Congress has passed S-2562, which will increase the compensation rate for veterans with service-connected disabilities awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rates for survivors of disabled veterans whose deaths were rated to be service connected. The increase is tied to the Social Security Index. The government announced Oct. 18 that the Social Security rise will be 3.3 percent. The new rates become effective Dec. 1, 2006.