2027 VA disability pay, veteran alone (estimated)
Official 3.6% COLA · VA tables due in December
| Rating | Monthly pay, veteran alone |
|---|---|
| 10% | $186.92 |
| 20% | $369.50 |
| 30% | $572.36 |
| 40% | $824.49 |
| 50% | $1,173.68 |
| 60% | $1,486.68 |
| 70% | $1,873.55 |
| 80% | $2,177.83 |
| 90% | $2,447.34 |
| 100% | $4,080.37 |
Every year VA disability pay goes up by the same cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) as Social Security. For 2027 that means a 3.6% raise on every rate, effective December 1, 2026. At 100% with no dependents, that is about $141.79 more a month (estimated), or $1,701.48 more over the year (estimated).
This guide has the full 2027 pay chart for every rating and family situation, what changed from 2026, when the first bigger deposit lands, and how VA decides which number is yours.
- COLA: 3.6% (official, announced October 14, 2026)
- Effective: December 1, 2026
- First deposit at the 2027 rate: Thursday, December 31, 2026
- Do you need to apply? No, it's automatic.
What changed from 2026 to 2027
The COLA is a flat percentage, so every rating rises by about the same 3.6%. In dollars, higher ratings gain more: the 10% rate goes from $180.42 to $186.92 (estimated), while 100% goes from $3,938.58 to $4,080.37 (estimated). Here is the change for a veteran with no dependents:
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Rating | 2026 | 2027 (estimated) | More per month | Change | More per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $186.92 | +$6.50 | +3.6% | +$78.00 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $369.50 | +$12.84 | +3.6% | +$154.08 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $572.36 | +$19.89 | +3.6% | +$238.68 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $824.49 | +$28.65 | +3.6% | +$343.80 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,173.68 | +$40.78 | +3.6% | +$489.36 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,486.68 | +$51.66 | +3.6% | +$619.92 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,873.55 | +$65.10 | +3.6% | +$781.20 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,177.83 | +$75.68 | +3.6% | +$908.16 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,447.34 | +$85.04 | +3.6% | +$1,020.48 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,080.37 | +$141.79 | +3.6% | +$1,701.48 |
2026 amounts are VA's official rates (effective December 1, 2025, 2.8% COLA). 2027 amounts are VA's 2026 rates × 1.036, rounded to the cent.1
The COLA doesn't change your rating or the rules for dependents. It only raises the dollar amount attached to each rating.
2027 VA disability pay chart by dependent status
Your monthly payment depends on two things: your combined rating and who VA has on file as your dependents. Dependents only add money at 30% or higher. Start with the table that matches your family, then add any amounts from the “added amounts” table.
10% and 20% ratings (estimated)
At 10% and 20%, VA pays one flat amount. Dependents don't change it.
| Rating | 2027 monthly (estimated) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $186.92 |
| 20% | $369.50 |
Veteran alone, with a spouse or with parents (no children) (estimated)
Find your combined rating along the top and your family situation on the left.
Swipe the table sideways to see every rating.
| Dependent status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alone | $572.36 | $824.49 | $1,173.68 | $1,486.68 | $1,873.55 | $2,177.83 | $2,447.34 | $4,080.37 |
| Spouse | $639.70 | $914.62 | $1,286.61 | $1,622.40 | $2,032.06 | $2,359.13 | $2,651.43 | $4,307.86 |
| Spouse + 1 parent | $693.57 | $987.14 | $1,377.78 | $1,731.18 | $2,159.49 | $2,504.17 | $2,815.12 | $4,490.45 |
| Spouse + 2 parents | $747.44 | $1,059.66 | $1,468.94 | $1,839.96 | $2,286.92 | $2,649.21 | $2,978.81 | $4,673.03 |
| 1 parent | $626.23 | $897.01 | $1,264.85 | $1,595.46 | $2,000.98 | $2,322.87 | $2,611.03 | $4,262.95 |
| 2 parents | $680.10 | $969.53 | $1,356.02 | $1,704.24 | $2,128.41 | $2,467.91 | $2,774.72 | $4,445.54 |
With children (30%–100%) (estimated)
These amounts already include one child under 18. For more children, add the amounts in the next table.
Swipe the table sideways to see every rating.
| Dependent status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $617.94 | $884.58 | $1,249.31 | $1,577.85 | $1,979.23 | $2,299.04 | $2,584.09 | $4,232.51 |
| Spouse + child | $690.46 | $981.96 | $1,370.52 | $1,722.89 | $2,149.13 | $2,492.77 | $2,801.65 | $4,474.47 |
| Spouse + child + 1 parent | $744.33 | $1,054.48 | $1,461.69 | $1,831.67 | $2,276.56 | $2,637.81 | $2,965.34 | $4,657.06 |
| Spouse + child + 2 parents | $798.21 | $1,127.00 | $1,552.86 | $1,940.45 | $2,403.99 | $2,782.85 | $3,129.03 | $4,839.64 |
| Child + 1 parent | $671.81 | $957.10 | $1,340.48 | $1,686.63 | $2,106.65 | $2,444.08 | $2,747.78 | $4,415.09 |
| Child + 2 parents | $725.69 | $1,029.62 | $1,431.65 | $1,795.41 | $2,234.08 | $2,589.12 | $2,911.47 | $4,597.67 |
Added amounts: more children and a spouse on Aid and Attendance (estimated)
Add these to your row above: once for each additional child under 18, once for each child 18 to 23 in a VA-approved school program, and once if your spouse receives Aid and Attendance (A&A).
Swipe the table sideways to see every rating.
| Added amount | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Each extra child under 18 | $33.15 | $44.55 | $55.94 | $67.34 | $78.74 | $90.13 | $101.53 | $113.04 |
| Each child 18–23 in school | $108.78 | $145.04 | $182.34 | $218.60 | $254.86 | $291.12 | $328.41 | $365.14 |
| Spouse on Aid & Attendance | $63.20 | $83.92 | $104.64 | $125.36 | $146.08 | $166.80 | $187.52 | $208.66 |
Example: a veteran rated 60% with a spouse and three children under 18 uses the “Spouse + child” row ($1,722.89) plus two additional children at $67.34 each, for $1,857.57 a month (estimated). The VA disability calculator does this math for you.
100% VA disability with a spouse in 2027
At 100% with a spouse and no other dependents, VA pays $4,307.86 a month (estimated) in 2027, up from $4,158.17 in 2026. That is $1,796.28 more for the year, or $51,694.32 in total for 2027 (estimated). Here is how 100% pay looks for common families:
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| At 100% | 2026 | 2027 (estimated) | 2027 per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $3,938.58 | $4,080.37 | $48,964.44 |
| With a spouse | $4,158.17 | $4,307.86 | $51,694.32 |
| Spouse + 1 child under 18 | $4,318.99 | $4,474.47 | $53,693.64 |
| Spouse + 2 children under 18 | $4,428.10 | $4,587.51 | $55,050.12 |
| Spouse + 3 children under 18 | $4,537.21 | $4,700.55 | $56,406.60 |
| Spouse + 1 child under 18 + 1 child 18–23 in school | $4,671.44 | $4,839.61 | $58,075.32 |
| Spouse on Aid and Attendance | $4,359.58 | $4,516.52 | $54,198.24 |
| Spouse + 2 dependent parents | $4,510.65 | $4,673.03 | $56,076.36 |
A few things that matter at 100%: a spouse who needs help with daily living may qualify for Aid and Attendance, which adds $208.66 a month (estimated) at 100%. Each child aged 18 to 23 in a VA-approved school adds $365.14 (estimated) instead of the under-18 amount ($113.04 (estimated)). These tables don't include special monthly compensation (SMC), which VA pays on its own tables for certain severe disabilities.
How the COLA works and who sets it
The cost-of-living adjustment starts at the Social Security Administration. Each October, SSA compares the average Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for July, August and September with the same three months a year earlier. The percentage increase, rounded to one decimal, becomes the next year's Social Security COLA.
VA doesn't pick its own number. VA states that it is required by law to match the percentage of the Social Security COLA. Each year Congress normally passes a Veterans' Compensation COLA act that applies the Social Security percentage to the rates in 38 U.S.C. §§ 1114 and 1115 (disability compensation and the added amounts for dependents). The same yearly act covers Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for survivors, while Veterans Pension rises automatically under 38 U.S.C. § 5312.
For 2027 the timeline looks like this:
- October 14, 2026: SSA announces the 2027 COLA (3.6%).
- Fall 2026: Congress normally passes the annual Veterans' COLA act.
- December 1, 2026: the new VA rates take effect.
- Around early December 2026: VA posts its official 2027 tables.
- December 31, 2026: first deposit at the 2027 rate.
Want the longer explanation, including which other benefits move with the COLA? Read what the COLA is and how it affects VA benefits.
When the 2027 increase shows up in your deposit
VA pays in arrears: each month's benefit is deposited at the start of the following month. When the 1st falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, the money arrives on the last business day before it. That is why the first deposit with the 2027 increase comes on Thursday, December 31, 2026 (December's benefit, paid early because January 1 is New Year's Day), and the deposit on December 1, 2026 is still at the 2026 rate.
| Benefit for | Deposited | Rate used |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | Tuesday, December 1, 2026 | 2026 rate |
| December 2026 | Thursday, December 31, 2026 | 2027 rate |
| January 2027 | Monday, February 1, 2027 | 2027 rate |
| February 2027 | Monday, March 1, 2027 | 2027 rate |
| March 2027 | Thursday, April 1, 2027 | 2027 rate |
If VA owes you back pay from a recent decision, the back pay for months before December 1, 2026 is figured at the 2026 (or earlier) rates, and months from December 1, 2026 on at the 2027 rates. See VA back pay explained for how VA calculates it.
How combined ratings decide which row you use
If you have more than one service-connected condition, VA doesn't add the percentages. It uses “VA math” (the Combined Ratings Table in 38 CFR 4.25): it starts with your highest rating, then applies each next rating only to the part of you that is still “not disabled”, and rounds the final number to the nearest 10.
Worked example: 50%, 30%, 10%.
- Start with 50%. That leaves 50% “not disabled”.
- 30% of the remaining 50% is 15, so the combined value is 65.
- 10% of the remaining 35% is 3.5, so the combined value is 69.
- 69 rounds to 70%, not the 90% you'd get by adding.
At 70%, a veteran alone would get $1,873.55 a month in 2027 (estimated). Try your own ratings, including the bilateral factor for arms and legs, in the VA disability calculator.
Dependents only count if VA has them on file. If you married or had a child, you can add them on VA Form 21-686c (or online at VA.gov); a child aged 18 to 23 in school also needs VA Form 21-674. If you think your rating no longer reflects your conditions, read how a VA rating increase claim works. VA decides every claim, and a new claim can also lead to a lower rating if your condition has improved.
Is VA disability compensation taxable?
No. VA disability compensation is tax-free. It isn't included in your gross income for federal tax (see IRS Publication 525), you don't report it on your return, and the yearly COLA doesn't change that. States generally don't tax it either. What does differ by state are the extra benefits a rating can unlock, such as property-tax exemptions, free vehicle registration or tuition for dependents. See your state on our veteran benefits by state pages.
Note that other income can be taxed differently. Military retired pay, for example, is generally taxable, and it can be reduced when you also receive VA compensation unless you qualify for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) or Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). That is a separate question from your VA pay rate.
2026 vs. 2027 VA disability pay: quick comparison
The most-searched situations side by side. “More per year” is the monthly difference × 12.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Rating & family | 2026 | 2027 (estimated) | More per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100%, alone | $3,938.58 | $4,080.37 | +$1,701.48 |
| 100%, spouse | $4,158.17 | $4,307.86 | +$1,796.28 |
| 100%, spouse + 1 child | $4,318.99 | $4,474.47 | +$1,865.76 |
| 90%, alone | $2,362.30 | $2,447.34 | +$1,020.48 |
| 80%, spouse | $2,277.15 | $2,359.13 | +$983.76 |
| 70%, alone | $1,808.45 | $1,873.55 | +$781.20 |
| 70%, spouse | $1,961.45 | $2,032.06 | +$847.32 |
| 50%, alone | $1,132.90 | $1,173.68 | +$489.36 |
| 30%, alone | $552.47 | $572.36 | +$238.68 |
| 10% | $180.42 | $186.92 | +$78.00 |
Want every 2026 row? See the official 2026 VA disability pay chart or last year's guide, 2026 VA disability compensation: your pay guide.
2027 VA disability pay FAQ
How much is 100% VA disability in 2027?
A veteran rated 100% with no dependents gets $4,080.37 a month in 2027 (estimated), up from $3,938.58 in 2026. With a spouse it is $4,307.86 (estimated). These 2027 amounts are based on the official 3.6% COLA the Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026. VA's official tables are expected in December; until then they are our calculation from VA's 2026 tables, and VA's own figures can differ by a few cents to about a dollar.
Will VA disability go up in 2027?
Yes. The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% COLA for 2027 on October 14, 2026, and VA disability compensation rises by the same percentage, effective December 1, 2026. VA's official tables are expected in December.
When will I see the 2027 increase?
The 2027 rates take effect December 1, 2026. VA pays each month's benefit at the start of the next month, so the December 2026 benefit is the first one at the new rate. Because January 1 is a holiday, it is deposited on Thursday, December 31, 2026. The deposit on December 1, 2026 is November's benefit at the 2026 rate.
How much does 70% VA disability pay in 2027?
At 70%, a veteran alone gets $1,873.55 a month in 2027 (estimated). With a spouse it is $2,032.06, and with a spouse and one child $2,149.13. In 2026 the veteran-alone amount was $1,808.45.
What is the 2027 VA COLA?
3.6%. SSA announced it on October 14, 2026, and by law VA matches the Social Security COLA for disability compensation. It applies from December 1, 2026.
Do I need to apply for the COLA?
No. The cost-of-living increase is automatic for every veteran already receiving disability compensation. You don't file anything. Just make sure VA has your current dependents and direct deposit details, because the dependents on file decide which row of the pay chart you are paid from.
When will VA publish the official 2027 rates?
VA usually posts its official compensation tables around early December, after SSA announces the COLA and Congress passes the annual Veterans' COLA act. We update this guide when VA publishes.
Is VA disability pay taxed in 2027?
No. VA disability compensation is tax-free. It isn't counted as income on your federal return (IRS Publication 525), and the COLA doesn't change that.
Sources and how we calculated these numbers
- VA: Current veterans disability compensation rates (2026 tables, effective December 1, 2025, and the statement that VA matches the Social Security COLA).
- VA: Past rates, 2025 (used to check how VA rounds).
- SSA: Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) information and the COLA history.
- Law: 38 U.S.C. § 1114 (compensation rates), § 1115 (dependents), § 5312 (automatic pension adjustment), 38 CFR 4.25 (combined ratings).
- IRS: Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income (veterans' benefits).
1 2027 amounts are VA's official 2026 tables multiplied by 1 + 3.6% and rounded to the cent. VA builds its tables from unrounded statutory amounts and rounds some added amounts to whole dollars, so its published figures can differ from a straight COLA calculation by a few cents to a dollar or two. Last year, applying the 2.8% COLA to VA's 2025 tables matched every veteran-alone amount exactly, but some dependent rows were off by up to $1.96. We'll switch to VA's figures as soon as they're published. ↩
Written by Ardeshir Kohnouri for VetComm US. Figures checked against va.gov; COLA status as of October 14, 2026.
Need help with your claim?
You never need to pay anyone to get the COLA. It's automatic. If you have questions about your rating itself, free help is available from accredited Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) through VA's accreditation search. VetComm is not a VA-accredited representative or VSO. If you want live, paid guidance while you file your own claim, you can book a free claim review or call (760) 309-7100.
VETCOMM US is not a VA-accredited agent or a law firm, and is not affiliated with the VA. This guide is general education, not legal or tax advice. 2027 amounts are VetComm's calculations until VA publishes its official tables. The VA decides every claim and results vary.