The 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) has been set at 2.8%, and it will take effect starting December 1, 2025, with the increase reflected in January 2026 VA disability payments.
For Veterans receiving VA disability compensation, dependency benefits, or clothing allowances, this increase helps your monthly payments keep pace with inflation — ensuring that your benefits maintain their real-world value as cost-of-living goes up.
What This Means for You
If you’re currently receiving VA disability compensation, your monthly payment will automatically increase by 2.8%. You won’t need to take any action — the adjustment is automatic and based on the same COLA used for Social Security recipients.
For example, if you currently receive $1,000 per month, your new payment will be approximately $1,028 starting in January 2026.
Why It Matters
This annual adjustment reflects the federal government’s effort to protect the long-term value of Veterans’ earned benefits. At Veteran Ratings, we closely monitor every update to ensure you’re informed about any changes that could impact your financial planning. We also help you understand how increases like these may affect your current or pending disability claim.
Next Steps
If your conditions have worsened or you believe your current rating doesn’t fully reflect your service-connected disabilities, this COLA increase is a good reminder to re-evaluate your claim.
A stronger, updated claim could lead to a higher rating — not just a COLA adjustment.
