Sponsors (2)
The bill ensures survivors receive full-month VA benefits and reduces administrative ambiguity, while modestly increasing VA spending and risking overpayment recoveries that could burden survivors and administrators.
Surviving beneficiaries (veterans' spouses, dependents, recipients of pension/compensation/DIC) will receive payment for the entire month in which a payee dies rather than having benefits end earlier.
Clarifies VA effective-date rules for benefit reductions/discontinuances on a beneficiary's death, reducing administrative confusion and the potential for appeals.
Retroactive full-month payments could create overpayments that VA may need to recover, imposing administrative burdens and possible financial strain on surviving beneficiaries.
Taxpayers may face modest increased VA outlays because benefits are paid for the full month of death even when death occurs early in the month.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced January 28, 2025 by Steve Daines · Last progress January 28, 2025
Changes how the Department of Veterans Affairs treats the month of a beneficiary's death for VA compensation, pension, and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC). It makes reductions or discontinuances due to a payee's death effective as of the last day of the month in which they died and specifically ensures payment for the month of death. The change applies to deaths on or after the date the law is enacted.