2024 Guide: VA Disability Rates and Pay
Whether you’re just applying for VA disability benefits or have been receiving veterans benefits for some time, you’ll want to know exactly what you can expect in terms of monthly benefits. The amount of benefits you’ll receive depends on your disability rating, and on whether you have eligible dependents. The monthly VA disability benefit generally changes from year to year. That’s true whether you’re receiving full or partial disability benefits, and whether or not you have eligible dependents.
Here’s what you need to know about 2024 veterans disability benefits.
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2024 VA Disability Pay
VA disability benefits get an annual boost in the form of a cost of living adjustment (COLA). For 2023, the adjustment was significant–an 8.7% increase. The annual adjustment is based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index and is the same as the adjustment for Social Security and Social Security disability. In most years, the increase is more modest than it was in 2023, and 2024 is no exception. The 2024 increase in benefits is 3.2%.
Benefit levels are the same for new applicants and current recipients. So, if you’re already receiving benefits, you’ll see an increase for 2024. And, if you’re receiving VA disability benefits for the first time in 2024,, you can expect the amount you receive to increase over time.
Veterans Benefits by VA Disability Rates
The main factor in determining the amount of veterans disability benefits you receive is your disability rating. Disability rates for a single service-connected medical condition, or a combined rating based on two or more service-connected or secondary service-connected conditions.
The higher the disability rates, the more the veteran is entitled to receive in monthly benefits. But, when the veteran is rated less than 100% disabled, the amount of benefits isn’t prorated. For example, in 2024 a veteran with no eligible dependents who is rated 100% disabled will receive $3,737.85/month in monetary benefits. A veteran who is rated 70% disabled will receive $1716.28/month–just 46% of full benefits.
All VA disability ratings are in increments of 10, so the list below covers all possible monthly benefits amounts for a veteran without eligible dependents unless the veteran qualifies for special compensation.
- 100% disability rating – $3,737.85
- 90% disability rating – $2,241.91
- 80% disability rating – $1,995.01
- 70% disability rating – $1,716.28
- 60% disability rating – $1,361.88
- 50% disability rating – $1,075.16
- 40% disability rating – $755.28
- 30% disability rating – $524.31
- 20% disability rating – $338.49
- 10% disability rating – $171.23
Disabled veterans with a disability rating of 30% or higher may receive slightly higher monthly payments if they have certain dependents. These add-ons are not available to veterans with a disability rating of 20% or lower.
Qualifying dependents may include the veteran’s:
- Spouse
- Children under the age of 18
- Children 18 or older in a qualifying school program
- Parents
Note, though, that these relatives aren’t automatically considered qualifying dependents. For example, for a parent to qualify as a dependent, the veteran must be providing support to them and their own financial resources must be below the VA’s current cut-off. Similarly, a child aged 18-23 who is enrolled in school full-time may qualify as a dependent. But, it’s up to you to update your child’s information to ensure that the VA knows they are still in school. Otherwise, they’ll be automatically removed at age 18.
On the other hand, the VA is somewhat more generous than some other benefits programs in its definitions. For example, “spouse” includes common-law spouses. And, “child” includes not just biological and adopted children but also stepchildren.
How Much Do Benefits Increase Per Dependent?
The increase in benefits differs depending on the type of dependent. So, determining the total payment amount is more complicated than just adding up the number of dependents. Here’s an example of how different combinations of dependents play out, based on a veteran with an 80% disability rating:
As mentioned above, at an 80% disability rating the veteran alone would receive $1,995.01.
If that veteran had a dependent spouse but no dependent children or parents, the monthly benefit would be increased by $166.00, to $2,161.01.
With a spouse and one child, the payment would be increased by $288.00, to $2,283.01.
With a spouse and two parents but no children, the payment would be increased by $432.00, to $2,725.01.
These are just a few examples to illustrate how dependents impact the amount of benefits a disabled veteran will receive. The increase in the payment is different for each type of dependent and for each of the disability rates. And, the increases may not be exactly what you would expect. For example, a veteran with only a dependent spouse will receive more in benefits than one who has only a dependent parent or only a dependent child.
There are also specific add-ons at each disability rating of 30% or higher for additional children under 18, children 18 or older who are enrolled in a qualifying school program, and spouses who are receiving Aid and Attendance benefits. There’s no cap on the number of qualifying dependents who can be considered in determining your benefit amount.
An experienced VA disability benefits advocate can help you determine how your dependents may impact the amount of veterans benefits you are entitled to and help ensure that you and your family receive the maximum benefits you’re eligible for.
Additional Add-On Payments for Disabled Veterans
The VA also offers additional compensation to certain disabled veterans, based on the nature of the veteran’s service-related disability or the limitations it creates.
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)
Special monthly compensation is available to disabled veterans who have suffered the loss or loss of use of certain organs or body parts. These include:
- Loss or loss of use of a hand or foot
- Paralysis
- Immobility of a joint
- Loss of sight in an eye
- Loss of hearing in both ears
- Inability to communicate by speech
- Loss or loss of use of both buttocks
- Loss or loss of use of a reproductive organ
- Loss of a percentage of breast tissue from mastectomy or radiation treatment
Veterans who qualify for SMC are assigned a level. At levels SMC-K and SMC-Q, base veterans disability pay remains the same and there is a small additional monthly amount of compensation. In 2024, that’s $132.74 for level K and $67.00 for level Q. The remaining levels have different base benefit levels. At all levels, the total benefit is higher than the standard payment for a veteran with a 100% disability rating, whether that is achieved through an add-on benefit or a higher basic benefit amount.
In 2024, the basic benefit amounts for each SMC level are:
- Level L: $4,651.06
- Level L ½: $4,891.50
- Level M: $5,132.92
- Level M ½: $5,485.61
- Level N: $5,839.08
- Level N ½: $6,182.55
- Level O/P: $6,526.64
- Level R.1: $9,326.07
- Level R.2/T: $10,697.23
- Level S: $4,183.85
Veterans receiving SMC are also eligible for increased payments based on the number and type of dependents they have.
Get the Help You Need With VA Disability
If you’re applying for or already receiving veterans disability benefits, it’s important to understand the level of benefits you may be entitled to and how they are determined. You don’t want to leave benefits on the table. As you can see, the different benefit amounts, add-ons, dependent increases, and other variables can be confusing. Fortunately, you don’t have to sort it out on your own. At Veterans Help Group our experienced VA disability benefits advocates are here for you. Every day, they put deep knowledge and long experience with VA disability matters to work for veterans and their families. To learn more, call us at (855) 855-8992 or fill out the contact form now.
Read More On Your VA Disability:
- HOW TO INCREASE YOUR VA DISABILITY RATING FROM 80% TO 100%
- PTSD AND VETERANS: UNDERSTANDING THE 100% DISABILITY RATING REQUIREMENTS
- DIFFERENT TYPES OF 100% VA DISABILITY RATINGS
- THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 100% FOR UNEMPLOYABILITY AND 100% DISABILITY RATING
- 50% VA DISABILITY RATING EXPLAINED
- WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A 100% VA DISABILITY RATING?
- WHAT BENEFITS DOES A 60% VA DISABILITY RATING GET?
