On June 27, the House approved, 408-0, a bill (H.R. 4843) that would authorize a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for disabled veterans and their dependents as of December 1, 2006. The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee approved the measure on June 22 (see The Source, 6/23/06).
“More than 2.6 million veterans receive service-connected disability compensation,” Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN) stated, adding, “Spouses of veterans who died on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability may also be entitled to monetary compensation. The amount of the dependency and indemnity compensation is $1,033. Additional amounts are paid to survivors who are housebound or in need of aid and attendants or have minor children. Currently, about 340,000 surviving spouses and children are receiving survivors’ benefits.”
Rep. Corinne Brown (D-FL) said, “Those injured in the current war are surviving once fatal injuries at greater numbers than anytime in the past. The rates of disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation affected by the COLA will help those recovering to have a better quality of life and help them to become contributing members of society.”
