U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) is calling on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee to pass legislation that would strengthen benefits to military survivors and families.
Boozman and Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced the
Caring for Survivors Act of 2021 last month. The legislation aims to bring payments to Dependence and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) recipients in line with payments to surviving spouses of other federal employees. The rate of compensation paid to survivors of servicemembers who die in the line of duty or veterans who die from service-related injuries or diseases has been minimally adjusted since its establishment in 1993. DIC payments currently lag behind other programs’ payments by nearly 12 percent
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National nonprofit Wreaths Across America has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Gold Star Wives of America Inc., in an effort to build a stronger awareness for each group’s common missions while supporting educational.
Advocates renew push to end the military’s remarriage penalty for spouses of fallen troops 11 hours ago Nancy Menagh, president of Gold Star Wives of America (back, third from right) poses with her children and grandchildren at the grave of her husband, Capt. Philip Menagh, who was killed in a military training exercise in 1984. (Photo courtesy of Nancy Menagh) When Capt. Philip Menagh was killed in a training exercise in 1984, his death left his wife and five young children with an unfillable emotional loss but also with military death benefits to ensure they could live comfortably in his absence. But if Nancy Menagh remarried, those benefits would disappear too.
Gold Star Spouses Who Remarry Face Losing Survivor Benefits. This Bill Would Change That
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) march off after supporting military funeral honors in Section 60, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, May 8, 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser/Arlington National Cemetery)
23 Apr 2021
Spouses of troops killed in the duty often face a grim penalty if they remarry: they lose their government-granted survivor benefits. Two veterans serving in Congress say that needs to change.
Under current law, Gold Star spouses lose their Survivor Benefit Plan benefits if they remarry before turning 55. They also lose their Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits if they remarry before turning 57.