Bill > S976

This bill, the Caring for Survivors Act of 2021, aims to improve and expand the eligibility for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) paid to certain survivors of certain veterans. Specifically, it increases the amount of DIC paid to surviving spouses from $1,154 to 55% of the monthly compensation rate under Section 1114(j) of Title 38. It also modifies the requirements for DIC eligibility, reducing the period of continuous total disability prior to a veteran's death from 10 years to 5 years. The bill includes a special provision to ensure that individuals already receiving DIC benefits based on a veteran's death prior to 1993 do not see a reduction in their monthly payments.