Only 8 percent of Connecticut veterans receive disability compensation

Connecticut lags in vets' disability compensation
By LISA CHEDEKEL C-HIT Senior Writer

Connecticut lags behind most of the country in the number of veterans receiving federal disability payments, leaving thousands of potential recipients relying on state resources instead, according to veterans advocates.

Advocates say that the state's failure to reach out to eligible veterans is the reason Connecticut has one of the lowest percentages of veterans getting compensation, although the rate is higher in New London County than anywhere else in the state.

More than 20,200 Connecticut veterans are receiving disability compensation for injuries and illnesses connected to their military duty, according to data obtained from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

"It's very vital, especially in these troubled economic times, that veterans know what benefits they're entitled to," said Linda Schwartz, the state's veterans affairs commissioner, who said she has been pushing for more outreach staffing to help veterans file disability claims. "People need help filling out the applications, and we need the people to help them. It's at the top of my list of priorities to get these outreach offices fully staffed."

Only about 8 percent of the estimated 253,000 veterans in Connecticut are receiving disability compensation, a tax-free benefit for disabilities that are a result of, or made worse by, injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty or during training. That percentage has put Connecticut in the bottom third of states, some of which have 12 to 14 percent of their veterans receiving compensation.
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Connecticut lags in vets' disability compensation