5930 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 25 / Monday, February 7, 2000 / Notices

http://www.fms.treas.gov/c570/

index.html. A hard copy may be

purchased from the Government

Printing Office (GPO) Subscription

Service, Washington, DC, Telephone

(202) 512–1800. When ordering the

Circular from GPO, use the following

stock number: 048000–00527–6.

Questions concerning this Notice may

be directed to the U.S. Department of

the Treasury, Financial Management

Service, Financial Accounting and

Services Division, Surety Bond Branch,

3700 East-West Highway, Room 6A04,

Hyattsville, MD 20782.

Dated: January 24, 2000.

Wanda J. Rogers,

Director, Financial Accounting and Services

Division, Financial Management Service.

[FR Doc. 00–2603 Filed 2–4–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810–35–M

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

Cost-of-Living Adjustments and

Headstone or Marker Allowance Rate

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: As required by law, the

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is

hereby giving notice of cost-of-living

adjustments (COLAs) in certain benefit

rates and income limitations. These

COLAs affect the pension, parents’

dependency and indemnity

compensation (DIC), and spina bifida

programs. These adjustments are based

on the rise in the Consumer Price Index

(CPI) during the one year period ending

September 30, 1999. VA is also giving

notice of the maximum amount of

reimbursement that may be paid for

headstones or markers purchased in lieu

of Government-furnished headstones or

markers in Fiscal Year 2000, which

began on October 1, 1999.

DATES: These COLAs are effective

December 1, 1999. The headstone or

marker allowance rate is effective

October 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul

Trowbridge, Consultant, Compensation

and Pension Service (212A), Veterans

Benefit Administration, Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273–

7218.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under

former 38 U.S.C. 2306(d), VA was

authorized to provide reimbursement

for the cost of non-Government

headstones or markers at a rate equal to

the lesser of the actual cost of the nonGovernment headstone or marker or the

average actual cost of Governmentfurnished headstones or markers during

the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year

in which the non-Government

headstone or marker was purchased.

Section 8041 of Pub. L. 101–508

amended 38 U.S.C. 2306(d) to eliminate

the payment of the monetary allowance

in lieu of VA-provided headstone or

marker for deaths occurring on or after

November 1, 1990. However, in a

precedent opinion (O.G.C. Prec. 17–90),

VA’s General Counsel held that there is

no limitation period applicable to

claims for benefits under the provisions

of 38 U.S.C. 2306(d).

The average actual cost of

Government-furnished headstones or

markers during any fiscal year is

determined by dividing the sum of VA

costs during that fiscal year for

procurement, transportation, and

miscellaneous administration,

inspection and support staff by the total

number of headstones and markers

procured by VA during that fiscal year

and rounding to the nearest whole

dollar amount.

The average actual cost of

Government-furnished headstones or

markers for Fiscal Year 1999 under the

above computation method was $90.

Therefore, effective October 1, 1999, the

maximum rate of reimbursement for

non-Government headstones or markers

purchased during Fiscal Year 2000 is

$90.

Cost of Living Adjustments

Under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.

5312 and section 306 of Pub. L. 95–588,

VA is required to increase the benefit

rates and income limitations in the

pension and parents’ DIC programs by

the same percentage, and effective the

same date, as increases in the benefit

amounts payable under title II of the

Social Security Act. The increased rates

and income limitations are also required

to be published in the Federal Register.

The Social Security Administration

has announced that there will be a 2.4

percent cost-of-living increase in Social

Security benefits effective December 1,

1999. Therefore, applying the same

percentage and rounding up in

accordance with 38 CFR 3.29, the

following increased rates and income

limitations for the VA pension and

parents’ DIC programs will be effective

December 1, 1999:

TABLE 1.—IMPROVED PENSION

Maximum annual rates

(1) Veterans permanently and totally disabled (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $8,989

Veteran with one dependent, $11,773

For each additional dependent, $1,532

(2) Veterans in need of aid and attendance (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $14,999

Veteran with one dependent, $17,782

For each additional dependent, $1,532

(3) Veterans who are housebound (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $10,987

Veteran with one dependent, $13,771

For each additional dependent, $1,532

(4) Two veterans married to one another, combined rates (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Neither veteran in need of aid and attendance or housebound, $11,773

Either veteran in need of aid and attendance, $17,782

Both veterans in need of aid and attendance, $23,168

Either veteran housebound, $13,771

Both veterans housebound, $15,770

One veteran housebound and one veteran in need of aid and attendance, $19,777

For each dependent child, $1,532

(5) Surviving spouse alone and with a child or children of the deceased veteran in custody of the surviving spouse (38 U.S.C. 1541):

Surviving spouse alone, $6,026

Surviving spouse and one child in his or her custody, $7,891

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 25 / Monday, February 7, 2000 / Notices 5931

TABLE 1.—IMPROVED PENSION—Continued

Maximum annual rates

For each additional child in his or her custody, $1,532

(6) Surviving spouses in need of aid and attendance (38 U.S.C. 1541):

Surviving spouse alone, $9,635

Surviving spouse with one child in custody, $11,497

Surviving Spouse of Spanish-American War veteran alone, $10,258

Surviving Spouse of Spanish-American War veteran with one child in custody, $12,119

For each additional child in his or her custody, $1,532

(7) Surviving spouses who are housebound (38 U.S.C. 1541):

Surviving spouse alone, $7,367

Surviving spouse and one child in his or her custody, $9,228

For each additional child in his or her custody, $1,532

(8) Surviving child alone (38 U.S.C. 1542), $1,532

Reduction for income. The rate

payable is the applicable maximum rate

minus the countable annual income of

the eligible person. (38 U.S.C. 1521,

1541 and 1542).

Mexican border period and World

War I veterans. The applicable

maximum annual rate payable to a

Mexican border period or World War I

veteran under this table shall be

increased by $2,037. (38 U.S.C. 1521(g)).

Parents’ DIC

DIC shall be paid monthly to parents

of a deceased veteran in the following

amounts (38 U.S.C. 1315):

One parent. If there is only one

parent, the monthly rate of DIC paid to

such parent shall be $429 reduced on

the basis of the parent’s annual income

according to the following formula:

TABLE 2

For each $1 of annual income

The $429

monthly rate

shall be reduced

by

Which is

more than

But not

more than

$.00 ................... 0 $800

.08 ..................... $800 10,226

No DIC is payable under this table if

annual income exceeds $10,226.

One parent who has remarried. If

there is only one parent and the parent

has remarried and is living with the

parent’s spouse, DIC shall be paid under

Table 2 or under Table 4, whichever

shall result in the greater benefit being

paid to the veteran’s parent. In the case

of remarriage, the total combined annual

income of the parent and the parent’s

spouse shall be counted in determining

the monthly rate of DIC. Two parents not living together. The

rates in Table 3 apply to (1) two parents

who are not living together, or (2) an

unmarried parent when both parents are

living and the other parent has

remarried. The monthly rate of DIC paid

to each such parent shall be $309

reduced on the basis of each parent’s

annual income, according to the

following formula:

TABLE 3

For each $1 of annual income

The $309

monthly rate

shall be reduced

by

Which is

more than

But not

more than

$.00 ................... 0 $800

.06 ..................... $800 900

.07 ..................... 900 1,100

.08 ..................... 1,100 10,226

No DIC is payable under this table if

annual income exceeds $10,226.

Two parents living together or

remarried parents living with spouses.

The rates in Table 4 apply to each

parent living with another parent; and

each remarried parent, when both

parents are alive. The monthly rate of

DIC paid to such parents will be $289

reduced on the basis of the combined

annual income of the two parents living

together or the remarried parent or

parents and spouse or spouses, as

computed under the following formula:

TABLE 4

For each $1 of annual income

The $289

monthly rate

shall be reduced

by

Which is

more than

But not

more than

$.00 ................... 0 $1,000

.03 ..................... $1,000 1,500

.04 ..................... 1,500 1,900

.05 ..................... 1,900 2,400

.06 ..................... 2,400 2,900

.07 ..................... 2,900 3,200

.08 ..................... 3,200 13,746

No DIC is payable under this table if

combined annual income exceeds

$13,746.

The rates in this table are also

applicable in the case of one surviving

parent who has remarried, computed on

the basis of the combined income of the

parent and spouse, if this would be a

greater benefit than that specified in

Table 2 for one parent.

Aid and attendance. The monthly rate

of DIC payable to a parent under Tables

2 through 4 shall be increased by $230

if such parent is (1) a patient in a

nursing home, or (2) helpless or blind,

or so nearly helpless or blind as to need

or require the regular aid and

attendance of another person.

Minimum rate. The monthly rate of

DIC payable to any parent under Tables

2 through 4 shall not be less than $5.

TABLE 5.—SECTION 306 PENSION INCOME LIMITATIONS

(1) Veteran or surviving spouse with no dependents, $10,226 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(a)).

(2) Veteran with no dependents in need of aid and attendance, $10,726 (38 U.S.C. 1521(d) as in effect on December 31, 1978).

(3) Veteran or surviving spouse with one or more dependents, $13,746 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(a)).

(4) Veteran with one or more dependents in need of aid and attendance, $14,246 (38 U.S.C. 1521(d) as in effect on December 31, 1978).

(5) Child (no entitled veteran or surviving spouse), $8,358 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(a)).

(6) Spouse income exclusion (38 CFR 3.262), $3,262 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(a)(2)(B)).

TABLE 6.—OLD-LAW PENSION INCOME LIMITATIONS

(1) Veteran or surviving spouse without dependents or an entitled child, $8,951 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(b)).

(2) Veteran or surviving spouse with one or more dependents, $12,905 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(b)).

5932 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 25 / Monday, February 7, 2000 / Notices

Spina Bifida Benefits

Section 421 of Public Law 104–204

added a new chapter 18 to title 38,

United States Code, authorizing VA to

provide certain benefits, including a

monthly monetary allowance, to

children born with spina bifida who are

natural children of veterans who served

in the Republic of Vietnam during the

Vietnam era. Pursuant to 38 U.S.C.

1805(b)(3), spina bifida rates are subject

to adjustment under the provisions of 38

U.S.C. 5312, which provides for the

adjustment of certain VA benefit rates

whenever there is an increase in benefit

amounts payable under title II of the

Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et

seq.). Effective December 1, 1999, spina

bifida monthly rates are as follows:

Level I $213

Level II $743

Level III $1,272

Dated: January 24, 2000.

Togo D. West, Jr.,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 00–2636 Filed 2–4–00; 8:45 am]

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