2026 VA Disability Pay Chart
Look up monthly VA disability compensation at every rating tier with dependent breakdowns. Official 2026 rates (effective December 1, 2025).
Up to
$4,318.99
per month at 100% with a spouse and child
2026 COLA
+2.8%
effective December 1, 2025
Tax status
100% tax-free
federal and state, in every state
Monthly pay across the 2026 rating scale
Tap a bar for that tier's full breakdown.
Monthly compensation, single veteran with no dependents. 2026 rates. Hover or tap a bar for the exact amount.
| Rating | Single | Spouse + 1 Child | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $180.42 | 10% details → |
| 20% | $356.66 | $356.66 | 20% details → |
| 30% | $552.47 | $666.47 | 30% details → |
| 40% | $795.84 | $947.84 | 40% details → |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,322.90 | 50% details → |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,663.02 | 60% details → |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $2,074.45 | 70% details → |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,406.15 | 80% details → |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,704.30 | 90% details → |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,318.99 | 100% details → |
This chart covers single veterans and veterans with a spouse + 1 child. For a different household size, dependent parents, or an exact combined rating across multiple conditions, use the VA disability pay calculator instead.
2026 payment dates
See exactly when each month's deposit arrives — including the months paid early because of weekends and holidays.
How VA disability pay works
- Tax-free. VA disability compensation is not taxed federally or in any state.
- Annual COLA. Rates adjust each December based on the cost-of-living adjustment, effective with the January payment.
- Dependents at 30%+. Added amounts for a spouse, each child, and each dependent parent only apply once the rating reaches 30%.
- Pay at nearest 10%. The VA combines individual ratings into a single percentage, then pays at the nearest 10% tier. 95%+ rounds to 100%.
Common questions about 2026 VA disability pay
- How much is VA disability pay in 2026?
- Between $180.42/month at 10% and $3,938.58/month at 100% for a single veteran. With a spouse and one child, the 100% rate rises to $4,318.99/month. All amounts are tax-free.
- When did the 2026 VA disability rates take effect?
- December 1, 2025, after a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Because December benefits are paid at the start of January, the first deposit at the new rates arrived on December 31, 2025.
- Is VA disability compensation taxable?
- No. VA disability compensation is completely tax-free at both the federal and state level. Taxes and income limits are separate questions, though: means-tested programs such as SSI do count VA compensation as income, while SSDI — which isn't means-tested — is unaffected.
- How do dependents change my monthly payment?
- At a 30% rating or higher, the VA adds monthly amounts for a spouse, each child, and each dependent parent. Below 30%, the base rate applies regardless of dependents. Use the pay calculator to see your exact household amount.
- When does the VA deposit disability payments?
- On the first business day of each month, covering the previous month's benefits. If the 1st falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deposit moves up to the last business day before it — see our full payment schedule for every date this year.
- How do I get a higher VA disability rating?
- You can file for an increase if a condition has worsened, or claim additional conditions — including secondary conditions caused or aggravated by ones already service-connected. Because of the VA's combined-ratings math, adding conditions is often what moves a rating to the next 10% tier.
Payment timing details are on the 2026 payment schedule.
Calculate your combined rating
Have multiple service-connected conditions? Use our combined-rating calculator to see what tier you'd land on.
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Rated lower than you should be?
The difference between rating tiers is real money every month, for life. Vetrify maps your service history and conditions, finds secondary conditions you may be missing, and organizes the evidence to support the rating you've earned.
- Find conditions you can claim
- See your projected rating and pay
- Build an organized evidence packet
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