The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for VA benefits is a lifeline for millions of veterans whose purchasing power has been eroded by inflation. The increase implies different amounts based on your disability rate. Read on to find out how much your increase will be if your rate is 90%.
Constant price hikes can make VA benefits feel outdated very quickly. To remedy this situation, Congress recently passed the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2024, which directs the VA to increase veterans’ benefits based on the COLA that SSA awards to Social Security recipients.
Just this past October 10, the Social Security Administration (SSA) made official the 2.5% COLA that will go into effect starting in December 2024. This way, you will see your increase from your first check in 2025.
How much will the increase be that you will receive in 2025?
Different disability rates imply different payments. The higher the rate, the higher the amount. Likewise, each veteran’s family situation is different, and this can increase their benefits from the base payment.
For example, a single veteran without children receives a monthly payment of $2,241.91 in 2024 thus, their payment will increase by $56.05, up to $2,297.96. In contrast, a veteran with a spouse, a child, and two dependent parents currently receives $2,865.91 per month, and their benefit will increase by $71.65 to $2,937.56 starting next January.
The 2025 COLA means an average increase of $63.53 for veterans with a disability rate of 90%.
Below is the complete payment table according to the dependents that a beneficiary may have, comparing the payments for 2024 with those for 2025.
- Dependent Status 2025 2024
- Veteran Alone $2,297.96 $2,241.91
- Veteran with Spouse Only $2,489.63 $2,428.91
- Veteran with Spouse and One Parent $2,643.38 $,2578.91
- Veteran with Spouse and Two Parents $2,797.13 $2,728.91
- Veteran with One Parent $2,451.71 $2,391.91
- Veteran with Two Parents $2,605.46 $2,541.91
- Veteran with one Child $2,426.08 $2,366.91
(no spouse and no parents)
- Veteran with Spouse and Child $2,630.06 $2,565.91
(no parents)
- Veteran with Spouse, $2,783.81 $2,715.91
One Parent and One Child
- Veteran with Spouse, $2,937.56 $2,865.91
Two Parents and Child
- Veteran with One Parent and Child $2,579.83 $2,516.91
- Veteran with Two Parents and Child $2,733.58 $2,666.91
- Add for Each Additional $95.33 $93
Child Under Age 18
- Each Additional Schoolchild $308.53 $301
Over Age 18
- Additional for A/A spouse $176.30 $172
Remember that it is vital to keep track of all the movements made by the corresponding agencies so that you can be sure that you are receiving fair compensation for your condition.