The 2026 VA disability rates rose 2.8% on December 1, 2025, thanks to the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This page shows the full 2026 VA disability pay chart by rating and dependent status. All payments are tax-free.
2026 VA Disability Pay Chart
These monthly rates are effective December 1, 2025. The "veteran alone" column is for a veteran with no dependents. Veterans rated 30% or higher get extra pay for a spouse, children, and dependent parents.
| Rating | Veteran Alone | With Spouse (no children) |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | N/A |
| 20% | $356.66 | N/A |
| 30% | $552.47 | $617.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $882.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,241.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,566.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,961.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,277.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,559.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,158.17 |
Ratings of 10% and 20% do not include extra pay for dependents. At 100%, each additional child under 18 adds $109.11 per month. Use our VA rating calculator to find your combined rating and estimated pay.
How VA Disability Pay Is Calculated
Your monthly payment depends on two things: your combined disability rating and your dependents. The VA combines multiple ratings with "VA math," a sliding scale — not simple addition. Learn the rules in our VA rating explainer.
Extra Pay for Dependents
If your rating is 30% or higher, you can add dependents to your claim for more money each month. This includes a spouse, children under 18 (or under 23 if in school), and dependent parents. Aid and Attendance for a spouse who needs care adds even more.
2025 vs. 2026 Rates
The 2.8% COLA raised every rate. For example, a single veteran at 100% went from $3,831.30 in 2025 to $3,938.58 in 2026 — about $107 more per month. See the details in our 2026 VA COLA guide.
Historical VA Disability Rates by Year
VA disability rates rise almost every December with the COLA, but not always — 2016 had no increase at all. Here is how the monthly rate for a single veteran with no dependents has grown over time, based on the VA's own published rate tables.
| Rate Effective | 10% Rating | 100% Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 1999 | $98.00 | $2,036.00 |
| Dec 1, 2009 (2010 rate) | $123.00 | $2,673.00 |
| Dec 1, 2014 (2015 rate) | $133.17 | $2,906.83 |
| Dec 1, 2017 (2018 rate) | $136.24 | $2,973.86 |
| Dec 1, 2019 (2020 rate) | $142.29 | $3,106.04 |
| Dec 1, 2024 (2025 rate) | $175.51 | $3,831.30 |
| Dec 1, 2025 (2026 rate) | $180.42 | $3,938.58 |
Source: official VA compensation rate tables (benefits.va.gov). Rates are listed by the VA's published "effective date" — the year in parentheses is when most veterans saw that rate. There was no COLA increase in 2016, so that year's rate carried over unchanged from 2015.
Dependent Pay Edge Cases
A few dependent scenarios trip veterans up when reading the pay chart:
- No dependents at 10% or 20%: these two rating levels pay the same "veteran alone" rate no matter how many dependents you have — the dependent add-on does not start until 30%.
- A school-age child over 18: a child between 18 and 23 who is enrolled full-time in a qualifying school program still counts as a dependent and adds more to your monthly pay than a child under 18 does. See the exact add-on amounts on the 2026 VA compensation rates page.
- Single vs. married at the same rating: the "with spouse" rate only applies at 30% and higher; below that, single and married veterans are paid the same base rate.