If you are trying to figure out exactly how much your VA disability rating pays, this guide has the official 2026 numbers, the dependent calculations, and the math the VA actually uses to combine multiple ratings. The rates below took effect December 1, 2025, after a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment.
Three things drive the size of your monthly VA disability check: your combined rating, your dependent status, and any special monthly compensation you qualify for. The numbers in this guide come straight from VA.gov. They apply to every veteran, regardless of state. Your check should match these tables exactly. If it does not, something is off, and it is worth a call to the VA or a review by a representative.
VA disability pay is tax-free at the federal level and in all 50 states. That makes the actual purchasing power of these numbers higher than the same dollar amount in regular wages. We will get into what that looks like below.
2026 VA Disability Pay at a Glance
The chart below shows monthly payments for a single veteran with no dependents at every rating from 10% to 100%. Two things stand out: the steady climb from 10% to 90%, and the sharp jump at 100% (often called the 100% wall). A veteran going from 90% to 100% gains over $1,500 per month, more than the entire 50% rate.
Figure 1: 2026 monthly VA disability pay by rating, single veteran with no dependents.
Compensation Rates for 10% and 20% Disability Ratings
Veterans with a 10% or 20% rating receive a flat amount. Dependents do not increase pay at these rating levels. The table below shows the 2026 monthly amount and the annual total.
| Rating | Monthly Payment | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $2,165.04 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $4,279.92 |
Source: VA.gov Veterans disability compensation rates, effective December 1, 2025.
If your rating is 10% or 20%, your check is the same whether you are single or supporting a family. To unlock dependent pay, you need to reach a 30% rating or higher. That is one of the biggest financial reasons to keep documenting symptoms and to file for an increase if your condition has worsened.
Compensation Rates for 30% to 60% Disability Ratings
At 30% and above, your monthly check increases when you have a spouse, dependent children, or dependent parents. The basic rate table below covers the most common dependent scenarios for ratings from 30% to 60%.
Veteran with no children
| Dependent Status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $552.47 | $795.84 | $1,132.90 | $1,435.02 |
| With spouse only | $617.47 | $882.84 | $1,241.90 | $1,566.02 |
| With spouse and 1 parent | $669.47 | $952.84 | $1,329.90 | $1,671.02 |
| With spouse and 2 parents | $721.47 | $1,022.84 | $1,417.90 | $1,776.02 |
| With 1 parent only | $604.47 | $865.84 | $1,220.90 | $1,540.02 |
| With 2 parents only | $656.47 | $935.84 | $1,308.90 | $1,645.02 |
Source: VA.gov, effective December 1, 2025.
Veteran with 1 child
If you have one dependent child under 18, use the rates below. Each additional child adds to these amounts (see the Added Amounts section).
| Dependent Status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child only | $596.47 | $853.84 | $1,205.90 | $1,523.02 |
| With spouse and 1 child | $666.47 | $947.84 | $1,322.90 | $1,663.02 |
| With spouse, 1 child, 1 parent | $718.47 | $1,017.84 | $1,410.90 | $1,768.02 |
| With spouse, 1 child, 2 parents | $770.47 | $1,087.84 | $1,498.90 | $1,873.02 |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | $648.47 | $923.84 | $1,293.90 | $1,628.02 |
| With 1 child and 2 parents | $700.47 | $993.84 | $1,381.90 | $1,733.02 |
Source: VA.gov, effective December 1, 2025.
Compensation Rates for 70% to 100% Disability Ratings
Higher ratings mean higher base pay and larger dependent allowances. The 100% rating tier is also where the biggest single-step increase happens. A veteran at 90% with a spouse and parent moves from $2,717.30 to $4,334.41 if they reach 100%, an increase of over $1,600 per month.
Veteran with no children
| Dependent Status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $1,808.45 | $2,102.15 | $2,362.30 | $3,938.58 |
| With spouse only | $1,961.45 | $2,277.15 | $2,559.30 | $4,158.17 |
| With spouse and 1 parent | $2,084.45 | $2,417.15 | $2,717.30 | $4,334.41 |
| With spouse and 2 parents | $2,207.45 | $2,557.15 | $2,875.30 | $4,510.65 |
| With 1 parent only | $1,931.45 | $2,242.15 | $2,520.30 | $4,114.82 |
| With 2 parents only | $2,054.45 | $2,382.15 | $2,678.30 | $4,291.06 |
Source: VA.gov, effective December 1, 2025.
Veteran with 1 child
| Dependent Status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child only | $1,910.45 | $2,219.15 | $2,494.30 | $4,085.43 |
| With spouse and 1 child | $2,074.45 | $2,406.15 | $2,704.30 | $4,318.99 |
| With spouse, 1 child, 1 parent | $2,197.45 | $2,546.15 | $2,862.30 | $4,495.23 |
| With spouse, 1 child, 2 parents | $2,320.45 | $2,686.15 | $3,020.30 | $4,671.47 |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | $2,033.45 | $2,359.15 | $2,652.30 | $4,261.67 |
| With 1 child and 2 parents | $2,156.45 | $2,499.15 | $2,810.30 | $4,437.91 |
Source: VA.gov, effective December 1, 2025.
Added Amounts: Extra Children, College-Age Dependents, and Aid and Attendance
The base rate tables above already include compensation for one dependent child. If you have more than one child, or your spouse qualifies for Aid and Attendance, you add to your base amount using the Added Amounts table.
For 30% to 60% ratings
| Added Amount For | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Each additional child under 18 | $32.00 | $43.00 | $54.00 | $65.00 |
| Each child over 18 in school | $105.00 | $140.00 | $176.00 | $211.00 |
| Spouse with Aid and Attendance | $61.00 | $81.00 | $101.00 | $121.00 |
For 70% to 100% ratings
| Added Amount For | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Each additional child under 18 | $76.00 | $87.00 | $98.00 | $109.11 |
| Each child over 18 in school | $246.00 | $281.00 | $317.00 | $352.45 |
| Spouse with Aid and Attendance | $141.00 | $161.00 | $181.00 | $201.41 |
Source: VA.gov, effective December 1, 2025.
Worked example: how the math comes together
Take a 70% disabled veteran with a spouse, three children under 18, and a spouse who receives Aid and Attendance. The base rate (spouse + 1 child) is $2,074.45. Two more children at $76 each adds $152. The spouse Aid and Attendance allowance adds $141. Total monthly payment: $2,367.45.
If any of the dependent inputs to your record are wrong (an unrecorded spouse, a child who turned 18 but is still in school, a divorce that was never reported), your check will not match the table. Most pay errors trace back to dependent record problems, not table problems.
How the VA Combines Multiple Ratings (VA Math)
If you have more than one service-connected condition, the VA does not add your ratings together. It uses what is called combined ratings math. The system treats your rating as a percentage of your remaining healthy capacity, then takes a slice of that for each new condition.
Figure 2: VA math takes percentages of the percentage that is left, not a simple sum of all ratings.
Once the VA finishes the math, it rounds your final number to the nearest 10%. So a calculated rating of 74% becomes 70%. A calculated 75% becomes 80%. The rounding direction can mean hundreds of dollars per month, which is why the order in which conditions are listed and which conditions are filed matters.
Why the math feels unfair
Most veterans assume two 30% ratings combine to 60%. They do not. The first 30% takes 30 of the original 100, leaving 70. The second 30% takes 30% of 70, which is 21. The combined rating is 51, rounded to 50%. That is the difference between a check around $1,133 (50%) and $1,435 (60%) per month for a veteran alone, more than $300 a month gone to the math.
The VA does provide one boost called the bilateral factor. If you have ratings on both arms, both legs, or paired body parts, the VA adds 10% to the combined rating for those conditions before merging them with the rest. This can push a borderline 50% rating to 60% or a borderline 70% to 80%.
What Your VA Disability Pay Is Really Worth
VA disability pay is tax-free at the federal level and in every state. It is also exempt from FICA (Social Security and Medicare withholding). That changes the real-world value of the payment compared to taxable wages.
Figure 3: A 100% VA disability payment compares to a higher gross salary because it is fully tax-free.
The numbers above are illustrative. Your actual gross-equivalent depends on your state of residence, your filing status, and other deductions. But the principle holds: a dollar of VA disability buys more than a dollar of taxable wages, and the higher your effective tax bracket would be on equivalent income, the more the gap widens.
When VA Disability Rates Change Each Year
VA disability rates increase each year through the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). The COLA is set by the Social Security Administration based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), and the VA is required by law to match it.
The 2026 COLA was 2.8%, applied automatically on December 1, 2025. The first paycheck reflecting the new rate landed at the end of December 2025. You did not need to do anything. If your check did not increase, that is a sign something is wrong with your record, and it is worth a follow-up.
If your rating itself changes during the year (because you filed for an increase, or because the VA reviewed and reduced your rating), the new rate uses the current year’s table. A reduction can be appealed within one year, and the appeal options for a disability rating decision include a Supplemental Claim, a Higher-Level Review, or a Notice of Disagreement to the Board of Veterans Appeals.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) Rates
Beyond the basic rating tables, some veterans qualify for Special Monthly Compensation. SMC pays additional amounts for specific severe conditions, including loss of limbs, loss of use of body parts, blindness, and certain combinations of injuries.
SMC is broken into letter designations from K to T. The most common is SMC-K.
| SMC Letter | What It Pays / Who It Covers |
|---|---|
| SMC-K | $139.87 per month, added to your basic rate. Awarded for loss or loss of use of one creative organ, one hand, one foot, an eye, both buttocks, or for deafness in both ears at certain levels. |
| SMC-L | Higher rate replacing your basic compensation. For more severe combinations of loss, including blindness in both eyes or paraplegia. |
| SMC-M through R | Increasing tiers for the most severe combinations of disability, including total blindness with additional disabilities. |
| SMC-S | Housebound rate. For veterans rated 100% with one additional 60% rating, or who are permanently housebound due to service-connected conditions. |
| SMC-T | TBI tier. For veterans needing aid and attendance because of a service-connected traumatic brain injury. |
SMC-K can be awarded up to three times in addition to your basic rate. The other tiers usually replace your basic rate with a higher amount. SMC awards do not happen automatically. You have to claim them, and the medical evidence has to match the specific criteria for each letter.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2026 VA Disability Pay
How much is 100% VA disability per month in 2026?
$3,938.58 per month for a single veteran with no dependents. With a spouse, the amount rises to $4,158.17. With a spouse and one child, it is $4,318.99. The maximum standard rate (100% with a spouse, one child, and two dependent parents) is $4,671.47.
How much is 70% VA disability in 2026?
$1,808.45 per month for a single veteran. With a spouse, $1,961.45. With a spouse and one child, $2,074.45. Each additional child under 18 adds $76 to the monthly check at the 70% rate.
Did VA disability rates go up in 2026?
Yes. The 2026 COLA was 2.8%, the largest increase since 2023. It was applied automatically on December 1, 2025, and appeared in the first check at the end of December.
Why did my VA pay increase but not by 2.8%?
If your raise was less than 2.8%, the most common reason is rounding inside specific dollar lines. The VA rounds added amounts (like the $76 per extra child at 70%) to whole dollars in some places, and the math does not always produce an even percentage across every line. Your total should still be close to a 2.8% increase year over year.
Is VA disability pay taxable?
No. VA disability compensation is not taxable at the federal level or in any state. It is also not subject to FICA or Medicare withholding. You do not report it on your federal tax return.
Do dependents increase VA disability pay at 10% or 20%?
No. Veterans with a 10% or 20% combined rating receive a flat amount regardless of dependents. The dependent allowance only kicks in at 30% and above.
How is VA disability pay calculated for two ratings?
The VA does not add ratings together. It applies each rating to the percentage of healthy capacity remaining. Two 50% ratings combine to 75%, which rounds to 80%, not 100%. This is called combined ratings math, and the formal table is published in 38 CFR 4.25.
What is the 100% wall?
It is the term veterans use for the very large jump in pay between a 90% and a 100% rating. At 90%, a single veteran receives $2,362.30 per month. At 100%, the same veteran receives $3,938.58. That is a difference of more than $1,500 per month, far larger than any other 10-point increase in the rating scale.
The Bottom Line
The 2026 VA disability pay tables are public, official, and apply equally to every veteran in every state. If your check does not match the row that fits your rating and dependent status, the problem is almost always in your dependent record, your combined rating, or an SMC award that should have been added but was not.
Start by pulling your most recent VA award letter and comparing the numbers line by line to the tables above. Verify your dependents, your rating, and any SMC designations. If the gap is more than rounding can explain, file a request to update your record or open a claim for the missed compensation. Back pay is available when an error is corrected.
If the issue is that your rating itself is too low, or that a recent reduction is incorrect, an experienced VA-accredited attorney can review the medical evidence and the rating decision. The VA disability lawyers in Tucson who handle these cases work on contingency, so the consultation costs nothing and any legal fees come out of past-due benefits when the case wins.
