2026 VA COLA Increase: Veterans’ Benefits Rise 2.8% Starting with the December 31 Check

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2026 VA COLA Increase

The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for VA benefits is 2.8%, lifting monthly payments across disability compensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for survivors, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC), and related allowances. The increase takes effect December 1, 2025 and first appears in bank accounts on Tuesday, December 31, 2025 (the January payment date shifts because of the New Year’s holiday).

What the 2.8% COLA means in dollars

A veteran receiving $1,000/month in 2025 compensation will see about $1,028/month in 2026.
At $1,500/month, the new amount is roughly $1,542/month.
For survivors on DIC, the base rate rises by 2.8% as well, with additional add-ons (children, Aid & Attendance, transitional benefit) adjusted by the same percentage.
SMC categories (K through T) each get the 2.8% lift, applied to the published base for that level.

Note on rounding: VA rounds to the nearest whole dollar after applying the percentage, so your exact figure may differ by a dollar from simple calculator estimates.

Who gets the increase

All VA disability compensation recipients, from 0%–100%, including those with bilateral factors and ancillary adjustments.
Survivors receiving DIC.
Veterans and survivors receiving SMC or Aid & Attendance/Housebound benefits.
Clothing allowance and certain other statutory payments that follow the annual COLA.

When you’ll see the higher rate

Effective date: December 1, 2025
First payment at new rate: December 31, 2025 (covers the January entitlement)
Ongoing: Regular monthly schedule resumes in late January and beyond, with the new amounts baked in.

If you receive both VA compensation and Social Security/SSI, each check is adjusted separately but on nearly the same timetable.

How to verify your new payment

Check your VA.gov account or direct deposit notice once the December 31 payment posts.
Review the updated benefit summary letter and any mailed COLA notice for your claim number and rate.
If you use a representative, they can confirm the new entitlement amount against the 2026 rate tables for your exact dependency status.

Quick reference: common scenarios

Veteran 100% with spouse (no children): Add 2.8% to the 2025 monthly total for that dependency tier; the new figure will round to the nearest dollar.
Veteran at 70% with spouse and one child: The base 70% rate rises 2.8%, as do the spouse and first-child add-ons. Additional children follow the same percentage.
Surviving spouse on DIC with Aid & Attendance: Both the base DIC and the A&A increment increase 2.8%, then round.

If your household changes (marriage, birth, child aging out, school attendance, separation), file an update promptly—dependency status can alter the amount more than the COLA itself.

Why the VA increase matches Social Security

Federal law aligns the annual VA COLA with the same inflation measure used for Social Security. Once the new percentage is set, VA applies it across covered benefits so that purchasing power is preserved from year to year.

Planning tips to keep more of your raise

Review withholdings or offsets. If you have apportionments, garnishments, or other deductions, confirm how the higher gross amount cascades through.
Coordinate with other programs. State benefits tied to your VA rating (property tax relief, tuition, vehicle tags) sometimes update in January—check whether new documentation is required.
Direct deposit checkup. Ensure your bank info is current well before the December 31 disbursement to avoid delays.
Track combined benefits. If you receive retirement pay with a waiver for VA compensation, audit the CRDP/CRSC line on your January statement for the COLA flow-through.

A 2.8% COLA is locked in for 2026 VA benefits, with the first higher payment arriving December 31, 2025. Veterans, survivors, and those on SMC will see the same percentage gain, subject to standard rounding and any dependency changes. Verify your exact figure in your online account once the payment lands, and use the turn of the year to update records so every dollar of your increase reaches you on time.