✓ Last updated: March 2026 — Uses 2026 VA Compensation Rates

2026 VA Disability Compensation Rates

The 2026 VA disability rates range from $180.42/month at 10% to $3,938.58/month at 100% for a single veteran. A 70% rating pays $1,808.45/month. All VA disability pay is tax-free. The 2026 COLA increase was 2.8%.

Complete 2026 VA disability pay chart for all rating levels from 10% to 100%, with and without dependents. Rates effective December 1, 2025, reflecting a 2.8% COLA increase. All VA disability compensation is tax-free.

100% VA Disability

$3,938.58/mo

$47,262.96/year

70% VA Disability

$1,808.45/mo

$21,701.40/year

50% VA Disability

$1,132.90/mo

$13,594.80/year

30% VA Disability

$552.47/mo

$6,629.64/year

How much does 100% VA disability pay in 2026?

$3,938.58/month ($47,262.96/year)

Single veteran, no dependents. Tax-free. With a spouse: $4,158.17/mo. With spouse and one child: $4,318.99/mo.

Basic VA Disability Rates 2026 (No Dependents)

Monthly and annual compensation for a single veteran with no dependents. The 10% and 20% rates are flat — no dependent additions apply at those levels.

Rating	Monthly Payment	Annual Payment
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
TDIU	$3,938.58	$47,262.96

TDIU (Total Disability Individual Unemployability): Veterans who cannot maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities may receive compensation at the 100% rate, even if their combined rating is below 100%. Eligibility generally requires at least one disability rated 60%+, or a combined rating of 70% with one disability rated 40%+.

How much does a 70% disabled veteran get paid?

$1,808.45/month ($21,701.40/year)

Single veteran, no dependents. With a spouse: $1,961.45/mo. With spouse and one child: $2,074.45/mo.

VA Disability Rates With Dependents (30%–100%)

Veterans rated 30% or higher receive additional tax-free compensation for dependents. Select a tab below to view rates for different family situations.

Rating	Veteran Alone	With Spouse	Spouse + 1 Parent	Spouse + 2 Parents
30%	$552.47	$617.47	$669.47	$721.47
40%	$795.84	$882.84	$952.84	$1,022.84
50%	$1,132.90	$1,241.90	$1,329.90	$1,417.90
60%	$1,435.02	$1,566.02	$1,671.02	$1,776.02
70%	$1,808.45	$1,961.45	$2,084.45	$2,207.45
80%	$2,102.15	$2,277.15	$2,417.15	$2,557.15
90%	$2,362.30	$2,559.30	$2,717.30	$2,875.30
100%	$3,938.58	$4,158.17	$4,334.41	$4,510.65

Rating	Spouse + 1 Child	Spouse + Child + 1 Parent	Spouse + Child + 2 Parents	Per Add'l Child	Per School-Age Child (18+)
30%	$666.47	$718.47	$770.47	+$32.00	+$105.00
40%	$947.84	$1,017.84	$1,087.84	+$43.00	+$140.00
50%	$1,322.90	$1,410.90	$1,498.90	+$54.00	+$176.00
60%	$1,663.02	$1,768.02	$1,873.02	+$65.00	+$211.00
70%	$2,074.45	$2,197.45	$2,320.45	+$76.00	+$246.00
80%	$2,406.15	$2,546.15	$2,686.15	+$87.00	+$281.00
90%	$2,704.30	$2,862.30	$3,020.30	+$98.00	+$317.00
100%	$4,318.99	$4,495.23	$4,671.47	+$109.11	+$352.45

The "Spouse + 1 Child" rate includes one child under 18. The "Per Add'l Child" amount is added for each additional child under 18 beyond the first. The "Per School-Age Child" amount is added for each child age 18–23 attending school.

Rating	Veteran Alone	With 1 Parent	With 2 Parents	With 1 Child	Child + 1 Parent	Child + 2 Parents
30%	$552.47	$604.47	$656.47	$596.47	$648.47	$700.47
40%	$795.84	$865.84	$935.84	$853.84	$923.84	$993.84
50%	$1,132.90	$1,220.90	$1,308.90	$1,205.90	$1,293.90	$1,381.90
60%	$1,435.02	$1,540.02	$1,645.02	$1,523.02	$1,628.02	$1,733.02
70%	$1,808.45	$1,931.45	$2,054.45	$1,910.45	$2,033.45	$2,156.45
80%	$2,102.15	$2,242.15	$2,382.15	$2,219.15	$2,359.15	$2,499.15
90%	$2,362.30	$2,520.30	$2,678.30	$2,494.30	$2,652.30	$2,810.30
100%	$3,938.58	$4,114.82	$4,291.06	$4,085.43	$4,261.67	$4,437.91

These rates are for veterans without a spouse. "With 1 Child" includes one child under 18. Additional children add the per-child amounts shown in the Spouse + Children tab.

Do VA disability payments increase with dependents?

Yes, at 30% or higher disability ratings.

Veterans rated 30%–100% receive additional tax-free compensation for a spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents. At 100%, a spouse adds $219.59/mo and the first child adds an additional $160.82/mo. Ratings of 10% and 20% are flat rates regardless of dependents.

Aid & Attendance Spouse Addition

Veterans rated 30% or higher who have a spouse in need of regular aid and attendance receive an additional monthly payment on top of the standard spouse rate. This benefit recognizes the additional caregiving costs when a spouse requires daily assistance.

Rating	A/A Spouse Addition	With Spouse (Base)	With Spouse + A/A (Total)
30%	+$61.00	$617.47	$678.47
40%	+$81.00	$882.84	$963.84
50%	+$101.00	$1,241.90	$1,342.90
60%	+$121.00	$1,566.02	$1,687.02
70%	+$141.00	$1,961.45	$2,102.45
80%	+$161.00	$2,277.15	$2,438.15
90%	+$181.00	$2,559.30	$2,740.30
100%	+$201.41	$4,158.17	$4,359.58

How VA Dependent Compensation Works

Understanding how the VA calculates compensation with dependents:

10% and 20% ratings are flat rates. No dependent additions apply at these levels. A veteran at 10% receives $180.42/month and a veteran at 20% receives $356.66/month regardless of family status.
30% and higher ratings include dependent compensation. The VA publishes separate rate tables for each combination of spouse, parents, and children at each rating level.
The first child is included in the "with child" base rate. For example, at 70%, "Spouse + 1 Child" is $2,074.45/mo. This is a single rate from the VA rate table, not the "alone" rate plus a child add-on.
Additional children under 18 use the "additional child" rate. Each child beyond the first adds a flat amount: from $32/mo at 30% to $109.11/mo at 100%.
Children 18+ enrolled in school qualify for higher rates. Each school-age child (18–23, attending an approved school) adds $105/mo at 30% up to $352.45/mo at 100%.
Dependent parents add to the rate. One dependent parent adds $52–$176/mo and two dependent parents add $104–$352/mo, depending on your rating.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does 100% VA disability pay in 2026?

A single veteran with no dependents rated at 100% VA disability receives $3,938.58 per month ($47,262.96 per year) in 2026. This is the highest standard VA disability compensation rate. With a spouse, the amount increases to $4,158.17/month. With a spouse and one child, it is $4,318.99/month. All VA disability compensation is tax-free.

Do dependents increase VA disability pay?

Yes, but only for veterans rated 30% or higher. At these levels, the VA provides additional monthly compensation for a spouse, dependent children under 18, children 18–23 enrolled in school, and dependent parents. Ratings of 10% and 20% are flat rates that do not change based on family status.

At 100%, adding a spouse increases monthly pay by $219.59, and the first child adds another $160.82 per month. Each additional child under 18 adds $109.11 and each school-age child adds $352.45.

What is the VA disability pay increase for 2026?

The 2026 VA disability compensation rates reflect a 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increase, effective December 1, 2025. This COLA is determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W) and applies automatically to all VA disability compensation payments. Veterans do not need to take any action to receive the increase.

Can you get VA disability and military retirement?

Yes. Veterans rated 50% or higher can receive both full military retirement pay and full VA disability compensation through Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP). This means no dollar-for-dollar offset.

Veterans rated 10%–40% may qualify for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) if their disabilities are combat-related. CRSC replaces the VA offset portion of retirement pay with a tax-free payment.

VA disability pay is always tax-free, while military retirement pay is taxable income. Use our VA Disability + Retirement Calculator to see your combined income.

What is TDIU?

Total Disability Individual Unemployability (TDIU) allows veterans who cannot maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities to receive compensation at the 100% rate ($3,938.58/month in 2026), even if their combined disability rating is below 100%.

To qualify for TDIU, a veteran typically needs:

At least one service-connected disability rated 60% or higher, or
A combined rating of 70% or higher, with at least one disability rated 40% or higher

TDIU is not a separate rating — it is a benefit that pays at the 100% rate based on unemployability.

When are VA disability rates updated?

VA disability compensation rates are updated annually based on the COLA, which is tied to the Consumer Price Index. New rates typically take effect on December 1 each year, with the first increased payment arriving in January.

The 2026 rates (2.8% COLA increase) became effective December 1, 2025. Congress does not need to vote on the COLA — it is applied automatically by law (Public Law 114-154).

Data Sources

Understanding 2026 VA Disability Compensation

VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to veterans with service-connected disabilities. In 2026, rates increased by 2.5% COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) effective December 1, 2025. A veteran rated at 100% with no dependents receives $3,938.58 per month ($47,262.96 per year).

How VA Disability Pay Is Determined

Your monthly compensation depends on two factors: your combined disability rating (10% to 100%) and your dependent status. Veterans rated 30% or higher receive additional compensation for each qualifying dependent — spouse, children, and dependent parents.

How VA Combined Ratings Work (VA Math)

VA does not simply add disability percentages together. Instead, they use a "whole person" method defined in 38 CFR § 4.25. Each rating is applied to the remaining "healthy" percentage.

Example: A veteran with a 50% rating and a 30% rating does not get 80%. Instead: start with 50% disabled (50% healthy), then 30% of the remaining 50% healthy = 15%. Total: 50% + 15% = 65%, rounded to 70%.

Use the VA Disability Rating Calculator to calculate your exact combined rating.

Dependent Allowances Explained

Veterans rated 30% or higher receive additional monthly compensation for dependents:

Spouse: Additional $50-$200+/month depending on rating level
Each child under 18: Additional $27-$100+/month per child
Each child 18-23 in school: Additional $88-$350+/month per child
Each dependent parent: Additional $40-$160+/month per parent
Aid & Attendance (spouse): Additional flat rate if spouse needs regular aid

Annual COLA Adjustments

VA disability rates are adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W), the same index used for Social Security COLA. Recent adjustments: 2026 (2.5%), 2025 (2.8%), 2024 (3.2%), 2023 (8.7%), 2022 (5.9%).

New rates take effect December 1 each year, with the first increased payment arriving in January. The 2026 rates shown on this page are effective December 1, 2025.

Important Facts About VA Disability Pay

VA disability compensation is completely tax-free at federal and state levels
Ratings below 30% receive a flat payment regardless of dependents
Veterans rated 100% P&T (Permanent and Total) may qualify for additional benefits including CHAMPVA and Chapter 35 education benefits
VA disability pay can be received concurrently with military retirement pay for veterans with 20+ years of service (Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay, CRDP)
Disability ratings can be increased if conditions worsen — file for an increase through VA.gov

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