Analysis Shows Huge Spending Disparities on Veterans Benefits Across Country, and Confusion on Veterans Benefits Access

A new investigative report conducted by NPR shows that the US Department of Veterans Affairs has huge variations in veterans benefits spending across the country, and even within individual states.

The report gathered information from 3,000 counties in the US, and found that not only is spending on veterans benefits different from state to state and within states, but there is no discernable pattern, such as higher numbers of veterans residing in the county, or higher or lower income within the county.

The national average for spending on veterans benefits, especially medical benefits, was under $10,000 per veteran, but the amount could swing wildly high or low. In San Francisco, spending is about $30,000 per patient at veterans hospitals, while Lubbock, Texas spent less than $7,000 on average. South Carolina’s population is about 10% veterans, and the state spends around $6,676 per veteran for healthcare.

Some of the problem may have to do with the accessibility of veterans hospitals, so that veterans can make use of their medical and disability benefits. For example, the VA spends four times as much on veterans benefits at VA hospitals in Boston as it does in Cape Cod, and that could largely be due to easy access of the VA hospitals in Boston. Many veterans live over 40 miles away from the VA hospital in Cape Cod, and the difficulty of getting there may prevent many disabled veterans, who could be too poor to own a vehicle, too physically handicapped to drive safely, or not have helpful family in the area, from taking advantage of their veterans benefits.

A change to veterans benefits last year requires the VA to pay for private health care if a veteran lives more than 40 miles from the nearest VA, and while that has been helpful for some, it does not completely solve distance and transportation issues for veterans who still travel a great distance to the nearest VA hospital, even if that is less than 40 miles from their home.

Some veterans may also be frustrated with the lengthy qualification and paperwork process required to receive all of their benefits. Vets may also have no idea where to turn for help with the application process, and for veterans suffering PTSD or traumatic brain injury, the process may be so confusing that they will simply give up.

Florence County Veterans Affairs officer Randy Godbold wants South Carolina’s veterans to have full access to all their veterans benefits, and he says that, with all the new changes coming in 2015, it is important that vets fill out one document.

“The number one thing any veteran needs is a DD-214 service record document,” Godbold said. “People come to us all the time for help but unless they have that document we can’t help them get benefits they are entitled to. Nothing can happen until veterans get that document.”

The DD-214 can help with a range of veterans benefits, from the Veterans Choice Card – which allows vets to seek medical care through private healthcare providers – to a one-year free hunting and fishing license through the SC Department of Natural Resources, to easier, cheaper identification on their drivers licenses. Veterans benefits supporters in South Carolina are also working to have income tax removed from military retirement benefits.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help With Veterans Benefits and Disability Problems in South Carolina

If past problems with your records affect your ability to apply for Veterans Disability in the state of South Carolina, the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. Veterans Disability can be complex.  Not understanding the basics and not having counsel can leave you in a bind.  We understand that you need your South Carolina Social Security benefits. We will be glad to discuss any questions you may have about the veterans benefits application process during our free, confidential consultation.  Call the experienced attorneys at the Strom Law Firm at (803)252-4800.