Number of US Disabled Military Veterans Rose to 330,000 in 4 Years

The number of badly disabled US veterans on disability relief rose to 330,000, a GAO report says.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The number of badly disabled US veterans on disability relief rose to 330,000, a 22 percent increase over four years, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

“In fiscal year 2013, over 330,000 veterans received this benefit, a 22 percent increase from fiscal year 2009,” the report, released on Wednesday, said. “GAO estimated that $5.2 billion was spent in fiscal year 2013 for the supplement.”

The number of US military veterans receiving Total Disability Individual Unemployability benefits increased during the same period by 30 percent, the GAO noted.

The 2009-2013 period covered by the study was marked by continuing US military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, though on a smaller scale than in previous years, as well as by other US military missions around the world.

“GAO estimated that $5.2 billion was spent in fiscal year 2013 for the supplement,” the report said.

The US Government Accountability Office is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress and investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars.