By Aliss Higham
Copyright newsweek
Millions of American veterans will receive their monthly disability compensation in October—but when exactly will payments arrive?What Are Veterans Benefits?Roughly 6.5 million U.S. veterans collect monthly, tax-free disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These payments are provided to veterans whose health conditions began or worsened during their military service.The program also extends support to certain surviving family members, including spouses, dependent children, and even parents of deceased service members.When Are Benefits Paid in October?VA benefits are paid at the end of each month, and in October there will be two payment dates:
Wednesday, October 1, for September
Friday, October 31, for October
Further payments throughout the rest of 2025 are expected on these dates:
Monday, December 1, for November
Wednesday, December 31, for December
Those whose VA disability payments do not arrive as scheduled should contact the veterans benefits hotline at 800-827-1000, which is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. They can also visit their nearest VA benefits office.How Much Can You Get?The amount a veteran receives depends on two factors: their VA disability rating and whether they have dependents such as a spouse, children, or parents. Ratings are assigned in 10 percent increments. The higher the rating, the greater the monthly benefit. Veterans with multiple service-connected conditions receive a combined rating that determines their total compensation.Every eligible veteran starts with a base payment. For instance, a 10 percent disability rating equals $175.51 per month, while a 20 percent rating raises it to $346.95. At the top tier, a veteran rated 100 percent with a spouse, one child, and two dependent parents can collect $4,544.23 monthly. Extra compensation may be available for additional dependents. Full details are published on the VA’s website.Who Qualifies for VA Benefits?To qualify, both of the following must apply:
You have a current illness or injury (a medical condition) that affects your mind or body.
You served on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.
In addition, at least one of these must also be true:
You became sick or injured during your military service, and you can link your current condition to that illness or injury (an in-service disability claim).
You had an illness or injury before joining the military, and your service made it worse (a pre-service disability claim).
You developed a disability connected to your active-duty service that didn’t appear until after your service ended (a post-service disability claim).
The VA considers a wide range of physical and mental health conditions when reviewing disability compensation claims. Physical issues can include chronic back problems tied to a diagnosed condition, respiratory illnesses such as lung disease, hearing loss, scarring from injuries or surgery, limited mobility, ulcers, and cancers or other illnesses linked to toxic exposure. Mental health conditions may also qualify, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and conditions related to military sexual trauma.
