Bill > SR82

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, under federal law, these spouses are often required to forfeit a portion or all of their Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity, which is a monthly payment designed to provide financial support, if they also receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the 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 SBP is a benefit that service members can elect to pay into to provide for their surviving spouse. The current system, where $1 of SBP is deducted for every $1 of DIC received, significantly reduces or eliminates the SBP benefit for many survivors, particularly those whose spouses died of service-connected causes before 2001. While some attempts have been made to mitigate this issue, such as a modest monthly rebate called the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA), these measures are considered insufficient by many survivors and the SSIA is set to expire. The Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act seeks to repeal the provisions that require this offset for surviving spouses under age 60, prevent the repayment of certain previously paid monies, and ensure dependent children receive payments when there is no eligible surviving spouse, thereby ensuring that the benefits designated for military families are fully provided.