| Veterans
News Flash 
Millions Receive Cost-Of-Living
Increases for VA Benefits
Peake: Disabled Veterans Receive Earned Increase
January 3, 2008
WASHINGTON – Millions
of veterans and eligible family members will
see their disability compensation, pension, and
survivors' benefits increased as the Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides an annual cost-of-living
increase for key benefits.
“This increase ensures that those veterans
who have earned this benefit for incurring a disability
in defense of our country receive payments that
keep pace with today’s cost of living,” said
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. “VA
is committed to the needs of our veterans and their
families. We owe America’s defenders no less.”
A recent law signed by President Bush provides
a 2.3 percent increase in disability compensation
and survivors' benefits. Eligible veterans and
family members will see this increase starting
in their January 2008 checks.
Under the veterans’ disability
compensation program, tax-free payments will
generally range from $117 to $2,527 per month
depending on the degree of disability. Special
payments up to $7,232 per month apply to the
most severely injured veterans.
Pension disability benefits will also be increased
by the same percentage and effective on the same
date. The maximum annual rate for permanently and
totally disabled veterans or veterans over age
65 can range from $11,181 to $18,654, based on
household income and whether veterans are in need
of help with activities for daily living.
This increase also applies
to survivors of veterans who died in service
or from a service-connected disability. Dependency
and indemnity compensation (DIC) survivors’ benefit
payments can range from $1,091 to $2,499 per
month.
Survivors of wartime
veterans receiving death pension are also entitled
to an increase. The maximum annual payment rate
for a surviving spouse can range from $7,498
to $11,985. Benefits under this program are intended
to bring an eligible spouse’s
income to a level established by law.
Under each benefit program, additional allowances
may be payable for helpless, minor or school age
children.
For more information
about VA benefits and services, go to VA’s
website at www.va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000.
SOURCE:
US Department of Veterans Affair
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