The Playbook › Step 1 of 7: Know the rules
VA disability compensation is a monthly, tax-free payment. The amount depends on two things: your combined VA disability rating and, at 30% or higher, your dependents. These are the rates in effect from December 1, 2025, through November 30, 2026.
The short version
- Rates went up 2.8% for 2026.
- At 10% and 20% you get a flat amount. Dependents do not change it.
- At 30% and above, a spouse, children, and dependent parents each add to your pay.
- Payments arrive on the first business day of the following month.
- 2027 update: the increase is 3.6%, announced October 14, 2026. It takes effect December 1, 2026 and first shows up in the payment that arrives around January 1, 2027.
On this page
The 2027 increase: 3.6%
On October 14, 2026, Social Security announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027. VA disability compensation rises by the same percentage each year, so 2027 rates will be about 3.6% higher than the 2026 rates below.
These are estimates for a veteran with no dependents, worked out from the 2026 rates and rounded to the nearest dollar. VA publishes its official 2027 tables later in the year, and its exact figures can differ by a few cents. This page will be updated with them.
| Combined rating | 2026 monthly | Estimated 2027 monthly | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $187 | +$6 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $369 | +$13 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $572 | +$20 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $824 | +$29 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,174 | +$41 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,487 | +$52 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,874 | +$65 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,178 | +$76 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,447 | +$85 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,080 | +$142 |
What to know about the 2027 increase:
- You do not need to do anything. The increase is applied automatically to everyone receiving compensation.
- The first higher payment arrives around January 1, 2027. It is the payment for December 2026, because VA pays each month at the start of the next.
- Dependents go up by the same percentage. So do special monthly compensation and DIC for survivors.
- The increase is set by law each year. Congress passes it, and it has matched Social Security’s figure for many years. VA’s official tables follow once it does.
- The calculator still uses 2026 rates until VA publishes the official 2027 figures.
2026 rates for a veteran with no dependents
| Combined rating | Monthly payment | Yearly total |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $4,279.92 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $6,629.64 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $9,550.08 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $13,594.80 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $17,220.24 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $21,701.40 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $25,225.80 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $28,347.60 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $47,262.96 |
Notice the jump from 90% to 100%. It is more than $1,500 a month. That gap is why TDIU and secondary conditions matter so much for veterans rated in the 70% to 90% range.
2026 VA disability pay chart with dependents
Dependents only add to your pay at a combined rating of 30% or more. Find the row that matches your family. All figures are monthly, effective December 1, 2025.
Veteran with a spouse or parents, no children
| Dependents | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $552.47 | $795.84 | $1,132.90 | $1,435.02 |
| With spouse | $617.47 | $882.84 | $1,241.90 | $1,566.02 |
| With spouse and 1 parent | $669.47 | $952.84 | $1,329.90 | $1,671.02 |
| With spouse and 2 parents | $721.47 | $1,022.84 | $1,417.90 | $1,776.02 |
| With 1 parent | $604.47 | $865.84 | $1,220.90 | $1,540.02 |
| With 2 parents | $656.47 | $935.84 | $1,308.90 | $1,645.02 |
| Dependents | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $1,808.45 | $2,102.15 | $2,362.30 | $3,938.58 |
| With spouse | $1,961.45 | $2,277.15 | $2,559.30 | $4,158.17 |
| With spouse and 1 parent | $2,084.45 | $2,417.15 | $2,717.30 | $4,334.41 |
| With spouse and 2 parents | $2,207.45 | $2,557.15 | $2,875.30 | $4,510.65 |
| With 1 parent | $1,931.45 | $2,242.15 | $2,520.30 | $4,114.82 |
| With 2 parents | $2,054.45 | $2,382.15 | $2,678.30 | $4,291.06 |
Veteran with one child
| Dependents | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| With 1 child | $596.47 | $853.84 | $1,205.90 | $1,523.02 |
| With spouse and 1 child | $666.47 | $947.84 | $1,322.90 | $1,663.02 |
| With spouse, 1 child and 1 parent | $718.47 | $1,017.84 | $1,410.90 | $1,768.02 |
| With spouse, 1 child and 2 parents | $770.47 | $1,087.84 | $1,498.90 | $1,873.02 |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | $648.47 | $923.84 | $1,293.90 | $1,628.02 |
| With 1 child and 2 parents | $700.47 | $993.84 | $1,381.90 | $1,733.02 |
| Dependents | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| With 1 child | $1,910.45 | $2,219.15 | $2,494.30 | $4,085.43 |
| With spouse and 1 child | $2,074.45 | $2,406.15 | $2,704.30 | $4,318.99 |
| With spouse, 1 child and 1 parent | $2,197.45 | $2,546.15 | $2,862.30 | $4,495.23 |
| With spouse, 1 child and 2 parents | $2,320.45 | $2,686.15 | $3,020.30 | $4,671.47 |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | $2,033.45 | $2,359.15 | $2,652.30 | $4,261.67 |
| With 1 child and 2 parents | $2,156.45 | $2,499.15 | $2,810.30 | $4,437.91 |
Add these for more children or a spouse who needs care
| Add for each | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Additional child under 18 | $32 | $43 | $54 | $65 | $76 | $87 | $98 | $109.11 |
| Child 18 to 23 in school | $105 | $140 | $176 | $211 | $246 | $281 | $317 | $352.45 |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $61 | $81 | $101 | $121 | $141 | $161 | $181 | $201.41 |
Example: a veteran rated 70% with a spouse and three children under 18 receives $2,074.45 for the spouse and first child, plus 2 × $76 for the other two children: $2,226.45 a month.
The VA disability calculator does this sum for you, for any combination.
Adding a dependent
VA does not add dependents automatically. You have to tell them. You can add a spouse or child online at VA.gov or with VA Form 21-686c. For a child in school between 18 and 23, use VA Form 21-674.
Do this promptly. If you tell VA about a marriage or a birth within one year of the event, your extra pay can go back to the date of the event. Wait longer and it generally starts from the date VA receives your request. Also report divorces and deaths quickly. VA will ask for any overpayment back.
2026 VA disability payment dates
VA pays for each month on the first business day of the next month. When the first falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, payment is made on the last business day before it. Your bank may post it a little earlier or later.
| Payment for | Arrives |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | Friday, January 30, 2026 |
| February 2026 | Friday, February 27, 2026 |
| March 2026 | Wednesday, April 1, 2026 |
| April 2026 | Friday, May 1, 2026 |
| May 2026 | Monday, June 1, 2026 |
| June 2026 | Wednesday, July 1, 2026 |
| July 2026 | Friday, July 31, 2026 |
| August 2026 | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 |
| September 2026 | Thursday, October 1, 2026 |
| October 2026 | Friday, October 30, 2026 |
| November 2026 | Tuesday, December 1, 2026 |
| December 2026 (first with the 3.6% increase) | Thursday, December 31, 2026 |
Are VA disability payments taxed?
No. VA disability compensation is not taxable income for federal purposes, and you do not report it on your federal return.
Cost-of-living adjustments
Each year VA disability rates rise by the same percentage as Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustment. The 2026 increase was 2.8%. The 2027 increase is 3.6%, announced on October 14, 2026. It applies from December 1, 2026, which means you first see it in the payment that arrives around January 1, 2027. See the 2027 increase above for estimated amounts. This page will be updated when VA publishes its official 2027 tables.
Payments above 100%
Some veterans qualify for Special Monthly Compensation, which pays more than the 100% rate for severe disabilities such as loss of use of a limb, or the need for daily help from another person. See the SMC guide.
More than the monthly payment
Your rating also opens state benefits such as property tax exemptions. See state veteran benefits. If you are owed pay for past months, the back pay calculator estimates the lump sum.
Military retirees can keep retired pay alongside VA pay through CRDP or CRSC. Some severe disabilities also qualify for housing grants, an automobile allowance and a yearly clothing allowance.
Common questions
Does my pay change if I get a job? No. Schedular VA disability pay is not reduced because you work. The one exception is TDIU. See working while on VA disability.
Why did I get less than the table shows? The most common reasons are military retired pay offsets (see CRDP and CRSC), a recoupment of separation pay, or a debt to VA. Your decision letter or a call to VA at 800-827-1000 will explain it.
Free printable checklist. Everything to gather before you file, what to bring to your C&P exam, and what to check in your decision, on two pages.
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general educational information, not legal or medical advice, and this site is not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Rules and rates change. Confirm details on VA.gov or with an accredited representative. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.