Who you can add
Once your combined rating hits 30%, the VA pays additional monthly compensation for: a spouse; children under 18; children 18–23 in full-time school; children of any age permanently disabled before 18; and parents who depend on you financially. Every dependent you don't add is money left on the table each month.
What it's worth in 2026
| Rating | Alone | + Spouse | + Spouse & 1 child |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | $549.19 | $614.19 | $662.19 |
| 50% | $1,126.29 | $1,234.29 | $1,313.29 |
| 70% | $1,797.42 | $1,948.42 | $2,059.42 |
| 100% | $4,057.13 | $4,274.13 | $4,433.13 |
Additional children, school-age children, and dependent parents add further amounts — model your exact household in the dependency calculator.
How to add them
- Online (fastest) — VA.gov → "Add or remove dependents." Straightforward spouse/child additions often process automatically through the rules engine, sometimes in days.
- By form — VA FORM 21-686c for spouse/children/parents; add VA FORM 21-674 for each child 18–23 in school.
Have ready: marriage date and place, dependents' SSNs and birth dates, prior marriage end dates for both spouses, and school enrollment details for 21-674.
Add a dependent within one year of the qualifying event (marriage, birth) or of the rating that made you eligible, and payment is retroactive to that event. Miss the window and payment starts from your filing date instead.
Keep it current — both directions
Divorce, a child turning 18 (and not in school), or a death must be reported promptly. Overpayments from stale dependent records become VA debts, clawed back from future checks. Two minutes online beats a debt letter.
School-age children (18–23)
Benefits continue while the child is enrolled full-time, via Form 21-674 with the school's details each academic year. The add-on is larger than the under-18 amount — $243/month at 70% in 2026 — so don't let it lapse at graduation-from-high-school without refiling.