Senator Seeks President’s Aid for SBP/DIC Fix

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., has sent President Bush a letter seeking his support in ending the offset of Survivor Benefits Plan annuity payments incurred by survivors who draw Dependents Indemnity Compensation. The offset of $993 a month affects not only covered survivors of military retirees but also survivors of troops who die while on active duty. The penalty completely wipes out SBP payments for survivors of active duty members who were below paygrade E-6 at death. A group of widows at Ft. Hood, Texas, emphasized the situation when the President visited there recently. Nelson’s S-185 would fix the inequity. A companion bill in the House, HR-808, is sponsored by Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C.