Louisiana is outpacing the national average three times over when it comes to V-A benefits growth. As for the why, or how this progress was made possible, leaders of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA) credit their success to a combination of aggressive outreach efforts, and of fostering effective partnerships with their counterparts at VA facilities and local veteran service organizations. In a statement released by the LDVA, Secretary Charlton J. Meginley, Colonel (Ret), United States Air Force, explained, “These numbers aren’t just statistics-they’re lives changed.” According to figures provided by the LDVA, the agency experienced a 6% increase in the number of veterans accessing critical support program. That triples the national average of 2%.
Meginley says more than 82,000 veterans receive more than $2 billion in VA compensation. As the Louisiana Radio Network reports, Meginley explains, “Just in terms of compensation alone, so V-A compensation money, went up almost 5,000 veterans. That is a significant number when it comes to economic impact within the state not just for the communities but for the veterans themselves.” The growth also extends to educational opportunities, as Meginley cites the 9% jump in the number of Louisiana veterans utilizing VA education benefits like the GI Bill and Title 35, “who were using them at our colleges and universities.”
Outreach takes time, energy, and follow through, as Meginley explains. “My team is at over 50 events, talking to veterans, seeing what we can do for them, thanking them, of course, for their service. But also saying, ‘I’m thanking you for your service, but how can I help you get the benefits that you’ve earned and deserve?’ Not just at the federal level, but at the state level as well.”
In all, a total of 108,894 Louisiana veterans now receive benefits through the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), up from 103,120 the previous year. That’s according to the latest Annual Benefits Report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The LDVA statement quoted Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry who explained, “Louisiana isn’t just keeping pace—we’re setting the standard,” as Landry concluded, id Governor Jeff Landry. “Our veterans are getting the benefits they deserve at a rate that far exceeds the rest of the country. This isn’t luck. It’s leadership.”
