82_FR_61917 82 FR 61669 - Cost of Living Adjustments Effective December 1, 2017

82 FR 61669 - Cost of Living Adjustments Effective December 1, 2017

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 248 (December 28, 2017)

Page Range61669-61670
FR Document2017-27992

As required by law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) in certain benefit rates and income limitations. These COLAs affect the pension and parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) programs. The rate of the adjustment is tied to the increase in Social Security benefits effective December 1, 2017, as announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA has announced an increase of 2.0 percent.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61669-61670]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27992]


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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS


Cost of Living Adjustments Effective December 1, 2017

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: As required by law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is 
hereby giving notice of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) in certain 
benefit rates and income limitations. These COLAs affect the pension 
and parents' dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) programs. The 
rate of the adjustment is tied to the increase in Social Security 
benefits effective December 1, 2017, as announced by the Social 
Security Administration (SSA). SSA has announced an increase of 2.0 
percent.

DATES: The COLAs are effective December 1, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel McCargar, Pension Analyst, 
Pension and Fiduciary Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, 
Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20420, (612) 713-8911.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The provisions of 38 U.S.C. 5312 and section 
306 of Public Law 95-588 require VA to increase the benefit rates and 
income limitations in the pension and parents' DIC programs by the same 
percentage, and effective the same date, as increases in the benefit 
amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act. VA must also 
publish the increased rates and income limitations in the Federal 
Register.
    SSA has announced a 2.0 percent COLA increase in Social Security 
benefits, effective December 1, 2017. Therefore, applying the same 
percentage and rounding in accordance with 38 CFR 3.29, the following 
increased rates and income limitations for the VA pension and parents' 
DIC programs will be effective December 1, 2017:

Pension

Maximum Annual Rates

    (1) Veterans permanently and totally disabled (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $13,166
Veteran with one dependent, $17,241
For each additional dependent, $2,250

    (2) Veterans in need of aid and attendance (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $21,962
Veteran with one dependent, $26,036
For each additional dependent, $2,250

    (3) Veterans who are housebound (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $16,089
Veteran with one dependent, $20,166
For each additional dependent, $2,250

    (4) Two veterans married to one another, combined rates (38 U.S.C. 
1521):

Neither veteran in need of aid and attendance or housebound, $17,241
Either veteran in need of aid and attendance, $26,036
Both veterans in need of aid and attendance, $34,837
Either veteran housebound, $20,166
Both veterans housebound, $23,087
One veteran housebound and one veteran in need of aid and attendance, 
$28,953
For each dependent child, $2,250

    Mexican border period and World War I veterans: The applicable 
maximum annual rate payable to a Mexican border period or World War I 
veteran under this table shall be increased by $2,991. (38 U.S.C. 
1521(g))
    (5) Surviving spouse alone and with a child or children of the 
deceased veteran in custody of the surviving spouse (38 U.S.C. 1541):

Surviving spouse alone, $8,830
Surviving spouse and one child in his or her custody, $11,557
For each additional child in his or her custody, $2,250

    (6) Surviving spouses in need of aid and attendance (38 U.S.C. 
1541):

Surviving spouse alone, $14,113
Surviving spouse with one child in custody, $16,837
Surviving spouse of Spanish-American War veteran alone, $14,685
Surviving spouse of Spanish-American War veteran with one child in 
custody, $17,347
For each additional child in his or her custody, $2,250

    (7) Surviving spouses who are housebound (38 U.S.C. 1541):

Surviving spouse alone, $10,792
Surviving spouse and one child in his or her custody, $13,514
For each additional child in his or her custody, $2,250

    (8) Surviving child alone (38 U.S.C. 1542), $2,250.
    Reduction for income: The rate payable is the applicable maximum 
rate minus the countable annual income of the eligible person. (38 
U.S.C. 1521, 1541, and 1542).

Parents' DIC

    DIC shall be paid monthly to parents of a deceased veteran in the 
following amounts (38 U.S.C. 1315):
    One parent (38 U.S.C. 1315(b)): If there is only one parent, the 
monthly rate of DIC paid to such parent shall be $634, reduced on the 
basis of the parent's annual income according to the following formula:
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $0.00 but not more 
than $800, the $634 monthly rate shall not be reduced.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $800 but not more 
than $8,662, the monthly rate shall be reduced by $0.08.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $8,862 but not more 
than $8,663, the monthly rate shall be reduced by $0.04.

[[Page 61670]]

    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $8,663, the monthly 
rate will not be reduced.
    No Parents' DIC is payable under this table if annual income 
exceeds $14,974.
    One parent who has remarried: If there is only one parent, and the 
parent has remarried and is living with the parent's spouse, DIC shall 
be paid under 38 U.S.C. 1315(b) or under 38 U.S.C. 1315(d), whichever 
shall result in the greater benefit being paid to the veteran's parent. 
In the case of remarriage, the total combined annual income of the 
parent and the parent's spouse shall be counted in determining the 
monthly rate of DIC.
    One of two parents not living with spouse (38 U.S.C. 1315(c)): The 
rates in Table 3 apply to (1) two parents who are not living together, 
or (2) an unmarried parent when both parents are living and the other 
parent has remarried. The monthly rate of DIC paid to each such parent 
shall be $459, reduced on the basis of each parent's annual income, 
according to the following formula:
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $0 but not more 
than $800, the $459 monthly rate shall not be reduced.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $800 but not more 
than $6,475, the monthly rate shall be reduced by $0.08.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $6,475, the monthly 
rate shall not be reduced.
    No Parents' DIC is payable under this table if annual income 
exceeds $14,974.
    One of two parents living with spouse or other parent (38 U.S.C. 
1315(d)): The rates below apply to each parent living with another 
parent; and each remarried parent, when both parents are alive. The 
monthly rate of DIC paid to such parents will be $431, reduced on the 
basis of the combined annual income of the two parents living together 
or the remarried parent or parents and spouse or spouses, as computed 
under the following formula:
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $0 but not more 
than $1,000, the $431 monthly rate shall not be reduced.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $1,000 but not more 
than $1,500, the monthly rate shall be reduced by $0.03.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $1,500 but not more 
than $2,000, the monthly rate shall be reduced by $0.04.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $2,000 but not more 
than $2,400, the monthly rate shall be reduced by $0.05.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $2,400 but not more 
than $2,900, the monthly rate shall be reduced by $0.06.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $2,900 but not more 
than $3,200, the monthly rate shall be reduced by $0.07.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $3,200 but not more 
than $7,187, the monthly rate shall be reduced by $0.08.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $7,187 but not more 
than $7,188, the monthly rate shall be reduced by $0.04.
    For each $1 of annual income which is more than $7,188, the monthly 
rate shall not be reduced.
    No Parents' DIC is payable if the annual income exceeds $20,128.
    These rates are also applicable in the case of one surviving parent 
who has remarried, computed on the basis of the combined income of the 
parent and spouse, if this would be a greater benefit than that 
specified in Table 2 for one parent.
    Aid and attendance: The monthly rate of DIC payable to a parent 
under Tables 2 through 4 shall be increased by $343 if such parent is 
(1) a patient in a nursing home, or (2) helpless or blind, or so nearly 
helpless or blind as to need or require the regular aid and attendance 
of another person.
    Minimum rate: The monthly rate of DIC payable to any parent under 
Tables 2 through 4 shall not be less than $5.

Section 306 Pension Income Limitations

    Veteran or surviving spouse with no dependents, $14,974 (Pub. L. 
95-588, section 306(a))
    Veteran in need of aid and attendance with no dependents, $15,513 
(38 U.S.C. 1521(d) as in effect on December 31, 1978)
    Veteran or surviving spouse with one or more dependents, $20,128 
(Pub. L. 95-588, section 306(a))
    Veteran in need of aid and attendance with one or more dependents, 
$20,666 (38 U.S.C. 1521(d) as in effect on December 31, 1978)
    Child (no entitled veteran or surviving spouse), $12,244 (Pub. L. 
95-588, section 306(a))
    Spouse income exclusion (38 CFR 3.262), $4,782 (Pub. L. 95-588, 
section 306(a)(2)(B))

Old-Law Pension Income Limitations

    Veteran or surviving spouse without dependents or an entitled 
child, $13,112 (Pub. L. 95-588, section 306(b))
    Veteran or surviving spouse with one or more dependents, $18,899 
(Pub. L. 95-588, section 306(b))

Signing Authority

    The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or designee, approved this 
document and authorized the undersigned to sign and submit the document 
to the Office of the Federal Register for publication electronically as 
an official document of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina S. 
Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
approved this document on December 14, 2017, for publication.

    Dated: December 14, 2017.
Jeffrey Martin,
Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, 
Office of the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-27992 Filed 12-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 248 / Thursday, December 28, 2017 / Notices 61669 Estimated Number of Respondents: compensation (DIC) programs. The rate One veteran housebound and one 800. of the adjustment is tied to the increase veteran in need of aid and attendance, Estimated Time per Respondent: 53 in Social Security benefits effective $28,953 minutes. December 1, 2017, as announced by the For each dependent child, $2,250 Estimated Total Annual Burden Social Security Administration (SSA). Mexican border period and World Hours: 700. SSA has announced an increase of 2.0 War I veterans: The applicable The following paragraph applies to all percent. maximum annual rate payable to a of the collections of information covered DATES: The COLAs are effective Mexican border period or World War I by this notice. December 1, 2017. veteran under this table shall be An agency may not conduct or FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: increased by $2,991. (38 U.S.C. 1521(g)) sponsor, and a person is not required to Daniel McCargar, Pension Analyst, (5) Surviving spouse alone and with respond to, a collection of information Pension and Fiduciary Service, Veterans a child or children of the deceased unless the collection of information Benefits Administration, Department of veteran in custody of the surviving displays a valid OMB control number. Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue spouse (38 U.S.C. 1541): Books or records relating to a collection NW, Washington, DC 20420, (612) 713– Surviving spouse alone, $8,830 of information must be retained as long 8911. Surviving spouse and one child in his as their contents may become material or her custody, $11,557 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The in the administration of any internal For each additional child in his or her revenue law. Generally, tax returns and provisions of 38 U.S.C. 5312 and section custody, $2,250 tax return information are confidential, 306 of Public Law 95–588 require VA to increase the benefit rates and income (6) Surviving spouses in need of aid as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103. and attendance (38 U.S.C. 1541): Request for Comments: Comments limitations in the pension and parents’ DIC programs by the same percentage, Surviving spouse alone, $14,113 submitted in response to this notice will Surviving spouse with one child in be summarized and/or included in the and effective the same date, as increases in the benefit amounts payable under custody, $16,837 request for OMB approval. All Surviving spouse of Spanish-American comments will become a matter of title II of the Social Security Act. VA must also publish the increased rates War veteran alone, $14,685 public record. Comments are invited on: Surviving spouse of Spanish-American (a) Whether the collection of and income limitations in the Federal Register. War veteran with one child in information is necessary for the proper custody, $17,347 performance of the functions of the SSA has announced a 2.0 percent COLA increase in Social Security For each additional child in his or her agency, including whether the custody, $2,250 information shall have practical utility; benefits, effective December 1, 2017. Therefore, applying the same percentage (7) Surviving spouses who are (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate housebound (38 U.S.C. 1541): of the burden of the collection of and rounding in accordance with 38 CFR 3.29, the following increased rates Surviving spouse alone, $10,792 information; (c) ways to enhance the and income limitations for the VA Surviving spouse and one child in his quality, utility, and clarity of the pension and parents’ DIC programs will or her custody, $13,514 information to be collected; (d) ways to For each additional child in his or her minimize the burden of the collection of be effective December 1, 2017: custody, $2,250 information on respondents, including Pension through the use of automated collection (8) Surviving child alone (38 U.S.C. techniques or other forms of information Maximum Annual Rates 1542), $2,250. (1) Veterans permanently and totally Reduction for income: The rate technology; and (e) estimates of capital disabled (38 U.S.C. 1521): payable is the applicable maximum rate or start-up costs and costs of operation, minus the countable annual income of maintenance, and purchase of services Veteran with no dependents, $13,166 the eligible person. (38 U.S.C. 1521, to provide information. Veteran with one dependent, $17,241 1541, and 1542). Approved: November 29, 2017. For each additional dependent, $2,250 L. Brimmer, (2) Veterans in need of aid and Parents’ DIC Senior Tax Analyst. attendance (38 U.S.C. 1521): DIC shall be paid monthly to parents [FR Doc. 2017–28040 Filed 12–27–17; 8:45 am] Veteran with no dependents, $21,962 of a deceased veteran in the following BILLING CODE 4830–01–P Veteran with one dependent, $26,036 amounts (38 U.S.C. 1315): For each additional dependent, $2,250 One parent (38 U.S.C. 1315(b)): If (3) Veterans who are housebound (38 there is only one parent, the monthly U.S.C. 1521): rate of DIC paid to such parent shall be DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS $634, reduced on the basis of the AFFAIRS Veteran with no dependents, $16,089 parent’s annual income according to the Veteran with one dependent, $20,166 Cost of Living Adjustments Effective following formula: For each additional dependent, $2,250 For each $1 of annual income which December 1, 2017 (4) Two veterans married to one is more than $0.00 but not more than AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. another, combined rates (38 U.S.C. $800, the $634 monthly rate shall not be ACTION: Notice 1521): reduced. Neither veteran in need of aid and sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES For each $1 of annual income which SUMMARY: As required by law, the attendance or housebound, $17,241 is more than $800 but not more than Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is Either veteran in need of aid and $8,662, the monthly rate shall be hereby giving notice of cost-of-living attendance, $26,036 reduced by $0.08. adjustments (COLA) in certain benefit Both veterans in need of aid and For each $1 of annual income which rates and income limitations. These attendance, $34,837 is more than $8,862 but not more than COLAs affect the pension and parents’ Either veteran housebound, $20,166 $8,663, the monthly rate shall be dependency and indemnity Both veterans housebound, $23,087 reduced by $0.04. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:14 Dec 27, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00137 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28DEN1.SGM 28DEN1

61670 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 248 / Thursday, December 28, 2017 / Notices For each $1 of annual income which For each $1 of annual income which Signing Authority is more than $8,663, the monthly rate is more than $2,400 but not more than The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or will not be reduced. $2,900, the monthly rate shall be designee, approved this document and No Parents’ DIC is payable under this reduced by $0.06. authorized the undersigned to sign and table if annual income exceeds $14,974. For each $1 of annual income which submit the document to the Office of the One parent who has remarried: If is more than $2,900 but not more than Federal Register for publication there is only one parent, and the parent $3,200, the monthly rate shall be electronically as an official document of has remarried and is living with the reduced by $0.07. For each $1 of annual income which the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gina parent’s spouse, DIC shall be paid under S. Farrisee, Deputy Chief of Staff, 38 U.S.C. 1315(b) or under 38 U.S.C. is more than $3,200 but not more than $7,187, the monthly rate shall be Department of Veterans Affairs, 1315(d), whichever shall result in the approved this document on December greater benefit being paid to the reduced by $0.08. For each $1 of annual income which 14, 2017, for publication. veteran’s parent. In the case of remarriage, the total combined annual is more than $7,187 but not more than Dated: December 14, 2017. income of the parent and the parent’s $7,188, the monthly rate shall be Jeffrey Martin, spouse shall be counted in determining reduced by $0.04. Office Program Manager, Office of Regulation For each $1 of annual income which Policy & Management, Office of the Secretary, the monthly rate of DIC. is more than $7,188, the monthly rate Department of Veterans Affairs. One of two parents not living with shall not be reduced. [FR Doc. 2017–27992 Filed 12–27–17; 8:45 am] spouse (38 U.S.C. 1315(c)): The rates in No Parents’ DIC is payable if the Table 3 apply to (1) two parents who are annual income exceeds $20,128. BILLING CODE 8320–01–P not living together, or (2) an unmarried These rates are also applicable in the parent when both parents are living and case of one surviving parent who has the other parent has remarried. The DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS remarried, computed on the basis of the AFFAIRS monthly rate of DIC paid to each such combined income of the parent and parent shall be $459, reduced on the spouse, if this would be a greater benefit Cost-of-Living Adjustments Effective basis of each parent’s annual income, than that specified in Table 2 for one December 1, 2017 according to the following formula: parent. For each $1 of annual income which Aid and attendance: The monthly rate AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs. is more than $0 but not more than $800, of DIC payable to a parent under Tables ACTION: Notice. the $459 monthly rate shall not be 2 through 4 shall be increased by $343 reduced. if such parent is (1) a patient in a SUMMARY: As required by law, the For each $1 of annual income which nursing home, or (2) helpless or blind, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is is more than $800 but not more than or so nearly helpless or blind as to need hereby giving notice of cost-of-living $6,475, the monthly rate shall be or require the regular aid and adjustments (COLA) in certain benefit reduced by $0.08. attendance of another person. rates. These COLAs affect the For each $1 of annual income which Minimum rate: The monthly rate of dependency and indemnity is more than $6,475, the monthly rate DIC payable to any parent under Tables compensation (DIC) program. The rate shall not be reduced. 2 through 4 shall not be less than $5. of the adjustment is tied to the increase No Parents’ DIC is payable under this in Social Security benefits, effective Section 306 Pension Income December 1, 2017, as announced by the table if annual income exceeds $14,974. Limitations One of two parents living with spouse Social Security Administration (SSA). or other parent (38 U.S.C. 1315(d)): The Veteran or surviving spouse with no SSA has announced an increase of 2.0 rates below apply to each parent living dependents, $14,974 (Pub. L. 95–588, percent. with another parent; and each remarried section 306(a)) DATES: The COLAs are effective parent, when both parents are alive. The Veteran in need of aid and attendance December 1, 2017. monthly rate of DIC paid to such parents with no dependents, $15,513 (38 U.S.C. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: will be $431, reduced on the basis of the 1521(d) as in effect on December 31, Daniel McCargar, Pension Analyst, combined annual income of the two 1978) Pension and Fiduciary Service, Veterans parents living together or the remarried Veteran or surviving spouse with one Benefits Administration, Department of parent or parents and spouse or spouses, or more dependents, $20,128 (Pub. L. Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue as computed under the following 95–588, section 306(a)) NW, Washington, DC 20420, (612) 713– Veteran in need of aid and attendance formula: 8911. with one or more dependents, $20,666 For each $1 of annual income which SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The (38 U.S.C. 1521(d) as in effect on is more than $0 but not more than provisions of Public Law 115–75, December 31, 1978) $1,000, the $431 monthly rate shall not Child (no entitled veteran or surviving ‘‘Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living be reduced. spouse), $12,244 (Pub. L. 95–588, Adjustment Act of 2017,’’ require VA to For each $1 of annual income which section 306(a)) increase the benefit rates of DIC is more than $1,000 but not more than Spouse income exclusion (38 CFR programs by the same percentage, and $1,500, the monthly rate shall be 3.262), $4,782 (Pub. L. 95–588, section effective the same date, as increases in reduced by $0.03. 306(a)(2)(B)) the benefit amounts payable under title For each $1 of annual income which sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES II of the Social Security Act, effective is more than $1,500 but not more than Old-Law Pension Income Limitations December 1, 2017. VA must also publish $2,000, the monthly rate shall be Veteran or surviving spouse without the increased rates in the Federal reduced by $0.04. dependents or an entitled child, $13,112 Register. For each $1 of annual income which (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(b)) SSA has announced a 2.0 percent is more than $2,000 but not more than Veteran or surviving spouse with one COLA increase in Social Security $2,400, the monthly rate shall be or more dependents, $18,899 (Pub. L. benefits, effective December 1, 2017. reduced by $0.05. 95–588, section 306(b)) Therefore, applying the same VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:14 Dec 27, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00138 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28DEN1.SGM 28DEN1


Document Created: 2017-12-28 00:44:09
Document Modified: 2017-12-28 00:44:09
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice
DatesThe COLAs are effective December 1, 2017.
ContactDaniel McCargar, Pension Analyst, Pension and Fiduciary Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20420, (612) 713-8911.
FR Citation82 FR 61669 
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