Bill > AR85

This Resolution urges Congress to pass the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, a proposed law aimed at correcting an inequity faced by surviving spouses of deceased military members. Currently, these survivors must forfeit part or all of their Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity, which is a benefit designed to provide financial support after a service member's death, if they also receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit paid to eligible survivors of military service members who died in the line of duty or as a result of a service-related injury or illness. The existing system requires survivors to give up $1 of their SBP for every $1 of DIC received, effectively eliminating most or all of the SBP annuity for many. While Congress has made some attempts to alleviate this burden, such as a modest monthly rebate called the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA), these measures are seen as insufficient, especially for those whose spouses died before 2001. The Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act seeks to repeal the provisions that mandate this offset for surviving spouses under 60 years old, prevent the repayment of previously received benefits, and ensure dependent children receive benefits when there is no eligible surviving spouse, recognizing the sacrifices made by military personnel.