Stop! Don't Choose Your Concurrent Receipt Until You See This

Every year the VA is required under 38 U.S.C. 5312 and the annual Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act to raise disability pay by the exact same percentage Social Security announces. No vote. No debate. It's automatic. And this October, a second separate change lands right on top of it. WHERE THE COLA NUMBER STANDS RIGHT NOW The Social Security Administration builds the cost-of-living figure from July, August and September inflation data and doesn't announce the final number until the second week of October. The Senior Citizens League's latest projection sits at 3.9%, with independent estimates ranging from 2.8% to 4.7% depending on how inflation moves this month. That number is not official yet. I want to be straight with you about that. WHEN IT ACTUALLY HITS YOUR ACCOUNT Whatever it lands on, the VA applies it effective December 1, 2026 — which means the first payment that actually reflects the new rate is the one that arrives around January 1, 2027. THE SECOND CHANGE: CONCURRENT RECEIPT If you draw both military retired pay and VA disability, October 1 is when the new Veterans Choice for Concurrent Benefits program opens, created by the 2026 Defense Authorization Act. Under the new tiered CRDP calculation you'll choose between your full concurrent retirement and disability pay under the tiered system, or a blended payment option instead. That choice carries real tax and long-term consequences. It is not something to decide blind. THE AVOY MOVE • Pull your own award letter today so you know your current combined rating and the dependents the VA has on file — that's the base the new percentage gets applied to. • Once the VA publishes the official COLA in the Federal Register in November, run the math for your specific rating and dependent status. • If concurrent receipt applies to you, don't touch that October election until you've mapped both options side by side. THE VA BENEFITS MASTERY LIBRARY, IN FOUR COLLECTIONS 1. Claims and Approval — from your first claim through the mistakes that get first claims denied 2. Ratings and Compensation — what a rating actually pays, how combined ratings are calculated, how to increase one without risking what you already have 3. Appeals and Advanced Strategy — the three review paths after a denial, secondary conditions, PTSD and mental health claims 4. Special Subjects — the PACT Act and toxic exposure, and benefits for veterans living abroad Every book is available as an instant PDF at https://www.avoyvet.com — or in paperback, hardcover and Kindle on Amazon. MEMBERSHIP Navigator Plus $19/month (full library plus guided tools) • Navigator Pro $39/month (adds the Multi-Claim Strategy Workspace) I am A. Perkins — former U.S. Air Force nuclear missile launch officer, disabled veteran, and author of 14 Amazon best-selling books. ▶ Ask the AVOY Veteran Navigator AI free, 24/7: https://www.avoyvet.com 🔔 Subscribe and get VA Disability Claims for Beginners free. Educational information only. AVOY is not the VA, does not file or represent claims, and does not replace your own award letter or a licensed provider's opinion. Not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Verify current rates on VA.gov. We've got your six. Your VA disability pay is set to increase this January. Learn how the new COLA and concurrent receipt changes affect you. The VA follows the Social Security Administration for cost-of-living adjustments, meaning automatic increases are on the way. If you draw both military retired pay and VA disability, October marks the start of the new Veterans Choice for Concurrent Benefits program. This shift introduces a tiered CRDP calculation that offers a choice between your full concurrent retirement and disability pay or a blended payment option. These adjustments carry real tax and long-term consequences that require careful planning. Before you make any decisions, pull your current award letter to verify your combined rating and dependent status. Once the official COLA is published in the Federal Register, map out both payment options side by side to ensure you understand the financial impact on your specific VA benefits. Subscribe for weekly VA disability pay breakdowns and use the Avoy Veteran Navigator AI to map your specific claim path. #VACOLA #VADisability #VABenefits #ConcurrentReceipt #CRDP #VeteranPay