Surviving Spouses' Benefit Improvement Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-2539
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4]
Introduced: 2015-05-21
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Military personnel and dependents

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2015-06-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-05-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Surviving Spouses' Benefit Improvement Act of 2015 </strong></p> <p> This bill increases monthly rates for veterans' dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).</p> <p>Benefits under any other law (other than duplication of benefits) shall not be reduced or offset because the surviving spouse is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation.</p> <p> Six months after enactment of this Act, the VA shall pay to an individual who is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation predicated on the death of a veteran before January 1, 1993, monthly dependency and indemnity compensation that is the greater of the amount in effect either before or after enactment of this Act.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2539 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2015 Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Surviving Spouses’ Benefit Improvement Act of 2015 . 2. Increase in amount of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (a) Increase Section 1311 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking of $1,154 and inserting equal to 55 percent of the rate of monthly compensation in effect under section 1114(j) of this title ; and (B) by striking paragraph (3); and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (g) In the case of an individual who is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation under this section who is also eligible for benefits under another provision of law by reason of such individual’s status as the surviving spouse of a veteran, then, notwithstanding any other provision of law (other than section 5304(b)(3) of this title), neither a reduction nor an offset in benefits under such provision shall be made by reason of such individual’s eligibility for benefits under this section. . (b) Effective date (1) In general Except as provided by paragraph (2), the amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to compensation paid under chapter 13 of title 38, United States Code, for months beginning after the date that is six months after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Special rule for certain individuals (A) For months beginning after the date that is six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pay to an individual described in subparagraph (B) dependency and indemnity compensation under section 1311 of title 38, United States Code, in the monthly amount that is the greater of the following: (i) The amount determined under subsection (a)(3) of such section 1311, as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act. (ii) The amount determined under subsection (a)(1) of such section 1311, as amended by subsection (a). (B) An individual described in this subparagraph is an individual eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation under section 1311 of title 38, United States Code, that is predicated on the death of a veteran before January 1, 1993.