WASHINGTON – Veterans receiving monthly benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can expect a 2.6 percent increase in their service-connected disability compensation or pension payment.
The cost-of-living adjustment also applies to survivors of veterans receiving death pension or dependency and indemnity compensation.
The 2.6 percent increase was included in compensation payments beginning December 31, 2001. The Veterans' Compensation Rate Amendments of 2001 bill signed into law last month by President Bush set the amount of the increase. As it has in the past, Congress based the increase in veterans' benefits on the cost-of-living adjustment granted to Social Security recipients.
More than 2.3million veterans receive service-connected disability compensation each month for injuries or illnesses connected with their military service. Under the new rates, veterans will receive monthly payments ranging from $103 to $2,163 depending on the severity of their disability. Factors such as additional compensation for dependents and housebound veterans can also raise the payment level beyond $2,163 monthly for the individual veteran.
Another 348,000 people benefiting from the increase are those receiving VA pensions. These are wartime veterans who are permanently and totally disabled from injuries or diseases not related to their military service.
The cost-of-living increase also applies to the VA payments to survivors of veterans who died while in the military or after discharge from a service-connected condition, as well as to survivors of wartime veterans who qualify for VA pensions. There are nearly 581,000 spouses, children and parents of veterans who receive monthly payments under these programs.
Charts with new rates and general information about benefits for veterans are available at www.vba.va.gov.
