Veterans Disability Info Blog

How to Calculate Your 2023 Monthly VA Disability Payments


The VA’s new 2023 veteran disability pay rates go into effect on December 1, 2022. With the 2023 federal cost of living adjustment (COLA) hitting 8.7%, the VA increased veterans’ monthly payment amounts significantly from 2022 rates – the highest increase in over a decade.

What are the 2023 VA disability rates? How much VA disability will you get per month? How are VA disability payments calculated? What is the 2023 veterans’ disability payment schedule? This quick guide offers answers to these questions and more.

Included in this article:

  • How to Calculate Your 2023 VA Disability Monthly Payment Amount
  • 2023 Veteran Disability Payment Tables
  • Example Monthly VA Disability Payment Calculation
  • What is a VA Qualifying School Program?
  • What Are VA Aid and Attendance Benefits?

How to Calculate Your 2023 VA Disability Monthly Payment Amount

Your monthly veteran’s disability payment amount is based on your disability rating and dependents. The easiest way to calculate how much you will get paid every month is to use our VA Disability Calculator. You can also calculate your monthly VA payment by following the steps below.

Step-by-Step Calculation for Monthly VA Disability Payment Amounts

  1. Select your table: Do you have a spouse? Dependent children? Dependent parents? No dependents? Look at the left column of the tables below and use this information to select the table that applies best to you. Once you choose your table, you can disregard the other tables.
  2. Baseline monthly payment amount: Now find your percent disability rating in your table. You will find your baseline monthly payment amount beside it.
  3. Total monthly payment amount: You can add money to your baseline monthly payment amount based on your dependents. Look at your table. Do any of the remaining criteria in the table apply to you? Do you have more than one child under the age of 18? Or additional children between ages 18 and 24 who are in school? Does your spouse receive Aid and Attendance benefits? If any of these apply, find the amount next to your disability rating in your table and add that amount to your baseline monthly payment amount.

2023 Veteran Disability Payment Tables

No Dependents

Disability Rating Monthly Payment
10% $165.92
20% $327.99
30% $508.05
40% $731.86
50% $1041.82
60% $1319.65
70% $1663.06
80% $1933.15
90% $2172.39
100% $3621.95

Spouse (no children/parents)

Disability Rating Monthly Payment Spouse Receives Aid and Attendance? Add:
10% $165.92 $0.00
20% $327.99 $0.00
30% $568.05 $56.00
40% $811.86 $74.00
50% $1141.82 $93.00
60% $1440.65 $111.00
70% $1804.06 $130.00
80% $2094.15 $148.00
90% $2353.39 $167.00
100% $3823.89 $185.21

Spouse and 1 parent (no children)

Disability Rating Monthly Payment Spouse Receives Aid and Attendance? Add:
10% $165.92 $0.00
20% $327.99 $0.00
30% $616.05 $56.00
40% $875.86 $74.00
50% $1222.82 $93.00
60% $1537.65 $111.00
70% $1917.06 $130.00
80% $2223.15 $148.00
90% $2498.39 $167.00
100% $3985.96 $185.21

Spouse and 2 parents (no children)

Disability Rating Monthly Payment Spouse Receives Aid and Attendance? Add:
10% $165.92 $0.00
20% $327.99 $0.00
30% $664.05 $56.00
40% $939.86 $74.00
50% $1303.82 $93.00
60% $1634.65 $111.00
70% $2030.06 $130.00
80% $2353.15 $148.00
90% $2643.39 $167.00
100% $4148.03 $185.21

1 parent (no spouse/children)

Disability Rating Monthly Payment
10% $165.92
20% $327.99
30% $556.05
40% $795.86
50% $1122.82
60% $1416.65
70% $1776.06
80% $2062.15
90% $2317.39
100% $3784.02

2 parents (no spouse/children)

Disability Rating Monthly Payment
10% $165.92
20% $327.99
30% $604.05
40% $859.86
50% $1203.82
60% $1513.65
70% $1889.06
80% $2191.15
90% $2462.39
100% $3946.09

1 child (no spouse/parents)

Disability Rating Monthly Payment For each additional child (under 18), add: For each additional child (age 18-24) in qualifying school program, add:
10% $165.92 $0.00 $0.00
20% $327.99 $0.00 $0.00
30% $548.05 $30.00 $97.00
40% $785.86 $40.00 $129.00
50% $1108.82 $50.00 $162.00
60% $1400.65 $60.00 $194.00
70% $1757.06 $70.00 $226.00
80% $2041.15 $80.00 $259.00
90% $2293.39 $90.00 $291.00
100% $3757.00 $100.34 $324.12

1 child, spouse (no parents)

Disability Rating Monthly Payment Spouse Receives Aid and Attendance? Add: For each additional child (under 18), add: For each additional child (age 18-24) in qualifying school program, add:
10% $165.92 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
20% $327.99 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
30% $612.05 $56.00 $30.00 $97.00
40% $870.86 $74.00 $40.00 $129.00
50% $1215.82 $93.00 $50.00 $162.00
60% $1528.65 $111.00 $60.00 $194.00
70% $1907.06 $130.00 $70.00 $226.00
80% $2212.15 $148.00 $80.00 $259.00
90% $2486.39 $167.00 $90.00 $291.00
100% $3971.78 $185.21 $100.34 $324.12

1 child, spouse, 1 parent

Disability Rating Monthly Payment Spouse Receives Aid and Attendance? Add: For each additional child (under 18), add: For each additional child (age 18-24) in qualifying school program, add:
10% $165.92 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
20% $327.99 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
30% $660.05 $56.00 $30.00 $97.00
40% $934.86 $74.00 $40.00 $129.00
50% $1296.82 $93.00 $50.00 $162.00
60% $1625.65 $111.00 $60.00 $194.00
70% $2020.06 $130.00 $70.00 $226.00
80% $2341.15 $148.00 $80.00 $259.00
90% $2631.39 $167.00 $90.00 $291.00
100% $4133.85 $185.21 $100.34 $324.12

1 child, spouse, 2 parents

Disability Rating Monthly Payment Spouse Receives Aid and Attendance? Add: For each additional child (under 18), add: For each additional child (age 18-24) in qualifying school program, add:
10% $165.92 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
20% $327.99 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
30% $708.05 $56.00 $30.00 $97.00
40% $998.86 $74.00 $40.00 $129.00
50% $1377.82 $93.00 $50.00 $162.00
60% $1722.65 $111.00 $60.00 $194.00
70% $2133.06 $130.00 $70.00 $226.00
80% $2470.15 $148.00 $80.00 $259.00
90% $2776.39 $167.00 $90.00 $291.00
100% $4295.92 $185.21 $100.34 $324.12

1 child, 1 parent (no spouse)

Disability Rating Monthly Payment For each additional child (under 18), add: For each additional child (age 18-24) in qualifying school program, add:
10% $165.92 $0.00 $0.00
20% $327.99 $0.00 $0.00
30% $596.05 $30.00 $97.00
40% $849.86 $40.00 $129.00
50% $1189.82 $50.00 $162.00
60% $1497.65 $60.00 $194.00
70% $1870.06 $70.00 $226.00
80% $2170.15 $80.00 $259.00
90% $2438.39 $90.00 $291.00
100% $3919.07 $100.34 $324.12

1 child, 2 parents (no spouse)

Disability Rating Monthly Payment For each additional child (under 18), add: For each additional child (age 18-24) in qualifying school program, add:
10% $165.92 $0.00 $0.00
20% $327.99 $0.00 $0.00
30% $644.05 $30.00 $97.00
40% $913.86 $40.00 $129.00
50% $1270.82 $50.00 $162.00
60% $1594.65 $60.00 $194.00
70% $1983.06 $70.00 $226.00
80% $2299.15 $80.00 $259.00
90% $2583.39 $90.00 $291.00
100% $4081.14 $100.34 $324.12

Example Monthly VA Disability Payment Calculation

A veteran with a 70% disability rating with two children (one is in college, one is under 18), one dependent parent, and a spouse who gets Aid and Attendance benefits would receive:

  • A monthly VA disability payment of $2,020.06
  • Plus $130.00 (because the spouse gets Aid and Attendance benefits)
  • Plus $226 (because the additional child attends a qualifying school program)

Therefore, this veteran’s total monthly VA payment would equal $2,376.06.

If this veteran had more than two children, they would receive $70 for each additional child under age 18 or $226 for each additional child between ages 18-24 who attends a qualifying school program.

Veterans will receive their monthly VA disability payments according to the 2023 VA Disability Payments Schedule.

What is a VA Qualifying School Program?

Veterans with children between ages 18 and 23 who attend a “qualifying school program” can receive a higher monthly disability payment amount. School programs that qualify for this add-on include any school listed under the GI Bill. You can search for your child’s school using the VA’s Qualifying School Search Tool.

How do veterans get VA benefits for college-age dependents? Those veterans with a combined disability rating of 30% or higher and a child attending a qualifying school program can get VA benefits for college-age dependents.

You must file a claim for these benefits within 12 months of your child’s 18th birthday. To file a claim for college-age dependent VA benefits, veterans must submit VA Form 21-674, “Request for Approval of School Attendance.”

On VA Form 21-674 form, you will need to fill out the following information:

  • Child’s identifying information
  • School name and address
  • Type of program child is attending
  • Hours per week child will attend (if not full-time)
  • Estimated start date and graduation date
  • School term start date
  • Class schedule
  • Child’s assets and income. These may include social security payment schedule amounts, federal education benefits, annuities, employment, savings, property, real estate, and bonds.

When do veterans receive college-age dependent VA benefit payments? Your college-age dependent VA benefit payments will start on your child’s 18th birthday if the VA receives Form 21-674 within 12 months of this date AND the child is attending school during a school term that includes their 18th birthday.

Otherwise, your monthly college-age dependent VA benefit payments will start on the first day of the month after your child starts attending classes. Here, the VA must receive information showing proof of school attendance within 12 months of the day your child starts attending classes.

Veterans’ college-age dependent VA benefit payments will end on either the day your child stops attending the school program or on your child’s 23rd birthday.

What Are VA Aid and Attendance Benefits?

When a veteran or their dependent receives Aid and Attendance benefits, that veteran’s monthly benefits payment amount increases.

What qualifies you for VA Aid and Attendance? To meet the criteria for VA Aid and Attendance benefits, you must be a veteran or surviving family member with a (1) combined disability rating of at least 30%, (2) a VA pension, AND (2) at least ONE of the following:

  • Spend a major portion of each day in bed due to illness, or
  • Live in a nursing facility because of a physical or mental disability, or
  • Require assistance with daily activities (bathing, eating, dressing), or
  • Have impaired vision: Both eyes—even with contacts or glasses—have 5/200 vision or less, OR a visual field of 5 degrees or lower.

Have more questions about your veteran’s disability benefits or monthly VA payments? Check out our VA Disability Calculator or read our FAQ page. If you are having problems receiving your monthly VA disability payments or want to learn more about your VA disability benefits, contact our Veterans’ Disability Benefits Law Firm today at 888.878.9350 or Use This Online Form.

We are Here to Help

If you are having trouble obtaining benefits, contact us online or at 888.878.9350 to discuss your case.