How do I change my VA direct deposit — and how long does it take?

You can change VA direct deposit three ways: online in your VA.gov profile (sign in, then Profile > Direct deposit information), in the VA: Health and Benefits mobile app (Payments > Direct deposit), or by phone — 800-827-1000 for disability compensation and pension, 888-442-4551 for GI Bill and education benefits. Allow one full payment cycle (30-45 days) for the change to take effect, and do not close the old account until the first payment arrives in the new one.

How to Change VA Direct Deposit (VA.gov, App, or Phone) — and How Long It Takes

Three ways to change it:

1. Online at VA.gov (fastest). Sign in with Login.gov or ID.me, open your Profile › Direct deposit information, and enter the new routing and account numbers. One update there covers disability compensation, pension, and GI Bill payments.

What would this rating pay you? (2026 rates)

Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.

Rating Married Children

per month · per year, tax-free

Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.

2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)

Rating	Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA)
10%	$180.42
20%	$356.66
30%	$552.47
40%	$795.84
50%	$1,132.90
60%	$1,435.02
70%	$1,808.45
80%	$2,102.15
90%	$2,362.30
100%	$3,938.58

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2. In the VA: Health and Benefits mobile app. Sign in, then Payments › Direct deposit. Same effect as VA.gov — you'll get an on-screen and email confirmation that the request is logged.

3. By phone. Call 800-827-1000 for disability compensation or pension, or 888-442-4551 for GI Bill and other education benefits (have your old and new account numbers ready). There is no separate VA form for this — if you were told to "submit a form," that's the old bank-initiated SF 1199A route, which still works through your bank but is slower than doing it online.

How long it takes: plan on one full payment cycle — about 30 to 45 days. VA benefits pay on the 1st business day of the month, and a change submitted close to the payment run usually takes effect the following cycle, so the very next payment may still go to your old account.

The rule that protects you: don't close the old account yet. Keep it open until you see the first payment arrive in the new account. If a payment lands in a closed account, your bank cannot redirect a U.S. Treasury payment — you'll have to call the VA, and the reissue can take weeks.

Verify before payment day. About a week before the 1st, log back in and confirm the saved account numbers are correct. If a payment does go astray, call the VA immediately at the numbers above.

This information is educational, not legal or financial advice. For decisions on your specific claim, confirm with the VA directly or a VA-accredited representative.