Disabled veterans’ benefits may increase

Sen. Jon Tester introduced a bill this week that would provide disabled veterans with a cost-of-living in­crease.

The bill matches the veterans’ benefit increase to the Cost-Of-Living Adjustment (COLA) provided to Social Security recipients. It would affect several veterans’ benefits, including disability compensation and survivor benefits for spouses and children.

“Veterans made tremendous sacrifices for this country, and they earned these benefits,” Tester, D-Mont., said in a release.

“It’s my job to make sure their benefits keep pace with economic realities so that we live up to the promises we made to our fighting men and women.”

Tester is a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

The actual size of the COLA won’t be known until this fall.

If enacted, the increase would take effect Dec. 1.