[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8263-8264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-01458]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Cost-of-Living Adjustments Effective December 1, 2016

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 (COLAs) in certain 
benefit rates. These COLAs affect the dependency and indemnity 
compensation (DIC) program. The rate of the adjustment is tied to the 
increase in Social Security benefits effective December 1, 2016, as 
announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA has 
announced an increase of 0.3%.

DATES: The COLAs are effective December 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel McCargar, Pension Analyst, 
Pension and Fiduciary Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20420 (612-713-8911).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The provisions of Public Law 114-197, 
``Veterans' Compensation COLA Act of 2016,'' require VA to increase the 
benefit rates of 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, effective December 1, 2016. VA must also 
publish the increased rates in the Federal Register.
    SSA has announced a 0.3% COLA increase in Social Security benefits 
effective December 1, 2016. Therefore, applying the same percentage, 
the following increased rates and income limitations for the DIC 
program will be effective December 1, 2016:

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Monthly Payment Rates

DIC Payable to a Surviving Spouse--Veteran Death On or After January 1, 
1993

    Basic Monthly Rate: $1,257.95.
    If, at the time of the Veteran's death, the Veteran was in receipt 
of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected 
disability rated totally disabling (including a rating based on 
individual unemployability) for a continuous period of at least eight 
years immediately preceding death AND the surviving spouse was married 
to the Veteran for those same eight years, add: $267.12.
    For each dependent child under the age of 18, add: $311.64.
    If the surviving spouse is entitled to aid and attendance benefits, 
add $311.64.
    If the surviving spouse is entitled to housebound benefits, add 
$145.99.
    If the surviving spouse has one or more children under the age of 
18 on the award, add the 2-year transitional benefit of $270.00 (no 
change to this rate as a result of the round-down in 38 U.S.C. 
1311(f)(4)).

DIC Payable to a Surviving Spouse--Veteran Death Prior to January 1, 
1993

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Amount
                    Veteran paygrade                      payable (d, e)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-1(f)..................................................       $1,257.95
E-2(f)..................................................        1,257.95
E-3(a,f)................................................        1,257.95
E-4(f)..................................................        1,257.95

[[Page 8264]]

 
E-5(f)..................................................        1,257.95
E-6(f)..................................................        1,257.95
E-7(g)..................................................        1,301.44
E-8(g)..................................................        1,373.92
E-9(g)..................................................        1,432.93
E-9(b)..................................................        1,546.82
W-1(g)..................................................        1,328.36
W-2(g)..................................................        1,381.16
W-3(g)..................................................        1,421.54
W-4(g)..................................................        1,504.37
O-1(g)..................................................        1,328.36
O-2(g)..................................................        1,373.92
O-3(g)..................................................        1,468.13
O-4.....................................................        1,556.13
O-5.....................................................        1,712.47
O-6.....................................................        1,930.94
O-7.....................................................        2,084.16
O-8.....................................................        2,289.17
O-9.....................................................        2,448.61
O-10....................................................        2,685.70
O-10(c).................................................        2,882.42
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Surviving spouse of Aviation Cadet or other service not covered by
  this table is paid the DIC rate for enlisted E-3.
(b) Veteran who served as Sergeant Major of the Army or Marine Corps,
  Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Navy, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air
  Force, or Commandant of the Marine Corps, or as Commandant of the
  Coast Guard.
(c) Veteran served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of
  Staff of the Army or Air Force, Chief of Naval Operations, Commandant
  of the Marine Corps, or as Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(d) If surviving spouse entitled to aid and attendance, add $311.64; if
  entitled to housebound, add $145.99.
(e) Add $311.64 for each child under 18.
(f) Add $267.12 if Veteran was rated totally disabled for eight
  continuous years prior to death and surviving spouse was married to
  Veteran those same eight years.
(g) Base rate is $1,525.07 if Veteran was rated totally disabled eight
  continuous years prior to death and surviving spouse was married to
  Veteran those same eight years.

DIC Payable to Children

Surviving Spouse Entitled
    For each child over the age of 18 who is attending an approved 
course of education, the rate is $264.02.
    For each child over the age of 18 who is helpless, the rate is 
$531.14.
No Surviving Spouse Entitled

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Each child's
           Number of children              Total payable       share
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................................         $531.14         $531.14
2.......................................          764.09          382.04
3.......................................          997.05          332.35
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For each additional child, add $189.48 to the total payable.
    For each additional helpless child over 18, add $311.64 to the 
total payable.

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina S. 
Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document, for publication.

    Dated: January 12, 2017.
Jeffrey Martin,
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, 
Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-01458 Filed 1-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P