Live checker

Permanent & Total Eligibility Checker

Learn what Permanent and Total (P&T) status means, how it differs from a schedular 100% rating, and why it matters for dependents and future exams.

Jump to checker TDIU checker

Permanent & Total Eligibility Checker

Check whether your answers look consistent with Permanent and Total (P&T) status.

Total disability basis

Decision letter indicates permanent / P&TVA scheduled a future examinationDisabilities are static / unlikely to improveAge or protection factors likely apply

Result

Your answers look consistent with Permanent & Total status

Total disability basis: schedular 100%.
Your decision language indicates permanence / P&T annotation.
Disabilities described as static / unlikely to improve support permanence.

Next steps

Confirm CHAMPVA / DEA Chapter 35 eligibility with the VA if dependents need those benefits.
P&T unlocks or simplifies some dependent benefits — verify each program’s rules separately.
This checker is educational only and not a VA determination.

Estimate 100% / total disability monthly pay

Same shared formula used across the site — dependents, TDIU, and SMC.

Combined / schedular rating

Pay options (shared formula)

TDIU (pay at 100% rate; combined rating still displays)Spouse

Number of children (0–8)

Uses official child / spouse+child tables. School-age (18–23) add-ons are not modeled here — verify those on VA.gov.

Dependent parent (1 parent add-on; two-parent / parent+child combos may differ — verify on VA.gov)SMC-K add-on ($139.87)

SMC level (replaces base pay)

Results

Exact combined

100.0%

Rounds to

100%

Estimated monthly pay

$3,938.58

Pay rating used: 100%

Scenario estimate only — not a VA award. Pending claims: budget to a lower rating until your decision letter arrives.

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

Pay breakdown

Schedular pay at 100% for selected dependents: $3938.58 (rates effective December 1, 2025).
Total estimated monthly pay: $3938.58.

Step-by-step math

Ratings sorted highest to lowest: 100%.
Step 1: Apply 100% to remaining 100.00% efficiency → adds 100.00 points. Combined so far: 100.00%. Remaining: 0.00%.
Exact combined 100.00% rounds to the nearest 10% → 100%.

“What if” simulator

Add a hypothetical new rating and see how combined % and pay change.

New rating to model

Current combined

100%

With new rating

100.0% → 100%

Current pay

$3,938.58

New pay / change

$3,938.58 (+$0.00)

Show simulated step-by-step math

Ratings sorted highest to lowest: 100%, 30%.
Step 1: Apply 100% to remaining 100.00% efficiency → adds 100.00 points. Combined so far: 100.00%. Remaining: 0.00%.
Step 2: Apply 30% to remaining 0.00% efficiency → adds 0.00 points. Combined so far: 100.00%. Remaining: 0.00%.
Exact combined 100.00% rounds to the nearest 10% → 100%.

What Permanent and Total status means

P&T means the VA considers your total disability reasonably certain to continue throughout life. Total usually means schedular 100% or TDIU. Permanent means material improvement is not expected. A 100% rating is not automatically P&T if future exams are still planned.

If you are still working toward total disability, use the combined rating calculator and TDIU checker. Severe disabilities may also involve SMC.

Why P&T matters

P&T can affect dependent programs such as CHAMPVA and DEA Chapter 35, and may reduce routine re-examinations. Confirm each benefit’s rules separately. This checker is educational only and not affiliated with the VA.

Permanent & Total Eligibility Checker