Federal

Survivor Benefits Fairness Act

Source: Congress.gov · 323 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill changes when the Department of Veterans Affairs (the federal agency that provides benefits to veterans and their families) stops paying certain veteran benefits. The bill adjusts the timing of payment reductions or stops related to marriage, remarriage or death.

Who It Affects

Veterans and their family members who receive compensation (regular payments), dependency and indemnity compensation (payments to survivors of deceased veterans), or pension (regular retirement-type payments) from the Veterans Affairs department.

Key Provisions

• The bill changes the language in existing law so that benefit payments stop on the "last day of the month during which" a qualifying event happens, instead of the "last day of the month before" the event (Sec. 2(a)). • This change applies only to reductions or stops in benefits that happen because of marriage, remarriage or death that occur after this bill becomes law (Sec. 2(b)).

What Changes

If this bill becomes law, veterans and survivors will keep their benefit payments through the entire month in which their qualifying life event (marriage, remarriage or death) occurs, rather than having payments stop at the end of the previous month.

Important Definitions

The bill does not explicitly define its key terms.

Effective Date

The change applies to any reduction or discontinuance of benefits caused by a marriage, remarriage or death occurring on or after the date this bill becomes law (Sec. 2(b)).

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1609 To amend title 38, United States Code, to adjust the effective date of certain reductions and discontinuances of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and pension under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 14, 2023 Mr. STEIL (for himself and Mr. PAPPAS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to adjust the effec- tive date of certain reductions and discontinuances of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and pension under the laws administered by the Sec- retary of Veterans Affairs. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Survivor Benefits Fair- 4 ness Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:10 Mar 29, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1609.IH H1609 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 1609 IH SEC. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE OF CERTAIN REDUCTIONS AND 1 DISCONTINUANCES OF COMPENSATION, DE- 2 PENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION, 3 AND PENSION UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED 4 BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5112(b)(1) of title 38, 6 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘last day of 7 the month before’’ and inserting ‘‘last day of the month 8 during which’’. 9 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 10 subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a reduction or 11 discontinuance of compensation, dependency or indemnity 12 compensation, or pension by reason of a marriage, remar- 13 riage, or death occurring on or after the date of the enact- 14 ment of this Act. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:10 Mar 29, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1609.IH H1609 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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