| Compton: Compensation rates to increase 5.8 percent higher next year By George Compton Q. Has the VA published the new compensation rates for next year? I have a 70 percent disability rating; I am married and have a 20-year-old child attending college. A. The new rates are published and reflect a 5.8 percent increase. The new rates will be reflected on the checks at the end of December. Veterans rated 10 percent will receive $123 per month, and veterans rated at 20 percent will receive $243 per month. Veterans rated 30 percent and higher get additional pay for spouses and dependent children. That additional pay increases with the percentage of disability. Here are the single rates: 30 percent is $376; 40 percent is $541; 50 percent is $770; 60 percent is $974; 70 percent is $1,228; 80 percent is $1,427; 90 percent is $1,604; and 100 percent is $2,673. The married rates: 30 percent is $421; 40 percent is $601; 50 percent is $845; 60 percent is $1,064; 70 percent is $1,333; 80 percent is $1,547; 90 percent is $1,739; and 100 percent is $2,823. Additional rates for children are based on the veteran’s level of disability. In your case, at 70 percent with a spouse and dependent child in college, you will receive $1,501 per month. If your child is attending a state-owned college, do not forget the fee waiver. The new rate for surviving spouses who are receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation because of a service-connected death is $1,154. That rate increases $286 for each dependent child. The new rate for single veterans receiving Improved Disability Pension is $985, and the new rate for married veterans is $1,291. Those rates increase if the veteran is considered housebound or in need of aid and attendance. Surviving spouses receiving Improved Death Pension will get $661. This rate also increases with the need if housebound or aid and attendance is required. — George Compton, a retired Army colonel, is the veterans service officer for the County of Ventura, Human Services Agency. Send your questions to Veterans Service Office, 1701 Pacific Ave., Suite 110, Oxnard, CA 93033; phone number 385-6366; fax 385-6371; or e-mail George.Compton@ventura.org. —— MilitaryConnection.com is a portal of all things military. We have thousands of pages and hundreds of databases of valuable information and resources. There is something for everyone. All of this is provided free to users. Additionally, we feature all types of Columns like this one to keep you informed. We will post your press releases, special events, newsletters, professional conferences and seminars, reunions, job fairs, and videos to help organizations get out the word. One of the areas of our focus is connecting candidates from the military community with outstanding government and civilian employers. We are well aware that candidates from the military community across the board have a work ethic second to none. They make highly valued employees. MilitaryConnection.com has a multitude of employment resources including a Directory of over 30,000 employers, Job Tips, Columns, our Job Board, Virtual Job Fair and much more. We understand the importance of education. Please check out our new Scholarship Directory featuring thousands of scholarships. When the next tour is back home, it’s on MilitaryConnection.com. |