VA disability payments are set by Congress and increase each year, but the exact amount you receive depends on your disability rating and whether you have dependents
The Department of Veterans Affairs pays monthly cash based on a disability rating from 0% to 100%, assigned in 10% increments. The rating reflects how much your service-connected condition reduces your earning capacity. A 0% rating means the VA recognizes the condition but assigns no monthly payment; a 100% rating is the highest. Congress adjusts all rates once per year, usually in December, based on the cost-of-living increase.
The payment charts published by the VA show what each rating pays at the current year's rates. These charts change annually, so a rate that was accurate last year will not be accurate this year. The VA publishes updated charts on its website each January for the new fiscal year. If you receive a payment, the VA notifies you of the new rate before it takes effect.
Your actual monthly payment also depends on whether you have a spouse or children listed as dependents. The VA adds a set amount for each dependent, so two veterans with the same 50% rating will receive different payments if one has dependents and the other does not.
Key Takeaways
- VA disability payments are based on a rating from 0% to 100% in 10% steps, and Congress raises all rates once per year in December.
- The payment amount for each rating changes every year, so you must check the current year's chart to know what a rating actually pays.
- Dependents (spouse and children) add a fixed amount to your monthly payment, so the same rating pays different amounts depending on family status.
- The VA publishes updated payment charts each January on its website, and notifies current recipients of rate changes before they take effect.
How disability ratings translate to monthly payments
The VA assigns a single disability rating based on all your service-connected conditions combined. If you have multiple conditions, the VA does not straightforward add the percentages; instead, it uses a formula that accounts for how conditions interact. The final rating determines your base monthly payment before any dependent amounts are added.
A 10% rating is the lowest paid rating. A 100% rating is the highest and includes additional benefits beyond the monthly payment, such as exemption from copays at VA medical facilities. Ratings of 50% or higher also open access to additional programs, such as vocational rehabilitation and employment services.
The VA rounds your combined rating to the nearest 10%. If your conditions combine to 47%, you receive a 50% rating. If they combine to 43%, you receive a 40% rating. This rounding affects your payment amount, so understanding how your conditions were rated matters when you review your decision letter.
Dependent payments and how they increase your monthly amount
Once the VA assigns your rating, it adds a fixed monthly amount for each dependent you claim. The dependent payment varies by rating level—a 30% veteran with one child receives a different dependent add-on than a 70% veteran with one child. The VA publishes these add-on amounts on the same charts as the base ratings.
Dependents must be listed on your VA record before you receive payment for them. A spouse counts as one dependent. Each child under age 18 (or up to age 23 if enrolled full-time in an approved school) counts as a separate dependent. Adult children do not count unless they became disabled before age 18 and remain unable to support themselves.
If your family situation changes—you marry, divorce, or have a child—you must report the change to the VA. The VA will not automatically adjust your payment. You report changes through your VA.gov account, by mail, or by calling the VA. The change takes effect the month after the VA processes it.
Where to find the current payment rates
The VA publishes disability payment charts on its official website under the disability compensation section. The charts are organized by rating (10% through 100%) and show the base payment for each rating, plus separate columns for dependent add-ons. You can read the charts as PDFs or view them online.
The charts are updated each January for the new calendar year. If you are looking at a chart from last year, the numbers will be lower than what you actually receive now. The VA also sends a notice to every veteran receiving disability payments, telling them the new rate and the effective date before the change happens.
If you want to know what your specific payment should be, you can use the VA's disability rating calculator tool on VA.gov, which lets you enter your rating and dependent information and shows the estimated payment. This tool uses the current rates and updates automatically when Congress raises the rates.
How annual rate increases work
Every December, Congress passes a law that raises all VA disability payments by a percentage tied to inflation. The increase is the same for all ratings and all veterans—a 3% raise affects a 10% veteran and a 100% veteran equally. The new rates take effect on January 1 of the following year.
The VA announces the increase amount in November, before it takes effect. If you receive a payment, you will see the new amount in your January payment. You do not need to do anything to receive the increase; it happens automatically. The VA sends a notice to your mailing address or VA.gov account confirming the new rate.
These annual increases are separate from any change to your disability rating itself. If the VA re-evaluates your condition and changes your rating, that is a different event with its own effective date. A rating change can increase or decrease your payment, while the annual Congress-approved increase always goes up.
Special payments for higher ratings
Veterans with a 100% rating receive additional monthly payments beyond the base rate. These include Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound (HB) payments, which are added if you meet the criteria. A&A applies if you need help with daily living tasks due to your disability. Housebound applies if your disability confines you to your home or when ready premises.
A&A and Housebound payments are significantly higher than the base 100% rate. You do not receive both at the same time; the VA pays whichever is higher. You must request these payments through the VA; they are not automatic even if you have a 100% rating. The VA will ask for medical evidence that you meet the criteria.
Veterans rated at 50% or higher may also be found to have a rating of "Permanent and Total" (P&T), which means the VA considers your condition permanent and unlikely to improve. P&T status affects your may be able to access for certain benefits but does not change your monthly payment amount. The VA determines P&T status based on your medical condition and age.
Reading a VA payment chart
A VA disability payment chart has columns for each rating (10%, 20%, 30%, and so on) and rows for different family situations: veteran alone, veteran with spouse, veteran with one child, veteran with spouse and one child, and so on. Find your rating column and your family row, and the number in that cell is your monthly payment.
The charts also show separate add-on amounts for each additional child beyond the first. If you have a spouse and three children, you find the row for spouse plus one child, then add the per-child amount twice more. The VA publishes these add-on rates clearly on the chart so you can calculate your exact payment.
Some charts break out payments for different family structures in separate tables. Always check the chart date at the top to make sure you are using the current year's rates. An outdated chart will show lower numbers and may lead you to think you are underpaid when you are actually receiving the correct amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get paid for a 0% disability rating?
No. A 0% rating means the VA recognizes your service-connected condition but assigns no monthly payment. You do receive other benefits, such as VA health care and access to the VA disability system, but no cash payment. If your condition worsens, you can request a re-evaluation.
What happens to my payment if I get remarried?
Your payment increases by the spouse add-on amount for your rating. You must report the marriage to the VA through VA.gov, by phone, or by mail. The increase takes effect the month after the VA processes the change. If you later divorce, the payment decreases back to the veteran-alone amount.
Can I see what I will be paid before I receive my first payment?
Yes. Once the VA assigns your rating, it sends you a decision letter that includes your effective date and rating. You can then look up your rating on the current VA payment chart to see what your monthly amount will be. The VA's disability calculator tool on VA.gov also shows estimated payments based on your rating and dependents.
Why did my payment go down even though Congress raised the rates?
Your payment may have gone down if the VA re-evaluated your condition and lowered your rating. A rating decrease overrides the annual increase. If you believe the new rating is wrong, you can file a notice of disagreement with the VA within one year of the decision.
Are VA disability payments taxed?
No. VA disability compensation is not counted as income for federal or state income tax purposes. You do not report it on your tax return, and it does not affect your may be able to access for other programs based on income, such as Medicaid or SNAP.