2025 Cost of Living Increase | How it Affects VA Disability & Social Security | COLA | theSITREP

In this episode of theSITREP, Paul discusses the projected Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) for 2025 and how it will affect VA Disability and Social Security. For additional information and to see which benefits you or your family may qualify, visit the web links below.

Need an immediate answer or help with a situation regarding VA benefits? Call, 24/7, at 1-800-MyVA411 (698-2411)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For additional information about 2025 COLA, visit:

ABOUT VA
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is comprised of three different administrations:

(1) Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Provides health care at 1,298 facilities, including 171 hospitals and 1,113 outpatient clinics, serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.

(2) Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) - Provides a variety of benefits and services for Service Members, Veterans, and their families including compensation, pension and fiduciary, insurance, education, loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation and employment, and more.

(3) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) - Provides burial space for Veterans and their eligible family members, and maintains national cemeteries as national shrines, sacred to the honor and memory of those interred or memorialized there.

DISCLAIMER: The Department of Veterans Affairs does not endorse or officially sanction any entities that may be discussed in this video, nor any media, products, or services they may provide.

This video was produced and published by VA New England Healthcare System.

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[IrishRA]

Our COLA should be exactly the percentage that inflation is on a yearly basis.

[personofnointerest]

Dear Fellow Veterans,

If you are telling our own community to be “grateful” or to “get a job”, please rethink your stance and consider:

1) Not all veterans are capable, mentally or physically of working (consider yourself fortunate if you are; I’m happy for you!)

2) On average, a 100% disabled veterans pulls in around $3800ish depending on dependent status. That is $45, 600 per year. It is next to impossible to live off this amount as a single person. I can’t imagine also being a single parent.

3) Because VA disability and comp isn’t taxable, anyone at 100% and not working has essentially ended their contributions to SSI. So, when they are of age to pull, that’s far less than had they been blessed with the ability to work.

All of this considered, ratings are SERVICE CONNECTED. Meaning, it was exacerbated or happened to the veteran while in service of the USA.

I commend you for being able to sustain life beyond your service to the country. But not all veterans are as fortunate.

We have enough people and the system beating us down, do we really need to turn on one another as well?

Do better.

[andyfitzgerald]

Veterans deserve better. Let's take care of them please!!!!

[t.j.pantazis]

I swear, it feels like our country hates us. We aren't trying to get rich, we're trying to survive

[richwelch]

As stated previously, pitiful. We deserve far more than what they project. Disabled Veterans should get a 15% increase every year. Our lives are altered forever by our service to this nation.

[Upcjasr]

What i find amazing it the fact that secretary McDoungh makes $179, 000.00 a year as secretary of veterans affairs and he is getting a 13% pay raise this year. He has never even been into a combat zone or even the military. But he did run a tents for refugees program. In my humble opinion that sucks .

[stephenjones]

Vietnam Veteran here. All vets deserve so much more for the sacrifices that they made including a cross the board increase in compensation. $400 to $500 just to keep up with total inflation in their lives . Thanks

[MSpeedThree]

Rampant inflation, food, gas and housing costs are through the roof! It should be at least 8%.

[jefflibby]

PLEASE... For the love of all who've served, give us a decent increase in COLA. It is ridiculously expensive, and I'm barely holding on by a thread.

[rocco]

As I lay here on the floor because of my back pain, I am so glad to know the VA takes such great care of us, like refusing to do anything for months at a time, and expects us to thank them for miniscule increases. I love the VA so much

[tcat]

My last pay increase when I was working was 3%. The CEO got probably 25%. Nobody cares about us on the bottom.

[BlueOwlOracle]

As a 100% DV and single mom, to me any increase is a blessing, we're scraping by! Grateful!

[terryatwater]

They're not out of touch. They're simply more interested in their own pockets than the veterans, the elderly.

[justglenn]

I am a disabled veteran who receives a small check from the VA every month. I still must live in a beat up trailer and get half my food from charity. I feel like I have been forgotten

[michaelgee]

I was involved in a hit and run accident where a vehicle ran me over. I had to go to the ER and i got a huge bill. I am trying to get the VA to pay for it because the VA is the only insurance I have. It has been an uphill battle trying to get help to pay this bill. These politicians are always talking about we love our Vets. This increase is a slap in the face.

[riley]

The increase should be AT LEAST 95% of total inflation. VA benefits are expensive for the government, but we should NEVER be at the bottom of the list of priorities. Enough foreign intervention, take care of VETS

[JayJay-musik]

That’s almost a tank of gas. Look at Uncle Sam spoiling me like the dirty little girl I am smh

[Kief_]

Of course inflation at its highest ever, people are putting food on credit and can’t pay their credit… yet 2%? What in the hell. Yet majority of us as SC can’t qualify for SNAP

[funnyfarmdad]

Oh boy! How generous! I’m getting a whole gallon of gas increase. Whatever will I do?

[mrpixelz]

Regarding SS they usually always deduct an 'increase' in Medicare cost so your net % increase is even less. For example, the 3.2 % increase this year was actually only 2.8% increase for me after 'increase in Medicare was taken out. Media never mentions that simple math fact ... which would provide a better bottom line picture of the net 'spendable' increase. Fortunately, the VA Benefits do not 'take away' so you do receive the full % posted.