterans to come to VA for their health care and benefits, which is why we’re hosting women Veteran outreach events across the country throughout this month and throughout this year,” said VA Under Secretary for Benefits Josh Jacobs. “To all the women Veterans out there, we encourage you to visit VA.gov or call 1-800-MYVA411 to apply for your earned benefits today. We will do everything in our power to serve you, just like you’ve served our country.”

In recognition of Women’s History Month, VA’s regional offices are hosting or participating in 139 outreach efforts specifically focused on women Veterans. In addition to disability compensation benefits, VA’s concerted efforts to reach out to women Veterans are helping them get education benefits and well-paying jobs: despite only making up 16.5 % of the Veteran population, women Veterans received 27.5% of Post 9/11 education benefits and 26.4% of Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits in 2023. 

Over the past two years, VA has also dramatically expanded health care for women Veterans. Specifically, VA expanded breast cancer screenings and mammograms for Veterans with potential toxic exposures; supported access to reproductive health services, including contraception, in vitro fertilization, abortion counseling and – in certain cases – abortion care for Veterans and VA beneficiaries; and dramatically expanded one-on-one maternity care coordination for women Veterans. Women Veterans are also enrolling in VA health care at higher rates under the PACT Act, and VA recently hosted its first Women Veterans Experience Action Center, helping more than 340 women Veterans apply for the care and benefits they deserve. Additionally, as announced by the White House this week, VA and the Department of Defense are launching a new Women’s Health Research collaborative to explore opportunities to promote joint efforts to advance women’s health research and improve evidence-based care for Veterans and service members.

In every VA regional office, VA has Veteran Coordinators who function as the primary contact for women Veterans. These coordinators are able to provide specific information and comprehensive assistance to women Veterans, their dependents, and beneficiaries concerning VA benefits and related non-VA benefits. Each VA medical center nationwide also has a Women Veterans Program Manager, who helps coordinate all the services women Veterans might need. Women Veterans can also call, text, or chat online with the Women Veterans Call Center at 855-829-6636 to get help and find available resources and services in their area.

To learn more about VA disability benefits, visit VA’s benefits website. For more information on women’s health care at VA, visit https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/.