{
  "id": "va-back-pay",
  "version": "b264a385ed46",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "VA Back Pay Calculator",
  "question": "How much VA back pay will I get?",
  "summary": "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).",
  "category": "finance",
  "subcategory": "retirement",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/finance/va-back-pay-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/finance/va-back-pay-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "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.",
  "assumptions": [
    "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."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "new": {
        "title": "New combined rating",
        "description": "The combined rating VA granted in the decision.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "0",
          "10",
          "20",
          "30",
          "40",
          "50",
          "60",
          "70",
          "80",
          "90",
          "100"
        ]
      },
      "old": {
        "title": "Rating VA already paid",
        "description": "The combined rating VA paid you during the back pay period (0% if you had no rating).",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "0",
          "10",
          "20",
          "30",
          "40",
          "50",
          "60",
          "70",
          "80",
          "90",
          "100"
        ]
      },
      "eff": {
        "title": "Effective date",
        "description": "The effective date of the new rating in the VA decision letter (often the date VA got your claim).",
        "type": "string",
        "format": "date"
      },
      "thru": {
        "title": "Back pay through",
        "description": "The last month of back pay: usually the month before VA starts paying the new rate.",
        "type": "string",
        "format": "date"
      },
      "spouse": {
        "title": "Married",
        "description": "On when you have a spouse VA counts as your dependent.",
        "type": "boolean"
      },
      "aa": {
        "title": "Spouse gets Aid and Attendance",
        "description": "On when your spouse needs the regular aid and attendance of another person.",
        "type": "boolean"
      },
      "parents": {
        "title": "Dependent parents",
        "description": "How many of your parents depend on you for support.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "0",
          "1",
          "2"
        ]
      },
      "kids": {
        "title": "Children under 18",
        "description": "Dependent children under age 18 during the whole period.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 20
      },
      "school": {
        "title": "Children 18 to 23 in school",
        "description": "Dependent children age 18 to 23 in an approved school program during the whole period.",
        "type": "integer",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 20
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "backPay": {
      "label": "Estimated back pay",
      "description": "The new monthly rate minus the rate already paid, added up over every month of back pay.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "months": {
      "label": "Months of back pay",
      "description": "From the first day of the month after the effective date through the month of the end date.",
      "format": "integer"
    },
    "period": {
      "label": "Back pay months",
      "description": "The first and last month counted.",
      "format": "text"
    },
    "monthlyNew": {
      "label": "New monthly rate",
      "description": "The monthly pay at the new rating, at the rates of the last month counted.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "monthlyGain": {
      "label": "Monthly increase",
      "description": "The new monthly rate minus the old one, at the rates of the last month counted.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "note": {
      "label": "Rates used",
      "description": "Which VA rate tables the months use.",
      "format": "text"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "new": "70",
      "old": "30",
      "eff": "2025-10-02",
      "thru": "2026-10-02",
      "spouse": false,
      "aa": false,
      "parents": "0",
      "kids": 0,
      "school": 0
    },
    "outputs": {
      "backPay": 15037.55,
      "months": 12,
      "period": "November 2025 to October 2026",
      "monthlyNew": 1808.45,
      "monthlyGain": 1255.98,
      "note": "Each month uses the VA rates in effect that month (rates change each December 1)."
    },
    "text": "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."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "new": "70",
        "old": "30",
        "eff": "2025-03-15",
        "thru": "2025-11-30",
        "spouse": false,
        "parents": "0",
        "kids": 0,
        "school": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "months": 8,
        "backPay": 9774.16,
        "monthlyGain": 1221.77,
        "monthlyNew": 1759.19
      },
      "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"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "new": "50",
        "old": "0",
        "eff": "2024-10-10",
        "thru": "2026-02-28",
        "spouse": true,
        "parents": "0",
        "kids": 1,
        "school": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "months": 16,
        "backPay": 20668.34,
        "monthlyNew": 1322.9
      },
      "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"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "new": "100",
        "old": "40",
        "eff": "2019-05-20",
        "thru": "2020-01-31",
        "spouse": false,
        "parents": "1",
        "kids": 1,
        "school": 0
      },
      "expect": {
        "months": 8,
        "backPay": 20811.52
      },
      "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; 6 × $2,591.18 + 2 × $2,632.22 = $20,811.52"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Current Veterans disability compensation rates: https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/",
    "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Past rates: 2018 to 2025 (https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/past-rates-2025/ and the same address with each year)",
    "United States Code, 38 U.S.C. 5111 (Commencement of period of payment): https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/38/5111?type=usc&year=mostrecent&link-type=html",
    "United States Code, 38 U.S.C. 1115 (Additional compensation for dependents): https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/38/1115?type=usc&year=mostrecent&link-type=html"
  ],
  "related": [
    "va-disability",
    "va-loan",
    "ssdi"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}