Am I underpaid?

Start with what hits your bank. Then check what might be missing — spouse, kids, TDIU, SMC — and see how far off official tables say you are.

Check my pay Evidence gap checker

Am I underpaid?

Start with what you get paid now. Then check what might be missing — spouse, kids, TDIU, SMC — and see how far off the tables say you are.

Step 1

What are you currently getting paid each month?

Use the VA disability compensation deposit only — not drill pay, retirement, or debt offsets if you can separate them.

Step 2

What's your combined rating?

From your rating decision / award letter. If you have TDIU, still pick the schedular % shown — toggle TDIU below.

Step 3

What might you be missing?

Check anything that applies to your life — even if you're not sure it's on the award. We'll show what pay should look like with those included.

Spouse should be on my awardMarried but pay looks like veteran-alone rates.Dependent parent should be on my awardA parent you support may add to monthly pay at 30%+.I have TDIU (or should)Pays at the 100% rate even if combined rating is lower.SMC-K should stack (+$139.87)Loss of use / anatomical loss add-on that often gets missed.Child(ren) should be on my awardKids under 18 (school-age 18–23 not fully modeled here).

Higher SMC level (L–S) that replaces base pay

Leave as None unless your letter shows SMC-L or higher.

Rates effective December 1, 2025 (2026 compensation year). Verify on VA.gov veteran compensation rates or SMC rates.

Enter your current payRates effective December 1, 2025 (2026)

Start with your current deposit

Once we know what hits your bank, toggle anything that might be missing from the award. The gap updates live.

You get now: —
Tables say with your checks: $1,808.45; Paid at 70%

How that estimate is built

Schedular pay at 70% for selected dependents: $1808.45 (rates effective December 1, 2025).
Total estimated monthly pay: $1808.45.

What to check next

Still skim the award letter yearly
COLA changes every December. Dependents age out. A quick letter check beats leaving money on the table.
Pay chart →

Estimate only — not an official VA audit. Debt offsets, withholding, school-child add-ons, spouse A&A, and some multi-parent households are not fully modeled. Verify with your award letter and an accredited VSO.

Why veterans get shorted

Compensation is based on your rounded rating and the dependent / SMC / TDIU lines on your award. People often discover a spouse or child was never added, SMC-K never stacked, TDIU wasn’t applied to pay, or they’re still looking at last year’s COLA numbers.

This audit uses the same official Dec 1, 2025 tables as our pay chart and combined rating calculator. It does not see debt offsets or every rare dependent combo — if there’s a real gap after you verify inputs, take it to a VSO.

Related VA Benefits Tools

Explore more free calculators to estimate your VA disability benefits.