[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 81 (Tuesday, April 29, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17883-17884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-07328]
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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: As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2024, 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 amount of the adjustment is tied to the
increase in Social Security benefits effective December 1, 2024, as
announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA has
announced an increase of 2.5%.
DATES: The increases in amounts became effective December 1, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Holovacs, Management and
Program Analyst, Pension and Fiduciary Service, Veterans Benefits
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20420, Telephone (202) 632-8863. (This is not a toll-
free number).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of the Veterans'
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2024 (Pub. L. 118-130),
VA is required to increase, effective December 1, 2024, 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 2.5% COLA increase in Social Security benefits
effective December 1, 2024. Therefore, applying the same percentage,
the following increased rates for the DIC program became effective
December 1, 2024:
[[Page 17884]]
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Monthly Payment Rates
DIC Payable to a Surviving Spouse--Veteran Death on or After January 1,
1993
Basic Monthly Rate: $1,653.07.
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: $351.02.
For each dependent child under the age of 18, add: $409.53.
If the surviving spouse is entitled to Aid and Attendance benefits,
add $409.53. If the surviving spouse is entitled to Housebound
benefits, add $191.85.
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 $350.00.
DIC Payable to a Surviving Spouse--Veteran Death Prior to January 1,
1993
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Veteran paygrade Amount payable
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E-1(f)............................................... $1,653.07
E-2(f)............................................... 1,653.07
E-3(a,f)............................................. 1,653.07
E-4(f)............................................... 1,653.07
E-5(f)............................................... 1,653.07
E-6(f)............................................... 1,653.07
E-7(g)............................................... 1,710.20
E-B(g)............................................... 1,805.47
E-9(g)............................................... 1,883.00
E-9(b)............................................... 2,032.67
W-1(g)............................................... 1,745.61
W-2(g)............................................... 1,814.98
W-3(g)............................................... 1,868.03
W-4(g)............................................... 1,976.88
0-1 (g).............................................. 1,745.61
O-2(g)............................................... 1,805.47
O-3(g)............................................... 1,929.24
0-4.................................................. 2,044.89
0-5.................................................. 2,250.36
0-6.................................................. 2,537.44
0-7.................................................. 2,738.36
0-8.................................................. 3,008.18
0-9.................................................. 3,217.69
0-10................................................. 3,529.26
O-10(c).............................................. 3,787.77
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(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 Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, or as Master Chief Petty
Officer 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 $409.53; if
entitled to housebound, add $191.85.
(e) Add $409.53 for each child under 18.
(f) Add $351.02 if Veteran rated totally disabled for 8 continuous years
prior to death and surviving spouse was married to Veteran those same
8 years.
(g) Base rate is $2,004.09 if Veteran rated totally disabled 8
continuous years prior to death and surviving spouse was married to
Veteran those same 8 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 $346.95.
For each child over the age of 18 who is helpless, the rate is
$697.96.
No Surviving Spouse Entitled
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Each child's
Number of children Total payable share
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1....................................... $697.96 $697.96
2....................................... 1,004.07 502.04
3....................................... 1,310.23 436.74
------------------------------------------------------------------------
For each additional child, add $248.98 to the total payable amount
to be paid in equal shares to each child.
For each additional helpless child over 18, add $409.53 to the
amount payable to the helpless child.
Signing Authority
Douglas A. Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved and
signed this document on April 21, 2025, 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.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2025-07328 Filed 4-28-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P