2019 Annual Disability Statistics Compendium

Veterans

Section 8: Veterans

This section presents statistics on Veterans in the United States. Specifically, the data address service connected to disability rating; the prevalence of disabilities in the Veteran population; the portion of the Veteran population that experiences poverty (as well as the difference between the poverty rates (poverty gap) of Veterans with and without disabilities), by disability status; and Veterans’ benefits, by disability status. The principal sources of these data are the U.S. Census Bureau, specifically the American Community Survey and the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Annual Benefits Report. For these tables, statistics for people with disabilities (disability status) are based on having responded ‘yes’ to a series of questions within the American Community Survey (see the glossary for more details). Poverty is defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and set as a dollar threshold by the U.S. Census Bureau in all sources (see the glossary for more details).

Tables

Table 8.1: In 2018, according to the American Community Survey, 1,527,220 individuals ages 18 and over living in the community reported having a military service-connected disability rating of 70 percent or more.

Table 8.2: In 2018, there were 8,842,294 civilian veterans ages 18 to 64 years living in the community, 1,589,568 of which were individuals with disabilities—a prevalence rate of 18.0 percent. Delaware had the lowest prevalence rate (12.1 percent) while the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico had the highest prevalence rate (27.8 percent).

Tables 8.3 and 8.4: In 2018, of the 1,589,568 civilian veterans with disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community, 257,933 individuals lived in poverty—a poverty rate of 16.2 percent. In contrast, of the 7,252,726 civilian veterans without disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community, 430,586 civilian veterans lived in poverty—a poverty rate of 5.9 percent. The poverty rate for civilian veterans with disabilities was highest in the District of Columbia (27.8 percent) and lowest in Hawaii (6.1 percent).

 

 

 

 

 

Table 8.5: In 2018, the poverty rate of civilian veterans with disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community was 16.2 percent, while the poverty rate of individuals without disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community was 5.9 percent—a poverty gap of 10.3 percentage points. The poverty gap was smallest in Vermont (2.0 percentage points) and greatest in the District of Columbia (20.3 percentage points).

Table 8.6: In the Federal Fiscal Year 2018, the United States spent a total of $82,776,199 on compensation and pension benefits paid to disabled veterans.

Table 8.1 Service-Connected Disability Rating — Civilian Veterans Ages 18 Years and Over Living in the Community, by Disability Status: 2018
State Total Veterans Has a Rating Percent Rating Not Reported   State Total Veterans Has a Rating Percent Rating Not Reported
0 10 to 60 70 Higher 0 10 to 60 70 Higher
U.S. 17,964,242 4,349,056 185,087 2,427,178 1,527,220 209,571 MT     84,392    21,637   1,008    13,609     5,966   1,054
AL    324,612    99,698   3,072    54,864    36,549   5,213 NE    116,754    35,337   1,076    23,094     9,379   1,788
AK     67,635    20,532     556    11,878     6,287   1,811 NV    211,114    54,183   3,306    28,155    20,281   2,441
AZ    496,239   117,164   5,972    65,612    38,862   6,718 NH     93,957    19,228   1,000    11,194     6,258     776
AR    187,903    45,746   1,649    23,513    18,639   1,945 NJ    308,012    52,530   2,089    29,695    18,766   1,980
CA  1,538,797   363,394  19,864   196,666   126,838  20,026 NM    146,147    38,310   1,479    19,405    14,775   2,651
CO    371,081    93,133   4,597    54,662    29,906   3,968 NY    678,833   121,576   7,915    68,280    39,041   6,340
CT    165,029    28,415   1,267    16,788     8,990   1,370 NC    667,035   187,972   5,045    94,506    79,187   9,234
DE     66,896    11,689     541     6,950     3,290     908 ND     45,135    12,508     184     7,797     3,513   1,014
DC     23,254     4,948     134     2,646     1,504     664 OH    680,310   131,453   6,569    77,978    37,687   9,219
FL  1,439,606   347,971  16,186   203,351   113,187  15,247 OK    266,513    91,150   1,977    45,594    40,113   3,466
GA    609,508   173,345   5,848    92,572    67,331   7,594 OR    279,132    74,790   2,685    41,043    28,248   2,814
HI    102,915    25,825   1,456    14,827     8,761     781 PA    745,909   127,861   6,921    71,706    42,627   6,607
ID    121,327    29,046   1,276    16,125    10,962     683 RI     54,848    13,023     307     8,061     4,105     550
IL    559,656    94,230   5,990    50,959    33,091   4,190 SC    363,194    98,809   3,231    49,173    41,335   5,070
IN    380,079    88,501   3,539    57,842    22,767   4,353 SD     54,691    15,788     840     9,739     4,653     556
IA    184,032    41,181   1,749    26,566    10,789   2,077 TN    429,585   121,587   3,294    61,848    49,969   6,476
KS    178,959    42,522   1,229    24,482    14,758   2,053 TX  1,435,787   417,414  14,672   222,120   165,314  15,308
KY    261,887    67,892   2,043    38,768    22,718   4,363 UT    120,410    27,847   1,591    15,865     9,894     497
LA    247,339    61,392   1,876    28,728    25,044   5,744 VT     33,986     6,906     326     3,915     2,550     115
ME    105,385    27,816   1,219    14,132    11,333   1,132 VA    670,273   185,014   7,411   107,450    62,798   7,355
MD    363,178    79,319   4,086    44,547    27,749   2,937 WA    520,226   135,790   5,940    76,569    48,347   4,934
MA    292,644    56,438   3,903    32,150    17,477   2,908 WV    126,473    35,979   1,048    17,733    15,549   1,649
MI    530,572   103,501   4,486    57,302    36,177   5,536 WI    326,288    69,005   3,719    42,241    20,419   2,626
MN    294,377    88,313   3,383    61,910    19,225   3,795 WY     45,252    13,091     381     9,324     3,077     309
MS    162,926    38,741   1,520    21,228    12,932   3,061 PR     74,415    22,106     692     7,624    11,594   2,196
MO    384,150    89,516   3,632    52,016    28,203   5,665                                                           

Citation: U.S. Census Bureau. (2018). American community survey, 1-year estimates. In Lauer, E.A., Boege, S.L., & Houtenville, A.J. (Eds.), Annual disability statistics compendium: 2019 (Table 8.1). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability.
Table 8.2 Civilian Veterans Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States, by Disability Status: 2018
State Total Disability No Disability   State Total Disability No Disability
Count % [1] Count % [1] Count % [1] Count % [1]
U.S. 8,842,294 1,589,568 18.0 7,252,726 82.0 MT    40,598     6,620 16.3    33,978 83.7
AL   169,933    36,330 21.4   133,603 78.6 NE    58,879     9,339 15.9    49,540 84.1
AK    44,399     7,830 17.6    36,569 82.4 NV   109,962    18,003 16.4    91,959 83.6
AZ   231,428    42,038 18.2   189,390 81.8 NH    44,167     7,118 16.1    37,049 83.9
AR    93,986    23,905 25.4    70,081 74.6 NJ   120,389    20,183 16.8   100,206 83.2
CA   735,132   125,734 17.1   609,398 82.9 NM    72,443    16,060 22.2    56,383 77.8
CO   206,218    30,609 14.8   175,609 85.2 NY   285,213    45,859 16.1   239,354 83.9
CT    68,255    10,635 15.6    57,620 84.4 NC   366,398    68,275 18.6   298,123 81.4
DE    31,056     3,762 12.1    27,294 87.9 ND    22,544     2,950 13.1    19,594 86.9
DC    12,695     2,078 16.4    10,617 83.6 OH   323,061    61,019 18.9   262,042 81.1
FL   649,453   117,905 18.2   531,548 81.8 OK   133,910    33,061 24.7   100,849 75.3
GA   346,939    61,671 17.8   285,268 82.2 OR   126,273    28,532 22.6    97,741 77.4
HI    54,524     8,100 14.9    46,424 85.1 PA   313,359    53,759 17.2   259,600 82.8
ID    59,747    12,234 20.5    47,513 79.5 RI    23,465     3,936 16.8    19,529 83.2
IL   251,349    42,338 16.8   209,011 83.2 SC   184,547    33,411 18.1   151,136 81.9
IN   185,336    35,979 19.4   149,357 80.6 SD    25,880     4,965 19.2    20,915 80.8
IA    80,677    12,754 15.8    67,923 84.2 TN   221,059    48,734 22.0   172,325 78.0
KS    90,713    19,036 21.0    71,677 79.0 TX   812,220   151,307 18.6   660,913 81.4
KY   133,862    28,909 21.6   104,953 78.4 UT    59,755     8,868 14.8    50,887 85.2
LA   125,709    25,178 20.0   100,531 80.0 VT    13,088     2,316 17.7    10,772 82.3
ME    49,361     9,509 19.3    39,852 80.7 VA   410,773    56,496 13.8   354,277 86.2
MD   199,873    26,915 13.5   172,958 86.5 WA   279,089    48,420 17.3   230,669 82.7
MA   122,498    17,825 14.6   104,673 85.4 WV    56,467    14,046 24.9    42,421 75.1
MI   232,435    46,240 19.9   186,195 80.1 WI   141,044    22,526 16.0   118,518 84.0
MN   127,764    19,301 15.1   108,463 84.9 WY    23,199     3,451 14.9    19,748 85.1
MS    90,104    17,518 19.4    72,586 80.6 PR    28,615     7,965 27.8    20,650 72.2
MO   181,066    35,981 19.9   145,085 80.1                                          

Citation: U.S. Census Bureau. (2018). American community survey, 1-year estimates. In Lauer, E.A., Boege, S.L., & Houtenville, A.J. (Eds.), Annual disability statistics compendium: 2019 (Table 8.2). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability.
[1] Count of disability or no disability as a percent of total.
Table 8.3 Poverty — Civilian Veterans with Disabilities Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2018
State Total Poverty   State Total Poverty
Count % [1] Count % [1]
U.S. 1,589,568 257,933 16.2 MT     6,620   1,353 20.4
AL    36,330   5,391 14.8 NE     9,339   1,194 12.8
AK     7,830   1,127 14.4 NV    18,003   2,344 13.0
AZ    42,038   7,812 18.6 NH     7,118     577  8.1
AR    23,905   3,671 15.4 NJ    20,183   3,027 15.0
CA   125,734  23,115 18.4 NM    16,060   3,526 22.0
CO    30,609   5,075 16.6 NY    45,859   9,527 20.8
CT    10,635   1,215 11.4 NC    68,275  10,844 15.9
DE     3,762     784 20.8 ND     2,950     420 14.2
DC     2,078     577 27.8 OH    61,019  11,506 18.9
FL   117,905  17,421 14.8 OK    33,061   5,275 16.0
GA    61,671   9,076 14.7 OR    28,532   5,904 20.7
HI     8,100     491  6.1 PA    53,759   9,776 18.2
ID    12,234   1,295 10.6 RI     3,936     826 21.0
IL    42,338   7,389 17.5 SC    33,411   6,260 18.7
IN    35,979   7,504 20.9 SD     4,965     884 17.8
IA    12,754   1,591 12.5 TN    48,734   6,998 14.4
KS    19,036   3,819 20.1 TX   151,307  16,620 11.0
KY    28,909   5,828 20.2 UT     8,868   1,428 16.1
LA    25,178   6,211 24.7 VT     2,316     227  9.8
ME     9,509   1,245 13.1 VA    56,496   6,484 11.5
MD    26,915   3,031 11.3 WA    48,420   6,676 13.8
MA    17,825   3,470 19.5 WV    14,046   3,325 23.7
MI    46,240   9,415 20.4 WI    22,526   3,681 16.3
MN    19,301   3,164 16.4 WY     3,451     512 14.8
MS    17,518   2,477 14.1 PR     7,965   1,780 22.3
MO    35,981   6,545 18.2                         

Citation: U.S. Census Bureau. (2018). American community survey, 1-year estimates. In Lauer, E.A., Boege, S.L., & Houtenville, A.J. (Eds.), Annual disability statistics compendium: 2019 (Table 8.3). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability.
[1] Count of Veterans with disabilities in poverty as a percent of total.
Table 8.4 Poverty — Civilian Veterans without Disabilities Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2018
State Total Poverty % [1]   State Total Poverty % [1]
U.S. 7,252,726 430,586  5.9 MT    33,978   1,740  5.1
AL   133,603   9,246  6.9 NE    49,540   1,684  3.4
AK    36,569   2,278  6.2 NV    91,959   7,527  8.2
AZ   189,390  11,833  6.2 NH    37,049   1,563  4.2
AR    70,081   4,601  6.6 NJ   100,206   3,812  3.8
CA   609,398  38,943  6.4 NM    56,383   3,739  6.6
CO   175,609   9,421  5.4 NY   239,354  16,961  7.1
CT    57,620   3,020  5.2 NC   298,123  18,049  6.1
DE    27,294   1,837  6.7 ND    19,594   1,559  8.0
DC    10,617     795  7.5 OH   262,042  17,208  6.6
FL   531,548  32,210  6.1 OK   100,849   6,404  6.4
GA   285,268  15,791  5.5 OR    97,741   7,341  7.5
HI    46,424   1,815  3.9 PA   259,600  15,363  5.9
ID    47,513   3,064  6.4 RI    19,529     927  4.7
IL   209,011  12,513  6.0 SC   151,136  13,482  8.9
IN   149,357   8,482  5.7 SD    20,915   1,132  5.4
IA    67,923   3,376  5.0 TN   172,325   9,093  5.3
KS    71,677   4,819  6.7 TX   660,913  38,691  5.9
KY   104,953   7,551  7.2 UT    50,887   2,010  3.9
LA   100,531   8,539  8.5 VT    10,772     835  7.8
ME    39,852   1,836  4.6 VA   354,277  12,249  3.5
MD   172,958   6,293  3.6 WA   230,669  11,255  4.9
MA   104,673   5,848  5.6 WV    42,421   4,239 10.0
MI   186,195  13,534  7.3 WI   118,518   5,420  4.6
MN   108,463   6,922  6.4 WY    19,748     620  3.1
MS    72,586   4,560  6.3 PR    20,650   3,784 18.3
MO   145,085   8,556  5.9                         

Citation: U.S. Census Bureau. (2018). American community survey, 1-year estimates. In Lauer, E.A., Boege, S.L., & Houtenville, A.J. (Eds.), Annual disability statistics compendium: 2019 (Table 8.4). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability.
[1] Count of Veterans without disabilities in poverty as a percent of total.
Table 8.5 Poverty Gap — Civilian Veterans Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States, by Disability Status: 2018
State Poverty Rate (%) Gap (% pts) [2]   State Poverty Rate (%) Gap (% pts) [2]
Disability [1] No Disability [1] Disability [1] No Disability [1]
U.S. 16.2  5.9 10.3 MT 20.4  5.1 15.3
AL 14.8  6.9  7.9 NE 12.8  3.4  9.4
AK 14.4  6.2  8.2 NV 13.0  8.2  4.8
AZ 18.6  6.2 12.4 NH  8.1  4.2  3.9
AR 15.4  6.6  8.8 NJ 15.0  3.8 11.2
CA 18.4  6.4 12.0 NM 22.0  6.6 15.4
CO 16.6  5.4 11.2 NY 20.8  7.1 13.7
CT 11.4  5.2  6.2 NC 15.9  6.1  9.8
DE 20.8  6.7 14.1 ND 14.2  8.0  6.2
DC 27.8  7.5 20.3 OH 18.9  6.6 12.3
FL 14.8  6.1  8.7 OK 16.0  6.4  9.6
GA 14.7  5.5  9.2 OR 20.7  7.5 13.2
HI  6.1  3.9  2.2 PA 18.2  5.9 12.3
ID 10.6  6.4  4.2 RI 21.0  4.7 16.3
IL 17.5  6.0 11.5 SC 18.7  8.9  9.8
IN 20.9  5.7 15.2 SD 17.8  5.4 12.4
IA 12.5  5.0  7.5 TN 14.4  5.3  9.1
KS 20.1  6.7 13.4 TX 11.0  5.9  5.1
KY 20.2  7.2 13.0 UT 16.1  3.9 12.2
LA 24.7  8.5 16.2 VT  9.8  7.8  2.0
ME 13.1  4.6  8.5 VA 11.5  3.5  8.0
MD 11.3  3.6  7.7 WA 13.8  4.9  8.9
MA 19.5  5.6 13.9 WV 23.7 10.0 13.7
MI 20.4  7.3 13.1 WI 16.3  4.6 11.7
MN 16.4  6.4 10.0 WY 14.8  3.1 11.7
MS 14.1  6.3  7.8 PR 22.3 18.3  4.0
MO 18.2  5.9 12.3                 

Citation: U.S. Census Bureau. (2018). American community survey, 1-year estimates. In Lauer, E.A., Boege, S.L., & Houtenville, A.J. (Eds.), Annual disability statistics compendium: 2019 (Table 8.5). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability.
[1] Count of civilian Veterans as a percent of total.
[2] The difference in percentage points between disability and no disability poverty rates.
Table 8.6 Veterans Benefits Administration — Compensation and Pension Benefits Paid to Disabled Veterans and their Survivors: Federal Fiscal Year 2018
State Total ($) [1]   State Total ($) [1]
U.S. 82,776,199 MO  1,673,700
AL  2,057,767 MT    333,858
AK    282,164 NE    554,787
AZ  1,834,997 NV    974,513
AR  1,070,595 NH    334,890
CA  7,157,234 NJ  1,085,501
CO  1,662,319 NM    795,765
CT    459,251 NY  2,440,257
DE    235,253 NC  3,982,710
DC     92,178 ND    173,799
FL  6,342,478 OH  2,389,950
GA  3,638,052 OK  1,915,539
HI    436,248 OR  1,325,174
ID    473,760 PA  2,510,819
IL  1,826,991 RI    221,674
IN  1,303,585 SC  2,142,532
IA    604,895 SD    242,117
KS    672,705 TN  2,274,082
KY  1,231,816 TX  8,573,040
LA  1,270,594 UT    504,918
ME    534,427 VT    137,559
MD  1,426,103 VA  3,190,306
MA  1,174,018 WA  2,265,562
MI  2,049,343 WV    728,133
MN  1,138,802 WI  1,170,060
MS    854,731 WY    169,701

Citation: Veterans Benefits Administration. (2018). Annual benefits report; Appendices E1-E52. In Lauer, E.A., Boege, S.L., & Houtenville, A.J. (Eds.), Annual disability statistics compendium: 2019 (Table 8.6). Durham, NH: University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. Data for this table can be found at https://www.va.gov/vetdata/expenditures.asp.
[1] In thousands (82,776,199 represents 82,776,99,000).