How S 611 changes current law

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill increases the dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and modifies eligibility criteria for certain veterans rated totally disabled at the time of death.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1311(a)(1)

  $1,154 → equal to 55 percent of the rate of monthly compensation in effect under section 1114(j) of this title

  The monthly compensation rate for surviving spouses is changed from a fixed amount to a percentage of another compensation rate.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1318(a)

  The Secretary → (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary

  Clarifies that the Secretary is subject to paragraphs that provide exceptions for certain cases.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1318(a)

  (2) In any case in which the Secretary makes a payment under paragraph (1) of this subsection by reason of subsection (b)(1) and the period of continuous rating immediately preceding death is less than 10 years, the amount payable under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be an amount that bears the same relationship to the amount otherwise payable under such paragraph as the duration of such period bears to 10 years.

  Establishes a proportional payment rule for surviving spouses of veterans rated totally disabled for less than 10 years.

• 38 U.S.C. § 1318(b)(1)

  10 or more years → five or more years

  Reduces the time requirement from 10 years to 5 years for veterans to qualify their surviving spouses for dependency and indemnity compensation.