Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 242 / Monday, December 18, 1995 / Notices 65089

been canceled. The meeting on safety

performance standards and safety

assurance programs, scheduled for

December 20, 1995, and announced in

the same Federal Register notice has not

been canceled and will be held as

scheduled.

ADDRESSES: Requests for further

information and comments may be

directed to the Office of the Associate

Administrator for Research and

Development, NRD–01, National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration,

Room 6206, 400 Seventh St., SW,

Washington, DC 20590. The telefax

number is 202–366–5930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NHTSA

provides detailed presentations about its

research and development programs in

a series of public meetings. The series

started in April 1993. The purpose is to

make available more complete and

timely information regarding the

agency’s research and development

programs. The twelfth meeting in the

series will be held on March 12, 1996,

in Detroit, Michigan. Thereafter, the

meetings on the agency’s research and

development programs only will be held

biannually, with the meeting sites

alternating between Washington, DC,

and Detroit, Michigan, scheduled to be

held in conjunction with the agency’s

quarterly meetings on safety

performance standards and safety

assurance programs. No other changes

to the format for the research and

development programs meetings are

planned. Each meeting will be

announced in the Federal Register

along with a request for suggested

presentation topics and deadlines for

submission of topics and questions.

Before the meeting, the agenda for the

meeting listing the research and

development topics to be presented will

be published in the Federal Register.

NHTSA requests comments from

interested parties on the proposed

schedule change from quarterly to

biannual meetings. Comments should be

submitted by 4:15 p.m. on January 17,

1996, to the Office of the Associate

Administrator for Research and

Development, NRD–01, National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration,

Room 6206, 400 Seventh St., SW,

Washington, DC 20590. The telefax

number is 202–366–5930.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rita

Gibbons, Staff Assistant, Office of

Research and Development, 400

Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC

20590. Telephone: 202–366–4862. Fax

number: 202–366–5930.

Issued: December 12, 1995.

William A. Boehly,

Associate Administrator for Research and

Development.

[FR Doc. 95–30688 Filed 12–13–95; 4:25 pm]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

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 limitation. These

COLAs affect the pension and parents’

dependency and indemnity

compensation (DIC) programs. These

adjustments are based on the rise in the

Consumer Price Index (CPI) during the

one-year period ending September 30,

1995. 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 1996, which

began on October 1, 1995.

DATES: These COLAs are effective

December 1, 1995. The headstone or

marker allowance rate is effective

October 1, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Trowbridge, Consultant,

Regulations Staff, Compensation and

Pension Service (211B), Veterans

Benefit Administration, Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273–

7210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 38

U.S.C. 2306(d), VA may provide

reimbursement for the cost of nonGovernment headstones or markers at a

rate equal to the actual cost 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,

whichever is less.

Section 8041 of Public Law 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 at 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, Office of

Memorial Programs 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 1995 under the

above computation method was $101.

Therefore, effective October 1, 1995, the

maximum rate of reimbursement for

non-Government headstones or markers

purchased during Fiscal Year 1996 is

$101.

Cost-of-Living Adjustments

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’ 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 2.6

percent cost-of-living increase in social

security benefits effective December 1,

1995. Therefore, applying the same

percentage, the following increased

rates and income limitations for the VA

pension and parents’ DIC programs will

be effective December 1, 1995:

TABLE 1.—IMPROVED PENSION

[Maximum annual rates]

(1) Veterans permanently and totally disabled

(38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $8,246

Veteran with one dependent, $10,801

For each additional dependent, $1,404

(2) Veterans in need of aid and attendance

(38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $13,190

Veteran with one dependent, $15,744

For each additional dependent, $1,404

(3) Veterans who are house bound (38

U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $10,080

Veteran with one dependent, $12,634

For each additional dependent, $1,404

(4) Two veterans married to one another,

combined rates (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Neither veteran in need of aid and attendance or housebound, $10,801

Either veteran in need of aid and attendance, $15,744

Both veteran in need of aid and attendance, $20,686

Either veteran housebound, $12,634
65090 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 242 / Monday, December 18, 1995 / Notices

TABLE 1.—IMPROVED PENSION—

Continued

[Maximum annual rates]

Both veterans housebound, $14,469

One veteran housebound and one veteran in need of aid and attendance,

$17,575

For each dependent child, $1,404

(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, $5,527

Surviving spouse and one child in his or

her custody, $7,240

For each additional child in his or her

custody, $1,404

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

Surviving spouse alone, $8,839

Surviving spouse and one child in his or

her custody, $10,548

For each additional child in his or her

custody, $1,404

(7) surviving spouses who are housebound

(38 U.S.C. 1541):

Surviving spouse alone, $6,758

Surviving spouse and one child in his or

her custody, $8,466

For each additional child in his or her

custody, $1,404

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

$1,404

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 $1,867. (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):

TABLE 2

[One parent. If there is only one parent, the

monthly rate of DIC paid to such parent

shall be $391 reduced on the basis of the

parent’s annual income according to the following formula:]

For each $1 of annual income

The $391

monthly rate

shall be reduced by

Which is

more than

But not more

than

$0.00 $0 $800

.08 800 9,381

No DIC is payable under this table if

annual income exceeds $9,381.

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 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 determing

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 $281

reduced on the basis of each parent’s

annual income, according to the

following formula:

TABLE 3

For each $1 of annual income

The $281

monthly rate

shall be reduced by

Which is

more than

But not more

than

$0.00 $0 $800

.06 800 900

0.7 900 1,100

.08 1,100 9,381

No DIC is payable under this table if

annual income exceeds $9,381.

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 $264

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 $264

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 12,611

No DIC is payable under this table if

annual income exceeds $12,611.

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 Table

2 through 4 shall be increased by $209

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, $9,381 (Pub. L. 95–588, section

306(a)).

(2) Veteran with no dependents in need of

aid and attendance, $9,881 (38 U.S.C.

1521(d) as in effect on December 31,

1978).

(3) Veteran or surviving spouse with one or

more dependents, $12,611 (Pub. L. 95–

588, section 306(a)).

(4) Veteran with one or more dependents in

need of aid and attendance, $13,111 (38

U.S.C. 1521(d) as in effect on December

31, 1978).

(5) Child (no entitled veteran or surviving

spouse), $7,668 (Pub. L. 95–588, section

306(a)).

(6) Spouse income exclusion (38 CFR

3.262), $2,992 (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, $8,211 (Pub.

L. 95–588, section 306(b)).

(2) Veteran or surviving spouse with one or

more dependents, $11,840 (Pub. L. 95–

588, section 306(b)).

Dated: December 8, 1995.

Jesse Brown,

Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 95–30643 Filed 12–15–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–M

Poverty Threshold

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans

Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of

the weighted average poverty threshold

in 1994 for one person (unrelated

individual) as established by the Bureau

of the Census.

DATES: The 1994 poverty threshold is for

consideration effective October 5, 1995,