[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10112-10113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5342]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Service-Connected Benefits

agency: Department of Veterans Affairs.

action: Notice.

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summary: As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living 
Adjustment Act of 1996, Public Law 104-263, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of cost-of-living adjustments 
(COLAs) in certain benefit rates. These COLAs affect the compensation 
and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) programs.

dates: These COLAs are effective December 1, 1996, the date provided by 
Public Law 104-263.

for further information contact: Paul Trowbridge, Consultant, 
Compensation and Pension Service (213B), Veterans Benefit 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-7218.

supplementary information: The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living 
Adjustment Act of 1996, Public Law 104-263, provides for a COLA for 
each of the rates in sections 1114, 1115(1), 1162, 1311, 1313, and 1314 
of title 38, United States Code. VA is required to increase these 
benefit rates by the same percentage as increases in the benefit 
amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act. In computing 
increased rates in the cited title 38 sections, fractions of a dollar 
equaling $.50 or more are rounded to the next higher dollar amount. The 
increased rates are required to be published in the Federal Register.
    The Social Security Administration has announced that there will be 
a 2.9 percent cost-of-living increase in Social

[[Page 10113]]

Security benefits. Therefore, applying the same percentage, the 
following increased rates for VA compensation and DIC programs will be 
effective December 1, 1996:

                Disability Compensation (38 U.S.C. 1114)                
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Disability evaluation                    Monthly rate        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10%.......................................  $94                         
20%.......................................  $179                        
30%.......................................  $274                        
40%.......................................  $391                        
50%.......................................  $558                        
60%.......................................  $703                        
70%.......................................  $887                        
80%.......................................  $1,028                      
90%.......................................  $1,157                      
100%......................................  $1,924                      
(38 U.S.C. 1114(k) through (s)):                                        
  38 U.S.C. 1114(k).......................  $74; $2,393; $74; $3,356    
  38 U.S.C. 1114(l).......................  $2,393                      
  38 U.S.C. 1114(m).......................  $2,639                      
  38 U.S.C. 1114(n).......................  $3,003                      
  38 U.S.C. 1114(o).......................  $3,356                      
  38 U.S.C. 1114(p).......................  $3,356                      
  38 U.S.C. 1114(r).......................  $1,441; $2,145              
  38 U.S.C. 1114(s).......................  $2,154                      
Additional Compensation for Dependents (38                              
 U.S.C. 1115(l)):                                                       
  38 U.S.C. 1115(l)                                                     
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(A)....................  $112                        
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(B)....................  $191; $59                   
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(C)....................  $77; $59                    
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(D)....................  $91                         
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(E)....................  $211                        
  38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(F)....................  $177                        
Clothing Allowance (38 U.S.C. 1162):                                    
  $518 per year                                                         
DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311):                             
  Pay Grade:..............................                              
    E-1...................................  $833                        
    E-2...................................  $833                        
    E-3...................................  $833                        
    E-4...................................  $833                        
    E-5...................................  $833                        
    E-6...................................  $833                        
    E-7...................................  $861                        
    E-8...................................  $909                        
    E-9(1)................................  $949                        
    W-1...................................  $880                        
    W-2...................................  $915                        
    W-3...................................  $943                        
    W-4...................................  $997                        
    O-1...................................  $880                        
    O-2...................................  $909                        
    O-3...................................  $972                        
    O-4...................................  $1,028                      
    O-5...................................  $1,132                      
    O-6...................................  $1,276                      
    O-7...................................  $1,378                      
    O-8...................................  $1,510                      
    O-9...................................  $1,618                      
    O-10(2)...............................  $1,774                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior 
enlisted advisor of the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, 
sergeant major of the Marine Corps, or master chief petty officer of 
the Coast Guard, the surviving spouse's monthly rate is $1,023.
    (2) If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, 
Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or 
Commandant of the Coast Guard, the surviving spouse's monthly rate is 
$1,902.

       DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311 (a) Through (d))       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Monthly rate        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 U.S.C. 1311 (a) through (d):                                         
  38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)....................  $833                        
  38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(2)....................  $182                        
  38 U.S.C. 1311(b).......................  $211                        
  38 U.S.C. 1311(c).......................  $211                        
  38 U.S.C. 1311(d).......................  $102                        
DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1313):                                       
  38 U.S.C. 1313:.........................                              
    38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(1)..................  $354                        
    38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(2)..................  $510                        
    38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(3)..................  $662                        
    38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(4)..................  $662; $130                  
Supplemental DIC to Children (38 U.S.C.                                 
 1314):                                                                 
  38 U.S.C. 1314:.........................                              
    38 U.S.C. 1314(a).....................  $211                        
    38 U.S.C. 1314(b).....................  $354                        
    38 U.S.C. 1314(c).....................  $179                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Dated: February 21, 1997.
Jesse Brown,
Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-5342 Filed 3-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-M