# Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)
**AGENCY:**
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
**ACTION:**
Notice.
**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 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**
| Veteran paygrade | Amount 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 |
*(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**
| Number of children | Total | Each |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | $717.50 | $717.50 |
| 2 | 1,032.18 | 516.09 |
| 3 | 1,346.92 | 448.97 |
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.