Yes, veterans will still get disability, pension benefits during government shutdown

The government will partially shut down if federal lawmakers don’t pass a funding plan by Nov. 17, 2023. Shutdowns happen when Congress doesn't approve funding to keep government programs running.

VERIFY reader G. Charleston asked if military veterans will continue receiving disability and pension benefits if the government shuts down.

THE QUESTION

Will veterans continue receiving disability and pension benefits if the government shuts down?

THE SOURCES

• U.S. Code
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough
• Budget bill passed in December 2022
• Senate Republican summary of December 2022 budget bill
• Veteran.com, a website that specializes in providing military benefits information

THE ANSWER

Yes, veterans will continue receiving disability and pension benefits if the government shuts down.

WHAT WE FOUND

U.S. Code requires Congress to set aside funding for veterans benefits and medical care a year in advance, when it sets the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget in the federal government’s annual budget bills.

The advanced funding must cover the estimated cost of veterans benefits and healthcare for the year, U.S. Code says.

Veteran.com, a website that specializes in providing military benefits information, says the VA lobbied Congress to fund veterans benefits programs in advance after previous government shutdowns.

The VA section of the budget bill passed in December 2022 included funding for the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration that became available on Oct. 1, 2023, and will “remain available until expended.”

Oct. 1, 2023 marked the start of Fiscal Year 2024. Many government agencies lose funding if there isn’t a permanent or temporary budget in place by the start of a new fiscal year since the annual budget funds most programs one year at a time. Last month, Congress passed a stopgap bill to keep the government running from Oct. 1 until Nov. 17. 

A Senate Republican summary of the December 2022 bill’s veterans spending said the bill included a total of $155 billion for veterans benefits and $128 billion for veterans healthcare for Fiscal Year 2024.

So while many government programs will run out of funding if federal lawmakers don’t pass legislation, veterans benefits programs already received funding on Oct. 1 that is intended to last for the whole year.

Denis McDonough, who is the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, confirmed veterans will continue to see benefits during a government shutdown.

“In the case of a shutdown… VA would continue to process and deliver benefits to veterans, including compensation, pension, education and housing benefits,” McDonough said in a Sept. 22, 2023 press conference.