This bill automatically increases the amount of money that disabled veterans and their surviving family members receive from the government each year. Right now, these payments stay the same year after year, which means they lose value as prices go up. This bill fixes that by linking veteran payments to the same yearly increase that Social Security recipients get. Every December 1st, the Department of Veterans Affairs will bump up all disability payments and survivor benefits by whatever percentage Social Security increased that year. This affects veterans with service-connected disabilities (injuries or illnesses from military service) and the spouses, children, and parents who depend on disabled veterans for financial support. For example, if a veteran receives $3,000 a month in disability compensation and Social Security goes up 3%, that veteran's payment would increase to $3,090. The bill also requires the VA to publish these new payment amounts in the Federal Register so everyone knows what the rates are. This is a straightforward way to make sure that as the cost of living rises, veterans and their families don't fall further behind financially.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an annual increase in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Gottheimer, Josh

<p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase the amounts payable for wartime disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.&nbsp;Specifically, the VA must increase the amounts by the same percentage as the cost-of-living increase in benefits for Social Security recipients that is effective on December 1 of each year. The bill requires the VA to publish the amounts payable, as increased, in the Federal Register.</p><p>The VA is authorized to make a similar adjustment to the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who have not received compensation for service-connected disability or death.</p>