VA Benefits Increase for 2025 COLA – date to get the new payments
2025 COLA Adjustment: Veterans receiving benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will see a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase for 2025, aimed at offsetting inflation
COLA Percentage: The actual percentage increase for 2025 will be determined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, which tracks inflation, and is typically announced by October
Payment Start Date: Veterans can expect to see the new, increased payments start on January 1, 2025
First Full Payment with Increase: The first full month that reflects the 2025 COLA increase will be January 2025, with payments usually disbursed by February 1, 2025
Disability Compensation: Veterans receiving disability compensation will see their payments adjusted for the new COLA percentage as part of this increase
Survivor Benefits: In addition to disability benefits, survivors receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) will also benefit from the 2025 COLA increase
Retroactive Adjustments: Payments reflecting the 2025 COLA will not be retroactive to prior months before the adjustment
Alignment with Social Security: Like previous years, the VA's COLA increase is aligned with the Social Security Administration’s COLA to ensure uniformity in federal benefit increases