A recent projection indicates that disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) could increase by about 3.8% in the year 2027, representing an increase of almost $150 per month for some veterans with a total disability rating. This estimate was updated on August 10, 2026.
It is important to note that this value is not yet finalized. The official Social Security adjustment for 2027 will be defined based on inflation data from the months of July, August and September, with the final announcement by the Social Security Administration scheduled for October.
Disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs follows the same annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) percentage applied by Social Security. This means veterans do not need to file a separate claim to receive the additional benefit.
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Understand how the COLA adjustment can impact disability payments
Based on the projection of a cost of living adjustment of 3.8%, a veteran without dependents and with 100% disability could see their monthly remuneration increase from US$3,938.58 (2026 value) to approximately US$4,088.25. This represents an increase of about $149.67 per month.
- A 70% disability rating could rise from $1,808.45 to $1,877.17, an increase of $68.72.
- Veterans with 80% disability could see an increase from $2,102.15 to $2,182.03, adding $79.88.
- For those who are 90% disabled, the value could go from US$2,362.30 to US$2,452.07, representing a gain of US$89.77.
Future projections and expected date for new payments
No, the 3.8% cost of living adjustment for VA veterans is not yet confirmed. Current projections are only preliminary and there are chances of significant changes before the official announcement in October.
In fact, some more recent estimates indicate that the adjustment could reach up to 4.7%. In this scenario, a veteran with 100% disability and no dependents could receive approximately $4,123.69 per month, which would be an increase of about $185 compared to the 2026 amount.
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Veterans who have eligible dependents may be entitled to higher benefit amounts. Additionally, the same COLA adjustment percentage will be applied to other benefits, such as Temporary Disability Compensation (TDIU), Special Monthly Compensation, and Dependency and Severance Compensation.
The new payment rates are scheduled to come into effect on December 1, 2026. As a result, the first payment that will already reflect the increase should be credited to beneficiaries at the end of December of the same year.