How much VA back pay will I get?
Enter the effective date and ratings from your VA decision. The calculator adds up the monthly difference for every month VA owes, using the rate table in effect each month.
- Estimated back pay
- $15,037.55
Going from 30% to 70% effective October 2, 2025, your VA back pay through October 2, 2026 is about $15,037.55 for 12 months.
- Months of back pay
- 12
- Back pay months
- November 2025 to October 2026
- New monthly rate
- $1,808.45
- Monthly increase
- $1,255.98
- Rates used
- Each month uses the VA rates in effect that month (rates change each December 1).
Answer for the example date Friday, October 2, 2026. It changes to today's date when the page loads.
Estimated back pay: $15,037.55. Going from 30% to 70% effective October 2, 2025, your VA back pay through October 2, 2026 is about $15,037.55 for 12 months.
The results are estimates for information only. They are not financial, tax, or legal advice. Check the numbers with your lender or a qualified professional before you decide. Terms of use
How to calculate
Estimates VA disability back pay: the difference between your new rating and the rating VA paid, for each month since your effective date, at the rates in effect each month (December 2017 on).
Example with the default inputs (New combined rating 70%, Rating VA already paid 30%, Effective date October 2, 2025, Back pay through October 2, 2026, Married No, Dependent parents None, Children under 18 0, Children 18 to 23 in school 0) on the example date Friday, October 2, 2026: Going from 30% to 70% effective October 2, 2025, your VA back pay through October 2, 2026 is about $15,037.55 for 12 months.
Method: Back pay = Σ over each month from the month after the effective date (38 U.S.C. 5111) through the end month of (VA monthly rate for the new rating − rate for the old rating), each at the VA rate table in effect that month.
- Rate tables from December 1, 2017, to the rates effective December 1, 2025.
- Your dependents stay the same over the whole period.
- Special monthly compensation, individual unemployability, and offsets (military retired pay, separation pay, debts) are not included.
- VA decides the effective date and the amount; this is an estimate.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- New combined rating 70%, Rating VA already paid 30%, Effective date 2025-03-15, Back pay through 2025-11-30, Married no, Dependent parents None, Children under 18 0, Children 18 to 23 in school 0 gives Months of back pay 8, Estimated back pay $9,774.16, Monthly increase $1,221.77, New monthly rate $1,759.19.Source: VA past rates 2025 (https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/past-rates-2025/): 70% alone $1,759.19 − 30% alone $537.42 = $1,221.77 for April to November 2025 (38 U.S.C. 5111): 8 × $1,221.77 = $9,774.16
- New combined rating 50%, Rating VA already paid 0%, Effective date 2024-10-10, Back pay through 2026-02-28, Married yes, Dependent parents None, Children under 18 1, Children 18 to 23 in school 0 gives Months of back pay 16, Estimated back pay $20,668.34, New monthly rate $1,322.90.Source: VA rates for 50% with a spouse and 1 child (https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/ and past-rates-2024, past-rates-2025): $1,255.16 (November 2024) + 12 × $1,287.04 + 3 × $1,322.90 = $20,668.34
- New combined rating 100%, Rating VA already paid 40%, Effective date 2019-05-20, Back pay through 2020-01-31, Married no, Dependent parents 1, Children under 18 1, Children 18 to 23 in school 0 gives Months of back pay 8, Estimated back pay $20,811.52.Source: VA past rates 2019 and 2020 (https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/past-rates-2019/): 100% with 1 child and 1 parent $3,307.91 and $3,360.83, 40% $716.73 and $728.61
How it works
Months of back pay. The first month is the month after the month of the effective date (38 U.S.C. 5111). The last month is the month of the "back pay through" date, counted in full. Months = last − first + 1 (0 when the effective date is in the same month as the end date). An end date before the effective date gives no answer.
Each month. Find the VA rate table in effect on the first day of that month: a table effective December 1 of one year applies through November 30 of the next. For that table:
monthly difference = rate(new rating, dependents) − rate(rating already paid, dependents)
Back pay = the sum of the monthly differences. The "new monthly rate" and "monthly increase" outputs use the table of the last month counted (or of the first month when no month is counted).
Rate for a rating and dependents (each table below):
- 0%: $0. 10% and 20%: the single rate shown, with no dependent amounts.
- 30% and up: the basic rate (Alone, Spouse, 1 child or Spouse and 1 child; "child" means a child under 18), plus each dependent parent × the parent amount, plus each child under 18 beyond the first × the extra child amount, plus each child 18 to 23 in school × the school child amount (paid in place of a child amount, 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(F)), plus the Aid and Attendance amount for a spouse who gets it.
The new rating must be higher than the rating already paid; otherwise there is no answer. Ratings are combined ratings (0% to 100% in steps of 10). Amounts are exact to the cent; nothing is rounded.
Data age. The tables run from December 1, 2017. Effective dates before November 1, 2017 are not accepted. Months after November 30, 2026 use the table effective December 1, 2025 and the page says so; the December 2026 increase is not included.
VA page errors. VA prints a row for each number of parents; each equals the row without parents plus the parent amount, except these cells, read as errors: the 2019 rows "with 1 child and 1 parent" and "with 1 child and 2 parents" for 80% to 100% repeat other rows, the 2021 80% "with spouse and 2 parents" shows $2,043.45 (the rule gives $2,043.35), and the 2023 80% "with spouse and 2 parents" shows $2,353.15 (the rule gives $2,352.15). The tables below use the rule.
Assumptions
- Your dependents and the old rating stay the same over the whole period.
- Special monthly compensation, individual unemployability, and offsets (military retired pay, separation pay, VA debts) are not included.
- VA decides the effective date and pays the amount; this is an estimate.
Worked examples by hand
30% to 70%, alone, effective March 15, 2025, through November 2025. Months April to November 2025: 8. All use the table effective December 1, 2024: $1,759.19 − $537.42 = $1,221.77. Back pay = 8 × $1,221.77 = $9,774.16.
0% to 50%, spouse and 1 child, effective October 10, 2024, through February 2026. November 2024 (table of December 1, 2023): $1,255.16. December 2024 to November 2025 (12 months): 12 × $1,287.04 = $15,444.48. December 2025 to February 2026 (3 months): 3 × $1,322.90 = $3,968.70. Total: 16 months, $20,668.34.
40% to 100%, 1 child and 1 parent, effective May 20, 2019, through January 2020. June to November 2019: 6 × ($3,307.91 − $716.73) = $15,547.08. December 2019 and January 2020: 2 × ($3,360.83 − $728.61) = $5,264.44. Total: 8 months, $20,811.52.
VA rate tables used (dollars a month)
Effective December 1, 2025 (the 2026 rates): 10% 180.42; 20% 356.66.
| Rating | Alone | Spouse | 1 child | Spouse and 1 child | Each parent | Extra child under 18 | School child | Spouse Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 552.47 | 617.47 | 596.47 | 666.47 | 52.00 | 32.00 | 105.00 | 61.00 |
| 40% | 795.84 | 882.84 | 853.84 | 947.84 | 70.00 | 43.00 | 140.00 | 81.00 |
| 50% | 1,132.90 | 1,241.90 | 1,205.90 | 1,322.90 | 88.00 | 54.00 | 176.00 | 101.00 |
| 60% | 1,435.02 | 1,566.02 | 1,523.02 | 1,663.02 | 105.00 | 65.00 | 211.00 | 121.00 |
| 70% | 1,808.45 | 1,961.45 | 1,910.45 | 2,074.45 | 123.00 | 76.00 | 246.00 | 141.00 |
| 80% | 2,102.15 | 2,277.15 | 2,219.15 | 2,406.15 | 140.00 | 87.00 | 281.00 | 161.00 |
| 90% | 2,362.30 | 2,559.30 | 2,494.30 | 2,704.30 | 158.00 | 98.00 | 317.00 | 181.00 |
| 100% | 3,938.58 | 4,158.17 | 4,085.43 | 4,318.99 | 176.24 | 109.11 | 352.45 | 201.41 |
Effective December 1, 2024 (the 2025 rates): 10% 175.51; 20% 346.95.
| Rating | Alone | Spouse | 1 child | Spouse and 1 child | Each parent | Extra child under 18 | School child | Spouse Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 537.42 | 601.42 | 579.42 | 648.42 | 51.00 | 31.00 | 102.00 | 58.00 |
| 40% | 774.16 | 859.16 | 831.16 | 922.16 | 68.00 | 42.00 | 137.00 | 78.00 |
| 50% | 1,102.04 | 1,208.04 | 1,173.04 | 1,287.04 | 85.00 | 53.00 | 171.00 | 98.00 |
| 60% | 1,395.93 | 1,523.93 | 1,480.93 | 1,617.93 | 102.00 | 63.00 | 205.00 | 117.00 |
| 70% | 1,759.19 | 1,908.19 | 1,858.19 | 2,018.19 | 120.00 | 74.00 | 239.00 | 137.00 |
| 80% | 2,044.89 | 2,214.89 | 2,158.89 | 2,340.89 | 137.00 | 84.00 | 274.00 | 157.00 |
| 90% | 2,297.96 | 2,489.96 | 2,425.96 | 2,630.96 | 154.00 | 95.00 | 308.00 | 176.00 |
| 100% | 3,831.30 | 4,044.91 | 3,974.15 | 4,201.35 | 171.44 | 106.14 | 342.85 | 195.92 |
Effective December 1, 2023 (the 2024 rates): 10% 171.23; 20% 338.49.
| Rating | Alone | Spouse | 1 child | Spouse and 1 child | Each parent | Extra child under 18 | School child | Spouse Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 524.31 | 586.31 | 565.31 | 632.31 | 50.00 | 31.00 | 100.00 | 57.00 |
| 40% | 755.28 | 838.28 | 810.28 | 899.28 | 66.00 | 41.00 | 133.00 | 76.00 |
| 50% | 1,075.16 | 1,179.16 | 1,144.16 | 1,255.16 | 83.00 | 51.00 | 167.00 | 95.00 |
| 60% | 1,361.88 | 1,486.88 | 1,444.88 | 1,577.88 | 100.00 | 62.00 | 200.00 | 114.00 |
| 70% | 1,716.28 | 1,861.28 | 1,813.28 | 1,968.28 | 117.00 | 72.00 | 234.00 | 134.00 |
| 80% | 1,995.01 | 2,161.01 | 2,106.01 | 2,283.01 | 133.00 | 82.00 | 267.00 | 153.00 |
| 90% | 2,241.91 | 2,428.91 | 2,366.91 | 2,565.91 | 150.00 | 93.00 | 301.00 | 172.00 |
| 100% | 3,737.85 | 3,946.25 | 3,877.22 | 4,098.87 | 167.26 | 103.55 | 334.49 | 191.14 |
Effective December 1, 2022 (the 2023 rates): 10% 165.92; 20% 327.99.
| Rating | Alone | Spouse | 1 child | Spouse and 1 child | Each parent | Extra child under 18 | School child | Spouse Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 508.05 | 568.05 | 548.05 | 612.05 | 48.00 | 30.00 | 97.00 | 56.00 |
| 40% | 731.86 | 811.86 | 785.86 | 870.86 | 64.00 | 40.00 | 129.00 | 74.00 |
| 50% | 1,041.82 | 1,141.82 | 1,108.82 | 1,215.82 | 81.00 | 50.00 | 162.00 | 93.00 |
| 60% | 1,319.65 | 1,440.65 | 1,400.65 | 1,528.65 | 97.00 | 60.00 | 194.00 | 111.00 |
| 70% | 1,663.06 | 1,804.06 | 1,757.06 | 1,907.06 | 113.00 | 70.00 | 226.00 | 130.00 |
| 80% | 1,933.15 | 2,094.15 | 2,041.15 | 2,212.15 | 129.00 | 80.00 | 259.00 | 148.00 |
| 90% | 2,172.39 | 2,353.39 | 2,293.39 | 2,486.39 | 145.00 | 90.00 | 291.00 | 167.00 |
| 100% | 3,621.95 | 3,823.89 | 3,757.00 | 3,971.78 | 162.07 | 100.34 | 324.12 | 185.21 |
Effective December 1, 2021 (the 2022 rates): 10% 152.64; 20% 301.74.
| Rating | Alone | Spouse | 1 child | Spouse and 1 child | Each parent | Extra child under 18 | School child | Spouse Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 467.39 | 522.39 | 504.39 | 563.39 | 44.00 | 27.00 | 89.00 | 51.00 |
| 40% | 673.28 | 747.28 | 722.28 | 801.28 | 59.00 | 36.00 | 119.00 | 68.00 |
| 50% | 958.44 | 1,050.44 | 1,020.44 | 1,118.44 | 74.00 | 46.00 | 149.00 | 86.00 |
| 60% | 1,214.03 | 1,325.03 | 1,288.03 | 1,407.03 | 89.00 | 55.00 | 178.00 | 102.00 |
| 70% | 1,529.95 | 1,659.95 | 1,615.95 | 1,754.95 | 104.00 | 64.00 | 208.00 | 119.00 |
| 80% | 1,778.43 | 1,926.43 | 1,877.43 | 2,035.43 | 119.00 | 73.00 | 238.00 | 136.00 |
| 90% | 1,998.52 | 2,165.52 | 2,109.52 | 2,287.52 | 134.00 | 83.00 | 268.00 | 153.00 |
| 100% | 3,332.06 | 3,517.84 | 3,456.30 | 3,653.89 | 149.10 | 92.31 | 298.18 | 170.38 |
Effective December 1, 2020 (the 2021 rates): 10% 144.14; 20% 284.93.
| Rating | Alone | Spouse | 1 child | Spouse and 1 child | Each parent | Extra child under 18 | School child | Spouse Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 441.35 | 493.35 | 476.35 | 532.35 | 42.00 | 26.00 | 84.00 | 48.00 |
| 40% | 635.77 | 705.77 | 681.77 | 756.77 | 56.00 | 34.00 | 112.00 | 64.00 |
| 50% | 905.04 | 992.04 | 963.04 | 1,056.04 | 70.00 | 43.00 | 140.00 | 81.00 |
| 60% | 1,146.39 | 1,251.39 | 1,216.39 | 1,328.39 | 84.00 | 52.00 | 168.00 | 96.00 |
| 70% | 1,444.71 | 1,566.71 | 1,526.71 | 1,656.71 | 98.00 | 61.00 | 197.00 | 113.00 |
| 80% | 1,679.35 | 1,819.35 | 1,772.35 | 1,922.35 | 112.00 | 69.00 | 225.00 | 129.00 |
| 90% | 1,887.18 | 2,044.18 | 1,992.18 | 2,160.18 | 126.00 | 78.00 | 253.00 | 145.00 |
| 100% | 3,146.42 | 3,321.85 | 3,263.74 | 3,450.32 | 140.79 | 87.17 | 281.57 | 160.89 |
Effective December 1, 2019 (the 2020 rates): 10% 142.29; 20% 281.27.
| Rating | Alone | Spouse | 1 child | Spouse and 1 child | Each parent | Extra child under 18 | School child | Spouse Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 435.69 | 486.69 | 469.69 | 525.69 | 41.00 | 25.00 | 83.00 | 48.00 |
| 40% | 627.61 | 696.61 | 673.61 | 747.61 | 55.00 | 34.00 | 111.00 | 63.00 |
| 50% | 893.43 | 979.43 | 950.43 | 1,043.43 | 69.00 | 43.00 | 138.00 | 80.00 |
| 60% | 1,131.68 | 1,234.68 | 1,200.68 | 1,311.68 | 83.00 | 51.00 | 166.00 | 96.00 |
| 70% | 1,426.17 | 1,547.17 | 1,507.17 | 1,636.17 | 97.00 | 60.00 | 194.00 | 111.00 |
| 80% | 1,657.80 | 1,795.80 | 1,749.80 | 1,897.80 | 111.00 | 68.00 | 222.00 | 127.00 |
| 90% | 1,862.96 | 2,017.96 | 1,966.96 | 2,132.96 | 125.00 | 77.00 | 250.00 | 143.00 |
| 100% | 3,106.04 | 3,279.22 | 3,221.85 | 3,406.04 | 138.98 | 86.05 | 277.96 | 158.82 |
Effective December 1, 2018 (the 2019 rates): 10% 140.05; 20% 276.84.
| Rating | Alone | Spouse | 1 child | Spouse and 1 child | Each parent | Extra child under 18 | School child | Spouse Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 428.83 | 479.83 | 462.83 | 516.83 | 41.00 | 25.00 | 82.00 | 47.00 |
| 40% | 617.73 | 685.73 | 662.73 | 735.73 | 54.00 | 33.00 | 109.00 | 62.00 |
| 50% | 879.36 | 964.36 | 935.36 | 1,026.36 | 68.00 | 42.00 | 136.00 | 78.00 |
| 60% | 1,113.86 | 1,215.86 | 1,181.86 | 1,290.86 | 82.00 | 50.00 | 164.00 | 94.00 |
| 70% | 1,403.71 | 1,522.71 | 1,482.71 | 1,609.71 | 95.00 | 59.00 | 191.00 | 109.00 |
| 80% | 1,631.69 | 1,767.69 | 1,722.69 | 1,867.69 | 109.00 | 67.00 | 218.00 | 125.00 |
| 90% | 1,833.62 | 1,986.62 | 1,935.62 | 2,098.62 | 123.00 | 76.00 | 246.00 | 141.00 |
| 100% | 3,057.13 | 3,227.58 | 3,171.12 | 3,352.41 | 136.79 | 84.69 | 273.58 | 156.32 |
Effective December 1, 2017 (the 2018 rates): 10% 136.24; 20% 269.30.
| Rating | Alone | Spouse | 1 child | Spouse and 1 child | Each parent | Extra child under 18 | School child | Spouse Aid and Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 417.15 | 466.15 | 450.15 | 503.15 | 39.00 | 24.00 | 79.00 | 46.00 |
| 40% | 600.90 | 666.90 | 644.90 | 714.90 | 53.00 | 32.00 | 106.00 | 61.00 |
| 50% | 855.41 | 937.41 | 910.41 | 998.41 | 66.00 | 41.00 | 133.00 | 76.00 |
| 60% | 1,083.52 | 1,182.52 | 1,149.52 | 1,255.52 | 79.00 | 49.00 | 159.00 | 91.00 |
| 70% | 1,365.48 | 1,481.48 | 1,442.48 | 1,566.48 | 93.00 | 57.00 | 186.00 | 106.00 |
| 80% | 1,587.25 | 1,719.25 | 1,675.25 | 1,816.25 | 106.00 | 65.00 | 212.00 | 122.00 |
| 90% | 1,783.68 | 1,932.68 | 1,882.68 | 2,041.68 | 119.00 | 74.00 | 239.00 | 137.00 |
| 100% | 2,973.86 | 3,139.67 | 3,084.75 | 3,261.10 | 133.06 | 82.38 | 266.13 | 152.06 |
Other questions people ask
How is VA back pay calculated?
For each month from the month after your effective date until the new rate starts, VA pays the new monthly rate minus what it already paid you. Rates change every December 1, so each month uses the rate table in effect that month.
When does VA back pay start?
Payments start on the first day of the month after the effective date (38 U.S.C. 5111). An effective date of March 15 means back pay starts on April 1.
What is the effective date?
It is the date VA starts the new rating, shown in your decision letter. It is often the date VA got your claim or intent to file, or the day after discharge for a claim filed within a year of leaving service.
Does back pay include dependents?
Yes, at a combined rating of 30% or more VA adds amounts for a spouse, children and dependent parents. This calculator uses the same dependents for every month; if they changed, VA’s amount will differ.