2026 VA Disability Pay Rates: Complete Chart by Rating and Dependents
2026 VA disability compensation rates effective December 1, 2025, with the full monthly payment chart by rating percentage and dependent status. Rates reflect the 2.5% COLA under 38 U.S.C. § 5312.
- The 2026 VA disability pay rates took effect December 1, 2025, reflecting a 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment, a veteran rated at 100 percent with no dependents receives $3,831.30 per month.
- Dependent pay additions begin at 30 percent combined rating, veterans rated at 10 or 20 percent receive a flat rate regardless of family status.
- VA disability compensation is exempt from federal income tax at all rating levels under 26 U.S.C. § 104, unlike military retirement pay.
- TDIU recipients receive the same monthly rate as scheduler 100 percent regardless of combined rating, $3,831.30 per month with no dependents in 2026.
- VA updates disability pay rates each December 1 following the Social Security Administration COLA announcement, under 38 U.S.C. § 5312.
Quick Answer: The 2026 VA disability pay rates took effect December 1, 2025. A veteran rated at 100 percent with no dependents receives $3,831.30 per month. Dependent additions begin at 30 percent combined rating. All VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal level. No action is required, the rate adjustment is automatic.
Do these rates apply to you?
- Do you have an active VA disability rating and receive monthly compensation?
- Yes: Your 2026 rates applied automatically on December 1, 2025, no action required
- No: File a disability claim at VA.gov to establish service connection before rates apply to your situation
- Has your dependent status changed since your last VA update, marriage, divorce, a new child, or a child aging out of eligibility?
- Yes: Submit VA Form 21-686c to update dependents, back pay runs from the qualifying event date, not the submission date
- No: Your current compensation should already reflect the 2026 rates, use the tables below to verify
- Is your combined rating lower than you believe it should be?
- Yes: Review your rating decision letter and consider filing for additional conditions or a rating increase before the next COLA cycle
- No: Cross-reference your payment against the chart below to confirm accuracy
This is a general reference guide. An accredited VSO or veterans law attorney can evaluate your specific rating situation.
2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates by Rating Percentage
These rates are effective December 1, 2025, under the 2.5 percent COLA authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 5312. Veterans rated at 10 or 20 percent receive one rate regardless of dependent status. Dependent additions begin at 30 percent.
Veterans rated at 10% or 20%, no dependent additions:
| Rating | Monthly Rate |
|---|---|
| 10% | $175.51 |
| 20% | $346.95 |
Veterans rated 30% through 100%, rates by dependent status:
| Rating | No Dependents | With Spouse | Spouse + 1 Child | Spouse + 2 Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $537.42 | $600.71 | $630.26 | $659.81 |
| 40% | $773.60 | $856.85 | $895.35 | $933.85 |
| 50% | $1,101.02 | $1,204.11 | $1,253.33 | $1,302.55 |
| 60% | $1,395.79 | $1,519.83 | $1,578.94 | $1,638.05 |
| 70% | $1,759.18 | $1,903.01 | $1,971.32 | $2,039.43 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 | $2,208.57 | $2,286.02 | $2,363.47 |
| 90% | $2,297.67 | $2,481.19 | $2,568.21 | $2,655.23 |
| 100% | $3,831.30 | $4,045.29 | $4,181.21 | $4,312.01 |
Rates effective December 1, 2025 under 38 U.S.C. § 5312. Source: VA benefits.va.gov. For veterans with a helpless child, a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance, or more than two children, see the full schedule at benefits.va.gov, additional dependent tiers carry separate rate additions at each percentage.
Each additional child beyond two adds approximately $29 to $34 per month depending on rating tier. A veteran whose spouse requires Aid and Attendance receives a separate monthly supplement on top of the standard spouse addition, beginning at 30 percent.
How the Annual COLA Works
VA disability compensation rates adjust each December 1 under 38 U.S.C. § 5312. The statute ties the VA COLA directly to the Social Security Administration cost-of-living adjustment, which the SSA announces in mid-October each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
The 2026 adjustment was 2.5 percent, effective December 1, 2025. Veterans do not apply for the increase or take any action. The adjustment appears in benefit payments beginning in January 2026.
The table below shows the 2026 increase at key rating tiers for a veteran with no dependents:
| Rating | 2025 Rate | 2026 Rate | Monthly Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $524.31 | $537.42 | +$13.11 |
| 50% | $1,073.19 | $1,101.02 | +$27.83 |
| 70% | $1,716.28 | $1,759.18 | +$42.90 |
| 100% | $3,737.85 | $3,831.30 | +$93.45 |
Veterans whose January 2026 payment did not reflect the updated rate should contact VA at 1-800-827-1000 or review payment details in their VA.gov account to request a payment review.
Dependent Additions: What Counts and When It Changes
Dependent additions under 38 CFR § 3.4 and 38 U.S.C. § 1115 apply to veterans rated at 30 percent or higher.
Qualifying dependents include a legal spouse, unmarried children under age 18, unmarried children ages 18 to 23 pursuing education at a VA-approved school, and a child who became permanently incapable of self-support before age 18. A spouse who requires Aid and Attendance receives an additional supplement on top of the standard spouse addition at 30 percent and above.
Dependent status changes are not automatic. VA requires a formal update through VA Form 21-686c for additions and removals: marriage, divorce, a new child, or a child aging out of eligibility. VA Form 21-674 (Request for Approval of School Attendance) maintains eligibility for a school child past age 18.
For additions, back pay runs from the date of the qualifying event, not the date VA receives the form. File promptly. For removals, divorce, a child aging out, educational status ending, report changes immediately. Overpayment recovery is a documented problem for veterans who delay reporting dependent removals, and VA will pursue repayment.
TDIU Pays the Same Rate as 100%
Veterans awarded Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) under 38 CFR § 4.16 receive the same monthly compensation as a scheduler 100 percent rating, regardless of their actual combined rating. A veteran rated 70 percent who qualifies for TDIU receives $3,831.30 per month, not the $1,759.18 that their combined rating alone would produce.
The difference between 70 percent and TDIU at 2026 rates is $2,072.12 per month for a veteran with no dependents. Veterans with combined ratings of 60 percent or higher who cannot maintain substantially gainful employment should evaluate whether TDIU applies to their situation.
What the Combined Rating Does Not Mean
The combined rating on a VA decision letter does not equal the sum of individual condition percentages. VA applies a “whole person” formula under 38 CFR § 4.25, deducting each condition’s impairment from the remaining healthy person percentage rather than adding individual ratings together.
A veteran with four conditions rated at 30, 20, 20, and 10 percent does not have a combined rating of 80 percent. VA’s combined rating formula produces approximately 60 percent under whole-person math. The monthly pay for that veteran at 60 percent with no dependents is $1,395.79, not $2,044.89, which is the 80 percent rate.
Understanding this formula matters when evaluating whether filing for additional conditions or rating increases would cross a meaningful tier. A 5-point increase from 55 to 60 percent combined produces a monthly increase of $294.77 with no dependents. That same 5-point increase from 75 to 80 percent produces $285.71. The thresholds at 70 and 100 percent carry the largest pay jumps in the schedule.
Governing Authority
Governing authority: 38 U.S.C. § 5312 (automatic adjustment of benefit rates); 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (rates of wartime disability compensation); 38 U.S.C. § 1115 (additional compensation for dependents); 38 CFR § 3.4 (rates of disability compensation); 38 CFR § 4.25 (combined ratings table)
Sources and References
- 38 U.S.C. § 5312. Automatic adjustment of certain benefit rates - ecfr.gov Title 38
- 38 CFR § 3.4. Disability compensation - ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-3/subpart-A/section-3.4
- 38 CFR § 4.25. Combined ratings table - ecfr.gov/current/title-38/chapter-I/part-4/subpart-A/section-4.25
- VA Compensation Rate Tables (2026) - benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/resources_comp01.asp
Related Articles:
- 2026 VA COLA: What the 2.5% Increase Means for Your Check: How the annual adjustment is calculated, when it takes effect, and what to do if your payment was not updated correctly.
- VA Disability Calculator 2026: Use the combined rating formula to see how your individual percentages produce your actual combined rating and monthly pay.
- TDIU: How Veterans Rated Below 100% Can Receive Full VA Compensation: Veterans with a combined rating below 100% who cannot maintain employment may qualify for the full $3,831.30 monthly rate.
- How Much Do 100% Disabled Veterans Get Paid in 2026: Full breakdown of the 100 percent rate at every dependent tier, plus P&T benefits that go beyond the monthly check.
What are the 2026 VA disability pay rates?
The 2026 VA disability rates, effective December 1, 2025, range from $175.51 per month at 10 percent to $3,831.30 per month at 100 percent for veterans with no dependents. These rates reflect a 2.5 percent COLA under 38 U.S.C. § 5312. Dependent additions apply beginning at 30 percent combined rating, a veteran rated 100 percent with a spouse receives $4,045.29 per month.
How much does a 100% disabled veteran get paid per month in 2026?
A veteran rated at 100 percent with no dependents receives $3,831.30 per month in 2026. With a spouse, the rate is $4,045.29. With a spouse and one child, the rate is $4,181.21. With a spouse and two children, the rate is $4,312.01. These are the scheduler 100 percent rates under 38 U.S.C. § 1114. TDIU recipients receive the same monthly amounts regardless of their combined rating percentage.
Do VA disability rates change every year?
Yes. VA disability compensation rates adjust each December 1 under 38 U.S.C. § 5312, which ties the VA COLA to the Social Security Administration cost-of-living adjustment. The SSA announces the COLA each October based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. The 2026 adjustment was 2.5 percent, effective December 1, 2025. No action is required from veterans, the adjustment is automatic.
When do dependent additions change my VA disability pay?
Dependent pay additions begin when your combined VA disability rating reaches 30 percent. Veterans rated at 10 or 20 percent receive a flat rate with no dependent additions regardless of family status. At 30 percent and above, VA adds monthly amounts for a spouse, children under 18, children in approved school programs past age 18, and a helpless child. Each qualifying dependent must be added through VA Form 21-686c.
Is VA disability pay taxable in 2026?
No. VA disability compensation is exempt from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. § 104 at all rating levels. This applies to the full monthly compensation amount, including dependent additions. Most states also exempt VA disability pay, but each state's rules differ. Military retirement pay is taxable as ordinary income. CRDP and CRSC are mechanisms that affect how retirement pay and disability compensation interact, not whether VA compensation itself is taxable.
How do I verify I am being paid the correct 2026 rate?
Log into VA.gov or call 1-800-827-1000 to verify your current monthly payment and official combined rating. If your payment appears incorrect, confirm your combined rating matches your disability percentages using the VA's combined ratings table under 38 CFR § 4.25. If your dependent status changed after your last filing, marriage, divorce, a new child, or a child aging out, submit VA Form 21-686c to update dependents. Back pay runs from the qualifying event date, not the submission date.