Notice2026-02771
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 11, 2026
Effective
December 1, 2025
Issuing agencies
Veterans Affairs Department
Abstract
As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025, VA is hereby giving notice of COLA in certain benefit rates. These COLAs affect the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Program. The rate of adjustment is tied to the increase in Social Security benefits effective December 1, 2025, as announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA has announced an increase of 2.8%.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6289-6290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02771]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
[Docket No. VA-2026-VACO-0001]
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustments
(COLA)
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2025, VA is hereby giving notice of COLA in certain
benefit rates. These COLAs affect the Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation (DIC) Program. The rate of adjustment is tied to the
increase in Social Security benefits effective December 1, 2025, as
announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA has
announced an increase of 2.8%.
DATES: The increases in amounts became effective December 1, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janel Keyes, Assistant Director,
Pension and Fiduciary Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, 202-
632-8863.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of the Veterans'
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025 (Pub. L. 119-42), VA
is required to increase, effective December 1, 2025, the benefit rates
of DIC programs by the same percentage as increases in the benefit
amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act. VA is
required to publish notice of the increased rates in the Federal
Register.
The SSA has announced a 2.8% COLA increase in Social Security
benefits effective December 1, 2025. Therefore, applying the same
percentage, the following increased rates for the DIC program became
effective December 1, 2025:
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Monthly Payment Rates
DIC Payable to a Surviving Spouse--Veteran Death on or After January 1,
1993
Basic Monthly Rate: $1,699.36.
If at the time of the veteran's death, the veteran was in receipt
of or entitled
[[Page 6290]]
to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated
totally disabling (including a rating based on individual
unemployability) for a continuous period of at least 8 years
immediately preceding death AND the surviving spouse was married to the
veteran for those same 8 years, add: $360.85.
For each dependent child under the age of 18, add: $421.00.
If the surviving spouse is entitled to Aid and Attendance benefits,
add $421.00. If the surviving spouse is entitled to Housebound
benefits, add $197.22.
If the surviving spouse has one or more children under the age of
18 on the award per 38 U.S.C. 1311(f), add the 2-year transitional
benefit of $359.00.
DIC Payable to a Surviving Spouse--Veteran death prior to January 1,
1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount
Veteran paygrade payable
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-1(f)..................................................... $1,699.36
E-2(f)..................................................... 1,699.36
E-3(a, f).................................................. 1,699.36
E-4(f)..................................................... 1,699.36
E-5(f)..................................................... 1,699.36
E-6(f)..................................................... 1,699.36
E-7(g)..................................................... 1,758.09
E-8(g)..................................................... 1,856.02
E-9(g)..................................................... 1,935.72
E-9(b)..................................................... 2,089.58
W-1(g)..................................................... 1,794.49
W-2(g)..................................................... 1,865.80
W-3(g)..................................................... 1,920.33
W-4(g)..................................................... 2,032.23
O-1(g)..................................................... 1,794.49
O-2(g)..................................................... 1,856.02
O-3(g)..................................................... 1,983.26
O-4........................................................ 2,102.15
O-5........................................................ 2,313.37
O-6........................................................ 2,608.49
O-7........................................................ 2,815.45
O-8........................................................ 3,092.41
O-9........................................................ 3,307.79
O-10....................................................... 3,628.08
O-10(c).................................................... 3,893.83
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(a) Surviving spouse of Aviation Cadet or other service not covered
by this table is paid the DIC rate for enlisted E-3.
(b) Veteran who served as Sergeant Major of the Army or Marine
Corps, Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Navy, Chief Master Sergeant of
the Air Force, or Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, or as Master
Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard.
(c) Veteran served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief
of Staff of the Army or Air Force, Chief of Naval Operations,
Commandant of the Marine Corps, or as Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(d) If surviving spouse entitled to Aid and Attendance benefits,
add $421.00; if entitled to Housebound benefits, add $197.22.
(e) Add $421.00 for each child under 18.
(f) Add $360.85 if veteran rated totally disabled for 8 continuous
years prior to death and surviving spouse was married to veteran those
same 8 years.
(g) Base rate is $2,060.21 if veteran rated totally disabled 8
continuous years prior to death and surviving spouse was married to
veteran those same 8 years.
DIC Payable to Children
Surviving Spouse Entitled
For each child over the age of 18 who is attending an approved
course of education, the rate is $356.66.
For each child over the age of 18 who is helpless, the rate is
$717.50.
No Surviving Spouse Entitled
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each
Number of children Total child's
payable share
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................................... $717.50 $717.50
2............................................... 1,032.18 516.09
3............................................... 1,346.92 448.97
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For each additional child, add $255.95 to the total payable amount
to be paid in equal shares to each child.
For each additional helpless child over 18, add $421.00 to the
amount payable to the helpless child.
Signing Authority
Douglas A. Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on February 6, 2026 and authorized the undersigned to sign and
submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Gabriela DeCuir,
Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Veterans
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2026-02771 Filed 2-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 11, 2026.
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