How Much Back Pay Will You Receive?

What is VA Disability Back Pay?

VA disability back pay is payment for benefits the veteran was entitled to that accrued before the VA started paying benefits. The most common example is benefits that accrue while the VA is considering a claim for disability benefits. However, there are other circumstances in which a veteran may be entitled to back pay. For example: 

• When a claim for an additional or secondary condition is processed and the VA disability benefits increase as a result
• When the VA reconsiders claims as a result of a change in the law or a newly-recognized presumptive service connection

A VA-accredited disability benefits advocate can be your best source of detailed information about whether you may be entitled to back pay from the VA and how far back your benefits should reach. To learn more about how one of our experienced advocates can help, call 855-855-8992 or fill out our contact form here. 

What is an Effective Date?

An effective date is the date the VA uses to begin payments. The VA determines effective dates based on either the date it received the veteran’s claim or notice of intent to file a claim or the date that entitlement arose. Back pay can add up to a significant amount of money, depending mostly on how long it takes the VA to make a decision. But, it may not be as much as some veterans expect. That’s because many people assume that VA disability benefits will be back-dated to the day of the injury or event in service, or back to the date of discharge. 

For most veterans, that’s not true. The VA does not consider the date of the event or injury for veterans who apply for benefits after they have separated from service. Further, the VA will only grant benefits back to the date of separation for service members who apply for benefits within one year of separation.

Here’s how the VA actually determines how much back pay you’re entitled to.

How Much Back Pay Will You Receive?

The amount of back pay a veteran receives depends on the effective date of their claim, and the disability rating they are granted from the VA. The effective date is the date the payments should begin. So, for example, if you filed a claim for VA disability benefits on April 15, 2024 and the VA approved the claim on October 31, 2024, you would typically be entitled to six months of back pay. If your claim was denied and you had to go through an appeal process and weren’t awarded benefits until October 31, 2024, you could typically expect 18 months of back pay. But, what does that mean in dollars? 

The other factor, the disability rating determines how much money was owed. That calculation starts with the VA disability rating awarded. But the formula isn’t quite as simple as just multiplying the monthly disability benefit for that disability rating by the number of months owed. That’s because the VA regularly increases the amount of benefits veterans receive. 

For example, in the second scenario above, the first several months of back benefits would be calculated based on 2024 rates, and the remainder based on 2025 rates. When the delay spans several years, such as when the veteran was originally denied and then the claim was reassessed much later after a law change, there may be several different pay rates involved. 

In other scenarios, the calculation may be different. For instance, if the back pay is due to an increase in the VA disability rating–whether through review of the rating or the addition of another service-connected or secondary-connected condition–the back pay will be based on the difference between the benefits you received and the benefits you should have received based on the rating change. 

Receiving VA Disability Back Pay

How are Back Benefits Paid? 

Depending on how complicated your claim is, whether the VA needs additional information, how promptly you comply with requests from the VA, and whether your claim is approved on the first attempt, you may wait months or years to start receiving VA disability benefits. Once you are approved, though, VA back pay is paid all at once in one lump sum.

When Can I Expect Back Pay? 

The wait time for your back pay may vary. The VA aims to get back pay to a veteran within 15 days of the decision granting the retroactive benefits. Payment is made either through direct deposit or by check. However, it is not uncommon for it to take longer than 15 days.

Get the Help You Need with Your VA Disability Claim

Back pay is good, but it’s better to get your claim for VA disability benefits approved without the need for appeal, meaning that you start receiving your benefits much sooner. Simple mistakes in your claim, missing information, or not understanding what type of evidence the VA is looking for can delay or derail your claim. Give yourself the best chance at getting your VA claim approved by working with a VA-accredited advocate who knows what type of evidence the VA is looking for and how best to present it.

If you’ve already filed a claim for VA disability benefits and have been denied, or have been assigned a disability rating you think is too low, we can help with that, too. There are multiple paths to appealing a VA decision, and choosing the best one for your situation can streamline the process and improve your chances of approval. Our advocates know each process in depth and can help you make the best decision for your case. They will also review your denial notice and assess why your claim was denied and what type of information and evidence can help overcome that denial. 

The sooner you get knowledgeable guidance and advocacy, the better. You can schedule a consultation with an experienced VA-accredited advocate at the Veterans Help Group right now! Just call 855-855-8992 or click here to fill out our contact form.

Learn More About VA Disability Below:

• How To Speed Up Your VA Disability Claim
• How To Apply For VA Disability Benefits
• SSD For Veterans