Veterans with a combined VA disability rating of 30% or higher can receive additional monthly compensation for a dependent spouse, child, or parent; ratings of 10% and 20% pay the same amount regardless of dependents. The tables below reflect the current official rates, effective December 1, 2025 and commonly called the “2026 rates,” checked against VA’s own tables on September 5, 2026. The “with one child” base rate already includes your first child — do not add the separate additional-child amount for that same child. Extra children, a qualifying schoolchild age 18–23, and a spouse who receives Aid and Attendance each use a separate added amount on top of the base row. Every dependent still has to be approved and on record with VA; this page explains how to read the tables, not whether a specific person qualifies.
Who gets extra VA disability compensation for dependents?
Veterans who are eligible for VA disability compensation and have a combined disability rating of at least 30% may qualify for additional monthly payments if they have a dependent spouse, unmarried child, or dependent parent. This is not one condition rated at 30% — it is your overall combined rating after VA applies its rating rules across all service-connected conditions.
A dependent addition is part of the Veteran’s own compensation award. It is not a separate VA disability rating for the spouse or child, not a direct payment to the dependent, and not proof the dependent independently qualifies for a different VA program.
Do 10% and 20% ratings receive dependent pay?
No. Veterans rated 10% or 20% receive the same amount regardless of whether they have a dependent spouse, child, or parent:
| Rating | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
Who does VA consider a dependent?
VA recognizes three categories of dependent for disability compensation purposes, each subject to VA’s own recognition and evidence requirements:
- Spouse — including same-sex marriages and, where applicable requirements and evidence are met, common-law marriages. A spouse’s own income or disability status does not determine whether they count as a dependent spouse.
- Unmarried child — a biological, adopted, or qualifying stepchild who is under 18; between 18 and 23 while pursuing an approved course of instruction, subject to VA’s school-attendance rules and VA Form 21-674 (current VA guidance describes both full-time and part-time enrollment as potentially qualifying, so do not assume only one applies — see which form applies below); or who became permanently incapable of self-support before turning 18, which requires evidence and an individual VA determination.
- Dependent parent — a parent who is dependent on the Veteran for support, with income and net worth below VA’s requirements, established through VA Form 21P-509.
Being related to the Veteran does not, by itself, make someone a recognized dependent. VA has to approve the claimed dependent and record them before the higher rate applies.
How to find your 2026 rate
- Confirm your combined disability rating is at least 30%. (10% and 20% always use the flat rates above.)
- Decide whether your family configuration includes a qualifying child.
- In the matching table below, find the row for your spouse and dependent-parent status.
- Select the column for your disability rating.
- If it applies, add the separate amount for each child beyond the first, each qualifying schoolchild, and a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance.
- Confirm the dependents actually approved and on file in your VA record — the table shows what a configuration pays, not who VA has approved for you.
2026 VA disability rates at 30%–60% with a spouse or parents and no children
| Dependent status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $552.47 | $795.84 | $1,132.90 | $1,435.02 |
| With spouse, no parents or children | $617.47 | $882.84 | $1,241.90 | $1,566.02 |
| With spouse and 1 dependent parent, no children | $669.47 | $952.84 | $1,329.90 | $1,671.02 |
| With spouse and 2 dependent parents, no children | $721.47 | $1,022.84 | $1,417.90 | $1,776.02 |
| With 1 dependent parent, no spouse or children | $604.47 | $865.84 | $1,220.90 | $1,540.02 |
| With 2 dependent parents, no spouse or children | $656.47 | $935.84 | $1,308.90 | $1,645.02 |
2026 VA disability rates at 70%–100% with a spouse or parents and no children
| Dependent status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $1,808.45 | $2,102.15 | $2,362.30 | $3,938.58 |
| With spouse, no parents or children | $1,961.45 | $2,277.15 | $2,559.30 | $4,158.17 |
| With spouse and 1 dependent parent, no children | $2,084.45 | $2,417.15 | $2,717.30 | $4,334.41 |
| With spouse and 2 dependent parents, no children | $2,207.45 | $2,557.15 | $2,875.30 | $4,510.65 |
| With 1 dependent parent, no spouse or children | $1,931.45 | $2,242.15 | $2,520.30 | $4,114.82 |
| With 2 dependent parents, no spouse or children | $2,054.45 | $2,382.15 | $2,678.30 | $4,291.06 |
2026 VA disability rates at 30%–60% with children
The rows below already include one child. Do not add the separate additional-child amount for that first child — it only applies starting with the second qualifying child.
| Dependent status | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child only, no spouse or parents | $596.47 | $853.84 | $1,205.90 | $1,523.02 |
| 1 child and spouse, no parents | $666.47 | $947.84 | $1,322.90 | $1,663.02 |
| 1 child, spouse, and 1 dependent parent | $718.47 | $1,017.84 | $1,410.90 | $1,768.02 |
| 1 child, spouse, and 2 dependent parents | $770.47 | $1,087.84 | $1,498.90 | $1,873.02 |
| 1 child and 1 dependent parent, no spouse | $648.47 | $923.84 | $1,293.90 | $1,628.02 |
| 1 child and 2 dependent parents, no spouse | $700.47 | $993.84 | $1,381.90 | $1,733.02 |
2026 VA disability rates at 70%–100% with children
| Dependent status | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child only, no spouse or parents | $1,910.45 | $2,219.15 | $2,494.30 | $4,085.43 |
| 1 child and spouse, no parents | $2,074.45 | $2,406.15 | $2,704.30 | $4,318.99 |
| 1 child, spouse, and 1 dependent parent | $2,197.45 | $2,546.15 | $2,862.30 | $4,495.23 |
| 1 child, spouse, and 2 dependent parents | $2,320.45 | $2,686.15 | $3,020.30 | $4,671.47 |
| 1 child and 1 dependent parent, no spouse | $2,033.45 | $2,359.15 | $2,652.30 | $4,261.67 |
| 1 child and 2 dependent parents, no spouse | $2,156.45 | $2,499.15 | $2,810.30 | $4,437.91 |
Added amounts for additional children and a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance
These amounts are added on top of the correct base row above — never in place of it, and never twice for the same child.
| Added amount | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% | 100% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Each additional child under 18 | $32.00 | $43.00 | $54.00 | $65.00 | $76.00 | $87.00 | $98.00 | $109.11 |
| Each qualifying schoolchild (age 18–23) | $105.00 | $140.00 | $176.00 | $211.00 | $246.00 | $281.00 | $317.00 | $352.45 |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $61.00 | $81.00 | $101.00 | $121.00 | $141.00 | $161.00 | $181.00 | $201.41 |
The spouse Aid and Attendance add-on is tied specifically to the spouse’s need for aid and attendance. Do not confuse it with the Veteran’s own Special Monthly Compensation, with Veterans Pension Aid and Attendance, or with general caregiver compensation — those are separate programs with separate rate tables.
Worked example: spouse, three children and spousal Aid and Attendance
Using the current table, a Veteran rated 70% with a spouse, three qualifying children under 18, and a spouse who receives Aid and Attendance would total:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base: spouse + 1 child, 70% | $2,074.45 |
| 2nd child | +$76.00 |
| 3rd child | +$76.00 |
| Spouse Aid and Attendance | +$141.00 |
| Total | $2,367.45 |
Only two additional-child amounts are added, not three, because the base “spouse + 1 child” row already includes the first child.
Two more examples using the same tables:
- 40% with spouse, no child or parent: the base row alone applies — $882.84.
- 50% with spouse, one child under 18, and one qualifying schoolchild: start with spouse + one child at 50% ($1,322.90), then add the schoolchild amount ($176.00), for a total of $1,498.90.
These are illustrative applications of the current table, not a statement of what any individual Veteran will receive. VA’s approved dependent record and individual award control the actual payment.
What happens when a child turns 18?
VA generally stops counting a child as a dependent at 18 unless another qualifying basis applies — approved school attendance between 18 and 23, or permanent incapacity for self-support established before age 18. Payment does not always continue automatically past that birthday. If your child plans to keep attending school, file VA Form 21-674 before or around the transition so VA can continue the dependent addition without a gap or an overpayment.
Can both Veteran spouses claim each other and their children?
Yes. Current VA guidance states that when both spouses are Veterans and each has a combined disability rating of at least 30%, both may receive additional compensation — for each other and for qualifying children. Each Veteran’s payment is calculated separately using their own rating and approved dependents; this is not a single family payment split between them. VA notes that this kind of claim can take longer to process, though back pay may still date from when the claim was filed.
How does a dependent parent qualify?
A parent may qualify as a dependent only after VA recognizes them as dependent on the Veteran for support, with income and net worth below VA’s requirements. This page cannot determine whether a specific parent qualifies — that is an individual VA determination made through VA Form 21P-509 (also shown on VA.gov as Form 21-509). Do not confuse dependent-parent compensation, which is part of the Veteran’s own disability award, with Parents’ Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), which is a separate survivor benefit.
Which form adds or removes a dependent?
| Form | Purpose | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 21-686c Application Request to Add and/or Remove Dependents (Aug. 2025) | Add, remove, or update a spouse or child | Marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, or another change to a spouse or child under 18 |
| 21-674 Request for Approval of School Attendance (Nov. 2024) | Establish or continue a child dependent age 18–23 | A child begins, continues, or stops an approved school program |
| 21P-509 Statement of Dependency of Parent(s) (May 2024) | Establish a dependent parent | A parent depends on the Veteran for financial support |
You can add or remove a spouse or child online; a claimed dependent parent is established by mail using Form 21P-509. Submitting a form does not guarantee approval — VA still verifies each dependent against its own requirements before adding the higher rate to your award.
When can dependent compensation be paid retroactively?
Current VA guidance says higher compensation generally begins within two weeks after VA approves the dependency claim — that is separate from the recurring Treasury payment date discussed below. VA may pay back to the date of marriage, birth, or adoption when the Veteran already had a qualifying combined rating, the dependency claim and any requested evidence were submitted within one year, and other eligibility conditions are met. This is a may, not a will: VA’s effective-date rules and its review of your specific claim control the actual result, and this page does not provide individual retroactive-date advice.
When should you remove or update a dependent?
Tell VA promptly when a dependent’s status changes, including divorce, a child’s marriage, a school-age child stopping attendance, a graduation date change, or a dependent’s death. Continuing to receive a higher rate after dependency ends can create an overpayment debt that VA recovers from future payments. Use Form 21-686c for a spouse or child, or contact VA directly for a parent-dependency change.
How are these rates different from COLA estimates and payment dates?
This page answers how much — the current official monthly amount for your rating and dependent configuration. It does not cover two related but separate questions:
- How much might it change next year? See our 2027 VA disability COLA tracker for the pending, not-yet-official projection.
- When does the payment arrive? See VA disability payment dates for the official Treasury settlement schedule.
This page also does not cover Veterans Pension, Survivors Pension, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or military retired pay — those programs use different dependent definitions and separate rate tables.
What should you check before relying on a rate?
- Confirm your combined rating, not a single condition’s rating.
- Confirm which dependents VA has actually approved and recorded for you — not just who you consider a dependent.
- Use the correct base row (no-children vs. with-one-child) before adding any additional-child, schoolchild, or spousal Aid and Attendance amount.
- Remember 2027 rates are not yet official; do not apply a projected COLA percentage to these tables yourself.
2026 dependent-rate update log
- September 5, 2026 — Page published with the current 2026 dependent-rate tables, effective December 1, 2025, checked directly against VA’s own tables.
Bottom line
A combined VA disability rating of 30% or higher can add monthly compensation for a spouse, child, or dependent parent; 10% and 20% cannot. Use the “with one child” table only once your first child is accounted for, then add the separate amounts for each additional child, a qualifying schoolchild, or a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance. Every dependent still needs VA’s own approval — file Form 21-686c, 21-674, or 21P-509 as your situation requires, and tell VA promptly when a dependent’s status changes.
About this update: The CSRA Women Veterans Resource Guide is an independent informational publisher, not the Department of Veterans Affairs or another government agency. This article does not determine eligibility or replace instructions from the responsible official source.
Questions or corrections? Contact us.
Discussion
Loading discussion…
No comments yet.
Comments are temporarily unavailable.
Leave a comment
Comments are moderated before publication. Your email address will not be published.
Please do not include Social Security numbers, VA claim numbers, medical records, financial information, or other sensitive personal information.