Permanent and Total (P&T) means VA has found your service-connected disability both total and permanent. The monthly rate is the same as for any 100% rating, $3,938.58 for a veteran alone in 2026, but P&T generally ends scheduled re-exams and is the status that CHAMPVA health coverage and Dependents’ Educational Assistance for your family depend on. This checklist shows what P&T adds and where to start each benefit.
How do you confirm your rating is P&T?
Do not assume it. A 100% rating and a P&T finding are separate decisions. VA treats a total rating as permanent only when the evidence shows the impairment is reasonably certain to continue. Read your decision letter for wording about permanence, and for any future exam VA plans to schedule. A 100% rating with a future exam date generally has not been made permanent.
VA’s re-exam rule, 38 CFR 3.327, limits scheduled periodic exams in situations such as when a disability is static or has no likelihood of improvement. That is why P&T generally means no scheduled future exams. It is not a promise that VA will never look at your rating again. A TDIU rating can also be found permanent, but that is not automatic, as our guide to TDIU vs. 100% P&T explains.
If the letter is unclear, a free VA-accredited representative can read it with you. See our guide to free accredited VSOs, and for the basics of the status itself, what P&T status means.
What does P&T add for your family?
- CHAMPVA health coverage. A spouse or dependent child of a veteran rated permanently and totally disabled may qualify if they are not eligible for TRICARE. VA describes CHAMPVA as a cost-sharing program, so your family pays a share of some costs. Children generally stay covered until 18, or until 23 if they are in school. Family members who are 65 or older or eligible for Medicare need Medicare Parts A and B.
- Education benefits. Spouses and children can apply for Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA, or Chapter 35). For training that starts on or after Aug 1, 2018, VA allows up to 36 months of benefits.
- Extra monthly pay for dependents. Dependents raise your rate once your combined rating is 30% or higher, whether or not you are P&T. Our guide to adding dependents to your VA claim covers VA Form 21-686c and the other forms.
- Survivor benefits. P&T status alone does not make your survivors eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). VA’s DIC page explains the cause-of-death and totally-disabled-for-years rules.
Which benefits do not require P&T?
Several benefits that show up on P&T lists attach to a 100% rating, or to any service-connected rating. Our overview of what a 100% rating pays and includes goes through them in more detail.
- 100% pay. The 100% rate comes from a 100% schedular rating or TDIU. P&T does not change the amount.
- VA health care, Priority Group 1. VA lists a service-connected rating of 50% or more, or unemployability from service-connected conditions, as a way to qualify.
- VA home loan funding fee waiver. Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability are exempt from the fee, according to VA’s funding fee page.
- Commissary, exchange and recreation. Since Jan 1, 2020, veterans with any service-connected rating can use these programs. The ID you need and any extra charges vary.
- National park pass. The free lifetime Access Pass is for people with a permanent disability, and a VA award letter can serve as documentation. A processing fee may apply when you order it online or by mail.
How do state benefits work for P&T veterans?
Each state sets its own benefits, and they differ a lot. Common examples are property tax exemptions or credits, vehicle registration fee waivers, reduced or free tuition at state schools and hunting and fishing licenses. Some states ask for a 100% rating, some for P&T and some for a lower percentage, and many want proof of your rating when you apply. Your state veterans affairs agency and county tax office are the places to ask. Our state-by-state property tax guide is a starting point, but confirm the details with your state.
What should you do after a P&T decision?
- Read your decision letter for wording about permanence and for any future exam.
- Make sure your spouse, children and any dependent parents are on your VA record. VA Form 21-686c adds or removes dependents.
- Have eligible family members apply for CHAMPVA and DEA through VA. Neither starts on its own.
- Keep a copy of your decision letter and VA benefit letters, since state agencies and tax offices often ask for proof of your rating.
- Contact your state veterans agency about property tax, vehicle and tuition benefits.
These rates change on Dec 1, 2026. The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% cost-of-living increase for 2027 on Oct 14, 2026, and VA compensation is set to rise by the same percentage. VA had not published its 2027 table when this article was updated, so check VA’s rates page for the new figures.
Frequently asked questions
Does P&T mean my VA rating can never be reduced?
Not as an absolute promise. P&T generally means VA does not schedule future re-exams, because the disability is considered static or permanent. It does not guarantee that VA will never review a rating, so keep your records and answer any VA request.
Does my spouse automatically get CHAMPVA or DEA when I am rated P&T?
No. Your family has to apply for each benefit through VA. CHAMPVA also requires that the family member is not eligible for TRICARE. Make sure your dependents are on your VA record, which is done with VA Form 21-686c.
Can a TDIU rating be P&T?
Yes, VA can find a TDIU rating permanent when the evidence shows the condition is not expected to improve. It is not automatic, so read your decision letter for wording about permanence and any future exam.
Does P&T pay more than a regular 100% rating?
No. The monthly rate is the same for any 100% rating: $3,938.58 for a veteran alone in 2026, with higher amounts for dependents. P&T changes permanence and which family benefits you can use, not the base amount.
How do I get P&T status if my decision letter schedules a future exam?
VA decides permanence when it rates your conditions, based on the medical evidence. If you disagree with a recent decision, you can choose a Supplemental Claim, Higher-Level Review or Board appeal within one year of the decision date. A free accredited VSO representative can explain which option fits.
See where your ratings land. Use Woobie’s free VA disability calculator to estimate your combined rating and monthly pay. Try the free calculator →