VA travel pay — officially called the Beneficiary Travel program — reimburses eligible veterans for the cost of traveling to VA medical appointments. The 2026 mileage rate is 41.5 cents per mile, and most eligible veterans can file a claim online within minutes using the BTSSS portal.
Who Qualifies for VA Travel Pay?
You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care for years to qualify. The VA looks at a few specific criteria to decide whether your trip is covered.
You are eligible for Beneficiary Travel reimbursement if you meet at least one of the following:
- You have a service-connected disability rated at 30% or higher
- You receive a VA pension (including Survivors Pension)
- You are traveling to or from a VA compensation and pension (C&P) exam
- You have a financial hardship — your income falls at or below the VA means-test threshold
- You are traveling for treatment of a service-connected condition, regardless of rating
- You are a former prisoner of war (POW)
Veterans traveling to C&P exams qualify automatically, regardless of rating. Check our guide on how to file a VA claim to make sure your exam appointment is set up correctly.
2026 VA Travel Pay Mileage Rate
The VA mileage rate follows changes to the IRS standard mileage rate. For 2026, the rate is 41.5 cents per mile. The VA calculates distance from your home address on file to the VA facility.
Deductible Rules
The Beneficiary Travel program applies a small deductible to most mileage claims:
| Trip Type | Deductible |
|---|---|
| One-way trip | $3.00 |
| Round-trip | $6.00 |
| Monthly cap on deductibles | $18.00 |
Once you hit $18 in deductibles for the calendar month, VA waives the deductible on any additional trips. Veterans with a service-connected rating of 30% or higher are often exempt from deductibles — confirm with your VA travel office.
What Trips Does VA Travel Pay Cover?
Covered Trip Types
- VA medical center and clinic appointments — any scheduled VA health care visit
- Compensation and pension (C&P) exams — travel is covered even if you have a 0% rating
- VA-authorized community care — trips to non-VA providers when VA refers you there
- Mental health appointments — same rules as any VA medical visit
- Substance use disorder treatment — travel covered if VA authorized the care
Special Mode Transportation
If your medical condition requires a wheelchair van, ambulance, or other special transportation, the VA can cover those costs too. You must get prior approval before booking special-mode transport.
Veterans with the most severe disabilities may also qualify for Special Monthly Compensation — extra monthly pay on top of your standard rating.
Sample Calculation
Say you live 25 miles from your VA clinic and make a round trip:
- Total miles: 50
- Gross reimbursement: 50 × $0.415 = $20.75
- Minus round-trip deductible: − $6.00
- Net payout: $14.75
How to File Through BTSSS
The Beneficiary Travel Self-Service System (BTSSS) is the main portal for filing claims online at dvagov-btsss.dynamics365portals.us or through access.va.gov.
Step-by-Step Filing
- Sign in — Use Login.gov, ID.me, DS Logon, or My HealtheVet Premium.
- Select "Create New Claim" — Choose the appointment date and facility.
- Enter your trip details — The system auto-calculates mileage from your address on file.
- Upload any receipts — Required for taxi, rideshare, or other non-mileage transport.
- Submit — Claims are typically processed within 3–5 business days.
Filing Deadlines
You must file your travel claim within 30 days of the appointment. File as soon as you get home from each appointment to be safe.
Tips to Avoid a Denied Claim
- Make sure your home address in VA records is current before your appointment.
- File within 30 days — late claims are almost always denied.
- For C&P exams, note the exam type on your claim so it is processed correctly.
- If you used Uber, Lyft, or a taxi, save your receipt.
- If denied, request a Higher-Level Review — many travel pay denials are overturned.
Bottom Line
If you travel to VA appointments and meet any of the eligibility criteria above, you may be leaving money on the table. The 2026 rate is 41.5 cents per mile, the online BTSSS portal makes filing fast, and most claims pay out within a week.
Ready to check your disability rating? Use our free VA disability rating calculator to see your combined rating and estimated monthly pay — because your rating determines whether the travel pay deductible is waived.