2026 VA Disability Pay Raise: What's Coming in January

The official 2026 COLA announcement drops October 24, and it'll determine how much your VA disability compensation goes up starting January 1st. Right now, The Senior Citizens League is projecting 2.7%, but the final number won't be locked in until the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September's inflation data.

Could it shift? Yeah. The most likely range is between 2.5% and 2.8%, so we've run the numbers for all four scenarios below. That way you know exactly what to expect no matter where it lands.

Want to see how this compares to past years? Check out our complete history of VA compensation rates and COLAs from 1975 to present.

What Each COLA Scenario Means for Your Monthly Payment

These numbers are for veterans without dependents. If you've got a spouse, kids, or dependent parents, your rates are higher—check the current VA compensation rates with dependents here. Your COLA increase will be proportionally larger.

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10% Disability Rating

• Current (2025): $175.51/month
• 2.5% COLA: $179.90 (+$4.39/month)
• 2.6% COLA: $180.07 (+$4.56/month)
• 2.7% COLA: $180.25 (+$4.74/month) — Most Likely
• 2.8% COLA: $180.42 (+$4.91/month)

20% Disability Rating

• Current (2025): $346.95/month
• 2.5% COLA: $355.62 (+$8.67/month)
• 2.6% COLA: $355.97 (+$9.02/month)
• 2.7% COLA: $356.32 (+$9.37/month) — Most Likely
• 2.8% COLA: $356.66 (+$9.71/month)

30% Disability Rating

• Current (2025): $537.42/month
• 2.5% COLA: $550.86 (+$13.44/month)
• 2.6% COLA: $551.39 (+$13.97/month)
• 2.7% COLA: $551.93 (+$14.51/month) — Most Likely
• 2.8% COLA: $552.47 (+$15.05/month)

40% Disability Rating

• Current (2025): $774.16/month
• 2.5% COLA: $793.51 (+$19.35/month)
• 2.6% COLA: $794.29 (+$20.13/month)
• 2.7% COLA: $795.06 (+$20.90/month) — Most Likely
• 2.8% COLA: $795.84 (+$21.68/month)

50% Disability Rating

• Current (2025): $1,102.04/month
• 2.5% COLA: $1,129.59 (+$27.55/month)
• 2.6% COLA: $1,130.69 (+$28.65/month)
• 2.7% COLA: $1,131.80 (+$29.76/month) — Most Likely
• 2.8% COLA: $1,132.90 (+$30.86/month)

60% Disability Rating

• Current (2025): $1,395.43/month
• 2.5% COLA: $1,430.32 (+$34.89/month)
• 2.6% COLA: $1,431.71 (+$36.28/month)
• 2.7% COLA: $1,433.11 (+$37.68/month) — Most Likely
• 2.8% COLA: $1,434.50 (+$39.07/month)

70% Disability Rating

• Current (2025): $1,759.19/month
• 2.5% COLA: $1,803.17 (+$43.98/month)
• 2.6% COLA: $1,804.93 (+$45.74/month)
• 2.7% COLA: $1,806.69 (+$47.50/month) — Most Likely
• 2.8% COLA: $1,808.45 (+$49.26/month)

80% Disability Rating

• Current (2025): $2,044.89/month
• 2.5% COLA: $2,096.01 (+$51.12/month)
• 2.6% COLA: $2,098.06 (+$53.17/month)
• 2.7% COLA: $2,100.10 (+$55.21/month) — Most Likely
• 2.8% COLA: $2,102.15 (+$57.26/month)

90% Disability Rating

• Current (2025): $2,297.96/month
• 2.5% COLA: $2,355.41 (+$57.45/month)
• 2.6% COLA: $2,357.71 (+$59.75/month)
• 2.7% COLA: $2,360.00 (+$62.04/month) — Most Likely
• 2.8% COLA: $2,362.30 (+$64.34/month)

100% Disability Rating

• Current (2025): $3,831.30/month
• 2.5% COLA: $3,927.08 (+$95.78/month)
• 2.6% COLA: $3,930.91 (+$99.61/month)
• 2.7% COLA: $3,934.75 (+$103.45/month) — Most Likely
• 2.8% COLA: $3,938.58 (+$107.28/month)

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The Bottom Line

Look, I know a few bucks a month doesn't sound like much when you're at 10% or 20%. But if you're at 100%, we're talking about potentially over $1,200 more per year depending on where that final number lands. Even at 50%, the difference between a 2.5% and 2.8% COLA is about $40 annually.

The new rates kick in January 1, 2026. You'll see the increase in your first payment of the year—no action required on your part.

Curious how the 2026 COLA stacks up historically? The 2.7% projection is slightly above the 20-year average of 2.6%, but nowhere near the double-digit COLAs we saw in the early 1980s.

A Few Things to Remember

These are base rates. If you're getting additional compensation for dependents, your actual payment is already higher than what's listed here—and your COLA bump will be proportionally bigger. Check out the full compensation rate tables with dependent rates to see where you stand.

October 24 is the date. That's when the VA will announce the official 2026 COLA after the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September inflation data. Until then, 2.7% is the best projection we've got.

This isn't speculation—it's math. The COLA calculation is automatic. It's based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from July, August, and September. Two of those three months are already in. We're just waiting on September to lock it down.

I'll update this post once the official announcement drops. Bookmark it, check back, and plan accordingly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When will the 2026 VA COLA be announced?
October 24, 2025, after the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September inflation data.

What is the projected 2026 VA disability COLA?
The Senior Citizens League projects 2.7%, though it could range from 2.5% to 2.8%.

When do the new VA disability rates take effect?
January 1, 2026. You'll see the increase in your first payment of the year.

How much will a 100% disabled veteran's payment increase?
At 2.7% COLA, approximately $103.45 per month ($1,241.40 per year).

Do these rates include dependents?
No, these are base rates for veterans without dependents. Veterans with dependents receive higher payments and proportionally larger increases. See the full rate tables here.

Is the COLA the same for all VA benefits?
Yes. The COLA applies to VA disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), and pension benefits.

Do I need to do anything to get the COLA increase?
No. The increase is automatic and will appear in your January 2026 payment.

How does the 2026 COLA compare to previous years?
The 2.7% projection is slightly above the 20-year average. For complete historical context, see our VA compensation rates and COLA history from 1975 to present.

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Sources: Projections based on 2025 VA disability compensation rates and COLA estimates from The Senior Citizens League. Official 2026 COLA announcement scheduled for October 24, 2025.