VA disability compensation went up on December 1, 2025, the start of the 2026 rate year, after a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment. By law the VA matches the Social Security COLA, and Social Security set 2.8% for 2026. The new amounts hit bank accounts with the payment received in January 2026.
This guide is the full chart: every rating, the with-dependents tables, and the add-on amounts, straight from VA.gov. If you want the math of how separate ratings combine into one number, that is a different topic, see how VA combined ratings work. This guide is about the dollars once you have your rating.
Veteran with no dependents
2026 monthly rate, veteran alone (effective Dec 1, 2025)
Rating Monthly 10% $180.42 20% $356.66 30% $552.47 40% $795.84 50% $1,132.90 60% $1,435.02 70% $1,808.45 80% $2,102.15 90% $2,362.30 100% $3,938.58 Source: VA.gov veteran rates
Two things to notice. First, the jump from 90% to 100% is enormous, from $2,362.30 to $3,938.58, a $1,576 monthly cliff. That is why getting to a true 100% (or to TDIU, which pays at the 100% rate) matters so much. Second, 10% and 20% pay the same regardless of dependents, the dependent add-ons only start at 30%.
Veteran with dependents
Starting at 30%, the VA pays more for a spouse, children, and dependent parents. Here are the most common combinations.
| Rating | Alone | With spouse | With spouse and 1 child |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 | $666.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 | $947.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 | $1,322.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 | $1,663.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 | $2,074.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 | $2,406.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 | $2,704.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 | $4,318.99 |
For a fuller breakdown of how a spouse, each child, a child in college, and a dependent parent each raise the check, see VA dependent benefits.
The add-on amounts
On top of the base, the VA adds fixed amounts for additional dependents. These are the marginal add-ons at each rating.
| Rating | Each added child under 18 | Each child 18+ in school | Spouse with Aid & Attendance | Each dependent parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $32.00 | $105.00 | $61.00 | $52.00 |
| 40% | $43.00 | $140.00 | $81.00 | $70.00 |
| 50% | $54.00 | $176.00 | $101.00 | $88.00 |
| 60% | $65.00 | $211.00 | $121.00 | $105.00 |
| 70% | $76.00 | $246.00 | $141.00 | $123.00 |
| 80% | $87.00 | $281.00 | $161.00 | $140.00 |
| 90% | $98.00 | $317.00 | $181.00 | $158.00 |
| 100% | $109.11 | $352.45 | $201.41 | $176.24 |
"Spouse with Aid & Attendance" means your spouse needs the regular aid of another person for daily living, it is an add-on to your compensation, and it is a different benefit from the needs-based Aid & Attendance pension.
Worked example, 70% with a spouse and one child
This is the most common real-world case. A veteran rated 70% with a spouse and one child under 18:
- The VA publishes this exact combination as a single rate: $2,074.45 per month.
- You can see how it is built: $1,808.45 (70% alone) + $153.00 (spouse) + $113.00 (first child with a spouse) = $2,074.45.
- Add a second child under 18 and you add $76.00, for $2,150.45.
A single veteran at 100% receives $3,938.58 per month, about $47,263 per year, entirely tax-free.
Why these numbers matter beyond the check
VA compensation is tax-free, so the headline dollar is worth more than the same amount of taxable wages. And the rating that sets these numbers also gates a long list of other benefits: state property tax exemptions, CHAMPVA health coverage for your family at 100% P&T, commissary and exchange access, and more. A rating change that looks small on this chart can unlock benefits worth far more than the monthly difference.
If your rating is near a threshold, the combined ratings guide explains the VA math that decides which side of the line you land on.
What to do next
- Find your exact amount with the disability calculator, it applies these 2026 rates with your dependents.
- If you are at 90% and stuck, or unemployable, read the TDIU guide, it pays at the 100% rate without a 100% rating.
- Make sure your dependents are actually on file with the VA. Unclaimed dependents mean you are being paid the lower "alone" rate even though you qualify for more.
These are the 2026 figures, effective December 1, 2025. They hold until the next COLA on December 1, 2026.