*Estimates based on 2024 VA Disability Compensation Rates. Actual payments may vary based on specific bilateral factors or historical claims data.
Understanding Your 2024 VA Disability Compensation
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to Veterans with disabilities that are the result of a disease or injury incurred or aggravated during active military service. The amount of basic benefit paid ranges, depending on how disabled you are.
Key Rule: Veterans with a disability rating of 10% or 20% do not receive extra compensation for dependents (spouses, children, or parents). Dependent allowances only begin at the 30% rating threshold.
How Disability Ratings Affect Pay
The Department of Veterans Affairs assigns a disability rating from 0% to 100% in 10% increments. This rating represents the average impairment in earning capacity resulting from your service-connected condition.
0% Rating: Usually no monthly compensation, but provides access to VA health care for that condition.
10% – 20%: Fixed monthly rate regardless of family status.
30% – 100%: Compensation varies significantly based on marital status, number of children, and dependent parents.
The "VA Math" of Combined Ratings
If you have multiple disabilities, the VA uses a specific "Combined Ratings Table" to calculate your final percentage. They do not simply add the percentages together (e.g., 50% + 50% does not equal 100%).
Instead, they apply the second rating to the remaining "healthy" percentage of the body. For example, if you start with a 50% rating, you are considered 50% disabled and 50% healthy. A second 50% rating is applied to the 50% healthy portion (50% of 50 = 25%). Your total is 50 + 25 = 75%, which rounds up to 80%.
Note: The calculator above assumes you have already calculated your final combined rating.
Dependent Allowances Breakdown
Once you reach a 30% rating, you can add dependents to your award. The amount added per dependent scales with your disability rating. A child added to a 100% claim is worth more financially than a child added to a 30% claim.
Dependent Type
Impact on Compensation
Spouse
Increases rate based on rating tier. Additional allowance if spouse requires Aid & Attendance.
Children
Additional amount for each child under 18. Higher rate for children 18-23 enrolled in qualifying school programs.
Parents
Additional amount for dependent parents (must meet income/dependency criteria).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the "Cola" increase?
Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) are usually applied annually to VA benefits, matching the percentage increase given to Social Security recipients. The rates used in this calculator reflect the 2024 adjustments.
Does this calculator include SMC?
Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) is an additional tax-free benefit that can be paid to Veterans, their spouses, surviving spouses, and parents. SMC is for specific, severe disabilities (like loss of use of limbs or blindness) that go beyond the standard 100% schedular rating. This calculator focuses on standard schedular rates and does not calculate SMC-K, SMC-L, etc.
When are payments deposited?
VA disability payments are generally deposited on the first business day of the following month. For example, payment for January is deposited on February 1st.
// Data Structure for 2024 Rates (Standard Schedular)
// Indexes match rating: 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100
// Rates are monthly in USD
var vaRates = {
10: { base: 171.23 },
20: { base: 338.49 },
30: {
base: 524.31,
spouse: 56.00,
spouseAA: 57.00,
childUnder18: 31.00,
childSchool: 100.00,
parent: 45.00
},
40: {
base: 755.28,
spouse: 75.00,
spouseAA: 76.00,
childUnder18: 41.00,
childSchool: 133.00,
parent: 60.00
},
50: {
base: 1075.16,
spouse: 94.00,
spouseAA: 95.00,
childUnder18: 51.00,
childSchool: 167.00,
parent: 75.00
},
60: {
base: 1361.88,
spouse: 113.00,
spouseAA: 114.00,
childUnder18: 62.00,
childSchool: 200.00,
parent: 90.00
},
70: {
base: 1716.28,
spouse: 131.00,
spouseAA: 134.00,
childUnder18: 72.00,
childSchool: 234.00,
parent: 105.00
},
80: {
base: 1995.01,
spouse: 150.00,
spouseAA: 153.00,
childUnder18: 82.00,
childSchool: 267.00,
parent: 120.00
},
90: {
base: 2241.91,
spouse: 169.00,
spouseAA: 172.00,
childUnder18: 93.00,
childSchool: 301.00,
parent: 135.00
},
100: {
base: 3737.85,
spouse: 215.34, // Approximation of difference between Vet Alone vs Vet+Spouse
spouseAA: 191.14,
childUnder18: 103.55,
childSchool: 334.49,
parent: 160.00
}
};
function toggleDependentFields() {
var rating = parseInt(document.getElementById('disabilityRating').value);
var parentsGroup = document.getElementById('dependentParentsGroup');
var child18Group = document.getElementById('childrenUnder18Group');
var childSchoolGroup = document.getElementById('childrenSchoolGroup');
var spouseAAGroup = document.getElementById('spouseAAGroup');
var maritalStatus = document.getElementById('maritalStatus').value;
// Dependents are only factored in for ratings 30% and above
if (rating >= 30) {
parentsGroup.style.display = "block";
child18Group.style.display = "block";
childSchoolGroup.style.display = "block";
// Spouse AA only if married AND rating >= 30
if (maritalStatus === 'married') {
spouseAAGroup.style.display = "block";
} else {
spouseAAGroup.style.display = "none";
}
} else {
parentsGroup.style.display = "none";
child18Group.style.display = "none";
childSchoolGroup.style.display = "none";
spouseAAGroup.style.display = "none";
}
}
function toggleSpouseFields() {
var maritalStatus = document.getElementById('maritalStatus').value;
var rating = parseInt(document.getElementById('disabilityRating').value);
var spouseAAGroup = document.getElementById('spouseAAGroup');
if (maritalStatus === 'married' && rating >= 30) {
spouseAAGroup.style.display = "block";
} else {
spouseAAGroup.style.display = "none";
// Uncheck if hiding
document.getElementById('spouseAA').checked = false;
}
}
function calculateVAPay() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var rating = parseInt(document.getElementById('disabilityRating').value);
var maritalStatus = document.getElementById('maritalStatus').value;
var numParents = parseInt(document.getElementById('dependentParents').value);
var numChildUnder18 = parseInt(document.getElementById('childrenUnder18').value);
var numChildSchool = parseInt(document.getElementById('childrenSchool').value);
var spouseNeedsAA = document.getElementById('spouseAA').checked;
// Validation / Formatting
if (isNaN(numChildUnder18)) numChildUnder18 = 0;
if (isNaN(numChildSchool)) numChildSchool = 0;
if (numChildUnder18 < 0) numChildUnder18 = 0;
if (numChildSchool < 0) numChildSchool = 0;
// 2. Logic
var totalPay = 0;
var basePay = 0;
var dependentPay = 0;
// Handle 0%
if (rating === 0) {
totalPay = 0;
basePay = 0;
}
// Handle 10% – 20% (Fixed, no dependents)
else if (rating 0) {
dependentPay += (numChildUnder18 * rates.childUnder18);
}
if (numChildSchool > 0) {
dependentPay += (numChildSchool * rates.childSchool);
}
// Add Parents
if (numParents > 0) {
dependentPay += (numParents * rates.parent);
}
totalPay = basePay + dependentPay;
}
// 3. Display Results
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
});
document.getElementById('basePayResult').innerText = formatter.format(basePay);
if (rating >= 30) {
document.getElementById('dependentAddonRow').style.display = "flex";
document.getElementById('dependentPayResult').innerText = formatter.format(dependentPay);
} else {
document.getElementById('dependentAddonRow').style.display = "none";
}
document.getElementById('totalPayResult').innerText = formatter.format(totalPay);
// Show result box
document.getElementById('result').style.display = 'block';
}
// Initialize visibility on load
toggleDependentFields();