Why Are Black Veterans Turned Down For VA Health Benefits At Higher Rates Than White Vets?

Black veterans who apply for mental or physical health services are less likely to receive them than white veterans, according to data compiled by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA has been tracking this information since fiscal year 2017, which shows that white veterans received a higher subsidy than their black counterparts year after year. In fiscal year 2023, 84.8% of black veterans claiming benefits received assistance from the VA.

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However, 89.4% of their white veterans received benefits when they applied. In response to these worrying findings, the VA assembled an agency equity team to investigate why these differences exist. VA Secretary Dennis McDonough explained the importance of the initiative in a statement.

“At the VA, our mission is to serve all veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors who have served our country . This new agency team will help us deliver on that promise. The team's first task is to identify and resolve any inconsistencies in healthcare and benefits in VA.

VA spokesman Terrence Hayes said the agency's equity team represents a "unique opportunity" to help veterans who may have lost faith in the system. "These rejections may have lost their credibility with the VA, but now we have a unique opportunity to reinstate them into our healthcare system or get them to reapply for the services they deserve," Hayes said.

Despite the inequality, the number of black veterans currently receiving benefits exceeds the number of white veterans because black veterans charge much higher rates. Almost half of the 3 million black veterans in the United States have claimed benefits, compared to less than a third of the approximately 15.5 million white veterans.

More than 36% of all black veterans alive today receive VA benefits, compared to 28.4% of white veterans. The agency's equity team will also address the barriers faced by other marginalized people such as tribal groups, women, LGBTQ+ and veterans living in rural areas.

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Black Veterans BENEFITS MUST BE DENIED. JOIN THE PACT ACT NOW #shorts!