2026 VA Disability Compensation
20% VA Disability Pay
A 20% rating indicates a measurable degree of service-connected impairment with documented functional impact. Use this page to look up exact monthly VA disability pay for the chosen rating, with adjustments for a spouse, children, and dependent parents.
20%: single veteran, no dependents
$356.66
$4,279.92/year · tax-free · effective December 1, 2025
20% Pay by Household (2026)
Monthly compensation amounts. Dependent additions apply at 30% and above.
| Single (no dependents) | $356.66 |
| With spouse | $356.66 |
| With spouse + 1 child | $356.66 |
| With spouse + 2 children | $356.66 |
| Single + 1 child (no spouse) | $356.66 |
Email me the 2026 pay chart
Get the full 2026 VA disability pay table — with your 20% tier highlighted — in your inbox for quick reference.
The gap to 100%
20% vs. 100%: $3,581.92 more every month
+$3,581.92
per month
+$42,983.04
per year
+$1,097,987.00
over 20 years, tax-free*
Ratings rarely jump to 100% from a single condition. They get there through the combined-ratings math — often by service-connecting secondary conditions (like sleep apnea, radiculopathy, or depression) linked to conditions already rated.
*Projected with an estimated 2.5%/year COLA — see the lifetime value calculator for your own numbers.
Where 20% sits on the 2026 pay scale
Every tier links to its full breakdown.
Monthly compensation, single veteran with no dependents. 2026 rates. Hover or tap a bar for the exact amount.
Lower tier
10% VA pay
$180.42 /mo single
Higher tier
30% VA pay
$552.47 /mo single
Common questions about 20% VA disability pay
- What's the 20% VA disability pay rate for 2026?
- For 2026 (effective December 1, 2025), a single veteran rated 20% receives $356.66 per month, or $4,279.92 per year. VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal and state level.
- How much does a 20% rated veteran with a spouse and one child receive?
- A veteran rated 20% with a spouse and one child receives $356.66 per month under the 2026 VA rates. Note: dependent additions only apply at 30% and above; below that, the base single rate applies regardless of dependents.
- Is 20% the same as a "combined" rating?
- 20% can be either a single condition rating or a combined rating across multiple conditions. The VA combines individual ratings using the official combined-ratings formula in 38 CFR 4.25, then pays at the nearest 10% tier (95%+ rounds up to 100%).
- Will my 20% rate change in 2027?
- The VA adjusts disability rates each year based on the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), typically effective December 1. The next COLA will be applied to the January 2027 payment.
- When is the 20% payment deposited each month?
- On the first business day of the month, covering the previous month's benefits. When the 1st falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deposit arrives on the last business day before it — a few months each year are paid "early" for that reason.
Combine multiple conditions
If you have multiple service-connected conditions, the VA combines them using the official combined-ratings formula. Use our combined rating calculator to see what tier you'd land on.
Open combined rating calculatorStuck at 20%? Find what's missing.
Every tier you climb is worth real money each month, for life. Vetrify maps your service history and current conditions, flags secondary conditions veterans at 20% commonly qualify for, and organizes the evidence for your next claim.
- Find conditions you can claim
- See your projected rating and pay
- Build an organized evidence packet
Free to start. No credit card required.
On the App Store
Take the 20% pay tables with you
VA Calc puts every rating tier, dependent adjustment, and the VA's combined-rating formula on your iPhone — works offline, no account needed.