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.
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.
| 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 per person | Add $80 per person | Add $80 per person | Add $80 per person |
Source: VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 4. These are minimum thresholds. Many lenders apply overlays requiring more — even at standard DTI levels.
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. When DTI exceeds 41%, the VA wants residual income at least 20% above the chart minimum. This is a long-standing rule that hasn’t changed. It’s also one of the most powerful underwriting tools in the VA program — it’s what allows high-DTI files to still get approved.
Related VA Loan Resources
VA Loans Overview
No-Overlay VA Lender
VA Loan Structure
Using VA Loan Before Separation
View All VA Loan Pages
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.