The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to qualified survivors of service members and veterans. 

The DIC rate paid to survivors has been minimally adjusted since it was first established in 1993. H.R. 680, the Caring for Survivors Act, would raise DIC rates so they more closely match other federal survivor programs.

The bill also reduces DIC’s 10-year rule for eligibility for 100% disabled veterans to 5 years with a graduated scale, allowing greater numbers of seriously disabled veterans to receive the benefit.

PVA Position: 

Congress must pass H.R. 680, the Caring for Survivors Act, which would increase the number of survivors eligible for DIC and ensure its rates are comparable with other federal survivor programs.