Published October 21, 2026. The items below were current and checked against primary sources as of that date. This is an archived issue of our weekly email — subscribe here to get new issues first.
The official 2027 COLA is 3.6%
On October 14, 2026, Social Security announced the official 2027 cost-of-living adjustment: 3.6 percent. (Source: SSA press release; ssa.gov/cola.) Social Security benefits rise in January 2027.
VA disability compensation increases have historically followed the same percentage, take effect December 1, and first show up in the payment at the end of December or early January. For eligible retirees who receive CRSC, the amount is tied to VA rates, so it generally moves with them, subject to the retired pay cap. How your own retired pay adjusts is set by DFAS, so confirm it there rather than assuming.
Has VA published its 2027 table? Not yet. As of today, VA’s compensation rates page still shows rates effective December 1, 2025. So we are printing no estimated 2027 dollar amounts. We will watch for the table at our 2027 pay chart page.
Nothing new in the rules, so here are the evidence basics
We found no new VA rule change this week that alters how ratings are decided, so we are not inventing one. What is worth remembering: for an original claim, VA generally looks for a current disability, an event or injury in service, and a link between the two. Increase claims need current evidence that the condition has worsened. (Source: VA.gov, evidence needed for your disability claim.)
Why it matters for CRSC: a CRSC packet is built on the ratings VA has already decided. Keep your decision letters and the evidence behind them organized, because that is where a packet starts.
Planning around an unofficial 2027 pay table
Within days of a COLA announcement, charts with specific 2027 dollar amounts start circulating. Until VA publishes its own table, those figures are estimates at best. Budgeting a CRSC-versus-CRDP decision on a number that is not official can leave eligible retirees with the wrong comparison.
This week, write down your current monthly VA compensation amount from your most recent VA award letter or account, and note the date on it.
That is your baseline. When VA publishes its 2027 table, you can compare against official figures instead of guesses.
Then run the free CRSC calculator to see what your ratings may mean for your check — an estimate for education only, not a guarantee of eligibility or payment.
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