Service connected benefits: Rate adjustments,

[Federal Register: June 1, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 104)]

[Notices]

[Page 29416-29417]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr01jn99-157]

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Adjustments for Service-Connected Benefits

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: As required by the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-368, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is hereby giving notice of adjustments in certain benefit rates. These adjustments affect the compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), and Medal of Honor pension programs.

DATES: These adjustments are effective December 1, 1998, the date provided by Pub. L. 105-368.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Trowbridge, Consultant, Compensation and Pension Service (213B), Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans

[[Page 29417]]

Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273-7218.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 301 of Pub. L. 105-368 increases the rate of Medal of Honor pension under 38 U.S.C. 1562(a) to $600. Section 1101 of Pub. L. 105-368 provides for an increase in each of the rates in sections 1114, 1115(1), 1162, 1311, 1313, and 1314 of the title 38, United States Code. VA is required to increase these benefit rates by the same percentage as increased in the benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act. In computing increased rates in the cited title 38 sections, fractions of a dollar are rounded down to the nearest dollar. The increased rates are required to be published in the Federal Register.

The Social Security Administration has announced that there will be a 1.3 percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits. Therefore, applying the same percentage, the following rates for VA compensation and DIC programs will be effective December 1, 1998:

Monthly rate (dollars

Disability Compensation (38 U.S.C. 1114)

Disability Evaluation: 10%.................................... 96 20%.................................... 184 30%.................................... 282 40%.................................... 404 50%.................................... 576 60%.................................... 726 70%.................................... 916 80%.................................... 1,062 90%.................................... 1,196 100%................................... 1,989 (38 U.S.C. 1114(k) through (s)): 38 U.S.C. 1114(k)...................... 75; 2,474; 75; 3,470 38 U.S.C. 1114(l)...................... 2,474 38 U.S.C. 1114(m)...................... 2,729 38 U.S.C. 1114(n)...................... 3,105 38 U.S.C. 1114(o)...................... 3,470 38 U.S.C. 1114(p)...................... 3,470 38 U.S.C. 1114(r)...................... 1,490; 2,218 38 U.S.C. 1114(s)...................... 2,227

Additional Compensation for Dependents (38 U.S.C. 1115(1))

38 U.S.C. 1115(1): 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(A)................... 115 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(B)................... 197; 60 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(C)................... 79; 60 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(D)................... 93 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(E)................... 217 38 U.S.C. 1115(1)(F)................... 182

Clothing Allowance (38 U.S.C. 1162)--$534 per year

DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311)

Pay Grade: E-1.................................... 861 E-2.................................... 861 E-3.................................... 861 E-4.................................... 861 E-5.................................... 861 E-6.................................... 861 E-7.................................... 890 E-8.................................... 940 E-9 \1\................................ 980 W-1.................................... 909 W-2.................................... 946 W-3.................................... 974 W-4.................................... 1,030 O-1.................................... 909 O-2.................................... 940 O-3.................................... 1,004 O-4.................................... 1,062 O-5.................................... 1,170 O-6.................................... 1,318 O-7.................................... 1,424 O-8.................................... 1,561 O-9.................................... 1,672 O-10 \2\............................... 1,834

DIC to a Surviving Spouse (38 U.S.C. 1311(a) Through (d))

38 U.S.C. 1311(a) through (d): 38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)................... 861 38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(2)................... 187 38 U.S.C. 1311(b)...................... 217 38 U.S.C. 1311(c)...................... 217 38 U.S.C. 1311(d)...................... 105

DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1313)

38 U.S.C. 1313: 38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(1)................... 365 38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(2)................... 526 38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(3)................... 683 38 U.S.C. 1313(a)(4)................... 683; 133

Supplemental DIC to Children (38 U.S.C. 1314)

38 U.S.C. 1314: 38 U.S.C. 1314(a)...................... 217 38 U.S.C. 1314(b)...................... 365 38 U.S.C. 1314(c)...................... 184

\1\ If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior enlisted advisor of the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, or master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, the surviving spouse's monthly rate is $1,057. \2\ If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or Commandant of the Coast Guard, the surviving spouse's monthly rate is $1,966.

Dated: May 21, 1999. Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 99-13772Filed5-28-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320-01-M