2026 VA compensation rates
How much is 50% VA disability worth in 2026?
A 50% VA disability rating pays a veteran with no dependents $1,132.90 per month in 2026 — tax-free. Add a spouse, children, or dependent parents and the amount goes up, as shown below.
| Dependent status | Monthly (2026) |
|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $1,132.90 |
| With spouse | $1,241.90 |
| With spouse & 1 child | $1,322.90 |
| With 1 child (no spouse) | $1,205.90 |
| With spouse, 1 child & 1 parent | $1,410.90 |
What a 50% rating means
VA disability compensation is tax-free and paid monthly. Your overall rating is the VA's combined figure across all your service- connected conditions (the VA combines ratings under §4.25 — it doesn't add them). Use the calculator to see how your individual ratings combine to 50%.
How to reach a higher rating
Most veterans are rated lower than their conditions warrant — usually from missing secondary conditions or a weak claim. Our free builder estimates your rating from your actual conditions, drafts your statements, and fills your VA forms. Build your claim free →
Beyond the claim
The rating is step one. The civilian life it's meant to fund is the real fight.
Most veterans leave service without the one thing that lands the job, the offer, or the rating: preparation built for the civilian side. That's what Beyond the Claim is for.
Career Translator
Nearly 1 in 3 veterans is underemployed after service — usually a résumé that never translated the military career into corporate language. We do the translation.
Job Interview Prep
About 44% of veterans leave their first civilian job within a year — a prep-and-fit problem, not a skills one. Practice the exact interview before it counts.
C&P Exam Prep
The gap between a 30% and a 70% rating is more than $1,200 a month — your C&P exam decides which. Walk in ready.
2026 rates effective Dec 1, 2025. Figures are illustrative estimates, not a guarantee. ItsYourBenefits is not affiliated with the VA.