The Survivor Benefits Fairness Act amends title 38, United States Code, to change the effective date for reducing or discontinuing certain benefits due to marriage, remarriage, or death to the last day of the month in which the event occurred.
Bryan Steil
Representative
WI-1
The Survivor Benefits Fairness Act amends Title 38 of the United States Code to change the effective date for reducing or discontinuing certain benefits due to marriage, remarriage, or death. The new effective date will be the last day of the month in which the event occurred, rather than the current date. This change applies to events occurring on or after the enactment of this Act.
Survivor Benefits Fairness Act Ensures Full Month of VA Payments After Marriage or Death
The Survivor Benefits Fairness Act makes a small but significant tweak to how certain Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits are handled for survivors. It amends section 5112(b)(1) of Title 38, U.S. Code, changing when payments like compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), and pensions are stopped if a survivor gets married, remarries, or passes away. The new rule pushes this effective date to the last day of the month the event happens.
Ending the Mid-Month Cutoff
Right now, if a major life event like getting remarried happens mid-month, VA survivor benefits could potentially stop right then and there, leading to confusion or a partial payment for that month. This bill aims to fix that timing issue. Under this change, if a surviving spouse remarries on, say, June 15th, their VA benefits would continue through June 30th. It ensures that survivors receive the full month's payment during a period that often involves significant personal adjustments. This adjustment applies only to marriages, remarriages, or deaths that occur after the bill is enacted.
A Clearer Path for Benefits
This isn't just about the financial support; it's also about simplifying a bureaucratic process during potentially stressful times. By setting a clear, consistent end-of-month cutoff date, the bill makes the process more predictable for both the VA administering the benefits and the survivors navigating life changes. It removes ambiguity about prorated amounts or exact termination dates within a month, offering a bit more stability when it's often needed most.