The bill would raise the basic monthly dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses to 55% of the monthly compensation rate described in federal law. For people whose benefit is based on a veteran who died before January 1, 1993, the bill would provide the greater of the existing amount or the new amount.
The bill would also change eligibility for some survivors of veterans rated totally disabled at death. It would reduce the required continuous rating period from 10 years to five years. If the rating period was less than 10 years, the payment would be reduced in proportion to the length of that period.
If enacted, these changes would apply to months beginning six months after enactment. They could affect surviving spouses and other eligible survivors receiving the benefits described in the bill. The bill does not specify individual benefit amounts beyond the formulas it sets.
No publicly available information.
The bill states that its purpose is to improve and expand eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation. It does not provide further arguments from its sponsors.
No publicly available information.