Military Retiree and VA COLA 2027: 3.6%

The 2027 cost-of-living increase for military retired pay, Survivor Benefit Plan annuities and VA disability compensation: the percentage, when it starts, what it adds to typical pensions and VA payments, and a calculator for your own amounts.

Military retired pay rises 3.6% on December 1, 2026, the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment, because the law ties it to the same consumer price index as Social Security, whose 3.6% COLA SSA announced on October 14, 2026. REDUX retirees get 2.6%; SBP annuities rise 3.6%. VA disability compensation is expected to rise 3.6% too: 100% for a veteran alone would go from $3,938.58 to about $4,080.37 a month. A High-3 E-7 with 20 years gains about $111.19 a month. Sources: SSA, 10 U.S.C. 1401a, VA.

Official The 3.6% is SSA’s announced 2027 COLA (SSA 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet, October 14, 2026); the retired pay rule is 10 U.S.C. 1401a. Projected The 2027 VA dollar amounts are our arithmetic until VA posts its table.

Military retired pay COLA
COLA calculator
VA disability COLA 2027
SBP and new retirees

Military retired pay COLA 2027: 3.6%

Military retired pay rises every December 1 by the percent increase in the consumer price index used for Social Security, measured to the quarter ending September 30 (10 U.S.C. 1401a(b)). For the increase effective December 1, 2026 that is 3.6%, the figure the Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026 (SSA 2027 COLA fact sheet). Members who took the Career Status Bonus (REDUX) get one percentage point less, 2.6% (1401a(b)(3)). The 2026 increase was 2.8% (SSA COLA history).

Monthly retired pay before and after the 3.6% COLA (pension: 10 U.S.C. 1409; COLA: 1401a, SSA)
Example (base = the 2026 monthly basic pay at that service)	Before	COLA	From Dec. 1, 2026	A month	A year
E-7, 20 years, High-3: base $6,177.30 × 50%	$3,088.65	3.6%	$3,199.84	+$111.19	+$1,334.28
E-8, 22 years, High-3: base $6,995.40 × 55%	$3,847.47	3.6%	$3,985.98	+$138.51	+$1,662.12
E-7, 20 years, REDUX (before 62): base $6,177.30 × 40%	$2,470.92	2.6%	$2,535.16	+$64.24	+$770.88
E-7, 20 years, Blended Retirement System: base $6,177.30 × 40%	$2,470.92	3.6%	$2,559.87	+$88.95	+$1,067.40
O-5, 20 years, High-3: base $11,713.80 × 50%	$5,856.90	3.6%	$6,067.75	+$210.85	+$2,530.20
O-4, 24 years, High-3: base $10,509.90 × 60%	$6,305.94	3.6%	$6,532.95	+$227.01	+$2,724.12

Retired pay from our military retirement pay calculator’s formula: 2.5% a year of service (2.0% under the Blended Retirement System), REDUX 1 point less for each year under 30 until 62 (10 U.S.C. 1409). The base here is the 2026 basic pay at that service, a simplification: a real High-3 is the average of the highest 36 months. Amounts are to the cent; your DFAS statement shows what is paid.

2027 COLA calculator: retired pay and VA compensation

Monthly retired pay now ($)

VA disability rating (veteran alone)

I took the Career Status Bonus (REDUX)

COLA 3.6% (REDUX 2.6%), effective December 1, 2026. Retired in 2026? Your first increase may be smaller (see below). VA amounts for 2027 are our projection until VA posts its table; with dependents, use the 2027 VA rates calculator.

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VA disability COLA 2027

VA says it is required by law to match the percentage of the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (VA compensation rates), and its tables take effect on December 1 (the 2026 table is “Effective December 1, 2025”). Congress enacts the increase each year: the 2026 bill, S. 4487, raises compensation and DIC from December 1, 2026 “by the same percentage” as Social Security benefits (bill text); last year’s act became law on November 25, 2025 (Public Law 119-42). So the VA increase for 2027 is expected to be 3.6%. The 2027 amounts below are Projected: the 2026 VA rate raised 3.6% and rounded to the cent, until VA posts its own table.

VA disability compensation, veteran alone: 2026 official (VA) and 2027 projected at 3.6%
Rating	2026 (official)	2027 (projected)	Increase a month
10%	$180.42	$186.92	+$6.50
20%	$356.66	$369.50	+$12.84
30%	$552.47	$572.36	+$19.89
40%	$795.84	$824.49	+$28.65
50%	$1,132.90	$1,173.68	+$40.78
60%	$1,435.02	$1,486.68	+$51.66
70%	$1,808.45	$1,873.55	+$65.10
80%	$2,102.15	$2,177.83	+$75.68
90%	$2,362.30	$2,447.34	+$85.04
100%	$3,938.58	$4,080.37	+$141.79

A retiree with both retired pay and VA compensation gets both increases. Example: the High-3 E-7 above at 100% (both are paid in full at a rating of 50% or more, 10 U.S.C. 1414): $3,199.84 retired pay plus $4,080.37 projected VA compensation = $7,280.21 a month from December 2026. 100% VA benefits and concurrent receipt →

Survivor Benefit Plan and new retirees

Survivor Benefit Plan annuities rise at the same time and by the same percent as the retired pay of the member who provided them (10 U.S.C. 1451(g)(1)), so SBP annuitants also get 3.6% (2.6% where the member was under REDUX).

Members who retired during the year do not always get the full increase the first time. Under the High-3 system the first increase is the price rise since the calendar quarter before the member became entitled to retired pay; under REDUX the first increase is reduced again; Final Pay retirees whose pay was set by a raise after the base quarter get the rise since that raise (10 U.S.C. 1401a(c)-(e)). DFAS publishes the resulting partial percentages; check your December retiree account statement.

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Common questions

What is the military retiree COLA for 2027?

3.6%, effective December 1, 2026, the Social Security COLA announced October 14, 2026 (SSA); REDUX retirees get 2.6% (10 U.S.C. 1401a).

What is the VA cost of living increase for 2027?

3.6% is expected: VA matches the Social Security percentage (VA) once Congress passes the yearly COLA act; the 2026 bill sets the same percentage from December 1, 2026 (S. 4487). 100% alone would rise from $3,938.58 to $4,080.37 a month (projected).

When does the 2027 COLA show up in military retired pay?

It takes effect December 1, 2026 (10 U.S.C. 1401a(b)(1)), so the first payment at the new rate is the one for December 2026.

How much will my retired pay go up in 2027?

Multiply it by 3.6%: $3,088.65 becomes $3,199.84, $111.19 more a month (SSA COLA). The calculator on this page does it for your amount.

Do SBP annuities get the 2027 COLA?

Yes. Each Survivor Benefit Plan annuity rises at the same time and by the same percent as the retired pay it is based on (10 U.S.C. 1451(g)).

Sources

QuantCalc is calculation software, not legal, tax or benefits advice. Last updated November 4, 2026.

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