Last fact-check: July 27, 2026 · Primary sources: U.S. Treasury (Fiscal Service), 38 U.S.C. § 5120, VA · General information, not a payment guarantee
Quick answer
VA disability compensation is paid monthly, in arrears — each payment covers the prior month. By law (38 U.S.C. § 5120(e)), when the first of the month falls on a weekend or federal holiday, payment is issued on the preceding business day. The 2026 settlement dates below come from the U.S. Treasury’s official 2026 schedule for recurring benefit payments — VA does not publish its own consumer calendar.
Key takeaways
- These are Treasury settlement dates; the day funds appear in your account can vary by bank.
- After a new decision with a rating of 10% or higher, VA says the first payment should arrive within 15 days.
- Each date pays the previous month’s benefit (the January 1 date pays December’s benefit, issued Dec 31 when adjusted).
2026 VA payment dates (Treasury schedule)
| Benefit month | Payment (settlement) date |
|---|---|
| December 2025 | December 31, 2025* |
| January 2026 | January 30, 2026* |
| February 2026 | February 27, 2026* |
| March 2026 | April 1, 2026 |
| April 2026 | May 1, 2026 |
| May 2026 | June 1, 2026 |
| June 2026 | July 1, 2026 |
| July 2026 | July 31, 2026* |
| August 2026 | September 1, 2026 |
| September 2026 | October 1, 2026 |
| October 2026 | October 30, 2026* |
| November 2026 | December 1, 2026 |
| December 2026 | December 31, 2026* |
Why some dates move earlier
The statute directs VA to issue payments so they arrive by the first of the month, and when that first day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal public holiday, on the preceding business day “to the maximum extent practicable.” That is why February’s benefit settles on February 27 (March 1 is a Sunday) and July’s settles on July 31 (August 1 is a Saturday).
Settlement date is not bank-posting time: Treasury settles the payment on the dates above; when your bank or card makes funds available can differ by institution. VA does not guarantee a specific in-account time.
Your first payment after a decision
If your decision notice shows a rating of 10% or higher, VA says you should get your first payment within 15 days of the decision. Recurring monthly payments then follow the schedule above.
Related guides
Official sources
- Treasury Fiscal Service — 2026 ACH payment schedule (Green Book)
- 38 U.S.C. § 5120(e) — payment timing rule
- VA — payment history and first-payment timing
- VA Form 21-8764 — “payments… at the beginning of each month for the prior month”
- 38 U.S.C. § 5111 — when a new award’s payments begin
Editorial status: This guide has been checked against the cited official sources. Independent subject-matter review has not been completed. Every date above was checked against the Treasury Fiscal Service 2026 recurring-benefit schedule and the statutory rule on July 27, 2026 — including a second independent re-open of the Treasury PDF. These are Treasury settlement dates, not a VA-published consumer calendar. The Guru Gazette is independent and is not affiliated with VA or Treasury.