[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 83 (Monday, May 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23490-23491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09212]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Cost of Living Adjustments

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving 
notice of Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) 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, 2020, as announced by the 
Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA has announced an increase of 
1.3%.

DATES: The increases in amounts became effective December 1, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terrence Minyard, Program Analyst, 
Pension and Fiduciary Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420, Telephone (202) 632-8862. (This is not a toll-free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of Public Law 116-178 
``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2020,'' VA is 
required to increase, effective December 1, 2020, the benefit rates of 
DIC programs by the same percentage as increases in the benefit amounts 
payable under title II of the Social Security Act. VA is required to 
publish notice of the increased rates in the Federal Register.
    SSA has announced a 1.3% COLA increase in Social Security benefits 
effective December 1, 2020. Therefore, applying the same percentage, 
the following increased rates and income limitations for the DIC 
program became effective December 1, 2020:

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Monthly Payment Rates

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

Basic Monthly Rate: $1,357.56
    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 8 years 
immediately preceding death AND the surviving spouse was married to the 
Veteran for those same 8 years, add: $288.27.
    For each dependent child under the age of 18, add: $336.32.
    If the surviving spouse is entitled to Aid and Attendance benefits, 
add $336.32.
    If the surviving spouse is entitled to Housebound benefits, add 
$157.55.
    If the surviving spouse has one or more children under the age of 
18 on the award per 38 U.S.C. 1311(f), add the 2-year transitional 
benefit of $289.00.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Veteran paygrade                      Amount payable
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-1(f)..................................................       $1,357.56
E-2(f)..................................................        1,357.56
E-3(a,f)................................................        1,357.56
E-4(f)..................................................        1,357.56
E-5(f)..................................................        1,357.56
E-6(f)..................................................        1,357.56
E-7(g)..................................................        1,404.49
E-8(g)..................................................        1,482.72
E-9(g)..................................................        1,546.40
E-9(b)..................................................        1,669.31
W-1(g)..................................................        1,433.56
W-2(g)..................................................        1,490.53
W-3(g)..................................................        1,534.11
W-4(g)..................................................        1,623.49
O-1(g)..................................................        1,433.56
O-2(g)..................................................        1,482.72
O-3(g)..................................................        1,584.38
O-4.....................................................        1,679.35
O-5.....................................................        1,848.08
O-6.....................................................        2,083.85
O-7.....................................................        2,249.19
O-8.....................................................        2,470.44
O-9.....................................................        2,642.50
O-10....................................................        2,898.37
O-10(c).................................................        3,110.67
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 Sgt. Major of the Army or Marine Corps, 
Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Navy, Chief Master Sgt. 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 
$336.32; if entitled to housebound, add $157.55.
    (e) Add $336.32 for each child under 18.
    (f) Add $288.27 if Veteran 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 $1,645.84 if Veteran 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 $284.93.
    For each child over the age of 18 who is helpless, the rate is 
$573.20.
No Surviving Spouse Entitled

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Each
                Number of children                    Total     child's
                                                     payable     share
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................................................    $573.20    $573.20
2.................................................     824.59     412.30
3.................................................   1,076.01     358.67
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For each additional child, add $204.48 to the total payable amount 
to be paid in equal shares to each child.
    For each additional helpless child over 18, add $336.32 to the 
amount payable to the helpless child.

Signing Authority

    Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this 
document on April 27, 2021, and authorized the undersigned to sign and

[[Page 23491]]

submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for 
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.

Luvenia Potts,
Regulation Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy & 
Management, Office of General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-09212 Filed 4-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P