WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to hire more than 2,000 claims-processing employees in fiscal 2027 after receiving a record 3.15 million benefits claims in fiscal 2026, expanding its workforce to manage rising demand for disability compensation and pension benefits.
The planned recruitment would add to the department’s existing workforce of more than 13,000 claims processors. Applications have increased 80% since fiscal 2022, driven in part by federal efforts to reach veterans who have not previously enrolled in VA programs.
The department processed a record 3.1 million compensation and pension claims in fiscal 2026, slightly below the number of new submissions received during the year.
According to the VA, 60.1% of claims filed during fiscal 2026 were granted, while claims-processing accuracy reached 93.88%, the highest rate in three years. The department reported that 3.2% of claims decisions were appealed to the Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
The hiring initiative is intended to expand processing capacity as the agency anticipates continued growth in applications for veterans benefits.
“VA is putting Veterans first by making major improvements in claims processing volume, speed and accuracy,” VA Secretary Doug Collins stated. “These new hires will help continue this landmark progress.”
The increase in claims follows an extensive outreach campaign aimed at connecting eligible veterans with federal benefits and healthcare services.
During fiscal 2026, the VA conducted more than 11,000 live outreach events as part of a campaign targeting millions of veterans who had not enrolled in its system.
More than 300,000 veterans enrolled in VA healthcare during calendar 2026 through the period covered by the department’s announcement.
The additional claims processors will evaluate disability benefit applications and apply federal laws, regulations and agency policies to determine eligibility and compensation.
The department is also seeking to recruit transitioning military personnel through its Warrior Training Advancement Course, known as WARTAC.
The program allows active-duty service members preparing to leave the military to complete claims-processing training before separation, potentially qualifying them for employment at one of the VA’s 56 regional benefits offices.
The recruitment effort comes as the department seeks to maintain processing accuracy while handling an increasing volume of applications.
Veterans seeking information about benefits and eligibility can visit VA.gov. Employment opportunities in the Veterans Benefits Administration are available at https://vacareers.va.gov/careers/vba-jobs/, while information about the WARTAC transition program is available at https://discover.va.gov/transition-programs/wartac/.
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