VA disability pay goes up 3.6% for 2027. The new rates take effect December 1, 2026, and the first deposit at the higher amount lands on Thursday, December 31, 2026. A veteran rated 100% with no dependents moves from $3,938.58 to about $4,080.37 a month, roughly $142 more.
Key takeaways
- The 2027 increase is 3.6%, the largest since the 8.7% raise in 2023. It matches the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment announced October 14, 2026.
- You don’t need to apply. The raise is automatic for everyone already receiving VA disability compensation.
- Ratings of 10% and 20% pay a flat amount. Extra pay for a spouse, children, or dependent parents starts at 30%.
- December’s payment arrives December 31, 2026 because January 1 is a federal holiday.
Why rates went up 3.6%
Each year Congress ties VA disability compensation to the same cost-of-living adjustment Social Security uses. That adjustment comes from the change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next. For 2027 the number came in at 3.6%, up from 2.8% for 2026.
In plain terms: for every $1,000 you get now, expect about $36 more each month.
2027 VA disability rates: veteran with no dependents
| Disability rating | 2026 monthly | 2027 monthly | Monthly increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $186.92 | $6.50 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $369.50 | $12.84 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $572.36 | $19.89 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $824.49 | $28.65 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,173.68 | $40.78 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,486.68 | $51.66 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,873.55 | $65.10 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,177.83 | $75.68 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,447.34 | $85.04 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,080.37 | $141.79 |
A 0% rating pays no monthly compensation but can still qualify you for VA health care and other benefits.
2027 rates with a spouse or parents (no children)
30% to 60%
| Dependent status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $572.36 | $824.49 | $1,173.68 | $1,486.68 |
| With spouse | $639.70 | $914.62 | $1,286.61 | $1,622.40 |
| Spouse + 1 parent | $693.57 | $987.14 | $1,377.78 | $1,731.18 |
| Spouse + 2 parents | $747.44 | $1,059.66 | $1,468.94 | $1,839.96 |
| 1 parent only | $626.23 | $897.01 | $1,264.85 | $1,595.46 |
| 2 parents only | $680.10 | $969.53 | $1,356.02 | $1,704.24 |
70% to 100%
| Dependent status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $1,873.55 | $2,177.83 | $2,447.34 | $4,080.37 |
| With spouse | $2,032.06 | $2,359.13 | $2,651.43 | $4,307.86 |
| Spouse + 1 parent | $2,159.49 | $2,504.17 | $2,815.12 | $4,490.45 |
| Spouse + 2 parents | $2,286.92 | $2,649.21 | $2,978.81 | $4,673.03 |
| 1 parent only | $2,000.98 | $2,322.87 | $2,611.03 | $4,262.95 |
| 2 parents only | $2,128.41 | $2,467.91 | $2,774.72 | $4,445.54 |
2027 rates with children
30% to 60%
| Dependent status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child only | $617.94 | $884.58 | $1,249.31 | $1,577.85 |
| 1 child + spouse | $690.46 | $981.96 | $1,370.52 | $1,722.89 |
| 1 child, spouse, 1 parent | $744.33 | $1,054.48 | $1,461.69 | $1,831.67 |
| 1 child, spouse, 2 parents | $798.21 | $1,127.00 | $1,552.86 | $1,940.45 |
| 1 child + 1 parent | $671.81 | $957.10 | $1,340.48 | $1,686.63 |
| 1 child + 2 parents | $725.69 | $1,029.62 | $1,431.65 | $1,795.41 |
70% to 100%
| Dependent status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child only | $1,979.23 | $2,299.04 | $2,584.09 | $4,232.51 |
| 1 child + spouse | $2,149.13 | $2,492.77 | $2,801.65 | $4,474.47 |
| 1 child, spouse, 1 parent | $2,276.56 | $2,637.81 | $2,965.34 | $4,657.06 |
| 1 child, spouse, 2 parents | $2,403.99 | $2,782.85 | $3,129.03 | $4,839.64 |
| 1 child + 1 parent | $2,106.65 | $2,444.08 | $2,747.78 | $4,415.09 |
| 1 child + 2 parents | $2,234.08 | $2,589.12 | $2,911.47 | $4,597.67 |
Added amounts
If you have more than one child, or your spouse needs help with daily activities (Aid and Attendance), add these amounts to the rate in the charts above.
30% to 60%
| Added amount | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Each additional child under 18 | $33.15 | $44.55 | $55.94 | $67.34 |
| Each additional child 18+ in school | $108.78 | $145.04 | $182.34 | $218.60 |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $63.20 | $83.92 | $104.64 | $125.36 |
70% to 100%
| Added amount | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Each additional child under 18 | $78.74 | $90.13 | $101.53 | $113.04 |
| Each additional child 18+ in school | $254.86 | $291.12 | $328.41 | $365.14 |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $146.08 | $166.80 | $187.52 | $208.66 |
Figures on this page are the 2026 VA rates increased by the 3.6% COLA. VA publishes its official tables around December 1, and dependent amounts may differ by a dollar or so after VA rounding.
How to calculate your VA disability payment
- Find your combined disability rating on your VA award letter or at VA.gov.
- Pick the chart that matches your household: no dependents, spouse or parents only, or with children.
- Find the row for your dependent status and the column for your rating. That’s your base rate.
- Add the amounts for each additional child and for a spouse on Aid and Attendance, if they apply.
Example 1. A veteran rated 70% with no dependents receives $1,873.55 a month in 2027.
Example 2. A veteran rated 80% with a spouse and three children under 18 starts with the “1 child + spouse” rate of $2,492.77. Two more children add $90.13 each. The monthly total is about $2,673.03.
Effective date vs. payment date
These are two different dates, and mixing them up causes a lot of confusion. Your effective date is the day VA says your benefits begin, usually the date it received your claim. Your payment date is when money reaches your bank. VA pays one month behind, on the first business day of the following month.
So the 2027 rates start December 1, 2026, but you won’t see them until the December payment arrives on December 31. If your claim is approved months after you filed, VA owes you back pay to your effective date, paid as a lump sum.
Common questions
Do I need to do anything to get the 2027 increase?
No. The 3.6% raise is applied automatically to every veteran already receiving compensation.
Is VA disability pay taxed?
No. VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal level and is not counted as income on your federal tax return.
I added a dependent this year. Why hasn’t my pay changed?
Dependents aren’t added automatically. You have to tell VA through VA.gov or VA Form 21-686c. If you’re rated 30% or higher and haven’t added your spouse, child, or dependent parent, you may be leaving money on the table every month.
