How much do dependents add at a 50% rating?

At 50%, a spouse adds $109.00 per month over the veteran-alone rate, and a spouse plus one child adds $190.00 per month. Each additional child under 18 adds $54.00 per month, each additional child over 18 in a qualifying school program adds $176.00 per month, and a spouse receiving Aid and Attendance adds $101.00 per month.

What does a 50% rating pay with a spouse and two children?

$1,322.90 (the spouse-and-1-child basic rate) + $54.00 (one additional child under 18) = $1,376.90 per month, or $16,522.80 per year, tax-free.

When do the 50% 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.

50% VA Disability Rates 2026

A 50% combined rating pays $1,132.90 per month to a veteran alone in 2026, $1,241.90 per month with a spouse, and $1,322.90 per month with a spouse and one child. The payments are tax-free, and the full official table below covers every dependent status the VA publishes at this rating, including dependent parents and the added amounts for extra children.

2026 VA rate table for a 50% rating

The full published 2026 table for a 50% combined rating, monthly and annual amounts in US dollars:

Dependent status	Monthly	Annual
Veteran alone (no dependents)	$1,132.90	$13,594.80
With spouse (no parents or children)	$1,241.90	$14,902.80
With spouse and 1 parent (no children)	$1,329.90	$15,958.80
With spouse and 2 parents (no children)	$1,417.90	$17,014.80
With 1 parent (no spouse or children)	$1,220.90	$14,650.80
With 2 parents (no spouse or children)	$1,308.90	$15,706.80
Veteran with 1 child only (no spouse or parents)	$1,205.90	$14,470.80
With 1 child and spouse (no parents)	$1,322.90	$15,874.80
With 1 child, spouse, and 1 parent	$1,410.90	$16,930.80
With 1 child, spouse, and 2 parents	$1,498.90	$17,986.80
With 1 child and 1 parent (no spouse)	$1,293.90	$15,526.80
With 1 child and 2 parents (no spouse)	$1,381.90	$16,582.80

The highest basic rate at 50% is $1,498.90 per month, paid to a veteran with with 1 child, spouse, and 2 parents. Rates took effect on December 1, 2025. VA disability compensation is tax-free, so these amounts are worth more than the same figures in taxable pay.

Added amounts at a 50% rating

When a family is larger than the basic rows describe, the VA adds fixed amounts on top of the basic rate. At 50% in 2026:

$54.00 per month for each additional child under age 18 beyond the first child.
$176.00 per month for each additional child over age 18 in a qualifying school program beyond the first child.
$101.00 per month if a spouse included in the basic rate is receiving Aid and Attendance.

Worked examples at a 50% rating

The VA tables build most family situations from a basic rate plus added amounts. Three examples at 50%:

Example 1: spouse and 3 children under 18. $1,322.90 (spouse and 1 child) + $108.00 (2 more children at $54.00 each) = $1,430.90 per month, or $17,170.80 per year. The first child is already inside the basic rate; only the second and third children are added.

Example 2: spouse and 1 child, spouse receiving Aid and Attendance. $1,322.90 (spouse and 1 child) + $101.00 (spouse Aid and Attendance) = $1,423.90 per month, or $17,086.80 per year. The Aid and Attendance amount stacks on top of any basic rate that includes a spouse.

Example 3: single veteran, one child under 18 and one child over 18 in school. $1,205.90 (1 child only) + $176.00 (1 more child, over 18 in a qualifying school program) = $1,381.90 per month, or $16,582.80 per year. A child counts in one category or the other, never both.

Source and how to verify: rates on this page are the official 2026 VA disability compensation rates published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at va.gov, effective December 1, 2025 and reflecting the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment. EveryCalc republishes them for convenience; only the VA can determine your official combined rating and payment.

VA disability rates for other ratings

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.