Due to conflicting Crown grants among the various colonies, disposition of lands beyond the Appalachians was a real mess. It was the reason Maryland did not join the Confederation until March 1781, just a few months before Yorktown.
Anyway, while the US government had no money, it ended up with lots of land with which to “pay the Debts,” including back pay to soldiers.
The Feds also eventually paid pensions to veterans, but they had to appear in court and provide proof that they fought.