The 2026 VA Residual Income Chart
Same chart, same regions, same family-size scaling. Here’s the current-year breakdown and the few things that have actually changed for 2026 underwriting.
If you searched “VA residual income chart 2026,” here’s the short answer: the chart hasn’t changed. The VA’s residual income tables come from VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 4, and they’ve been the same baseline numbers for years. What changes year to year is everything around the chart — conforming loan limits, lender overlays, AUS behavior, and the cost-of-living context the chart was originally built against.
This post is the quick reference. For the full deep-dive — including how to calculate residual income, what counts as income, and what to do if you fall short — read the main VA Residual Income guide.
Also called the VA family support chart
On VA’s Loan Analysis form, residual income is line 43, “Balance Available for Family Support.” That is the money you have left each month after your bills. If you were told to check the family support chart, this is it.
Last updated: October 9, 2026
Guidance reference: VA Pamphlet 26-7, Ch. 4 (VA updated August 26, 2026); Ch. 6 (VA updated July 9, 2026)
2026 VA Residual Income Chart — Loans of $80,000 or More
This is the table that applies to nearly every VA purchase loan today. Find your region across the top, your family size on the left, and the cell where they meet is your minimum monthly residual income.
As of Q3 2026 (September 2026): VA’s residual income guide is the money that should be left each month after your bills. For loans of $80,000 or more, it is $1,117 (West), $1,025 (Northeast), and $1,003 (Midwest and South) for a family of four. For a household of one, it is $491 / $450 / $441 (VA Pamphlet 26-7, Ch. 4, residual income tables). These amounts are 5% lower for active duty and military retirees. VA uses 41% as a check point for how much of your income goes to debt payments. Above 41%, we take a closer look at your file. That closer look is not needed if the money left over each month after your bills is at least 20% above VA’s chart. If it is not, your loan can still be approved when a supervisor signs a note that lists the strengths in your file (VA Pamphlet 26-7, Ch. 4). VA’s estimate for upkeep and utilities is $0.14 per square foot of living area per month (VA Pamphlet 26-7, Ch. 4).
| Family Size | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $450 | $441 | $441 | $491 |
| 2 | $755 | $738 | $738 | $823 |
| 3 | $909 | $889 | $889 | $990 |
| 4 | $1,025 | $1,003 | $1,003 | $1,117 |
| 5 | $1,062 | $1,039 | $1,039 | $1,158 |
| 6+ | Add $80 each, up to a family of 7 | Add $80 each, up to a family of 7 | Add $80 each, up to a family of 7 | Add $80 each, up to a family of 7 |
Source: VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 4. These are minimum thresholds. Many lenders apply overlays requiring more — even at standard DTI levels.
2026 VA Residual Income Chart — Loans Under $80,000
| Family size | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $390 | $382 | $382 | $425 |
| 2 | $654 | $641 | $641 | $713 |
| 3 | $788 | $772 | $772 | $859 |
| 4 | $888 | $868 | $868 | $967 |
| 5 | $921 | $902 | $902 | $1,004 |
| 6 and up | Add $75 for each person over 5, up to a family of 7 | |||
Most VA loans today are over $80,000, so the first table is the one you will use. This one still applies to small loans and some IRRRLs.
The chart is only half the math. VA also subtracts an estimate for maintenance and utilities based on the home’s square footage. See the VA maintenance and utility chart and how VA calculates residual income line by line on the guidelines page. On a tight file, a real underwriter reads it, which is how we close Colorado Springs VA loans other lenders turn down.
What’s Actually Different in 2026
The chart numbers haven’t changed. But three things in the 2026 underwriting environment affect how residual income shows up in real files:
Higher 2026 Conforming Limits
The 2026 baseline conforming loan limit rose to $832,750 — up $26,250 from 2025. Larger loan amounts mean larger PITI payments, which puts more pressure on residual income calculations.
BAH Increases for Active Duty
2026 BAH rates went up in most ZIP codes. Higher tax-free housing allowance flows directly into the residual calculation at full value, which strengthens active-duty files.
Insurance and Tax Hikes
Property insurance premiums and tax escrows are up in many states for 2026. PITI runs higher than the same purchase price would have produced in 2024. Files passing residual by a thin margin are fragile when escrow updates after appraisal.
Three 2026 Examples — Same Family of 4, Different Regions
Here’s how the chart plays out in practice across different regions for an identical buyer profile.
Veteran, family of 4, 2,000 sq ft home, $475K loan
Identical income, debts, and household. Only the location changes.
Colorado Springs, CO (West Region) — Threshold: $1,117
$7,800 gross monthly minus $1,200 taxes minus $3,400 PITI minus $650 debts minus $280 utilities = $2,270 residual. Passes by $1,153 — strong cushion, well above the 20% bonus threshold.
Austin, TX (South Region) — Threshold: $1,003
Same income, slightly lower property taxes built into PITI ($3,250 instead of $3,400). $7,800 minus $1,200 minus $3,250 minus $650 minus $280 = $2,420 residual. Passes by $1,417 — even stronger cushion in a lower-threshold region.
Boston, MA (Northeast Region) — Threshold: $1,025
Same income, but property taxes and insurance run higher ($3,650 PITI). $7,800 minus $1,200 minus $3,650 minus $650 minus $280 = $2,020 residual. Passes by $995 — still solid, but the higher cost-of-housing in the region eats into cushion.
Same buyer, three regions, three different cushions. The chart adjusts for the regional cost of living. The math still works.
Want the full math run on your actual file? I’ll plug in your real numbers and show exactly where you land against the 2026 chart.
2026 Residual Income Quick FAQ
Did the VA update the residual income chart for 2026?
No. The chart in VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 4 has not been revised for 2026. Same regions, same family-size thresholds, same per-additional-person increments ($75 below $80K loans, $80 above). What changes is the surrounding context — conforming limits, BAH, escrow costs.
What’s the 2026 residual income minimum for a family of 4?
$1,025 in the Northeast, $1,003 in the Midwest and South, $1,117 in the West. These apply to loans above $80,000 — which covers the vast majority of purchase loans today.
Does the 2026 BAH increase affect residual income calculations?
Yes — favorably. BAH is tax-free and counts at face value in the residual calculation. Higher 2026 BAH means a bigger contribution to residual cushion, especially for active-duty borrowers. This is one of the few year-over-year changes that helps qualification.
Are insurance and tax increases hurting VA approvals in 2026?
They can. When the appraisal triggers an updated escrow calculation that pushes PITI higher than initial estimates, residual income tightens. Files that passed by a thin margin at pre-approval sometimes fail at the final underwriting stage. Build in a real cushion at pre-approval, not just the chart minimum.
Is the 20% rule still in effect for 2026?
Yes. Here is how it works. When more than 41% of your income goes to debt payments, we take a closer look at your file. That step is not needed if your money left over each month is at least 20% above VA’s chart. If it is not, your loan can still be approved when a supervisor signs a note that lists the strengths in your file. This is a long-standing rule that has not changed. It is also one of the most useful tools in the VA program. It lets a file with a high debt ratio skip the extra review step.
Is there a VA residual income chart for loans under $80,000?
Yes. VA has two tables. Loans under $80,000 use lower numbers. A family of 4 in the West needs $967 instead of $1,117.
Is the VA family support chart the same as the residual income chart?
Yes. VA’s Loan Analysis form labels residual income “Balance Available for Family Support.” It is one table with two names.
Related VA Loan Resources
VA Loans Overview
No-Overlay VA Lender
VA Loan Structure
Using VA Loan Before Separation
View All VA Loan Pages
What “No Overlays” Means
An overlay is a credit rule a lender adds on top of VA’s. We don’t add them — we underwrite to VA guidelines. Separate from underwriting, every VA loan must also be eligible for sale or securitization, and Ginnie Mae sets pooling requirements that apply to all lenders and that no lender can waive. Refinances in particular carry seasoning requirements under Ginnie Mae that are broader than VA’s. We’ll tell you upfront if one applies to you.
Ready to See Where You Land?
The chart is just the threshold. The real question is what your number looks like once we plug in your income, BAH, debts, and the actual PITI on the home you want. Let’s run the math.
Source: JD.Mortgage Team at PRMG, VA Residual Income Chart 2026: What Veterans Need to Know This Year, updated October 2026, https://jd.mortgage/va-residual-income-chart-2026/
No SSN required. No credit pull. Takes about 2 minutes.
VA Residual Income: Common Questions
Where We Stand on VA Credit
The VA does not set a minimum credit score. Most lenders add one anyway. That extra rule is called an overlay, and it is the reason a veteran gets told no on a loan the VA itself would have allowed.
We do not add one. No minimum score. No overlay.
Late payments in the last 12 months are not an automatic no either, and that is not limited to your mortgage. If the lates trace to a real hardship you can document, and you can show the accounts are current and have stayed current, we will still look at the file. Isolated lates count on their own. Most lenders default to no here. We do not.
Here, a person reviews your file by hand. That is what we do all day. If another lender already turned you down, it may have been their own extra rule, not a VA rule. Get a second look.