VA Disability, Military Retired Pay and Survivor Annuity Payment Dates for October 2026
VA disability and pension and military retired pay land twice in October 2026, with a second payment on Oct. 30, while November brings none. Here is the full schedule.
Veterans, military retirees, survivors and federal retirees often notice that October 2026 looks unusual: two payments for some programs, then a gap in November. The reason is a calendar quirk. Nov. 1, 2026 falls on a Sunday, so payments normally dated for that day move earlier.
The October 2026 payment schedule
According to the agencies' published dates, this is how October breaks down:
- VA disability compensation and pension: Thursday, Oct. 1 (September's payment) and Friday, Oct. 30 (October's payment).
- Military retired pay (DFAS): Thursday, Oct. 1 (September) and Friday, Oct. 30 (October).
- Military survivor annuities (DFAS): Thursday, Oct. 1 (September).
- Federal civilian retirement annuities (OPM): Thursday, Oct. 1 (September).
- Railroad Retirement benefits (RRB): Thursday, Oct. 1.
As of Oct. 9, only the Oct. 30 payments for VA benefits and military retired pay are still ahead.
Find every date, month by month: VA, military retirement and federal pension payment dates
Why some payments come early
VA pays disability compensation and pension at the start of each month for the prior month. When the 1st lands on a weekend or federal holiday, the Treasury dates the payment on the business day before. That is why the November payment is dated Friday, Oct. 30, and why October carries two VA payments.
DFAS follows a similar rule for military retired pay. It pays on the 1st for the previous month, and if the 1st is a weekend or holiday, retirees are paid on the last business day of the prior month.
Survivor annuities work differently. DFAS pays those annuitants on the first business day of the month, so they are not moved up to Oct. 30.
OPM pays federal civilian annuities for the previous month, usually on the first business day. The Railroad Retirement Board says benefits must be posted by the first business day, and weekends and federal holidays do not count. Banks may post them early, but they are not required to.
What changes in November
Military survivor annuities, OPM annuities and Railroad Retirement benefits are all scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. The first two cover October.
VA disability compensation and pension and military retired pay have no payment dated in November. Their next payments are on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, covering November.
What it means for you
If you receive VA benefits or military retired pay, the Oct. 30 deposit is your October payment, and it is meant to last until Dec. 1. Because no payment is dated in November, it may help to plan bills around that longer gap rather than expecting a deposit early in the month. Survivor annuitants, federal civilian retirees and railroad retirees should expect their next deposit on Nov. 2.
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Quick answers
Why does October 2026 have two VA payments?
The Oct. 1 payment covers September. The payment for October is dated Oct. 30 because Nov. 1 is a Sunday, and the Treasury dates such payments the business day before.
Will there be a VA or military retired pay deposit in November 2026?
No payment is dated in November for either. The next one is Tuesday, Dec. 1, covering November.
Do survivor annuities also come on Oct. 30?
No. DFAS pays survivor annuities on the first business day of the month, so the next one is Monday, Nov. 2, for October.
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