VA to hire 2,000+ claims processors after record benefits surge
The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to hire more than 2,000 new employees in Fiscal Year 2027 to keep up with a record volume of benefits claims, the agency announced, following a year in which it processed more compensation claims than ever before.
Snapshot
The VA said it processed 3.11 million compensation claims in Fiscal Year 2026, topping the previous record of 3 million claims set in FY25. With claims volume expected to keep climbing, the agency says it needs thousands of additional staffers to maintain the processing speed and accuracy it has reported over the past year.
Key points
- Record workload: The VA said it processed 3.11 million compensation claims in FY26, breaking FY25's record of 3 million.
- Performance numbers: The agency said it granted 60.1% of claims filed, processed 93.88% accurately, and reduced its backlog by over 70% while cutting average processing times by 46%.
- Why claims are rising: The VA pointed to outreach efforts, including 11,000 live events, aimed at reaching non-enrolled veterans, plus lingering effects from the 2022 PACT Act's expanded toxic exposure benefits.
- Who gets hired: New claims processors will interpret laws and regulations to decide disability claims, and the VA said it wants both civilians and transitioning service members to apply, citing its Warrior Training Advancement Course (WARTAC).
- Secretary's statement: VA Secretary Doug Collins said the hires will build on what he called the department's "landmark progress" in claims processing.
Quick take
For veterans waiting on claims decisions, a bigger workforce aimed at a growing applicant pool is a practical response to demand the VA itself is helping generate through outreach. The hiring push also gives transitioning troops a direct path into VA work through WARTAC, worth a look for anyone leaving service and interested in benefits administration.
Read the full story: military.com