20% VA Disability Rate 2026
A 20% combined rating pays $356.66 per month in 2026, or $4,279.92 per year, and the amount is the same for every veteran at this rating: single, married, or supporting children and parents. The VA pays no dependent add-ons at 10% or 20%, so there is a single flat rate instead of the dependent table that starts at 30%.
Last updated: October 2026
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Preset to this rating. At 10% and 20% the VA pays one flat rate, so the dependent fields do not change the result; try 30% or higher to see dependent add-ons apply.
The 2026 rate at 20%: one flat amount
Because dependent status does not enter the calculation below 30%, the entire published "table" for a 20% rating is a single line:
| Dependent status | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Any dependent status (alone, spouse, children, or parents) | $356.66 | $4,279.92 |
This surprises many veterans: marriage, a new child, or a dependent parent changes nothing at 20%. Those family members start to matter the moment a combined rating reaches 30%, when the VA begins paying a higher basic rate for each dependent situation plus added amounts for additional children.
What reaching 30% would pay
The step from 20% to 30% is the largest structural jump in the lower half of the VA table, because it unlocks the entire dependent rate structure. Monthly 2026 rates at 30%, beside the flat 20% rate of $356.66:
| Dependent status at 30% | Monthly | Gain over 20% |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone | $552.47 | $195.81 |
| With spouse | $617.47 | $260.81 |
| With 1 child only | $596.47 | $239.81 |
| With spouse and 1 child | $666.47 | $309.81 |
For a veteran alone, that is $195.81 more per month, every month. Ratings are decided by the VA on medical evidence, not chosen, but if you believe your service-connected conditions have worsened, this gap is why many veterans ask a veterans service organization about filing for an increase.
VA disability rates for other ratings
- 10% VA disability rates
- 30% VA disability rates
- 40% VA disability rates
- 50% VA disability rates
- 60% VA disability rates
- 70% VA disability rates
- 80% VA disability rates
- 90% VA disability rates
- 100% VA disability rates
See the full index of 2026 VA disability rates by rating, use the VA disability calculator for a quick estimate, or read how the combined rating itself is calculated in our guide to VA disability ratings.
20% VA disability FAQs
Why are there no dependent rates at a 20% rating?
By law, the VA pays additional amounts for a spouse, children, and dependent parents only at combined ratings of 30% or higher. At 20%, the published rate is a flat $356.66 per month no matter who depends on you.
How much more is a 30% rating worth than a 20% rating?
For a veteran alone, moving from 20% to 30% raises the monthly payment from $356.66 to $552.47, an increase of $195.81 per month or $2,349.72 per year. With a spouse and one child, a 30% rating pays $666.47 per month, and dependent add-ons start applying on top of that.
Is the 20% VA disability payment taxable?
No. VA disability compensation is tax-free at the federal level, and most states do not tax it either. The $356.66 monthly figure is the amount you keep.
When do the 20% VA rates change?
VA compensation rates are adjusted every year by the same cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that applies to Social Security. The 2026 rates took effect on December 1, 2025 with a 2.8% COLA; the next adjustment takes effect on December 1, 2026.