Free tool
VA back pay estimator
Your back pay is the money the VA owes you for the months between your effective date and your decision. Enter three things for a plain estimate at the current 2026 rates. No signup, and nothing is stored.
Estimate only, for a single veteran with no dependents, using the compensation rates effective December 1, 2025 (the 2026 rates) published on VA.gov. Real back pay is higher if you have dependents or SMC, and it changes if your rating was staged at different levels over the period. The VA generally pays from the first day of the month after your effective date. Confirm your actual amount with a free VSO.
How back pay works
When the VA finally grants a claim, it does not just start paying you going forward. It owes you for the whole stretch back to your effective date, which is usually the day you filed (or your intent to file). That retroactive lump sum is your back pay. The longer the VA took, the bigger it is, which is why the effective date is one of the most valuable things in your whole claim.
For the full plain-English breakdown, read Effective dates and back pay and what each rating pays per month.
Not sure of your effective date?
It is printed on your decision letter, and it is easy to miss. Upload your letter to the free decoder and it finds your effective date and explains what it means for your back pay, in plain English.
This is a general estimate, not legal advice, and not from the VA. Your actual back pay depends on your dependents, any staged ratings, SMC, and offsets. For your specific claim, work with a free VA-accredited representative or a Veterans Service Organization. We are not the VA and are not affiliated with the VA.