Veteran Families Fairness Act

To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify that the estate of a deceased veteran may receive certain accrued benefits upon the death of the veteran, to ensure that substituted claims are processed timely, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veteran Families Fairness Act 2. Clarification of eligible recipients of certain accrued benefits upon death of beneficiary (a) Treatment of estate (1) Eligible recipient Section 5121(a)(2) (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting , or estate, person (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) The estate of the veteran (unless the estate will escheat). . (2) Substitution in case of death of claimant Section 5121A(a)(1) of such title is amended— (A) by inserting , or estate, a living person (B) by adding at the end the following new sentence: The Secretary shall process a claim of such a substituted claimant by recognizing the original filing date of the claim and without penalty to the priority of the claim. (3) Outreach (A) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall identify deceased veterans whom the Secretary determines meet the following criteria: (i) The veteran died before— (I) the date of the enactment of this Act; and (II) being able to receive periodic monetary benefits under laws administered by the Secretary to which the veteran was entitled or had filed a claim to receive. (ii) Such benefits were not paid to an individual described in section 5121 (iii) If the amendments made by paragraphs (1) and (2) were in effect on the date of the death of the individual, such benefits could have been paid to the estate of the veteran under section 5121 (B) The Secretary shall notify the estate of each veteran identified under subparagraph (A) of the ability of the estate to apply for payments under section 5121 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (1) or apply to act as a substituted claimant under section 5121A of such title, as amended by paragraph (2). In determining such applications, the Secretary shall substitute the date on which the estate was notified of the eligibility of the estate to apply under this section (i) the date of death (ii) the date of the death of such claimant (4) Application In accordance with paragraph (3), the amendments made by subsection (a) and (b) shall apply with respect to the death of an individual regardless of the date of such death. (b) Reimbursements The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— (1) reimburse a claimant who is awarded a claim for compensation under title 38, United States Code, including an individual or estate under section 5121 and section 5121A of such title, as amended by this section, for costs that— (A) relate to the medical treatment of the claimant; (B) were charged to the claimant during the period beginning on the date on which the claim was filed and ending on the date of such award; and (C) would have been paid by the Secretary, or such treatment would have been provided by the Secretary, if such treatment occurred after the date of such award; and (2) recommend to each claimant, upon the filing of the claim, to retain receipts and other documentation relating to costs described in paragraph (1).

Summary: Veteran Families Fairness Act - Provides for the payment of certain accrued veterans' benefits to the estate of a deceased veteran upon the veteran's death if the veteran has no living spouse, children, or dependent parents. Allows the estate of a veteran who dies while his or her claim for accrued veterans' benefits is pending to file a request to be substituted as the claimant. Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to process the claim of a substituted claimant: (1) by recognizing the original filing date of the claim, and (2) without penalty to the priority of the claim. Directs the Secretary to notify the estates of veterans who died before this Act's enactment of their eligibility to apply for the deceased veteran's accrued benefits or apply to act as a substituted claimant. Gives estates one year after the date they received such notification to make such an application. Requires the Secretary to reimburse a successful veterans' benefits claimant for the medical costs that: (1) were charged to the claimant while the claim was pending, and (2) would have been reimbursed or provided by the VA if the treatment occurred after the claim was approved. Directs the Secretary to recommend to each claimant, when they file a claim, to retain documentation regarding such costs.