Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026

This bill mandates an increase in various compensation rates for veterans and their survivors. Effective December 1, 2026, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must implement these adjustments. This ensures that benefits keep pace with the cost of living.

Specifically, the legislation mandates increases for wartime disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, and the clothing allowance for veterans. It also includes increases for dependency and indemnity compensation paid to surviving spouses and children of certain disabled veterans. The percentage increase for these benefits will mirror the cost-of-living adjustment determined for Social Security benefits for the same period, ensuring parity with other federal benefits.

Furthermore, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is authorized to administratively adjust disability compensation rates for certain other beneficiaries not covered under chapter 11 of title 38. The bill also requires the Secretary to publish these new adjusted rates in the Federal Register by a specified deadline, coinciding with the publication of Social Security adjustments.