2026 and 2027 VA Disability Rates
The 2026 VA disability compensation rates reflect a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment, effective December 1, 2025. Social Security announced a 3.6% COLA for 2027 on October 14, 2026. The projected 2027 amounts below apply that percentage to the current VA tables. VA has not published the official 2027 rate tables yet.
2026 VA disability pay chart
Monthly compensation effective December 1, 2025, after the 2.8% COLA. At 10% and 20%, the payment does not increase for a spouse, child, or parent. From 30% up, use the row that matches the dependents VA has on record. A “with 1 child” amount already includes the first child.
| Rating | Veteran alone | With spouse | Spouse and 1 child | 1 child only | Spouse and 1 parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $180.42 | $180.42 | $180.42 | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $356.66 | $356.66 | $356.66 | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $666.47 | $596.47 | $669.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $947.84 | $853.84 | $952.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $1,322.90 | $1,205.90 | $1,329.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $1,663.02 | $1,523.02 | $1,671.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $2,074.45 | $1,910.45 | $2,084.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $2,406.15 | $2,219.15 | $2,417.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $2,704.30 | $2,494.30 | $2,717.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $4,318.99 | $4,085.43 | $4,334.41 |
A veteran alone at 100% receives $3,938.58 a month, or $47,262.96 a year. With a spouse and no children or parents, the 100% rate is $4,158.17.
2026 rates with dependent parents
These rows apply at 30% and higher. Each figure is the full monthly rate, not an add-on.
| Rating | 1 parent | 2 parents | Spouse and 2 parents | 1 child, spouse, and 1 parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $604.47 | $656.47 | $721.47 | $718.47 |
| 40% | $865.84 | $935.84 | $1,022.84 | $1,017.84 |
| 50% | $1,220.90 | $1,308.90 | $1,417.90 | $1,410.90 |
| 60% | $1,540.02 | $1,645.02 | $1,776.02 | $1,768.02 |
| 70% | $1,931.45 | $2,054.45 | $2,207.45 | $2,197.45 |
| 80% | $2,242.15 | $2,382.15 | $2,557.15 | $2,546.15 |
| 90% | $2,520.30 | $2,678.30 | $2,875.30 | $2,862.30 |
| 100% | $4,114.82 | $4,291.06 | $4,510.65 | $4,495.23 |
Additional monthly amounts for extra dependents
Add these only after you pick the base row. The second child under 18, and each child after that, uses the additional-child amount. A child over 18 in a qualifying school program uses the school amount. Spouse Aid and Attendance is added once.
| Rating | Each additional child under 18 | Each child 18+ in school | Spouse Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $32.00 | $105.00 | $61.00 |
| 40% | $43.00 | $140.00 | $81.00 |
| 50% | $54.00 | $176.00 | $101.00 |
| 60% | $65.00 | $211.00 | $121.00 |
| 70% | $76.00 | $246.00 | $141.00 |
| 80% | $87.00 | $281.00 | $161.00 |
| 90% | $98.00 | $317.00 | $181.00 |
| 100% | $109.11 | $352.45 | $201.41 |
Example: a veteran rated 70% with a spouse and three children under 18 starts at $2,074.45, then adds $76.00 for each of the two children beyond the first. If the spouse also receives Aid and Attendance, add $141.00. The total is $2,367.45.
Projected 2027 VA disability rates at a 3.6% COLA
Social Security announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment on October 14, 2026. VA compensation follows that percentage. The increase is effective December 1, 2026. Because January 1, 2027 is a federal holiday, the first higher payment — for the December 2026 benefit month — is scheduled for December 31, 2026. The amounts below are the 2026 rates multiplied by 1.036 and rounded to the nearest cent. They are not the official VA table.
| Rating | 2026 veteran alone | Projected 2027 veteran alone | Monthly increase | 2026 with spouse | Projected 2027 with spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $186.92 | +$6.50 | $180.42 | $186.92 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $369.50 | +$12.84 | $356.66 | $369.50 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $572.36 | +$19.89 | $617.47 | $639.70 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $824.49 | +$28.65 | $882.84 | $914.62 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,173.68 | +$40.78 | $1,241.90 | $1,286.61 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,486.68 | +$51.66 | $1,566.02 | $1,622.40 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,873.55 | +$65.10 | $1,961.45 | $2,032.06 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,177.83 | +$75.68 | $2,277.15 | $2,359.13 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,447.34 | +$85.04 | $2,559.30 | $2,651.43 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,080.37 | +$141.79 | $4,158.17 | $4,307.86 |
Special monthly compensation, TDIU, and DIC
SMC-K is $139.87 a month in 2026 and is added to basic compensation when awarded. Higher SMC levels can replace the standard schedule. TDIU pays at the 100% rate — $3,938.58 for a veteran alone — when service-connected disabilities prevent substantially gainful employment and the schedular rules are met: one condition at 60% or more, or a combined rating of 70% or more with at least one condition at 40%. The basic 2026 DIC rate for a surviving spouse is $1,699.36 a month.
VA combined ratings do not add up. A 50% rating, then 30%, then 10% combines to 68.5% and pays at 70%. Use the VA disability calculator to run your own ratings, including a bilateral factor.
How 2026 disability pay fits a VA home loan
Documented VA disability compensation can count as income on a VA loan. Lenders usually want the benefit verification letter and bank deposits that match it. Exemptions may apply to qualifying recipients of VA disability compensation, veterans who would be entitled to that compensation if they were not receiving retirement or active-duty pay, certain surviving spouses receiving DIC, qualifying pre-discharge ratings, and qualifying active-duty Purple Heart recipients. A service-connected disability by itself does not automatically waive the fee. Confirm status on your Certificate of Eligibility or with your lender. Housing grants such as SAH and SHA are a separate benefit from the monthly pay chart. See the VA loans for disabled veterans guide and the funding fee calculator.
VA disability rate questions
When do the 2026 VA disability rates take effect?
The 2026 rate tables are effective December 1, 2025, matching the Social Security COLA cycle. VA pays in arrears, so the first deposit at the higher rate is for the December benefit month and often arrives at the end of December or the beginning of January.
How much will VA disability pay increase in 2027?
Social Security announced a 3.6% COLA on October 14, 2026. VA disability compensation follows that percentage. The increase is effective December 1, 2026. A veteran alone at 100% is projected to receive $4,080.37 a month, up from $3,938.58. These 2027 figures are estimates until VA publishes the official tables.
Do dependents increase VA disability pay at every rating?
No. Additional pay for a spouse, child, or dependent parent starts at 30%. Ratings of 10% and 20% pay the same monthly amount whether or not you have dependents.
What is 100% VA disability pay with a spouse in 2026?
A veteran rated 100% with a spouse and no children or dependent parents receives $4,158.17 a month in 2026. A veteran alone at 100% receives $3,938.58. Added amounts for extra children or a spouse who needs Aid and Attendance sit on top of that row.
How do I add pay for more than one child?
Start with the row that already includes one child, such as “spouse and 1 child” or “1 child only.” Then add the “each additional child under 18” amount once for every child after the first. A child over 18 in a qualifying school program uses a different added amount, and that amount changes with your rating.
What is SMC-K in 2026?
SMC-K is $139.87 a month in 2026. When it is awarded, VA adds it to basic disability compensation. Some higher special monthly compensation levels replace the standard table instead of adding to it, so the letter on your award controls which chart to use.
Is VA disability compensation taxable?
VA disability compensation is generally tax-free at the federal level. Lenders can still count documented compensation as income. A benefit verification letter plus matching bank deposits is the usual way to show the amount.
Does a VA disability rating waive the VA funding fee?
Exemptions may apply to qualifying recipients of VA disability compensation, veterans who would be entitled to that compensation if they were not receiving retirement or active-duty pay, certain surviving spouses receiving DIC, qualifying pre-discharge ratings, and qualifying active-duty Purple Heart recipients. A service-connected disability by itself does not automatically waive the fee. Confirm status on your Certificate of Eligibility or with your lender.
When will the first 2027 disability payment arrive?
The 3.6% increase is effective December 1, 2026. VA pays the prior month’s benefit, and January 1, 2027 is a federal holiday, so the December 2026 benefit is scheduled to be paid on December 31, 2026. Weekends, holidays, and bank processing can still move the day the deposit posts.
What is the 2026 DIC rate for a surviving spouse?
The basic 2026 Dependency and Indemnity Compensation rate for a surviving spouse is $1,699.36 a month, effective December 1, 2025. Added amounts can apply for children, Aid and Attendance, housebound status, or the 8-year provision. DIC is a separate schedule from the veteran’s disability pay chart.
Full interactive chart: 2026 and 2027 VA disability rates.
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Last reviewed: October 2026
Helpful Sources and Related Guides
Related 2026 and 2027 VA Disability Rates pages
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