Every month, a report released by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides a statistical snapshot on VA disability benefits claims whose status is currently listed in the inventory and backlog categories. Get a closer look at how these numbers have changed month-over-month in our January 2017 veterans disability benefits statistics overview.
January 2017 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Inventory Status
The latest claims inventory status report from the Veterans Benefits Administration includes pension as well as compensation applications which are currently waiting to receive the VA’s determination decision. As of January 9, 2017, 364,202 VA benefits applications were listed in the claims inventory category. Fluctuations are normal within the claims inventory, but the January 2017 veterans disability benefits statistics show an incredible drop in numbers compared to December – the VA apparently cleared more than a thousand claims per day from the approval queue!
- As of January 9, 2017: 364,202
- As of December 3, 2016: 390,639
- Difference: -26,437
- Daily churn: -1,101.54 claims
January 2017 Veterans Disability Benefits Statistics: Claims Backlog Status
Any disability claims more than 125 days old move into the backlog category. On January 9th, more than 80,000 claims were in the backlog category. This is a rare and massive positive shift in backlogged claims, and fantastic news for veterans waiting on benefit approval.
- As of January 9, 2017: 80,173
- As of December 3, 2016: 92,558
- Difference: -12,385
- Daily churn: -516.04 claims subtracted from the backlog
Both current and future applicants should appreciate program’s improvements. The current claims backlog numbers are significantly lower than we saw at the close of 2016. This shows how hard the VA is working to speed up the approval process to get eligible veterans the benefits they need.
Can A VA-Accredited Attorney Help?
Before filing your own disability benefits claim, consider getting a legal consultation with a VA-accredited attorney in your area. An experienced disability advocate contingency-fee lawyer can help walk you through the application process and potentially represent you without paying any out-of-pocket costs. A Social Security lawyer can tell you what medical evidence paperwork you’ll need to include in order to best support your disability claim. Moreover, an attorney or disability advocate can stay in touch with the local VA office on your behalf or appeal an unfavorable determination decision, if needed.
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Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.