2027 VA disability COLA is 3.6%, but it still needs Congress

The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is 3.6%. The Social Security Administration announced it on October 14. That's up from 2.8% this year and 2.5% the year before.

For military retirees, that number carries over on its own. For veterans on VA disability, it doesn't. Not yet.

Do military retirees get the 3.6% automatically?

Yes. Retired pay rises by the Social Security COLA under existing law. No vote needed. Stars and Stripes put it at $36 more per month for every $1,000 of retired pay.

The new rate takes effect December 1. Because January 1 is a federal holiday, the first check at the higher rate is due December 31. One exception, reported by SOFX: retirees under REDUX (those who entered service on or after August 1, 1986 and took the Career Status Bonus) get 2.6% instead.

When does the 2027 VA disability increase take effect?

Only after Congress passes this year's bill. VA compensation has no automatic COLA. Congress passes a new law every year to match the Social Security number, and this year's version hasn't passed either chamber.

There are two identical bills, both called the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026:

• H.R. 8552, from Rep. Morgan Luttrell of Texas. A House subcommittee sent it to the full Veterans' Affairs Committee by voice vote on June 30. The official status record shows nothing since.
• S. 4487, from Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas. It was referred to the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on May 11 and hasn't moved.

Both would set the increase at 3.6%, effective December 1, 2026.

Congress has to do this every year. Last year's bill, S. 2392, was signed on November 25, 2025. That was six days before the raise took effect.

If a bill becomes law in time, the first higher VA payment arrives December 31. If it doesn't, your checks stay at the current rate until Congress acts. SOFX reports that if the bill is signed after December 1, VA would owe the difference for the months paid at the old rate.

2027 VA disability rates with a 3.6% COLA

These are today's VA rates (effective December 1, 2025) with 3.6% added. VA publishes its own table once the law passes, and its numbers can differ by a few cents because of how VA rounds.

Rating and dependents	Now	With 3.6%	Increase
10% (same with or without dependents)	$180.42	about $186.92	about $6.50
30%, veteran alone	$552.47	about $572.36	about $19.89
50%, veteran alone	$1,132.90	about $1,173.68	about $40.78
70%, with spouse	$1,961.45	about $2,032.06	about $70.61
100%, veteran alone	$3,938.58	about $4,080.37	about $141.79
100%, with spouse and 1 child	$4,318.99	about $4,474.47	about $155.48

You don't need to file anything to get the increase. It applies to everyone receiving compensation.

What should veterans do now?

Nothing, mostly. Check your current amount with the VA disability pay calculator, then add 3.6%. If you have more than one rating, the VA combined rating calculator shows how VA adds them up. We'll load VA's official 2027 table into the calculator as soon as VA publishes it.

If you want the raise on time, the people who can make that happen are your two senators and your House member. The bill numbers above are what to mention.