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Gretchen is a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). LSC grantee Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia provided her much-needed legal help.

Most low-income veterans do not get all the legal help they need.

Low-income veteran households did not receive any or enough legal help for 84% of their civil legal problems in the past year.

The 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey showed that 76% of low-income veteran households experienced at least one civil legal problem in the past year, and 44% experienced at least five. The most common problems related to consumer issues, health care, and income maintenance. Individuals from low-income households with veterans sought legal help for 34% of the problems that substantially affected them.

Scroll down for an infographic summarizing key findings related to low-income veteran households or download a PDF of the infographic.

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Snapshot of Key Findings for:

Veterans

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Today’s Low-income America

1.6 million veterans have household incomes below 125% of poverty.

Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019 American Community Survey.

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The Prevalence of Civil Legal Problems

76% of low-income veterans households had at least 1 civil legal problem in the past year.

44% had 5+ problems in past year.

27% had 10+ problems in past year.

Common problem areas:

Red and white pie chart icon at 53%
Consumer Issues (53%)

Red and white pie chart icon at 46%

Health care (46%)

Red and white pie chart icon at 41%

Income maintenance (41%)

n = 242 veteran households

Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.

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Seeking and Receiving Legal Help

Sought legal help for 34% of substantial problems.

Did not receive any or enough legal help for 84% of substantial problems.

n = 366 substantial problems

Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.

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Comparing Income Groups

At or below 125% of FPL (n=242):

  • 51% are confident they could find and afford a lawyer if they needed one to help resolve a serious civil legal problem.

Between 125% and 400% of FPL (n=416):

  • 69% are confident.

At or above 400% of FPL (n=174)*:

  • 76% are confident.

* Small base size

Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.

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Reports from the Field

In 2021, LSC-funded organizations provided legal help to 36,000 veteran households.

Data source: Preliminary analysis of LSC’s 2021 Grantee Activity Report (GAR) data.

Additional Information about Veterans

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