The 2020 VA disability rates were released on October 10, 2019, with the implementation of the Social Security Administration’s announcement of a 1.6% increase in the 2020 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).
2020 VA disability rates are effective December 1, 2019, and disabled veterans will see the new 1.6% increase on their January 1, 2020 VA compensation payment.
This means Disabled Veterans with a current VA disability rating of 10% of higher will receive a 1.6% increase in their VA disability pay rate for 2020.
For example, if you were previously getting $1,000 per month tax-free, a 1.6% VA pay increase is $16, so a veterans VA disabiltiy compensation pay in 2020 would go up to $1,016 per month.
Did you know 80% of Veterans (8/10 of you reading this right now…) are being shortchanged nearly $1,000/month tax-free on your 2020 VA disability pay?
>> Click HERE to learn “HOW to Increase Your Service Connected VA Disability Rating!” <<
The complete 2020 VA disability pay rates table along with footnotes is shown below.
2020 VA Disability Rates Table
| 10% – 20% VA Rating (No Dependents) | ||||
| VA Percentage | VA Pay Rate | |||
| 10% VA Pay Rate in 2020 | $142.29 | |||
| 20% VA Pay Rate in 2020 | $281.27 | |||
| 30% – 60% VA Rating (Without Children) | ||||
| Dependent Status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
| Veteran Alone | $435.69 | $627.61 | $893.43 | $1,131.68 |
| Veteran with Spouse Only | $487.51 | $696.70 | $979.79 | $1,235.31 |
| Veteran with Spouse & One Parent | $529.16 | $751.57 | $1,048.88 | $1,318.63 |
| Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents | $570.82 | $806.43 | $1,117.97 | $1,401.94 |
| Veteran with One Parent | $477.35 | $682.48 | $962.52 | $1,214.99 |
| Veteran with Two Parents | $519.00 | $737.34 | $1,031.61 | $1,298.31 |
| Additional for A/A spouse | $47.75 | $62.99 | $79.25 | $95.50 |
| 70% – 100% VA Rating (Without Children) | ||||
| Dependent Status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
| Veteran Alone | $1,426.17 | $1,657.80 | $1,862.96 | $3,106.04 |
| Veteran with Spouse Only | $1,547.07 | $1,795.97 | $2,018.41 | $3,279.22 |
| Veteran with Spouse and One Parent | $1,643.59 | $1,906.72 | $2,143.37 | $3,418.20 |
| Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents | $1,740.11 | $2,017.46 | $2,268.34 | $3,557.18 |
| Veteran with One Parent | $1,522.69 | $1,768.54 | $1,987.93 | $3,245.02 |
| Veteran with Two Parents | $1,619.21 | $1,879.29 | $2,112.89 | $3,384.00 |
| Additional for A/A spouse | $110.74 | $127.00 | $143.26 | $158.82 |
| 30% – 60% VA Rating (With Children) | ||||
| Dependent Status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
| Veteran with Spouse and Child | $525.10 | $747.50 | $1,042.78 | $1,311.51 |
| Veteran with Child Only | $470.24 | $673.33 | $950.33 | $1,200.77 |
| Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child | $566.76 | $802.37 | $1,111.87 | $1,394.83 |
| Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child | $608.41 | $857.23 | $1,180.96 | $1,478.14 |
| Veteran with One Parent and Child | $511.89 | $728.20 | $1,019.41 | $1,284.08 |
| Veteran with Two Parents and Child | $553.55 | $783.06 | $1,088.50 | $1,367.39 |
| Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 | $25.40 | $33.53 | $42.67 | $50.80 |
| Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 | $83.31 | $110.74 | $138.18 | $166.62 |
| Additional for A/A spouse | $47.75 | $62.99 | $79.25 | $95.50 |
| 70% – 100% VA Rating (With Children) | ||||
| Dependent Status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
| Veteran with Spouse and Child | $1,635.47 | $1,897.57 | $2,132.20 | $3,406.05 |
| Veteran with Child Only | $1,506.43 | $1,750.25 | $1,966.59 | $3,221.86 |
| Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child | $1,731.99 | $2,008.32 | $2,257.17 | $3,545.03 |
| Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child | $1,828.51 | $2,119.06 | $2,382.13 | $3,684.01 |
| Veteran with One Parent and Child | $1,602.95 | $1,861.00 | $2,091.56 | $3,360.84 |
| Veteran with Two Parents and Child | $1,699.47 | $1,971.74 | $2,216.53 | $3,499.82 |
| Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 | $59.94 | $68.07 | $77.22 | $86.05 |
| Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 | $194.06 | $221.49 | $249.94 | $277.96 |
| Additional for A/A spouse | $110.74 | $127.00 | $143.26 | $158.82 |
- Rates for each school child are shown separately. They are not included with any other compensation rates. All other entries on this chart reflecting a rate for children show the rate payable for children under 18 or helpless. To find the amount payable to a 70% disabled veteran with a spouse and four children, one of whom is over 18 and attending school, take the 70% rate for a veteran with a spouse and 3 children and add the rate for one school child.
- Where the veteran has a spouse who is determined to require Aid and Attendance (A/A), add the figure shown as “additional for A/A spouse” to the amount shown for the proper dependency code. For example, veteran has A/A spouse and 2 minor children and is 70% disabled. Add $110.74, additional for A/A spouse, to the rate for a 70% veteran to calculate the total amount.
VA Compensation Rates 2020
VA Disability Pay – Frequently Asked Questions
Is VA Disability Pay Tax Free?
VA Disability Pay is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to Veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury that was caused or made worse during active duty military service.
Compensation benefits require that your disability be service connected.
You must also have separated or been discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions.
Compensation may also be paid for post-service disabilities that are considered related or secondary to disabilities occurring in service and for disabilities presumed to be related to circumstances of military service, even though they may arise after service.
Generally, the degrees of disability specified are also designed to compensate for considerable loss of working time from exacerbations or illnesses.
At VA Claims Insider, we refer to this as “severity of symptoms,” meaning Veterans must explain HOW their disabilities are negatively impacting their work, life, and/or social functioning.
Deserve a HIGHER VA Rating? Click HERE for instant free access to learn 3 VA Disability SECRETS to getting a higher VA disability rating in less time.
What is Dependency and Indemnity Compensation?
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-free monetary benefit generally payable to a surviving spouse, child, or parent of service members who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training or survivors of Veterans who died from their service-connected disabilities.
DIC for parents is an income-based benefit.
Click HERE to learn more about this hidden benefit.
What is VA Special Monthly Compensation?
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is an additional tax-free benefit that can be paid to Veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses and parents.
For Veterans, Special Monthly Compensation is a higher rate of compensation paid due to special circumstances such as the need of aid and attendance by another person or a specific disability, such as loss of use of one arm or leg.
For spouses and surviving spouses, this benefit is commonly referred to as aid and attendance and is paid based on the need of aid and attendance by another person.
Click HERE to read about Special Monthly Compensation from A to Z.
How to Apply for VA Disability Compensation
The easiest way to apply for VA disability compensation is by obtaining an eBenefits or VA.gov account and applying online.
When applying for VA disability benefits in 2020, you must have access to the following information:
- Discharge or separation papers (DD 214 or equivalent)
- Medical evidence (service treatment records, VA medical records, and/or private medical records)
- Dependency records (marriage and children’s birth certificates)
Alternatively, you may print and mail-in VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits or call VA at 1-800-827-1000 to have the form mailed to you.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) VA Form 21P-534EZ, Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits and mail it to your nearest VA regional office in your state.
How to Apply for VA Special Monthly Compensation
The VA will automatically award Special Monthly Compensation if your disability qualifies.
To apply for SMC if you are housebound or required the aid and attendance of someone to perform daily living functions complete VA Form 21-2680 and mail it to your nearest VA Regional Office in your state.
How to Find the VA Regional Office in Your State
If you’ve ever tried to search for a “VA Regional Office Near Me” you’re in the right place Veterans!
Each state has a VA Regional Office in a specific city.
Click HERE to search for and find the VA Regional Office in your state.
How to Find VA Locations Near Me
Veterans can now search for VA locations near you with the VA’s new facility locator tool.
You can search for your nearest VA medical center as well as other health facilities, benefit offices, cemeteries, community care providers and Vet Centers.
You can also filter your results by service type to find locations that offer the specific service you’re looking for.
Click HERE to find VA locations and VA resources now.
About the Author
Brian Reese
Brian Reese is one of the top VA disability benefits experts in the world and bestselling author of You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits You’ve Earned (Second Edition).
Brian’s frustration with the VA claim process led him to create VA Claims Insider, which provides disabled veterans with tips, strategies, and lessons learned to win their VA disability compensation claim, faster, even if they’ve already filed, been denied, gave up, or don’t know where to start.
As the founder of VA Claims Insider and CEO of Military Disability Made Easy, he has helped serve more than 10 million military members and veterans since 2013 through free online educational resources.
He is a former active duty Air Force officer with extensive experience leading hundreds of individuals and multi-functional teams in challenging international environments, including a combat tour to Afghanistan in 2011 supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
Brian is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, and he holds an MBA from Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business, Stillwater, OK, where he was a National Honor Scholar (Top 1% of Graduate School class).
