What Are the 2026 Projected VA Benefits Rates?

Most years, the VA announces increases to disability benefits rates to account for the effects of inflation on veterans’ monthly benefits payments. These cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) maintain the purchasing power of VA disability benefits. But what increase, if any, in VA benefits rates might we see for 2026? 

What Drives the Annual COLA for VA Benefits?

By law, the VA must change veterans’ benefits using the annual COLA announced by the Social Security Administration and applied to Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration calculates the annual COLA based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The CPI-W tracks changes in prices of various categories of consumer goods and services purchased by urban consumers, including housing, energy, food, transportation, and medical care. The Social Security Administration determines the COLA for the following year in October based on CPI-W data from the preceding few months. Some years, the Social Security Administration announces a zero percent COLA; however, negative inflation rates will not reduce VA benefits. 

After the Social Security Administration announces the official COLA figure for the following year, the VA publishes a table of updated monthly benefit rates with the COLA increase, which go into effect on January 1. 

Projected 2026 COLA Estimate

Media outlets report that economic analysis currently predicts the Social Security Administration will announce a 2.7 percent COLA for 2026. However, this figure merely represents a projection that may change based on economic data in August and September. The official figure announced by the Social Security Administration in October may provide a lower or higher increase in benefits. 

What This Means for Veterans’ Benefits

Assuming the 2.7 percent COLA projection proves correct, veterans will see a 2.7 percent increase in their monthly benefits from the VA. Examples of how this increase will affect VA disability benefits rates include:

• A veteran with a 20 percent disability rating who received a monthly benefit of $346.95 in 2025 would receive an increased benefit of $356.32 in 2026
• A veteran with a 50 percent disability rating who has a dependent spouse received a monthly benefit of $1,208.04 in 2025, which could increase to $1,240.66 in 2026
• A veteran with a 70 percent disability rating who has a dependent spouse and one dependent child received a monthly benefit of $2,018.19 in 2025, which could increase to $2,072.68 in 2026

Veterans also receive additional monthly benefits for children 18 or older in qualifying school programs or spouses qualifying for aid and attendance; those benefit rates also increase by the same COLA adjustment as base benefits. 

Why These Projections Matter

Understanding how much VA disability benefit rates may increase next year can help veterans plan budgets and ensure their families’ financial readiness for 2026. For example, veterans can evaluate how the COLA may affect their ability to afford increased expenses in the coming year, such as higher rent costs or health insurance premiums. The law requires the VA to increase disability benefits payments to preserve the financial value of benefits and help veterans stay afloat amid rising living costs. 

Although expert projections can help veterans make critical financial decisions today, veterans should remember that the official figure announced by the Social Security Administration can change. Veterans should keep an eye out for the SSA’s official COLA announcement in October and the VA’s subsequent publication of 2026 benefit rate tables. 

Contact a VA Disability Lawyer Today

When you’ve applied for VA disability benefits in 2025 or you already receive benefits, you need to understand what changes you may expect for VA benefits in 2026. Contact Veterans Benefits Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a VA disability benefits attorney to learn more about how annual COLAs can affect your benefits rates.