The act would provide cost-of-living increases for a long list of compensations like wartime disability and dependency and indemnity compensation to children.

U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria, chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, introduced a bill to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to veterans.   The bill, the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Act, would provide cost-of-living increases for wartime disability compensation; compensation for dependents; clothing allowance; dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses; and dependency and indemnity compensation to children.

Any increases would start on December 1.

By Debbie Gregory.

The 2019 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for VA benefits is set for a 2.8% increase. This is the largest COLA increase since 2011 when it was 3.6%. Last year’s increase was 2%.

COLA increases are based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index inflation measurement period of the 3rd quarter (July, August, and September) compared to the previous 3rd quarter.

Military retirement, other VA disability benefits, Social Security and federal civilian retirement will see that same 2.8 percent increase. Retired military veterans, VA rates for compensation and pension for disabled veterans and surviving families will be effective December 1, 2018 and will be reflected on the first check to be paid on December 31, 2018. Social Security benefits will be effective beginning with the December 2018 benefits, which are payable in January 2019. Federal SSI & SSDI payment levels will be effective for payments made for January 2019. All disability benefits are tax-free.

For veterans with a 10 percent disability rating, the bump in compensation is just under four dollars/month, while a veteran with a 100 percent disability will go from $2,973.86 to $3,057.13 monthly.

Veterans with a 30 percent disability ranking or higher are entitled to greater amounts if they have dependents. A 100 percent-disabled veteran with spouse and two children will see their monthly payment increase to $3,437.10. Veterans can also get increased payments if they have a child over 18 attending school, or if they have a disabled spouse.

Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) will also see a 2.8 percent raise in 2019. SMC is paid in addition to regular disability compensation to a veteran who suffered the loss of use of specific organs or extremities as a result of their service.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) recipients will also get a 2019 increase in their benefits.