BVA has joined 13 other organizations in support of the Caring for Survivors Act of 2025, legislation reintroduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Jahana Hayes (D-CT-5) on January 23. Hayes introduced an identical bill during the 118th Congress that passed with a voice vote in the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs last April but was not taken up by the full Committee. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1) will again co-lead the bipartisan legislation. On February 6, Hayes spoke briefly on the House Floor about the bill.
The Caring for Survivors Act of 2025 would bring survivor benefits, known as Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), in line with other federal benefits and ensure that surviving families of qualifying blinded veterans receive the benefits their loved ones earned by their service.
The legislation, among other changes, reforms DIC benefits for blinded veterans by increasing the DIC for survivors from 43 percent ($1,653.07) to 55 percent ($2,107.22) of a single 100 percent veteran’s compensation. Military survivors currently receiving DIC would realize an approximate increase of $454.
In addition, DIC benefits currently are available to surviving family members of veterans who die as a result of a nonservice-connected injury or disease but who were totally disabled from their service-connected disabilities for at least ten years immediately preceding death. The legislation would reduce the ten-year rule to five years, greatly assisting families who have had their lives put on hold for the care required by a disabled family member.
“Unfortunately, the outdated rules governing Dependency and Indemnity Compensation mean that many surviving families do not receive the full benefits they are entitled to,” said Hayes. “The Caring for Survivors Act of 2025 increases DIC benefits, reduces barriers to access, and ensures that the federal government keep its promise to fallen service members and disabled veterans by supporting their families.”
