House Approves HASC Troop/Survivor Benefits

Last week the House approved a lengthy list of military benefits proposed by the House Armed Services Committee for input to the fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Bill. For example, it endorsed a 3.5 percent pay raise, plus annual raises of 0.5 percent above the Employment Cost Index through fiscal 2012. It also authorized surviving spouses who draw annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan that are offset by Dependency and Indemnity Compensation to receive $40 per month effective Oct. 1, 2007. And it extended Combat Related Special Compensation to Chapter 61 retirees who retired with 15 or more years of service with at least a 60 percent combat-related disability rating. In addition, the House blocked any increase in fees for Tricare Standard and Tricare Prime, and any rise in Tricare pharmacy copays until Oct. 1, 2008.