Skip to content

March 22, 2024

The VA COLA Increase 2024  

Last updated on April 2, 2024

I hope you enjoy reading this blog post.

If you want to learn how to implement these strategies to get the VA benefits you deserve, click here to speak with a VA claim expert for free.

2024 is here and with it comes an increase to your VA disability benefits

This increase is due to what’s called the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). This is an adjustment calculated by the Social Security Administration (SSA) every year that is based on inflation. 

You DESERVE a HIGHER VA rating.
We CAN HELP.

Take advantage of a VA Claim Discovery Call with an experienced Team Member. Learn what you’ve been missing so you can FINALLY get the disability rating and compensation you’ve earned for your service.

VA COLA INCREASE

VA Cola Increase 2024

The VA COLA increase for 2024 is 3.2%. This means your monthly VA disability compensation will increase by 3.2% in 2024, as well as other cash benefits. 

Veterans Guaranteed Cost-of-Living Allowance Adjustment

The COLA is designed to make sure the benefits paid out by government agencies keep pace with the cost of living. The percentage inflation in a year and the COLA are usually the same. If inflation is 4%, then the COLA will likely be 4% as well. 

The SSA announced the 3.2% increase in October of 2023; it was finalized in December 2023 and went into effect in January 2024. 

VA COLA INCREASE 2024

2024 VA Disability Compensation Pay Charts (with VA COLA Raise)

Below, you can view the 2024 VA disability compensation pay charts. Each number includes the 3.2% COLA for VA disability raise:

2024 VA Disability Pay Chart
2024 VA Disability Pay Chart

Other VA Disability Benefits Impacted by the VA COLA Raise

These VA benefits available to disabled veterans will also see a 3.2% increase: 

COLA FOR VA DISABILITY

How the Cost-of-Living Adjustment is Calculated

The Social Security Administration calculates their cost-of-living adjustment by comparing the year-over-year change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). 

The CPI-W is a basket of over 200 goods and services tracked by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

Each year, the SSA looks at the average CPI-W for July, August, and September, as reported by the BLS, and compares it to the previous year’s average. The difference between the two is the cost-of-living adjustment. 

However, the COLA will never go down. If inflation is zero or negative, then the COLA will simply be zero. 

Previous Cost-of-Living Adjustments

You may remember that 2023’s cost of living adjustment was a whopping 8.7%! This was the biggest COLA increase since 1981, which saw a COLA of 11.2%. 

COLA FOR VA DISABILITY 2024

COLA Increases by Year

The chart below shows historic cost-of-living adjustments by year and percentage, including the COLA increase for VA disability 2024: 

YEAR COLA % YEAR COLA % 
1975 2001 3.5 
1976 6.4 2002 2.6 
1977 5.9 2003 1.4 
1978 6.5 2004 2.1 
1979 9.9 2005 2.7 
1980 14.3 2006 4.1 
1981 11.2 2007 3.3 
1982 7.4 2008 2.3 
1984* 3.5 2009 5.8 
1985 3.5 2010 
1986 3.1 2011 
1987 1.3 2012 3.6 
1988 4.2 2013 1.7 
1989 2014 1.5 
1990 4.7 2015 1.7 
1991 5.4 2016 
1992 3.7 2017 0.3 
1993 2018 
1994 2.6 2019 2.8 
1995 2.8 2020 1.6 
1996 2.6 2021 1.3 
1997 2.9 2022 5.9 
1998 2.1 2023 8.7 
1999 1.3 2024 3.2 
2000 2.5 — — 

These historical figures are important because the cost-of-living adjustment is cumulative in nature. Each year’s COLA is added on top of the previous year’s.  

This means that if the SSA retroactively changed the COLA from 2005, it would impact the amount you receive in VA disability compensation today. 

Retroactively changing a COLA can happen, but it’s rare. The only instance occurred in 1999 when the original COLA was 2.4% but was later increased to 2.5%. 

COLA for VA Disability 2024 Summary

The COLA increase for VA disability 2024 is 3.2%.

The 2024 COLA increase is lower than last year in 2023 when the cost-of-living adjustment was 8.7%—the biggest COLA increase since 1981.

Speaking of INCREASE—Do You Deserve a HIGHER VA Disability Rating?

COLA INCREASE FOR VA DISABILITY 2024 removebg preview

About VA Claims Insider 

  • VA Claims Insider is a veteran-owned and operated business. 
  • 25,000+ disabled veterans served in our membership programs since 2016. 
  • Employs 200+ teammates; comprised of 44 veterans as well as military spouses. 
  • 4.7/5.0 average rating out of 5,000+ total reviews; over 4,000 5-star reviews. 
Phot of Clay Hutson

Clay Huston

Clay Huston is a former U.S. Army Reserves Blackhawk Pilot and officer. Clay enlisted in the Army in 2013 and was commissioned as a 2LT in 2017 after earning a business degree from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.

Since separating from the military, Clay has pursued a career as a writer. He also runs the nonprofit notfatherless.org, which fundraises for Children’s Homes in Mexico.

Related Articles

Elite Membership

Dear Veteran,
Here’s the brutal truth about VA disability claims:

According to our data, 8/10 (80%) of veterans reading this message right now are underrated by the VA…

This means you do NOT currently have the VA disability rating and compensation YOU deserve, and you could be missing out on thousands of dollars of tax-free compensation and benefits each month.

As a fellow disabled Veteran this is shameful and I’m on a mission to change it.

Brian Reese here, Air Force service-disabled Veteran and Founder @ VA Claims Insider.

Since 2016, VA Claims Insider has helped thousands of Veterans just like you get the VA rating and compensation they deserve in less time.

If accepted into our ELITE membership program, you’ll get free up-front access and permission to use $13,119 worth of proprietary VA claim resources, including access to our network of independent medical professionals for medical examinations, disability evaluations, and credible Medical Nexus Letters, which could help you get a HIGHER VA rating in LESS time.

It’s FREE to get started, so click “Go Elite Now” below to complete our 3-step intake process.

  1. Complete Basic Information
  2. Sign Members Agreement
  3. Join the Mastermind Group

If you’re stuck, frustrated, underrated, and currently rated between 0%-90%, VA Claims Insider Elite is for you!

Click “Go Elite Now” below to get started today and a member of our team will be in touch within minutes.

Go Elite Now!

Why Choose VA Claims Insider

You’ve exhausted your free resources

You're not alone. Thousands of other Veterans in our Community are here for you.

Veteran Community

You’re ready to get the rating you deserve

We know the pain of feeling stuck, frustrated, and alone, and we want to make this process as easy and painless as possible for you.

Explore Elite Membership

We win ONLY when YOU win

Hear from fellow Veterans just like you, with many of our Veteran Ambassadors having gone through our programs.

Schedule a Call

Fellow Veterans:

For a limited time, you can book a no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts.

Book A Call

Fellow Veterans:

For a limited time, you can book a no-obligation VA Claim Discovery Call with one of our experts.

Book A Call