Start here: money after the rating
You have the rating and a tax-free check that shows up every month. There is a whole industry built around helping you get here, and almost nothing honest about what to do with the money after. This is the short version of what actually matters, and most of it applies whether you are at 10% or 100%.
The five things that matter at any rating
- Your check is tax-free, and that is worth more than the number. A tax-free dollar beats a taxable one. Before you compare your VA income to a salary or a pension, run the pre-tax-equivalent number. It is almost always bigger than people expect.
- Your check is a safety net, and that changes your options. Most people invest nervously, because a paycheck can disappear. Yours arrives every month, for life, no matter what the market does. That safety net is why you can afford to be more patient than most investors. Before any money decision, be clear about what your check covers on its own.
- Where you live can cut your tax bill. Many states reduce or eliminate property tax for disabled veterans, and the rules vary a lot by state and rating. For a homeowner this is often the single biggest lever.
- Concurrent receipt, if you are a military retiree. If you have both a military pension and a VA rating, you may be leaving money on the table through CRDP (Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay) or CRSC (Combat-Related Special Compensation) — two programs that restore pension money the VA offset normally takes away. It is worth checking your statement.
- Protect the check, and know who is circling it. A guaranteed income stream attracts salespeople and outright scams. Never pay anyone to file or increase a claim, and learn the few questions that expose a bad actor in about two minutes.
Find what applies to you
- By your rating. Benefits gate by your percentage. If you are 100% permanent and total, start with our Benefits by Rating page to see exactly what you qualify for at your percentage.
- By your state. Property-tax exemptions and state perks vary widely. See your own state on our Benefits by State page.
- By your award. If you were awarded the Purple Heart or the Medal of Honor, that status unlocks its own benefits. See our Purple Heart & Medal of Honor page.
- For your family. Your service opens benefits for a spouse, children, and survivors, from health coverage to income to education. See our Family, Spouse & Survivor Benefits page.
- The newsletter. One plain-English money idea every week or two, built from real reader questions. It is free, and it is where the specifics live.
Do this today
- Run your pre-tax-equivalent number so you know what your check is really worth.
- Look up your state's disabled-veteran property-tax rule, starting with your state department of veterans affairs and your county assessor.
- For anything claims-related, use a free accredited Veterans Service Officer (DAV, VFW, American Legion, or your county VSO; find one at VA.gov). Never pay for that.
- Subscribe, so the next idea comes to you.