VA Disability
VA disability pay went up 2.8% in January 2026. Here are the exact amounts by rating.
A veteran speaks with a Vet Center psychologist about VA services at the Buffalo Vet Center, Buffalo, New York, Nov. 29, 2023. Photo by MAJ Avery Schneider, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District. Public domain via DVIDS (VIRIN 231130-A-HB296-1009).
Upload your Leave & Earnings Statement and get a plain-English breakdown of every line.
Open LES Tool→VA disability payments went up 2.8% on December 1, 2025, adding to every check you received starting in January 2026. A 10% rating now pays $180.42 per month; a 100% rating with no dependents pays $3,938.58. All VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal level.
If you know your disability rating but are not sure of your exact payment, the tables in this article, pulled directly from VA.gov, will show you your number. If your family situation changed since you filed your claim, updating your dependents could mean more money every month.
Rates are effective December 1, 2025 and apply to payments received January 2026 onward. If you have a 10% or 20% disability rating, dependents do not affect your payment. From 30% up, your payment increases based on family size.
10% and 20% ratings (no dependent add-on at these tiers)
Veteran alone (no dependents), 30% to 100%
All VA disability compensation is federal income tax-free. Most states also exempt it from state income tax, though rules vary, so check with your state revenue department to confirm.
These are the total combined monthly payments if you have a dependent spouse and no children or dependent parents.
At 30% and higher, children and dependent parents also increase your monthly payment. A few key 2026 totals:
For a complete breakdown at every rating and dependent combination, use the official tables at VA.gov.
By law, VA disability compensation must match the Social Security Administration's annual cost-of-living adjustment. The SSA announced the 2.8% COLA in October 2025 based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). It is not a Congressional vote each year; it rises automatically when prices rise, and it applied to VA disability compensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and clothing allowances all at once on December 1, 2025.
Because VA disability pay is federal income tax-free, the dollar amounts in the table above are what you keep. A comparable taxable income would need to be higher to net the same take-home. If you are in the 22% federal bracket, $3,938 of taxable wages becomes roughly $3,071 after income tax. Your VA disability check is $3,938, with no withholding taken out.
This matters for budgeting and for calculating how much other income you need to cover your expenses. Your VA payment goes further than a gross paycheck of the same size suggests.
Your payment should have reflected the 2.8% COLA starting with your January 2026 direct deposit. If it did not, or if your family situation has changed (marriage, new child, a dependent reaching age 18), you can:
Adding a dependent after your initial claim can result in retroactive pay back to the date you filed the dependent update, so it is worth doing promptly if your situation has changed.
Not yet rated? See VA Disability Claims and Ratings: The Basics for how the process works. If you are still in your last year of service, Your Last Year in Uniform: The Separation Money Checklist covers the full financial picture of getting out.
What is the 2026 VA disability rate increase?
VA disability compensation increased 2.8% effective December 1, 2025. That COLA applied to all January 2026 payments and every payment since.
How much does a 100% VA disability rating pay in 2026?
A veteran with a 100% rating and no dependents receives $3,938.58 per month. With a dependent spouse it is $4,158.17, and with a spouse and one child it is $4,318.99.
Is VA disability compensation taxable?
No. VA disability compensation is exempt from federal income tax. Most states also exempt it, though a few have partial rules. Check with your state revenue department to confirm.
Do dependents increase VA disability pay?
At 10% and 20% ratings, dependents do not affect the payment. Starting at 30%, a dependent spouse, children, and dependent parents each add to the monthly amount.
When does the VA COLA take effect each year?
The COLA takes effect December 1 and shows up in the January payment. It matches the Social Security Administration's annual COLA, set each October based on the CPI-W.
What if my VA disability payment looks wrong?
Log in to VA.gov to review your payment and dependent record. If dependents are missing or outdated, file VA Form 21-686c online. For anything else, call the VA benefits line at 1-800-827-1000.
