Key Takeaways
- VA disability compensation rose 2.8% for 2026, the same COLA used for Social Security, effective December 1, 2025 and reflected in January 2026 payments.
- A 100% rating now pays $3,938.58/month with no dependents, up from $3,831.30 in 2025.
- A 10% rating pays $180.42/month; ratings of 10% and 20% are flat amounts regardless of dependents.
- Extra pay for a spouse, children, or dependent parents only applies at a combined rating of 30% or higher.
- Combined ratings aren't simple addition - VA uses its own 'whole person' formula that reduces the impact of each additional condition.
- The 2027 COLA is currently tracking around 3.8%, based on early Social Security Administration estimates, though the official VA figure isn't announced until October.
If you have a VA disability rating, your monthly compensation went up 2.8% for 2026 — the same cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that applies to Social Security, since both use the same inflation measure. That took effect December 1, 2025, meaning the higher amount showed up in your January 2026 payment.
Here’s the full 2026 payout table by rating percentage, how dependents change the math, and what’s next for 2027.
2026 VA Disability Rates by Rating Percentage (No Dependents)
These are the basic monthly rates for a veteran with no spouse, children, or dependent parents:
| Rating | 2025 Monthly Rate | 2026 Monthly Rate (2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $175.51 | $180.42 |
| 20% | $346.95 | $356.66 |
| 30% | $537.42 | $552.47 |
| 40% | $774.16 | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,102.04 | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,395.93 | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,759.19 | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,044.89 | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,297.96 | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,831.30 | $3,938.58 |
Note: These are VA’s basic rates, before any dependent add-ons. Always confirm your exact payment on va.gov or your VA benefits letter, since rounding and effective dates can shift a few cents from the figures above.
How Dependents Change Your Payment
Ratings of 10% and 20% pay the same flat amount no matter your family situation — VA doesn’t add anything for a spouse, children, or dependent parents at those two ratings. Once your combined rating hits 30% or higher, additional monthly amounts kick in for:
- A spouse (roughly $65/month at the 30% rating, scaling up to around $220/month at 100%)
- Each dependent child under 18 (or under 23 if a full-time student)
- A spouse who requires Aid and Attendance
- Dependent parents
The exact add-on amount increases at each higher rating tier, so a veteran with a 70% rating and a spouse plus two kids receives meaningfully more than the base 70% rate alone. VA’s own rate tables break out every dependent combination — worth checking directly if you have dependents, since the combinations get detailed quickly.
Why Your Combined Rating Isn’t Simple Addition
If you have multiple rated conditions, VA doesn’t just add the percentages together. It uses what’s informally called the “whole person” or “VA math” formula: each additional disability is applied to the remaining percentage of the person still considered “able,” not to the full 100%.
For example, a veteran with a 50% rating and a 30% rating doesn’t get 80%. VA treats the second condition as reducing 30% of the remaining 50% (the portion not already accounted for), which works out to a combined rating of 65% — rounded to the nearest 10, landing at 70%. This is one of the more confusing parts of the VA ratings system, and it’s worth using VA’s official combined ratings table (or an online combined-rating calculator) rather than adding percentages by hand.
Special Monthly Compensation
Some veterans qualify for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) on top of the standard rates above — this applies for specific circumstances like the loss of use of a limb, blindness, or needing regular Aid and Attendance from another person. SMC rates are separate from and higher than the standard schedule, and eligibility depends on the specific nature of your service-connected conditions.
Looking Ahead: The 2027 COLA
VA disability rates track the same annual COLA calculation used for Social Security retirement and disability benefits, based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Early estimates for the 2027 COLA are tracking around 3.8%, though that figure moves throughout the year as new inflation data comes in, and the official number isn’t confirmed until the Social Security Administration’s October announcement. If the 2027 COLA lands near current estimates, a 100% rating would rise from $3,938.58 to somewhere in the $4,085–$4,090/month range — I’ll update this page with the confirmed figure as soon as it’s official.
If you’re a veteran also weighing when to start Social Security retirement benefits alongside your VA compensation, my guide to claiming Social Security in 2026 walks through the tradeoffs between claiming early, at full retirement age, or waiting until 70 — a decision that’s independent of your VA rating but often gets made around the same time.
Common Issues to Watch Out For
Confusing the COLA percentage with your dollar increase. A 2.8% COLA means everyone’s rate goes up by that same percentage, but the dollar amount obviously differs by rating — a 2.8% bump is about $5 at the 10% rating and over $107 at the 100% rating.
Assuming dependents add at every rating. If you’re rated below 30%, dependent status doesn’t change your payment at all, which surprises some veterans who assume any dependent automatically means more money.
Adding combined ratings by hand. As covered above, VA’s combined ratings formula isn’t simple addition — always check the official combined ratings table rather than guessing.
Missing a rating increase evaluation. If your service-connected condition has worsened, you can file for an increased rating at any time — it isn’t limited to a specific enrollment period the way Medicare or ACA coverage is.
