2026 VA Benefit Rates
Effective December 1, 2025. These are the current monthly VA rates, matched to the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. Rates change every December, so check this page before you rely on a number from a printed book or an older post.
This page is for education. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. The official, always-current tables are linked in each section.
Last updated: August 8, 2026
VA disability compensation: veteran with no dependents
| Rating | Monthly |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
If you have dependents
At 30% and above, your rate increases for a spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents, and for a spouse who receives Aid and Attendance. Ratings of 10% and 20% do not add for dependents. Here is the most common case, a veteran with a spouse and no other dependents:
| Rating | Veteran with spouse |
|---|---|
| 30% | $617.47 |
| 40% | $882.84 |
| 50% | $1,241.90 |
| 60% | $1,566.02 |
| 70% | $1,961.45 |
| 80% | $2,277.15 |
| 90% | $2,559.30 |
| 100% | $4,158.17 |
Children, parents, and a spouse on Aid and Attendance add more on top of this. The combinations get detailed, so use the official VA table for your exact household.
Official VA compensation tables (always current): va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)
SMC is extra compensation for the most serious disabilities, such as loss of use of a limb, being housebound, or needing the regular aid and attendance of another person. SMC-K is an add-on you receive on top of your regular rate. SMC-L through SMC-T are higher total rates that replace the schedular rate. Effective December 1, 2025:
| Level | Monthly |
|---|---|
| SMC-K (add-on, any rating) | $139.87 |
| SMC-L | $4,900.83 |
| SMC-M | $5,408.55 |
| SMC-N | $6,152.64 |
| SMC-O / SMC-P | $6,877.12 |
| SMC-R.1 | $9,826.88 |
| SMC-R.2 / SMC-T | $11,271.67 |
| SMC-S (Housebound) | $4,408.53 |
The half-step levels (L 1/2, M 1/2, N 1/2) and dependent combinations are on the official page.
Official VA SMC tables: va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/special-monthly-compensation-rates
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses
DIC is a monthly benefit for eligible survivors of a veteran whose death was service-connected, or who had a qualifying period at 100% before death. For a surviving spouse when the veteran died on or after January 1, 1993, effective December 1, 2025:
| Item | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Base surviving-spouse rate | $1,699.36 |
| Add for Aid and Attendance | $421.00 |
| Add for Housebound | $197.22 |
| Add for each child under 18 | $421.00 |
| 8-year provision (100%/TDIU for 8 years before death, married throughout) | $360.85 |
Official VA survivor (DIC) tables: va.gov survivor (DIC) rates
Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension (income limits)
Pension is a needs-based benefit for wartime veterans (and their survivors) with limited income and net worth. The figure that matters is the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR). Your yearly pension is the MAPR for your situation minus your countable income, paid monthly. Effective December 1, 2025:
Veterans Pension MAPR (per year)
| Situation | MAPR |
|---|---|
| No dependents | $17,441 |
| No dependents, Housebound | $21,313 |
| No dependents, Aid and Attendance | $29,093 |
| One dependent | $22,839 |
| One dependent, Aid and Attendance | $34,488 |
Survivors Pension MAPR (per year)
| Situation | MAPR |
|---|---|
| No dependents | $11,699 |
| No dependents, Aid and Attendance | $18,697 |
| One dependent child | $15,311 |
Net worth limit (December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026): $163,699. This is the combined value of your assets and annual income the VA uses to decide pension eligibility.
Official VA pension pages: Veterans Pension rates and Survivors Pension rates
Working and TDIU: the SSA earnings figure
If you receive or are seeking Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), the question of how much you can earn comes up often. The VA looks at whether work is "substantially gainful." A common reference point is the Social Security Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) amount. This is a Social Security figure, not a VA rate:
| Category | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| Non-blind | $1,690 | $20,280 |
| Blind | $2,830 | $33,960 |
Marginal employment and protected work settings have their own rules, so do not treat the SGA number as a hard line for TDIU. Talk it through with an accredited representative before you make a work decision that could affect your benefits.
Official SSA page: ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html
A word of caution
No one can guarantee you a rating or a payment amount, and no one needs to charge you an upfront fee to file a claim. Filing for benefits before an initial decision is free. Charging an illegal fee to prepare and file an initial claim is against federal law (38 U.S.C. 5905).
Free, accredited help is available. Veterans Service Organizations like the DAV, VFW, American Legion, and your state or county Veterans Service Office can represent you at no cost. Find an accredited representative through the VA: va.gov/disability/get-help-filing-claim. Report anyone charging an illegal upfront fee to the VA Office of Inspector General at 1-800-488-8244.
This page is educational. It is not legal, medical, or financial advice. All rates are published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (SSA figures by the Social Security Administration) and verified against the official source. Last updated: August 8, 2026.