82 FR 61670 - Cost-of-Living Adjustments Effective December 1, 2017

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

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

As required by law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) in certain benefit rates. These COLAs affect the dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) program. 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, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61670-61671]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27991]


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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. These COLAs affect the dependency and indemnity 
compensation (DIC) program. 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 Public Law 115-75, 
``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2017,'' 
require VA to increase the benefit rates of 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, effective 
December 1, 2017. VA must also publish the increased rates 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

[[Page 61671]]

percentage, the following increased rates and income limitations for 
the DIC program will be effective December 1, 2017:

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Monthly Payment Rates

DIC Payable to a Surviving Spouse--Veteran Death on or After January 1, 
1993

    Basic Monthly Rate: $1,283.11.
    If at the time of the Veteran's death, the Veteran was in receipt 
of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected 
disability rated totally disabling (including a rating based on 
individual unemployability) for a continuous period of at least 8 years 
immediately preceding death AND the surviving spouse was married to the 
Veteran for those same 8 years, add $272.46.
    For each dependent child under the age of 18, add $317.87.
    If the surviving spouse is entitled to aid and attendance benefits, 
add $317.87.
    If the surviving spouse is entitled to housebound benefits, add 
$148.91.
    If the surviving spouse has one or more children under the age of 
18 on the award, add the 2-year transitional benefit of $270.00 (no 
change to this rate as a result of the round-down in 38 U.S.C. 
1311(f)(4)).

DIC Payable to a Surviving Spouse--Veteran Death Prior to January 1, 
1993

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Veteran paygrade                      Amount payable
------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-1(f)..................................................        1,283.11
E-2(f)..................................................        1,283.11
E-3(a,f)................................................        1,283.11
E-4(f)..................................................        1,283.11
E-5(f)..................................................        1,283.11
E-6(f)..................................................        1,283.11
E-7(g)..................................................        1,327.47
E-8(g)..................................................        1,401.40
E-9(g)..................................................        1,461.59
E-9(b)..................................................        1,577.76
W-1(g)..................................................        1,354.93
W-2(g)..................................................        1,408.78
W-3(g)..................................................        1,449.97
W-4(g)..................................................        1,534.46
O-1(g)..................................................        1,354.93
O-2(g)..................................................        1,401.40
O-3(g)..................................................        1,497.49
O-4.....................................................        1,587.25
O-5.....................................................        1,746.72
O-6.....................................................        1,969.56
O-7.....................................................        2,125.84
O-8.....................................................        2,334.95
O-9.....................................................        2,497.58
O-10....................................................        2,739.41
O-10(c).................................................        2,940.07
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Surviving spouse of Aviation Cadet or other service not covered by
  this table is paid the DIC rate for enlisted E-3.
(b) Veteran who served as Sergeant Major of the Army or Marine Corps,
  Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Navy, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air
  Force, or Commandant of the Marine Corps, or as Commandant of the
  Coast Guard.
(c) Veteran served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of
  Staff of the Army or Air Force, Chief of Naval Operations, Commandant
  of the Marine Corps, or as Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(d) If surviving spouse entitled to aid and attendance, add $317.87; if
  entitled to housebound, add $148.91.
(e) Add $317.87 for each child under 18.
(f) Add $272.46 if Veteran rated totally disabled for 8 continuous years
  prior to death, and surviving spouse was married to Veteran those same
  8 years.
(g) Base rate is $1,555.57 if Veteran was rated totally disabled 8
  continuous years prior to death, and surviving spouse was married to
  Veteran those same 8 years.

DIC Payable to Children

Surviving Spouse Entitled
    For each child over the age of 18 who is attending an approved 
course of education, the rate is $269.30.
    For each child over the age of 18 who is helpless, the rate is 
$541.76.
No Surviving Spouse Entitled

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Each
                 Number of children                     Total    child's
                                                       payable    share
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...................................................   $541.76   $541.76
2...................................................    779.37    389.69
3...................................................  1,016.99    399.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For each additional child, add $193.27 to the total payable.
    For each additional helpless child over 18, add $317.87 to the 
total payable.

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. 2017-27991 Filed 12-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8320-01-P