If you were injured or became seriously ill while serving in the military, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation, which is a benefit paid to certain military veterans based on illnesses or injuries received while serving on active duty. There are many factors which go into determining compensation eligibility and levels, most of which are outside the scope of this article. Treat this article as a primer for VA disability benefits as we show you the VAs definition of a service-connected disability, where to apply for benefits, and the current VA disability compensation rate tables, as provided by the VA.
Find the updated VA Disability Compensation Benefits Pay Rates
What is a Service Connected Disability?
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Disability Compensation is:
a benefit paid to a veteran because of injuries or diseases that happened while on active duty, or were made worse by active military service. It is also paid to certain veterans disabled from VA health care. The benefits are tax-free. Source.
If you are considered to have a service-connected disability, then you may be eligible to receive a monthly compensation payment, and under certain circumstances, you may be eligible to receive additional compensation, usually if you have a service-connected rating of 30% or higher and have dependents (spouse, children, and/or parents under your care), if you have missing limbs, or if you have a severely disabled spouse.
Applying for VA Compensation Benefits
Detailed instructions for applying for VA disability benefits are outside the scope of this article, but in general, it is best to supply as much supporting information as possible, including how the injury or illness occurred, any medical treatment you received, current health status, and how your life has been affected by the injury or illness. You will need to fill out VA Form 21-526, Veterans Application for Compensation and/or Pension or apply online using VONAPP. Also be sure to have a copy of your DD Form 214.
A Change in Your Family Status Can Change Your VA Disability Payment
Remember to contact the VA whenever you have a change in family status as your rates may change as well. If you have a 30% disability rating or higher and you are also supporting qualified dependents such as a spouse, child, or parent, you may be eligible to receive a higher VA disability payment. If your disability rating is 20% or lower, changes in your family status should not affect your VA disability payment rates.
The VA will not know when there is a change in your family status, so you will need to inform them immediately when something changes – such as a birth, wedding, a parent moving in with you, divorce, child coming of age, or the death of a qualified dependent. It is always best to inform the VA of a change as soon as possible, however, in some cases you won’t be able to do so until you have more information (such as when a child is born, as you can’t do anything with the VA until your child has received his or her Social Security Number). Keep in mind that the VA will sometimes backdate payments to make up for any shortfalls, or in the case of the loss of an eligible dependent, your payment may decrease. Be sure to contact the VA disability center for more information.
Receive your disability check faster. When you file your disability claim, be sure to give the VA the routing number to your bank so you can enroll in direct deposits. This is faster and more secure. I recommend using a high yield savings account so you can earn more money on any interest that your money earns.
Current VA Disability Compensation Pay Rates
The 2012 VA Disability rates went up on December 1, 2011. If you receive disability payments from the VA, you likely saw a small raise in your monthly check. You can view the current VA Disability rates here, but for your convenience, we have included them in this article as well.
VA Disability Rating: 10% – 20% (No Dependents)
| Percentage | Rate |
|---|---|
| 10% | $127 |
| 20% | $251 |
VA Disability Rating: 30% – 60% Without Children
| Dependent Status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran Alone | $389 | $560 | $797 | $1009 |
| Veteran with Spouse Only | $435 | $622 | $874 | $1102 |
| Veteran with Spouse & One Parent | $472 | $671 | $936 | $1176 |
| Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents | $509 | $720 | $998 | $1250 |
| Veteran with One Parent | $426 | $609 | $859 | $1083 |
| Veteran with Two Parents | $463 | $658 | $921 | $1157 |
| Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b) | $42 | $56 | $71 | $84 |
VA Disability Rating: 70% – 100% Without Children
| Dependent Status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran Alone | $1,272 | $1,478 | $1,661 | $2,769 |
| Veteran with Spouse Only | $1,380 | $1,602 | $1,800 | $2,924 |
| Veteran with Spouse & One Parent | $1,466 | $1,701 | $1,911 | $3,048 |
| Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents | $1,552 | $1,800 | $2,022 | $3,172 |
| Veteran with One Parent | $1,358 | $1,577 | $1,772 | $2,893 |
| Veteran with Two Parents | $1,444 | $1,676 | $1,883 | $3,017 |
| Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b) | $99 | $112 | $127 | $141 |
VA Disability Rating: 30% – 60% With Children
| Dependent Status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran with Spouse & Child | $469 | $667 | $931 | $1169 |
| Veteran with Child Only | $420 | $601 | $849 | $1071 |
| Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child | $506 | $716 | $993 | $1243 |
| Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child | $543 | $765 | $1055 | $1,317 |
| Veteran with One Parent and Child | $457 | $650 | $911 | $1145 |
| Veteran with Two Parents and Child | $494 | $699 | $973 | $1219 |
| Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 | $23 | $30 | $38 | $46 |
| Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 (see footnote a) | $74 | $99 | $124 | $148 |
| Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b) | $42 | $56 | $71 | $84 |
VA Disability Rating: 70% – 100% With Children
| Dependent Status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran with Spouse & Child | $1,459 | $1,692 | $1,902 | $3,037 |
| Veteran with Child Only | $1,344 | $1,561 | $1,754 | $2,873 |
| Veteran with Spouse, One Parent and Child | $1,545 | $1,791 | $2,013 | $3,161 |
| Veteran with Spouse, Two Parents and Child | $1,631 | $1,890 | $2,124 | $3,285 |
| Veteran with One Parent and Child | $1,430 | $1,660 | $1,865 | $2,997 |
| Veteran with Two Parents and Child | $1,516 | $1,759 | $1,976 | $3,121 |
| Add for Each Additional Child Under Age 18 | $53 | $61 | $69 | $77 |
| Each Additional Schoolchild Over Age 18 (see footnote a) | $173 | $198 | $223 | $248 |
| Additional for A/A spouse (see footnote b) | $99 | $112 | $127 | $141 |
If you have specific VA benefits related questions, it is always best to call or visit your regional VA medical center, as they will be able to access your file and answer your specific questions.
Comments
I receive my VA compensation check as Veteran alone. I am a Veteran with spouse only. How can I get that changed. We are celebrating our 38th wedding anniversary. I don’t know how this oversite happened, but would you please correct this for me.
Thank You Wayne.
George, you will need to fill out VA Form 21-686c – Declaration of Status of Dependents and send it in to your regional VA Center. You can download the form online.
I was living out of the USA until Oct 31, 2009, then moved back. I’m a 100% service-connected disabled veteran. Can I still claim the $250 or is it too late?
I need to get a loan of 20 to 25, ooo dollars for my house. I need it bad, my husband was has been sick many years and I have let the house go, now that he died last sept. I want to fix it up but when I fill a app. out with every they say my credit is bad, of course it is, II didnt pay much WE didnt have it, he spent 20 yrs in the Navy and died of AGENT ORANGE AND HEART PROBLEMS, THE MILITARY OWNS HIM THAT AND ME TO SINCE i took care of him. JUATtell me how to get the money without been turned down.
It’s good to see those rates rise! Not only because of inflation – but because the veterans deserve it!
Hello, Ryan,
I am desperate for help. Over 5 yrs. ago, I requested benefits for PTSDMST. I’ve been denied numerous times, although I have that very diagnosis from the VA & have undergone all the therapy I could get, including meds. Mind you, this occurred over 30 yrs. ago.
I am being told to request a Congressional Inquiry because its been over a yr. since I (with the help of the DAV) requested to have a hearing in St. Petersburg, FL via Skype. My next step for fighting the denials is my last….in Washington, DC. Can you give me any information as to where or who I can turn to? I don’t want to die waiting for an answer & this seems to be dragging on much more so than it should. Thank you for any help you can give me.
But George you will also need a certified copy of the marriage license, copy of her driver’s license and social security card as well as the form of the corrections
Robin,
Write a letter to your Senator about your situation in detail..Supply all records of your applications, denial letters and appeals. You also need to retain a Federal Attorney to help you with your case. Alot of us fellow Vets have been having this problem because in all of the wars including those of us who went to Iraq the first time and on TDY orders, these conditions will not be in our medical nor TDY files. I have tried too many times at the Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida offices and turned down because of the same reasons and because I was female.
I moved to Charleston, SC and the VA center/hospital/ER are awesome. When I was really sick, my Aunt took me down to the VA with my DD-214. I went to the office and was approved for everything but dental..Then went straight to the ER. They told me it would take like 8 weeks to get my VA medical card with picture.
I set up an appointment after leaving the ER and scheduled an appointment for a regular Dr. They asked if I needed to see a Psychiatrist the same day and I told him yes because I need to get back on my meds. The Psychiatrist asked a bunch of questions and said I had PTSD. She also stated she was in the military as well, she also said the military didn’t have a computer to put our medical information so it would be in our files. She also said now they do so everything can be noted in all military soldiers files. Trust me, I wrote a book when I filed for mine on March 8th, I also stated what the Psychiatrist stated about no computers were there so nothing got put into our files. And also gave me a number to call to get my VA benefits check, she said I was entitled to a check. I then was given a number to call and set an appointment to see a Psychiatrist Supervisor. He gave me a questionnaire, asked more questions as well as my Aunt..He then diagnosed me with severe PTSD. They have scheduled an appointment to have a permanent Case Manager, he is assigning me to a Psychiatrist under him/on his team. He said he will continue to be involved with my case. So never give up like I did for so many years….GET YOUR STATE SENATOR INVOLVED AND HIRE A FEDERAL ATTORNEY, the Federal Attorney isn’t cheap but worth it..GOOD LUCK AND I WILL PRAY FOR YOU ON THE LONG JOURNEY THAT YOU ARE FIXING TO GO THROUGH. At VA and any representative you speak to get their names and which VA they work for and their operator ID#. I hope this helps.