Caleb Hammer’s popular YouTube series Financial Audit has become an unlikely window into the real-world consequences of America’s veterans benefits system.

In episode after episode, Hammer sits down with everyday Americans struggling with debt, overspending, and poor financial decisions. Among his guests, a striking pattern emerges where a disproportionate number of military veterans appear. These veterans often receive thousands of dollars each month in tax-free U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation.