Raising the Cost-of-Living Compensation Rates for Veterans and Their Survivors (H.R. 4958)

What is H.R. 4958?

(Updated October 28, 2018)

This bill was enacted on October 9, 2018

This bill would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase the rates of compensation for several areas of veterans’ living expenses. As of December 1, 2018 — the rates of veterans’ disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children would be increased. Each of these increases would be based on the percentage used to raise Social Security benefits.

Argument in favor

While it doesn’t establish automatic cost-of-living increases, this bill does provide a boost the benefits received by veterans and their families for another year.

Argument opposed

Rather than having to approve this cost-of-living adjustment each year, the benefits provided to veterans and their survivors should be indexed to inflation or increases in Social Security benefits.

Impact

Veterans and their survivors; and the VA.

Cost of H.R. 4958

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) introduced this bill to raise the cost of living compensation rates for veterans and their survivors:

“I’m proud to carry this bill to provide important cost-of-living adjustments to our nation’s veterans and their dependants. It’s vitally important that we ensure the mena and women who have served our nation receive the benefits they have earned. We need to get this legislation through Congress and to the President to provide certainty to our nation’s heroes.”

Original cosponsor Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) added:

“Ensuring our heroes’ benefits keep pace with the rising cost of living is the least we can do for them. With a cost-of-living adjustment, we were able to put more dollars in the hands of the men and women who served our nation and their families on a bipartisan basis last year, and I am hopeful that we will be able to do it again in 2018.”

This legislation passed the House Veterans Affairs Committee on a voice vote and has the support of five bipartisan cosponsors, including four Democrats and one Republican. Last year’s legislation to raise the COLA for veterans passed both chambers of Congress by voice vote.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) Press Release