Money & Benefits · Tracker
VA disability rates 2026, and the increase
The monthly payment for each disability rating in 2026, from the VA’s rate tables, and how the December 2026 increase is set.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs pays disability compensation monthly at a rate set by the disability rating, from 10 percent to 100 percent, with additions for a spouse, children and dependent parents at ratings of 30 percent and above. The amounts change each December 1, and the law requires the VA to match the percentage of the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, so the 2027 rates will be known within days of the COLA announcement expected in October 2026.
The table shows the basic monthly rate for a veteran with no dependents, effective December 1, 2025. The VA’s rate tables carry the full grid with dependents.
Swipe sideways to see every column.
| Disability rating | Monthly, effective December 1, 2025 | From December 1, 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | Set by the 2027 COLA | va.gov |
| 20% | $356.66 | Set by the 2027 COLA | va.gov |
| 30% | $552.47 | Set by the 2027 COLA | va.gov |
| 40% | $795.84 | Set by the 2027 COLA | va.gov |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | Set by the 2027 COLA | va.gov |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | Set by the 2027 COLA | va.gov |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | Set by the 2027 COLA | va.gov |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | Set by the 2027 COLA | va.gov |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | Set by the 2027 COLA | va.gov |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | Set by the 2027 COLA | va.gov |
What to do
- Find your rating and dependent status in the VA’s full table; the amounts here are for a veteran with no dependents. Official link
- Follow the COLA announcement; the same percentage sets your December rate. Official link
Questions readers ask
- How much is VA disability compensation in 2026?
- For a veteran with no dependents, monthly compensation runs from $180.42 at 10 percent to $3,938.58 at 100 percent, effective December 1, 2025. Veterans rated 30 percent or higher receive more if they have a spouse, children or dependent parents.
- When do VA rates go up?
- VA compensation rises by the same cost-of-living adjustment as Social Security, taking effect on December 1 each year. The 2027 increase will be announced on October 14, 2026, and this page will carry the new table when the VA publishes it.
- Is VA disability compensation taxable?
- No. VA disability compensation is not taxed by the federal government and does not have to be reported as income on a federal return.
Dates ahead
- New VA disability compensation rates take effect
Mentioned:Social Security Administration
How we reported this
Built from the documents in the Source Card. 2026 rates entered from the VA rate tables on September 4, 2026; the December 2026 rates are added when the COLA is announced.
Written by Mirza Seraj Baig · Checked against the documents in the source card (editorial standards).
Updates
- 2026 rates entered from the VA rate tables on September 4, 2026; the December 2026 rates are added when the COLA is announced.