A 100% rating that is not Permanent and Total (P&T) pays the same monthly rate as a P&T rating, but VA can schedule future exams for it, and the veteran’s spouse and children do not qualify for CHAMPVA health coverage or Chapter 35 education benefits. P&T means VA has decided the disability is reasonably certain to last for life. If you or your spouse reached 100%, the first thing to check is whether that word “permanent” is on the rating.
What is the difference between P&T and a temporary 100%?
Many veterans call a 100% rating that VA has not labeled permanent a “temporary” or “schedular” 100%. VA treats it as a total rating that it may re-examine. When VA decides a re-exam is warranted, 38 CFR 3.327 says it is generally scheduled no less than 2 years and no more than 5 years after the last exam. With P&T, VA generally does not schedule periodic exams for a disability that is static or permanent in character. VA can still ask for an exam when evidence suggests a change.
Do not confuse either one with the short-term 100% ratings VA can pay after a hospital stay or surgery recovery. Those are a separate matter, and VA’s dental page excludes them for that reason.
| Feature | 100% rating, not P&T | 100% rating with P&T |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly pay | The 100% rate | The 100% rate |
| Future exams | VA may schedule them | Generally none scheduled for a permanent condition |
| CHAMPVA for spouse and children | No | Yes, if they are not eligible for TRICARE |
| Chapter 35 education for spouse and children | No | Yes |
| VA health care, Priority Group 1 | Yes | Yes |
| Full VA dental care (Class IV) | Yes, unless the 100% is based on a temporary condition | Yes |
| State property tax and other perks | Depends on the state | Depends on the state |
The 100% rate is $3,938.58 a month for a veteran with no dependents in 2026, and $4,158.17 with a spouse. Those rates run through Nov 30, 2026. The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% cost-of-living increase for 2027 on Oct 14, 2026, and VA had not published its official 2027 table when this article was updated.
What do CHAMPVA and Chapter 35 give your family?
CHAMPVA is a VA health insurance program for the spouse or child of a veteran who is rated permanently and totally disabled. Anyone who is eligible for or enrolled in TRICARE cannot get it. Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA, or Chapter 35) offers education and training benefits to eligible spouses and children. It covers college, certificate programs and similar training. Age limits and time limits depend on when eligibility began, so read VA’s page before you plan a school year around it.
How can you tell which rating you have?
Look at the rating decision letter. A decision that finds a veteran permanently and totally disabled typically includes a line about basic eligibility for Chapter 35 education benefits. If that line is missing, the 100% may not be permanent. You can call VA at 800-827-1000, or ask a free accredited VSO representative to read the letter with you. Our guide to what P&T status means explains the wording.
What if your 100% rating is not permanent?
VA decides permanence from the medical evidence. A statement from your own treating doctors about why your conditions are not expected to improve can matter, and VA does not require that it come from a paid provider. A free accredited VSO representative can explain how to submit it. Woobie provides medical consulting and educational resources, including independent medical opinions from licensed professionals, and does not file claims.
Which state benefits depend on P&T?
Many states offer property tax relief, vehicle fee breaks or tuition waivers to disabled veterans or their children. Some require P&T, some require a 100% rating and some use lower thresholds. Check your state’s veterans affairs office or tax agency. Our state-by-state property tax guide is a good starting point, and the complete list of 100% P&T benefits sorts out which perks need P&T.
Frequently asked questions
Does a temporary 100% rating pay less than P&T?
No. Both are paid at the 100% rate, which is $3,938.58 a month for a veteran with no dependents in 2026. The difference is how long VA expects the rating to last and which family benefits apply.
Can a P&T rating be taken away?
P&T generally means VA does not schedule routine future exams. VA can still ask for an exam when evidence suggests your condition has changed, and it has to follow its procedures before it reduces a rating. If you get a proposed reduction, contact an accredited representative right away.
If the veteran dies, do the family’s benefits continue?
VA may pay Dependency and Indemnity Compensation to a surviving spouse if the veteran died of a cause that was not service-connected but had been rated totally disabling for at least 10 years, for at least 5 years since discharge, or for at least 1 year as a former prisoner of war who died after Sept 30, 1999. VA’s DEA page also lists the death of a veteran from a service-connected condition as a qualifying event.
Can TDIU be P&T?
Yes. VA can decide that a TDIU grant is permanent when the evidence shows the conditions are reasonably certain to continue for life. Check your decision letter to see whether VA used that language.
Questions about your medical evidence? Woobie offers a free consultation to talk through your situation. Woobie is not a law firm or an accredited claims agent and does not file claims. Schedule a free consultation →