Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025
Term Dictionary
If you come across any unfamiliar words while reading, these resources can help make everything clearer. Pick whichever one works best for you!
- Congress.gov Legislative Glossary - Comprehensive congressional terms
- NVFC Congressional Terms Glossary - Concise, easy-to-understand definitions
The gist
Raises monthly disability and survivor benefit payments for veterans starting December 1, 2025, matching the Social Security inflation increase.
Who wins, who loses
- Wins: disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and children receiving Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.
- Loses: no one materially; raise is funded through existing VA programs.
What it does
- Increases wartime disability compensation rates under Title 38 effective December 1, 2025.
- Boosts dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans.
- Raises clothing allowances and dependent add-on payments by the same percentage.
- Ties the increase to the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) calculated for 2026.
Why should I care?
Supporters say veterans' benefits must keep pace with rising grocery and rent costs, or disabled vets effectively get a pay cut every year. Critics argue Congress should pass automatic annual adjustments instead of voting yearly, saving floor time. The bill passed with rare bipartisan agreement. Where do you land? Vote below and use "Tell Your Rep" to make sure your voice reaches Congress.