VA Disability Compensation Calculator (2021 Rates)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Single (Veteran Alone)
Married
0
1
2
Note: Dependents do not increase compensation for ratings below 30%.
Estimated Monthly Compensation (2021)
$0.00
Understanding VA Disability Rates for 2021
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjusts disability compensation rates annually based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Effective December 1, 2020, the 2021 rates reflected a 1.3% increase over the previous year. This calculator is specifically designed to help veterans determine their retrospective monthly benefits based on the 2021 pay tables.
How the 2021 Rates Work
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. The amount constitutes a "rating" from 10% to 100%, assigned in 10% increments.
10% – 20% Ratings: These tiers have fixed monthly rates regardless of your marital status or number of dependents. For 2021, the 10% rate was $144.14 and the 20% rate was $284.93.
30% – 100% Ratings: Veterans with a rating of 30% or higher are eligible for additional compensation for eligible dependents. This includes spouses, children under 18, children between 18 and 23 attending school, and dependent parents.
Dependent Allowances in 2021
The mathematical model for calculating benefits changes significantly once a veteran crosses the 30% threshold. The "Base Rate" applies to a veteran with no dependents. Additional amounts are added cumulatively based on the family composition.
For example, in 2021, a veteran with a 100% disability rating and no dependents received $3,146.42. However, a veteran with the same 100% rating who was married received an additional allowance, bringing the total higher. Adding children or dependent parents further increases the monthly payment amount according to the specific "add-on" tables established for that fiscal year.
Using This Calculator
This tool uses the official rate tables effective for the year 2021. To use it, simply select your assigned disability rating. If your rating is 30% or higher, additional fields will appear allowing you to input your marital status and number of dependents. Ensure you enter the number of children under 18 separate from those between 18-23 who are enrolled in a qualifying educational institution, as the reimbursement rates differ.
function toggleDependents() {
var rating = parseInt(document.getElementById('disabilityRating').value);
var dependentSection = document.getElementById('dependentSection');
var note = document.getElementById('lowRatingNote');
if (rating >= 30) {
dependentSection.classList.remove('hidden');
note.style.display = 'none';
} else {
dependentSection.classList.add('hidden');
note.style.display = 'block';
}
}
function calculateCompensation() {
// Inputs
var rating = parseInt(document.getElementById('disabilityRating').value);
var maritalStatus = document.getElementById('maritalStatus').value;
var childrenUnder18 = parseInt(document.getElementById('childrenUnder18').value) || 0;
var childrenSchool = parseInt(document.getElementById('childrenSchool').value) || 0;
var dependentParents = parseInt(document.getElementById('dependentParents').value);
if (isNaN(rating)) {
rating = 0;
}
// 2021 Rate Tables (Effective Dec 1, 2020)
// Arrays indexed by rating/10. Index 0=0%, 1=10%, … 10=100%
// Base Rate (Veteran Alone)
var baseRates = [
0, // 0%
144.14, // 10%
284.93, // 20%
441.35, // 30%
635.77, // 40%
905.04, // 50%
1146.39, // 60%
1444.71, // 70%
1679.35, // 80%
1887.18, // 90%
3146.42 // 100%
];
// Spouse Add-on (Added if Married)
var spouseRates = [
0, 0, 0,
48.00, // 30%
64.00, // 40%
81.00, // 50%
96.00, // 60%
112.00, // 70%
128.00, // 80%
144.00, // 90%
175.79 // 100%
];
// Child Under 18 Add-on (Per Child)
var childUnder18Rates = [
0, 0, 0,
26.00, // 30%
35.00, // 40%
44.00, // 50%
52.00, // 60%
61.00, // 70%
69.00, // 80%
78.00, // 90%
94.39 // 100%
];
// Child 18-23 in School Add-on (Per Child)
var childSchoolRates = [
0, 0, 0,
84.00, // 30%
112.00, // 40%
140.00, // 50%
168.00, // 60%
196.00, // 70%
224.00, // 80%
252.00, // 90%
305.72 // 100%
];
// Dependent Parent Add-on (Per Parent)
var parentRates = [
0, 0, 0,
39.00, // 30%
52.00, // 40%
65.00, // 50%
78.00, // 60%
91.00, // 70%
104.00, // 80%
117.00, // 90%
142.17 // 100%
];
var totalAmount = 0;
var ratingIndex = rating / 10;
// Base Logic
if (rating < 10) {
totalAmount = 0;
} else if (rating 0) {
totalAmount += (childrenUnder18 * childUnder18Rates[ratingIndex]);
}
// Add Children in School
if (childrenSchool > 0) {
totalAmount += (childrenSchool * childSchoolRates[ratingIndex]);
}
// Add Parents
if (dependentParents > 0) {
totalAmount += (dependentParents * parentRates[ratingIndex]);
}
}
// Output Result
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('result');
var paymentDisplay = document.getElementById('monthlyPayment');
// Format as Currency
var formatted = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
minimumFractionDigits: 2
}).format(totalAmount);
paymentDisplay.innerHTML = formatted;
resultDiv.style.display = 'block';
}
// Initialize state
toggleDependents();