# Plain Language Summary: Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2021

This bill makes it easier for surviving spouses of veterans who died from ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) to receive increased financial support from the government. Currently, the VA only provides this higher level of compensation to surviving spouses if the veteran had ALS for a certain length of time before dying. This bill removes that time requirement, meaning surviving spouses qualify for the extra money regardless of whether their veteran spouse had the disease for months or years before passing away.

The practical effect is straightforward: if a veteran dies from ALS on or after October 1, 2021, their surviving spouse can receive increased dependency and indemnity compensation (a monthly payment from the VA) without having to prove the veteran had the disease for any minimum period. However, there's one requirement that remains in place—the surviving spouse must have been married to the veteran for at least eight continuous years before the veteran's death. This protects against people marrying veterans near the end of life just to claim benefits.

ALS is a devastating disease that progresses rapidly and unpredictably. Some people diagnosed with ALS die within months, while others live longer. This bill recognizes that all surviving spouses of veterans who die from ALS face genuine financial hardship and deserve the same level of support, regardless of how quickly the disease progressed. The change applies to deaths occurring from October 1, 2021 forward, so it affects veterans who have already passed away under this date as well as those who may die in the future.

Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2021

Slotkin, Elissa

Justice for ALS Veterans Act of 2021 This bill extends increased dependency and indemnity compensation to the surviving spouse of a veteran who dies from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) regardless of how long the veteran had such disease prior to death. Under current law, such compensation is paid for a service-connected disability that was rated totally disabling for a continuous period of at least eight years immediately preceding death. For purposes of this bill, a surviving spouse is a person who was married to the veteran for a continuous period of eight years or longer prior to the veteran's death.