VA disability compensation rates increased by 2.8% on December 1, 2025 — making 2026 the year veterans see one of the larger COLA bumps in recent history. Whether you're at 10% or 100%, every service-connected veteran got a raise. This article gives you the complete, official rate tables for 2026, organized by rating level and every dependent combination so you can find your exact monthly payment.
All rates on this page are federal rates set by Congress (38 U.S.C. § 1114 and 38 CFR Part 3), are completely tax-free, and are paid monthly. They reflect the 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment tied to the Social Security Administration's COLA for 2026.
2026 Base Rates by Disability Rating (No Dependents)
The table below shows the official 2026 VA disability compensation rates for a veteran with no dependents. These are sometimes called "Veteran Alone" rates. Veterans with a spouse, children, or dependent parents receive additional amounts — see the next section.
| Disability Rating | Monthly Pay (2026) | Annual Total | Monthly Increase vs. 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $175.51 | $2,106.12 | +$4.78 |
| 20% | $346.95 | $4,163.40 | +$9.45 |
| 30% | $537.42 | $6,448.04 | +$14.63 |
| 40% | $774.16 | $9,289.92 | +$21.08 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 | $13,224.48 | +$30.00 |
| 60% | $1,395.35 | $16,744.20 | +$37.99 |
| 70% | $1,759.19 | $21,110.28 | +$47.89 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 | $24,538.68 | +$55.67 |
| 90% | $2,297.96 | $27,575.52 | +$62.56 |
| 100% | $3,831.30 | $45,975.60 | +$104.31 |
Want your exact payment amount?
Enter your rating and dependents to get your precise 2026 monthly compensation.
Calculate My Exact Pay →2026 VA Disability Rates With Dependents (30%–100%)
Starting at 30%, veterans receive additional compensation for qualifying dependents. A qualifying dependent includes a spouse (including same-sex spouse), dependent children under 18 (or under 23 if in school), and dependent parents. You must notify VA of any changes in dependent status (marriage, birth, divorce, death) to keep your payments accurate.
Veteran + Spouse (No Children)
Adding a spouse increases your payment at every tier from 30% to 100%. The additional amount grows with your rating level.
| Rating | Veteran Alone | Veteran + Spouse | Spouse Add-On |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $537.42 | $601.57 | +$64.15 |
| 40% | $774.16 | $856.79 | +$82.63 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 | $1,203.68 | +$101.64 |
| 60% | $1,395.35 | $1,516.40 | +$121.05 |
| 70% | $1,759.19 | $1,898.93 | +$139.74 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 | $2,203.48 | +$158.59 |
| 90% | $2,297.96 | $2,474.89 | +$176.93 |
| 100% | $3,831.30 | $4,046.26 | +$214.96 |
Veteran + Spouse + 1 Child
| Rating | Veteran Alone | Vet + Spouse + 1 Child |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $537.42 | $650.11 |
| 40% | $774.16 | $921.24 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 | $1,283.24 |
| 60% | $1,395.35 | $1,611.75 |
| 70% | $1,759.19 | $2,010.10 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 | $2,330.16 |
| 90% | $2,297.96 | $2,620.77 |
| 100% | $3,831.30 | $4,211.13 |
Veteran + Spouse + 2 Children
| Rating | Veteran Alone | Vet + Spouse + 2 Children |
|---|---|---|
| 30% | $537.42 | $698.64 |
| 40% | $774.16 | $985.32 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 | $1,362.84 |
| 60% | $1,395.35 | $1,706.15 |
| 70% | $1,759.19 | $2,120.07 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 | $2,455.84 |
| 90% | $2,297.96 | $2,765.65 |
| 100% | $3,831.30 | $4,375.96 |
Veteran + 1 Child (No Spouse)
A veteran without a spouse but with a qualifying child also receives additional compensation starting at 30%.
| Rating | Veteran Alone | Veteran + 1 Child | Child Add-On |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $537.42 | $585.26 | +$47.84 |
| 40% | $774.16 | $836.12 | +$61.96 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 | $1,179.90 | +$77.86 |
| 60% | $1,395.35 | $1,490.10 | +$94.75 |
| 70% | $1,759.19 | $1,869.55 | +$110.36 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 | $2,171.49 | +$126.60 |
| 90% | $2,297.96 | $2,441.47 | +$143.51 |
| 100% | $3,831.30 | $4,004.87 | +$173.57 |
Veteran + Dependent Parent(s)
A dependent parent is one who relies on you for financial support. You can claim one or two dependent parents. The parent add-on is separate from — and stacks with — spouse and child add-ons.
| Rating | Veteran Alone | + 1 Parent | + 2 Parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $537.42 | $582.76 | $628.10 |
| 40% | $774.16 | $836.48 | $898.80 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 | $1,181.60 | $1,261.16 |
| 60% | $1,395.35 | $1,492.33 | $1,589.31 |
| 70% | $1,759.19 | $1,873.71 | $1,988.23 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 | $2,176.31 | $2,307.73 |
| 90% | $2,297.96 | $2,446.34 | $2,594.72 |
| 100% | $3,831.30 | $4,013.57 | $4,195.84 |
How the 2.8% COLA Was Calculated
VA disability compensation is linked by law (38 U.S.C. § 5312) to the Social Security Administration's annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). When SSA raises Social Security benefits, VA disability compensation rises by the same percentage — automatically, without veterans needing to do anything.
📊 2026 COLA: How It Works
- SSA announced a 2.8% COLA for 2026 in October 2025
- VA applied the same 2.8% increase to all compensation rates
- New rates took effect December 1, 2025
- First payment at new rates: December 31, 2025 (covering January 2026)
- Example: A veteran at 70% went from $1,716.28 → $1,759.19/month (+$42.91)
- Example: A veteran at 100% went from $3,726.99 → $3,831.30/month (+$104.31)
The 2026 COLA of 2.8% was determined by measuring the change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of 2025. This is a legally mandated, automatic process — veterans do not need to apply for the COLA increase.
For historical context: the 2025 COLA was 2.5%, the 2024 COLA was 3.2%, and the 2023 COLA was 8.7% (inflation spike). The 2026 rate of 2.8% is a more moderate increase, typical of a normalizing inflation environment.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Rates 2026
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is additional compensation for veterans with severe disabilities — things like limb loss, blindness, the need for regular aid and attendance, or being housebound. SMC rates are on top of (or in lieu of, for higher SMC levels) your standard disability rating pay.
SMC is authorized under 38 U.S.C. § 1114 and rated under 38 CFR § 3.350. SMC rates increase with the same annual COLA as standard disability compensation.
| SMC Level | 2026 Monthly Rate | Common Qualifying Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| SMC-K | $130.94 (add-on) | Loss or loss of use of a creative organ, hand, foot, one eye; or a combination of minor limb losses. Added on top of your regular rating pay. |
| SMC-L | ~$4,235 | Loss of use of both feet, one hand and one foot, blindness in both eyes (5/200 acuity or less), or need for regular aid and attendance. |
| SMC-L½ | ~$4,464 | Intermediate rate between L and M (combined qualifying conditions). |
| SMC-M | ~$4,694 | Loss of use of both hands, certain combinations of limb loss, or blindness with additional qualifying disability. |
| SMC-S (Housebound) | ~$4,694 | Veteran is substantially confined to their immediate premises due to service-connected disability, with 100% rating plus an additional 60%+, or a single condition that alone qualifies as housebound. |
| SMC-N through SMC-T | $4,900–$9,800+ | Most severe combinations — loss of multiple limbs, blind and deaf, need for daily nursing care. Rates escalate significantly at higher SMC levels. |
SMC rates also increase with dependents at most levels. The calculations become complex — our SMC Calculator handles the full dependency math for you.
TDIU: Reaching the 100% Pay Rate Without 100% Rating
If your service-connected disabilities prevent you from maintaining substantially gainful employment, you may qualify for Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) — which pays at the full 100% rate of $3,831.30/month regardless of your combined scheduler rating.
Many veterans at 70% or 80% qualify for TDIU but never apply. If PTSD, back pain, or other service-connected conditions keep you from holding a job that pays above the federal poverty level, TDIU could mean an extra $1,000–$2,000/month.
TDIU Eligibility (38 CFR § 4.16)
- Single condition at 60%+ that prevents gainful employment, OR
- Combined rating of 70%+ with at least one condition rated 40%+, OR
- Extraschedular TDIU (§ 4.16(b)) — even without meeting the above thresholds, if your disabilities are uniquely severe
To apply, file VA Form 21-8940 (Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability). Submit with a medical opinion from your treating physician explaining why your service-connected conditions prevent employment. Use our Rating Estimator to see if you may qualify.
How to Figure Out Your Combined Rating
If you have multiple service-connected conditions, the VA does not simply add your ratings together. The VA uses a "whole person" method — also called the "VA math" — that always results in a combined rating lower than the arithmetic sum.
How VA Math Works
- Start with 100% as a "whole person"
- Apply your highest rating first. A 40% rating means you have 60% remaining
- Apply your next rating to the remaining percentage: 20% of 60% = 12%
- Combined so far: 40% + 12% = 52%
- Apply the next rating to whatever remains, and so on
- Round to nearest 10% (VA rounds 5% up, 4% down)
40% of 100 = 40 remaining = 60
20% of 60 = 12 → running total: 52
10% of 48 = 4.8 → running total: 56.8
Rounds to 60% combined rating → $1,395.35/month in 2026
This is why many veterans with three or four conditions end up at 70% combined even when their individual ratings seem to add up to 90%+. The VA math is not intuitive — use our VA Disability Calculator to see your actual combined rating and the exact monthly payment you should be receiving.
Also note: bilateral factor (having disabilities on both sides of the body — e.g., both knees) adds a 10% bonus before the combined rating is calculated. If you have matched bilateral conditions, make sure VA is applying this.
2026 VA Disability Pay Dates
VA disability compensation is paid on the first business day of each month, covering the prior month. If the 1st falls on a weekend or federal holiday, payment is issued the last business day of the prior month.
| Payment Month | Pay Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | December 31, 2025 |
| February 2026 | February 2, 2026 |
| March 2026 | March 2, 2026 |
| April 2026 | April 1, 2026 |
| May 2026 | May 1, 2026 |
| June 2026 | June 1, 2026 |
| July 2026 | July 1, 2026 |
| August 2026 | August 3, 2026 |
| September 2026 | September 1, 2026 |
| October 2026 | October 1, 2026 |
| November 2026 | November 2, 2026 |
| December 2026 | December 1, 2026 |
For the full payment schedule and details on direct deposit, see our dedicated article: 2026 VA Disability Pay Dates — Complete Calendar.
How to Get Your Rating Increased
If you believe your current rating doesn't accurately reflect the severity of your disabilities — or if your condition has worsened — you have several paths to increase your rating and boost your monthly pay.
1. File a Supplemental Claim (38 CFR § 3.2501)
Submit new and relevant evidence (new medical records, updated C&P exam, private IMO) with VA Form 20-0995. This is the most common path for veterans whose condition has worsened since their last rating decision.
2. Request a Higher-Level Review (38 CFR § 19.5)
File VA Form 20-0996 to have a senior VA claims adjudicator review your existing evidence for errors. No new evidence is added — the reviewer looks for mistakes in how VA applied the law to your case.
3. Claim Secondary Conditions
Many service-connected conditions cause or worsen other conditions. Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, hypertension secondary to PTSD, and radiculopathy secondary to back injuries are common examples. Each additional service-connected condition increases your combined rating.
4. File for TDIU
If your combined rating is 70%+ (with one condition at 40%+) and you can't work, TDIU pays at the 100% rate without requiring you to reach 100% scheduler. See TDIU vs. 100% — which pays more.
5. Use Our Tools
Start with our VA Rating Estimator to see if your symptoms may qualify for a higher rating. If you're owed back pay from a prior effective date, calculate it with our VA Back Pay Calculator.
Find Out If You're Getting Paid Correctly
Enter your rating, dependents, and SMC status to verify your 2026 payment — and see if you qualify for more.
Open Disability Calculator →