(Photo: U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Owen Davies)
Disabled Veterans, surviving spouses and eligible dependents would receive a cost-of-living increase under a bipartisan Senate bill introduced this month.
The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026 would raise certain VA benefits so they keep pace with inflation. The bill was introduced by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan), and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who lead the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
The legislation would apply to VA disability compensation, clothing allowances and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or DIC, for surviving spouses and children. These benefits support Veterans with service-connected disabilities and families who qualify after the loss of a Service Member or Veteran. The yearly adjustment is meant to help Veterans and Military Families deal with rising costs for basic needs such as housing, food, transportation and utilities.
The bill does not name a specific payment increase. Instead, it would align the VA increase with the annual cost-of-living adjustment used by the Social Security Administration. That adjustment is based on inflation data and is announced each year. The latest Social Security COLA was 2.8 percent for 2026 benefits.
If passed, the increase would take effect Dec. 1, 2026. That would affect benefit payments going into 2027 for Veterans with service-connected disabilities and for certain survivors who receive DIC benefits.
The measure has support from lawmakers in both parties. The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee said co-sponsors include Democrats, Republicans, and independents.
For many Disabled Veterans, a modest increase can still make a real difference. VA disability compensation is often part of a fixed monthly budget. The same is true for survivors who rely on DIC after the death of a Service Member or Veteran tied to military service.
The bill is still early in the legislative process. According to Stars and Stripes, it was referred to the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee after introduction. It would still need to pass Congress and be signed into law before any increase is applied.
COLA bills are typically passed annually, as VA disability and survivor payments do not automatically increase without congressional action in the same way Social Security benefits do.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.
