President Trump recently signed the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act into law. The Act authorizes cost-of-living increases for VA’s disability compensation and clothing allowances as well as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses. The rate of the increase will equal that which is provided to Social Security recipients, and we will know what that percentage is toward the latter part of October. VA compensation and DIC benefits are paid on the first of each month, for the previous month. This means that the 1.6 percent COLA increase effective December 1, 2019, will be included in the January 1, 2020 payment. This increase matches the COLA provided to Social Security recipients. Representative Elaine Luria (VA), Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs introduced HR 1200, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019 and Congress’ final passage of the bill occurred on September 12, 2019.
Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019
