PRIA Logo™
119-hr-680119th CongressWALLET

Caring for Survivors Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

In Committee

Summary

Increases and recalibrates survivor disability payments. This bill would tie Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for surviving spouses to 55 percent of the veterans' monthly compensation rate used for veterans with dependents and would change eligibility and calculation rules for survivors of veterans rated totally disabled at death.

Show full summary
  • Surviving spouses: DIC would be set at 55% of the rate under 38 U.S.C. 1114(j). Payments would follow the new formula for months beginning six months after enactment.
  • Survivors of totally disabled veterans: The continuous-rating threshold would drop from 10 years to 5 years, expanding eligibility to survivors of veterans with 5 to 9 years of continuous total disability before death.
  • Prorated benefits for shorter disability periods: If the continuous total disability period immediately before death is under 10 years the payable DIC would be reduced proportionally. The amount would bear the same ratio as the actual duration to 10 years.
  • Long-ago veteran deaths: Survivors whose benefits are based on a veteran's death before January 1, 1993 could receive the higher of the prior 1311 amount or the new 55%‑based amount.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Higher survivor benefits for veteran families

This bill would raise monthly survivor benefits for surviving spouses to 55% of a VA monthly compensation rate under section 1114(j). Payments under this new formula would start for months after six months from enactment. If the veteran died before January 1, 1993, the VA would pay the larger of the old rate or the new 55% rate starting then. It would also expand eligibility if the veteran was rated totally disabled: survivors would qualify after five years instead of ten. If the rating lasted under ten years, the payment would be prorated by years divided by ten.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

CT • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/23/2025

  • Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation