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New Legislation Would Provide for VA Cost of Living Adjustment

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) serves as a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. He recently put his name on a bi-partisan bill, which was introduced to the Senate seeking to award a Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA), which, if passed, will serve to raise levels of veterans' compensation.

Passing the COLA increase would impact more than 3.5 million veterans over the next fiscal year. Disability compensation is only one vital benefit encompassed in the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011.

Across the nation, basic costs of living have been rising over the last couple of years. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), however, has not increased the amount they pay in veterans benefits. This means veterans relying on veterans benefits are not being compensated at a level equivalent to what they must spend to merely survive.

Should the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011 pass, VA Sec. Eric Shinseki will be under orders to raise the levels of veterans compensation. The mandated increase will bring compensation pay into comparable levels with cost-of-living increases.

Passing this bill will affect: 

 

·      disability compensation;

·      dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children; and

·      other bill-specified benefits.

 

The amount provided veterans in their cost-of-living adjustments will mirror the yearly amounts given to those receiving Social Security benefits. The increases are designed to compensate for such factors as inflation, which drives up basic costs of living.

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.