WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Veterans Affairs has processed more than two million disability benefits claims in fiscal year 2026, reaching the milestone weeks earlier than last year while continuing to reduce a longstanding backlog of pending claims.
The agency reported that it surpassed the two-million-claim mark as of June 1 and has already distributed more than $124 billion in compensation and pension benefits to veterans and survivors during the current fiscal year.
The pace exceeds the department’s previous record, set in fiscal 2025 when the same threshold was reached later in June. By the end of that fiscal year, the VA had processed more than three million claims, the highest annual total on record.
The department also reported substantial reductions in its disability claims backlog. According to VA data, the number of veterans waiting for benefits decisions has fallen 72% since January 2025. The backlog dropped below 100,000 claims in February 2026 for the first time since 2020 and has remained under 75,000 for more than a month.
Processing times have also improved. The average time required to complete a disability claim decision declined to 78.6 days at the end of May, compared with 141.5 days in January 2025.
VA officials reported that claims accuracy has remained above 94%, the highest level recorded in the past two years, despite increased workloads.
VA Secretary Doug Collins attributed the gains to efforts aimed at improving service delivery and reducing delays in the benefits system.
The claims-processing figures come as the department highlights broader operational metrics across its healthcare and support programs.
Since January 2025, the VA has opened 36 new healthcare facilities nationwide to expand access to care for veterans.
The department also completed more than 82 million direct-care appointments during fiscal 2025, a 4.1% increase from the previous year, and provided more than 2.8 million appointments outside normal operating hours.
In housing services, the VA reported permanently housing 51,936 homeless veterans during fiscal 2025, the highest annual total in seven years.
The latest figures underscore the department’s effort to address growing demand for disability compensation while improving processing speed and reducing delays for veterans seeking benefits.
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