This bill increases financial support for veterans and their families in a few specific ways. First, starting in December 2026, veterans who qualify for aid and attendance benefits—typically those who need help with daily living activities due to service-related disabilities—will receive an extra $833.33 per month on top of their regular disability payments. Second, the bill automatically increases payments to surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans whenever Social Security benefits go up. These survivor payments will increase by the same percentage as Social Security, plus an additional 1% boost. This automatic adjustment will happen up to five times, starting in December 2026. Third, the bill makes it easier for certain veterans to get VA loans by allowing the VA to collect fees on refinanced loans from veterans with disabilities rated at 70% or less, between now and 2035.

In practical terms, this means disabled veterans receiving care assistance will have more money for their needs, families who lost a loved one in service will see their benefits keep pace with inflation and then some, and some veterans will have better access to home loans without paying certain fees. The changes take effect gradually starting in late 2026, giving the VA time to prepare the new payment systems.

Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026

Barrett, Tom

Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026This bill expands specified benefits programs for veterans and their survivors and establishes a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans.The bill establishes a supplemental monthly allowance of $833.33 for veterans who are already eligible for a monthly aid and attendance allowance due to service-connected disabilities or traumatic brain injury.The bill increases the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) by an additional 1% the&nbsp;next time DIC is adjusted for cost of living and an additional 0.5% the&nbsp;following adjustment. DIC is a monthly payment made to eligible survivors of (1) certain veterans who died due to a service-connected condition; (2) service members killed in the line of duty; or (3) veterans who were totally disabled by a service-connected disability for a certain period.The bill expands eligibility for loans under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan program to certain members of the reserve components and National Guard by expanding what qualifies as active duty. The bill includes annual training duty as qualifying active duty and grants eligibility for VA loan guarantees after 14 days of active-duty service (with an additional fee).Under the VA home loan program, the bill extends certain loan fee rates through September 30, 2036, and increases the fees for certain refinancing loans and loan assumptions.The bill extends the limitation on pension amounts for certain hospitalized or institutionalized veterans through September 30, 2036.