2026 VA Disability Rate Changes
In 2026, rates will increase 2.8% to help veterans and their families access vital necessities.
Due to high inflation caused by the pandemic, the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increased by 2.8%. COLA is determined each year by the Social Security Administration.
The increased inflation over the past year, along with the continued high cost of living, has meant that Veterans and their families need this assistance more than ever.
Below, you’ll find the released VA disability compensation rates for 2026, along with what we know about 2026 so far. Depending on your disability rating and household, you can use the information in the charts below to determine how much you can expect your upcoming VA disability payment to change.
2026 VA Disability Rates
Effective Date: December 31, 2025
Note: Veterans with a 10% to 20% disability rating do not receive additional compensation for having a spouse, dependent child, or dependent parent.
| Disability Rating | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
VA disability compensation is based on the veteran’s disability rating and household.
| Disability Rating | Veteran (alone, no dependents) | With Spouse (no parents or children) |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $552.47 | $618.26 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $883.22 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.87 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.60 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.62 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,276.91 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.68 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 |
| Disability Rating | With Spouse and 1 Parent (no children) | With Spouse and 2 Parents (no children) |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $670.69 | $723.12 |
| 40% | $953.12 | $1,023.02 |
| 50% | $1,329.25 | $1,416.63 |
| 60% | $1,671.46 | $1,776.31 |
| 70% | $2,084.98 | $2,208.34 |
| 80% | $2,417.74 | $2,558.58 |
| 90% | $2,717.99 | $2,876.30 |
| 100% | $4,334.41 | $4,510.65 |
| Disability Rating | With 1 Parent (no spouse or children) | With 2 Parents (no spouse or children) |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $604.90 | $657.32 |
| 40% | $865.74 | $935.64 |
| 50% | $1,220.28 | $1,307.66 |
| 60% | $1,539.87 | $1,644.73 |
| 70% | $1,931.81 | $2,055.17 |
| 80% | $2,242.98 | $2,383.82 |
| 90% | $2,520.61 | $2,678.93 |
| 100% | $4,114.82 | $4,291.06 |
| Disability Rating | With 1 Child (no spouse or parents) | With 1 Child and Spouse (no parents) |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $595.64 | $666.58 |
| 40% | $854.43 | $947.98 |
| 50% | $1,205.89 | $1,323.08 |
| 60% | $1,522.40 | $1,663.23 |
| 70% | $1,910.22 | $2,074.70 |
| 80% | $2,219.34 | $2,406.43 |
| 90% | $2,493.89 | $2,704.63 |
| 100% | $4,085.43 | $4,318.99 |
| Disability Rating | With 1 Child, 1 Spouse, and 1 Parent | With 1 Child, 1 Spouse, and 2 Parents |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $719.00 | $771.43 |
| 40% | $1,017.88 | $1,087.79 |
| 50% | $1,410.46 | $1,497.84 |
| 60% | $1,768.09 | $1,872.94 |
| 70% | $2,198.06 | $2,321.42 |
| 80% | $2,547.27 | $2,688.11 |
| 90% | $2,862.94 | $3,021.25 |
| 100% | $4,495.23 | $4,671.47 |
| Disability Rating | With 1 Child and 1 Parent (no spouse) | With 1 Child and 2 Parents (no spouse) |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $648.07 | $700.50 |
| 40% | $924.34 | $994.24 |
| 50% | $1,293.27 | $1,380.65 |
| 60% | $1,627.25 | $1,732.11 |
| 70% | $2,033.58 | $2,156.94 |
| 80% | $2,360.17 | $2,501.01 |
| 90% | $2,652.20 | $2,810.51 |
| 100% | $4,261.67 | $4,437.91 |
Added Amounts
| Disability Rating | Each Additional Child Under Age 18 | Each Additional Child Over Age 18 in a Qualifying School Program |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $31.87 | $104.86 |
| 40% | $43.18 | $140.84 |
| 50% | $54.48 | $175.79 |
| 60% | $64.76 | $210.74 |
| 70% | $76.07 | $245.69 |
| 80% | $86.35 | $281.67 |
| 90% | $97.66 | $316.62 |
| 100% | $109.11 | $352.45 |
| Disability Rating | Spouse Receiving Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|
| 30% | $59.62 |
| 40% | $80.18 |
| 50% | $100.74 |
| 60% | $120.28 |
| 70% | $140.84 |
| 80% | $161.40 |
| 90% | $180.93 |
| 100% | $201.41 |
Disability Effective Date vs. Payment Date
Although the effective date for VA disability compensation is the day since your back pay is counted, the payment date is the day the United States Department of Veterans Affairs pays you. These terms may seem complex initially, but you need to understand them extensively if you receive VA disability benefits. Often, the VA takes a lot of time to examine and approve your disability claim.
Suppose you filed your VA disability claim on March 20, 2021. However, after the VA evaluates your claim, they don’t ascertain whether your disability is service-related, and they deny your disability benefits claim. However, after submitting more information and re-examination, your claim was approved on June 10, 2024. But three years have lapsed after your initial disability claim, and you’re eligible for payment for all those years. The accumulation of money throughout the three years is known as the retroactive benefit or back pay, past-due benefits.
Once the VA approves your eligibility for disability benefits, you’ll receive your retroactive benefits in a lump sum on the first payment day.
The effective date is the day when the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs starts counting your back pay compensation. And often, that’s the day when you filed your initial disability claim. Thus, if you follow the example above, your effective day will be March 20, 2021. VA will count your disability compensation from this date to the day they begin to pay you. And you’ll receive that money in a lump sum.
On the flip side, the payment date is often the day when the Department of Veterans Affairs pays you your monthly disability benefits. Often, it’s the first business day of the month. But if the first day in a month is a holiday or non-business day, you’ll receive your monthly disability compensation on the last day of the previous month.
Whatever day the VA pays you is known as the payment day. When getting your retroactive compensation, the VA typically pays it as a lump sum on the next payment day, together with your standard monthly compensation.
How To Calculate Your VA Disability Payment
You can calculate your expected veteran’s disability benefits using the information provided by the VA. First, using the compensation tables presented here, find your VA compensation rate for your specific disability rating. Then, using the basic rates table, you should be able to find the appropriate amount for your disability rating and your dependent status.
For example, if you are a disabled veteran with a 50% disability rating, with no spouse and no dependent children, your expected basic VA disability rate is $1,220.28 as outlined in the chart.
However, if your spouse receives VA Aid and Attendance benefits or you have more than one dependent child, you can calculate increases to your standard monthly pay in the Added Amounts section above.
Ready for a more complicated calculation? Let’s consider a veteran with a 50% disability rating, four dependent children, and a spouse who receives Aid and Attendance.
- Start with the basic rate of $1,323.08 for a 50% disabled veteran with a spouse and one child.
- Add the appropriate amount of ($54.48 x 3) for three additional children under age 18, using the Added Amounts table: $1,323.08 + $163.44 = $1,486.52
- Finally, factor in the additional amount for a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance: $100.74
That leaves you with a total of $1,587.26 per month!
Feel free to use the chart to perform any additional calculations and discover what you could be receiving monthly!
