Advocates for military retirees have long pushed to end the offset that reduces the amount of retired pay dollar for dollar by the amount of disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs – with some success in recent ears. Now, a movement is afoot to provide the same relief for spouses and dependents of veterans who die because of their service-connected disabilities. A bill sponsored by Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., would eliminate the offset for such surviving family members who are eligible to collect Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) income from the Defense Department and Disability and Indemnity compensation from the VA. The measure, H.R. 2243, is now pending before the House Veterans’ Affairs disability and memorial affairs subcommittee. The bill would also increase DIC rates.
