VA disability compensation is not limited to veterans living within the United States. If you are receiving monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 11, that payment continues regardless of where you live, including countries like Thailand or the Philippines. The VA does not reduce or stop your disability rating or monthly payment simply because you move abroad. You will, however, need to keep your address and direct deposit information current with the VA so payments are not interrupted, and you should notify the VA of any change in mailing address or banking details through eBenefits, VA.gov, or by calling the National Call Center.
What does change significantly overseas is access to VA healthcare. VA medical centers and Community Care providers operate only within the United States and its territories. If you rely on VA health care for treatment of service-connected conditions, you will not have access to a VA facility while living in most foreign countries. The Foreign Medical Program (FMP) is available to veterans with service-connected conditions who live outside the United States (except the Philippines, which has its own program, the Philippine Family Member Program administered through the Manila VA Regional Office). FMP reimburses reasonable and customary costs for treatment of your rated conditions, but you must enroll and follow its billing procedures, and it does not cover non-service-connected care.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
| 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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Analyze my claim free →If you are also drawing military retired pay, that continues as well, subject to any VA waiver offset if you are not eligible for Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP). Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) and CRDP eligibility rules do not change based on where you reside.
It's also worth noting that future claims, exams, and appeals can be harder to manage from overseas. Compensation and Pension exams may need to be scheduled through the Foreign Medical Program or via telehealth where available, and mail delays can affect deadlines for responding to VA requests, so many veterans living abroad set up a U.S.-based mailing address or agent to handle correspondence.
Before relocating, contact the Foreign Medical Program office and your VA regional office to confirm how your specific rated conditions will be covered and to update your address and payment information in advance.
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