Your VA Disability Benefits

What do I get?

If you qualify for VA Disability Compensation benefits, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives you a specific rating for each service-connected disability you have. It uses percentages by tens (10%, 20%, etc.) up to 100% to show how much your condition limits your ability to work. That disability rating is then used to calculate how much you get in monthly benefit payments. Learn more about VA disability ratings.

Your monthly benefit amount also depends on whether you are living with your dependent spouse, parent or parents, or child or children. Use the VA’s compensation benefits rate tables to find your monthly benefit payment amount based on your disability rating and your living situation.

However, your monthly payment might be less than the standard amount if either:

• You get military retirement pay, disability severance pay, or separation pay, or
• You were convicted of a felony and as a result are in a federal, state, or local facility for more than 60 days.

Individual Unemployability (IU)

If you can’t get or keep a job that pays as much as the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) because of your service-related disability, the Individual Unemployability (IU) program may let you get paid benefits as if you have a 100% disability rating. Your disability rating doesn’t change, but you are paid at the higher rate.

Even if you have a job, you might qualify for IU. For example, you can get IU if you make less than FPG (called “marginal employment”) or if you have a job where, because of your disability, you don’t have to do exactly the same work or meet the same standards as someone else doing that job (called “sheltered employment”).

For example, if you work for a friend or a relative who knows about your disability and makes special work rules just for you, the VA may decide that you can get IU. However, be careful if you are working as a volunteer. You could lose your IU benefits if the VA decides that the unpaid work you do shows that you are employable.

Learn more about Individual Unemployability.

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC)

If you have lost (or lost the use of) an organ or limb and you get VA Disability Compensation, you might qualify for tax-free Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) payments. While Disability Compensation pays you for lost wages, SMC pays for things like personal inconvenience. You may also get SMC if you can’t leave your house or bed without help, or you need regular help from another person with your daily activities. SMC is one of the most complex VA programs.

Learn more about Special Monthly Compensation, including the current benefit rates.

How do I get the money?

The U.S. Treasury pays all federal benefits electronically. This means you can get your payments by direct deposit (your payments go straight into your bank account each month automatically) or through a Direct Express debit card.

For direct deposit, the U.S. Treasury Department:

• Answers common questions
• Explains what you need to sign up, and
• Has an online application.

If you want to have your benefits payments added to a Direct Express debit card each month:

1. You can get your payments electronically even if you do not have a bank account.
2. You have access to your money any time at automated teller machines (ATMs) and you can buy things anywhere that accepts MasterCard.
3. You can access your account information by telephone and Internet, make purchases over the Internet, and get cash back at stores without paying a fee.

For more details or to sign up for a Direct Express debit card, visit GoDirect.gov or call the U.S. Treasury Electronic Payment Solution Center at 1-877-874-6347.