[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3649-3650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1180]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Means Test Thresholds

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: As required by law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is 
hereby giving notice of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for means 
test income limitations. These adjustments are based on the rise in the 
Consumer Price Index (CPI) during the one-year period ending September 
30, 2000.

DATES: These rates are effective January 1, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roscoe Butler, Chief Policy and 
Operations, Health Administration Service, (10C3), Veterans Health 
Administration, VA, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20420, 
(202) 273-8302. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 38 United States Code 1722(c), 
requires that on January 1 of each year, the Secretary increase the 
means test threshold amounts by the same percentage the maximum rates 
of pension benefits were increased under 38 U.S.C. 5312(a) during the 
preceding calendar year. Under the provisions of 38 U.S.C 5312 and 
section 306 of Public Law 95-588, VA is required to increase the 
benefit rates and income limitations in the pension and parents' 
indemnity compensation (DIC) program by the same percentage, and 
effective the same date, as increases in the benefit amount

[[Page 3650]]

payable under Title II of the Social Security Act.
    On October 24, 2000, for the period beginning December 1, 2000, the 
Social Security Administration announced at 65 FR 63663 of the Federal 
Register, a 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security 
Benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act. The Veteran 
Benefits Administration has indicated Pension benefits will be 
increased by a 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase effective December 
1, 2000. Therefore, applying the same percentage and rounding up in 
accordance with 38 CFR 3.29, the following income limitations for the 
Means Test Thresholds will be effective January 1, 2001.

                     Table 1.--Means Test Thresholds
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(1) Veterans with no dependents:
  (a) Means Test Co-payment Exempted Category..............      $23,688
  (b) Means Test Co-payment Required Category..............       23,689
(2) Veterans with 1 dependent:
  (a) Means Test Co-payment Exempt Category................       28,429
  (b) Means Test Co-payment Required Category..............       28,430
(3) Veterans with 2 dependents:
  (a) Means Test Co-payment Exempt Category ...............       30,015
  (b) Means Test Co-payment Required Category..............       30,016
(4) Veterans with 3 dependents:
  (a) Means Test Co-payment Exempt Category................       31,601
  (b) Means Test Co-payment Required Category..............       31,602
(5) Veterans with 4 dependents:
  (a) Means Test Co-payment Exempt Category................       33,187
  (b) Means Test Co-payment Required Category..............       33,188
(6) Veterans with 5 dependents:
  (a) Means Test Co-payment Exempt Category................       34,773
  (b) Means Test Co-payment Required Category..............       34,774
(7) Child Income Exclusion is:                                     7,450
(8) The Medicare deductible is:                                      792
(9) Maximum annual Rate of Pension effective December 1,
 2000 are:
  (a) The base rate is.....................................        9,304
  (b) The base rate with one dependent is..................       12,186
  (c) Add 1,586 each additional dependent..................
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    Approved: January 5, 2001.
Hershel W. Gober,
Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 01-1180 Filed 1-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P