VA Disability Calculator50% VA Disability Pay
At a 50% combined rating, VA’s official 2026 rate for a veteran alone is $1,132.90 per month, effective December 1, 2025. Dependent amounts apply, because they start at 30%. The 2027 column is a labeled estimate until VA publishes that table.
Use the VA disability calculator for your own ratings, or open it with 50% filled in. The full grid is the 2026 pay chart. The combining steps are in how VA math works.
2026 rates and the 2027 estimate
OFFICIAL 2026 amounts: VA.gov, effective December 1, 2025, checked October 19, 2026. ESTIMATE 2027 amounts: each official 2026 figure × the 3.6% COLA announced October 14, 2026, rounded to the cent. Not an official VA table.
| Dependent status | 2026 official | 2027 estimate | Difference / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran alone (no dependents) | $1,132.90 | $1,173.68 | +$40.78 |
| With spouse (no parents or children) | $1,241.90 | $1,286.61 | +$44.71 |
| With spouse and 1 parent | $1,329.90 | $1,377.78 | +$47.88 |
| With spouse and 2 parents | $1,417.90 | $1,468.94 | +$51.04 |
| With 1 parent | $1,220.90 | $1,264.85 | +$43.95 |
| With 2 parents | $1,308.90 | $1,356.02 | +$47.12 |
| With 1 child (no spouse or parents) | $1,205.90 | $1,249.31 | +$43.41 |
| With 1 child and spouse | $1,322.90 | $1,370.52 | +$47.62 |
| With 1 child, spouse, and 1 parent | $1,410.90 | $1,461.69 | +$50.79 |
| With 1 child, spouse, and 2 parents | $1,498.90 | $1,552.86 | +$53.96 |
| With 1 child and 1 parent | $1,293.90 | $1,340.48 | +$46.58 |
| With 1 child and 2 parents | $1,381.90 | $1,431.65 | +$49.75 |
Added amounts at 50%
Add these to the basic rate above. A “with 1 child” row already includes one child.
| Added amount | 2026 official | 2027 estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Each additional child under age 18 | $54.00 | $55.94 |
| Each additional child over 18 in a qualifying school program | $176.00 | $182.34 |
| Spouse receiving Aid and Attendance | $101.00 | $104.64 |
SMC-K, if awarded, is added on top of these basic rates. Look it up on the SMC rate lookup. This table does not include SMC levels L through S.
Ratings that combine to 50%
These are worked examples of 38 CFR 4.25, computed with the same code as the calculator. They show pairs and triples whose combined value rounds to 50%. They are not a statement about which conditions veterans usually have. A bilateral factor under 38 CFR 4.26 can change the result. The calculator applies that factor when you mark arms or legs.
One 50% rating
A single rating is already on a 10-point step, so nothing is combined.
- One rating of 50% stays 50%.
40% and 20%
Example from 38 CFR 4.25(a).
- Order by severity: 40, 20.
- 40 combined with 20: 40 + 20 × 60% = 52 → 52
- Combined value 52 rounds to the nearest 10: 50%.
30% and 30%
Two equal ratings. Combined with 38 CFR 4.25, then rounded once.
- Order by severity: 30, 30.
- 30 combined with 30: 30 + 30 × 70% = 51 → 51
- Combined value 51 rounds to the nearest 10: 50%.
20%, 20%, and 20%
Three ratings. The combined value is rounded only at the end.
- Order by severity: 20, 20, 20.
- 20 combined with 20: 20 + 20 × 80% = 36 → 36
- 36 combined with 20: 36 + 20 × 64% = 48.8 → 49
- Combined value 49 rounds to the nearest 10: 50%.
Other rating amounts
- 70% VA disability pay
- 90% VA disability pay
- 100% VA disability pay
- Condition rating guides, including GERD and migraines, which can be rated at 50% under their own diagnostic codes
For free help with a claim, find a VA-accredited representative.
Sources
- VA.gov veteran compensation rates, effective December 1, 2025, checked October 19, 2026.
- 38 CFR 4.25, retrieved October 19, 2026.
- SSA COLA announcement, October 14, 2026, for the 2027 estimate. See how that estimate is built.
Last checked October 20, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do dependents increase pay at 50%?
Yes. VA adds dependent amounts when the combined rating is 30% or higher. A 50% rating uses the dependent rows in the official table. At 10% and 20%, VA pays no extra for dependents.
How can separate ratings combine to 50%?
38 CFR 4.25(a) uses 40% and 20% as an example. That pair combines to 52 and rounds to 50%. The other examples on this page are computed with the same rule. They are illustrations of the math, not a list of who qualifies.
Is 50% a schedular total rating?
No. A schedular combined rating of 100% is a different step. See the 100% page. TDIU is also separate. The percentage test in 38 CFR 4.16(a) is not met by 50% alone.