Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 02/04/2002

Dear Sgt Shaft:
I am writing in regard to House Bill 1108, which would allow widows drawing Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) to keep their benefits if they remarry after the age of 55. 

My husband was 49 years old when he died. He served in the U. S. Air Force for 20 years and lived the last 12 years of his life severely disabled due to his service-connected illness. I supported him in his service to his country through the frequent moves, both inside and outside the United States, and all the hardships that went along with military life during the Viet Nam War. We had two children that were moved from school to school so much that it became a way of life for them. My husband served his country well and we were both very proud to be Americans. I was 40 years old when he died. I did not receive Survivors Benefits, therefore, the only income I had was my DIC. I had not worked outside the home during our marriage. I spent all those years supporting him in his career and caring for our children. The DIC check and the CHAMPUS medical coverage were all I could be sure of; therefore, as lonely and hard as it was, I did not remarry for 15 years. Then I met a wonderful man and we were married on April 21, 2001. At that time I did not know about this bill, but I did know that it would not be easy to lose my DIC or my CHAMPUS coverage. It was a choice I had to make: to be lonely and without companionship for the rest of my life or to give up benefits which my husband had worked so hard to earn. This is not a choice that any military widow should have to make. It is my understanding that DIC is the only Federal beneficiary program in which survivors are not permitted to remarry after the age of 55 and retain benefits. I am asking that you please help correct this inequity. Remember, these are the wives of men who gave their lives in service to our country. 

Please help us to get this bill passed. It will change the lives of many widows who, in their own way, have served this country well. Thank you.

N.H.C.
Texarkana, Arkansas

Dear N.H.C.:
As you know, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is the benefit accorded to the surviving dependents of those members of the armed forces who died while on active duty or of a service-connected cause. As you stated, DIC is the only federal annuity program that does not allow a widow who is receiving compensation to remarry after the age of 55 and retain her annuity.

I think it is a wonderful thing if an older person falls in love and decides to marry, and I don't think we should be discouraging such marriages by making them financially burdensome. For those remarrying after the age of 55, it is often the case that both partners are living on fixed incomes. The prospect of one partner losing financial benefits as a result of the marriage is a real disincentive. In fact, current law makes it virtually impossible for some couples to marry after age 55 because they simply cannot afford to do so and continue to support themselves.

In a letter to this column, the Hon. Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) stated, “I have heard from military widows from across the country who have found someone they would like to spend the rest of their lives with but cannot afford to do so because of the current law. Consequently, I have once again introduced legislation that would allow a military widow to remarry after age 55 and retain her DIC compensation. My bill, H.R. 1108, makes a simple change that could mean a great deal to those who find themselves in this predicament, and I hope you will join me in supporting this change.”

Congress, to the right thing. Pass H.R.1108.

Shaft Kudos
To Chairman Smith and the other members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee for their accomplishments during the first half of the 107th Congress. These positive actions were taken by this distinguished body:

H.R. 801, the Veterans Survivors’ Benefits Improvements Act (P.L. 107-14), adds $100 million in new health care benefits for surviving spouses of veterans and extends life insurance coverage to spouses and children of servicemembers. The law expands CHAMPVA to surviving spouses of veterans who die of a service-connected disability; expands Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) to include spouses and children of servicemembers; and makes retroactive to October 1, 2000, increases to the maximum $250,000 SGLI benefit for servicemembers killed in the line of duty.

Also signed into law was the Veterans Compensation Rate Amendments of 2001 (H.R. 2540), which boosts compensation payments for disabled vets by $2.5 billion over the next five years.

Other Committee action includes:

H.R. 811, the Veterans Hospitals Emergency Repair Act, authorizes $550 million over two years to repair, renovate, and rebuild dilapidated VA medical facilities.

H.R. 3423, Reforming Burial Rules at Arlington National Cemetery, which reforms the law on in-ground burials for Guardsmen and reservists and expands the list of service-connected conditions eligible to Gulf War veterans.

H.R. 3447, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act, would increase spending on health programs for veterans by $1.4 billion, among other actions

H.R. 2716, the Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act, would authorize $1 billion to aid homeless vets and prevent veterans from becoming homeless. It also earmarks funding for special medical care for homeless vets. 

H.R. 1291, the Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act, authorized more than $3.1 billion over five years to expand and increase educational, housing, burial, and disability benefits.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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