Hailey
Good news for veterans and survivors: the 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is 2.8%.
By law, the VA matches Social Security’s COLA, so VA Disability Compensation, Dependency & Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) all rise by the same percentage.
What’s Changing And when It Starts
- COLA amount: +2.8% to all VA compensation programs.
- Effective date: New rates apply from December 1, 2025.
- First payment at new rate: December 31, 2025 (the January 1 holiday pushes payment to the prior business day).
- Ongoing cadence: Paid monthly on the first business day of the following month (or the prior business day if that date is a weekend/holiday).
Who qualifies For The 2026 Increase
You’ll automatically get the 2.8% raise if you receive:
- VA Disability Compensation (10%–100% combined rating; dependents increase applies at 30%+).
- DIC (surviving spouses, children, or parents who qualify).
- SMC (for qualifying severe disabilities/needs in addition to basic compensation).
2026 VA Monthly Rates (Single Veteran, no dependents)
These reflect the 2.8% increase for core ratings. Add-ons for spouses, children, or dependent parents apply at 30%+ ratings.
| VA Rating | 2026 Monthly |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.01 |
| 70% | $1,808.44 |
| 80% | $2,102.14 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.57 |
How to verify your exact amount: multiply your current 2025 monthly payment by 1.028. Example: $2,000 × 1.028 = $2,056 (+$56/month).
2026 VA Deposit Schedule (Expected)
VA pays for each benefit month on the first business day of the next month. If that day is a weekend or federal holiday, payment moves to the prior business day.
| Benefit Month | Deposit Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| December 2025 | December 31, 2025 (first check with the 2.8% COLA) |
| January 2026 | January 30, 2026 |
| February 2026 | February 27, 2026 |
| March 2026 | April 1, 2026 |
| April 2026 | May 1, 2026 |
| May 2026 | June 1, 2026 |
| June 2026 | July 1, 2026 |
| July 2026 | July 31, 2026 |
| August 2026 | September 1, 2026 |
| September 2026 | October 1, 2026 |
| October 2026 | October 30, 2026 |
| November 2026 | December 1, 2026 |
| December 2026 | December 31, 2026 |
Tips to maximize your 2026 benefits
- Update dependents: If you’re 30%+ and your family status changed (marriage, birth, school status for children), update records to capture the higher dependent rate.
- Consider rating reviews: If your conditions worsened or new evidence exists, a rating increase (if granted) raises your base amount before COLA is applied.
- Direct deposit: Ensure your banking details are current to avoid delays.
FAQs
Do I need to apply to get the 2.8% raise?
No. The COLA is automatic for eligible VA compensation, DIC, and SMC recipients. It shows up in your December 31, 2025 deposit and continues monthly.
Why does VA use the same COLA as Social Security?
Federal law ties VA compensation COLA to the Social Security COLA, which is calculated from the CPI-W inflation index.
What if my deposit date falls on a holiday or weekend?
Your payment moves to the prior business day, which is why a few months post earlier dates like Dec 31 or Oct 30.