- 11.27.2012
Tester’s Veterans Cost-of-Living increase becomes law
Senator’s bipartisan bill will put more money in veterans’ pockets
(U.S. SENATE) – With a signature from the President, Senator Jon Tester’s bipartisan bill to provide disabled veterans and survivors with a cost-of-living increase today became law.
Tester’s bill matches the veterans’ benefit increase to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) provided to Social Security recipients. It will benefit nearly four million veterans and their families and affect several important veterans’ benefits, including disability compensation and survivor benefits for spouses and children.
“Veterans fought hard for this country and earned all their benefits,” said Tester, Montana’s only member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “It’s my job to make sure those benefits keep pace with economic realities, and it is our responsibility to keep living up to those promises on behalf of all veterans.”
Tester helped pass a similar increase in veterans’ disability benefits last year. This year’s increase will mean an additional $500 in benefits on average for veterans and their families next year.
“Compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs is a major source of income for many veterans and their families, so adjusting those payments for inflation is absolutely necessary,” said Disabled American Veterans National Commander Larry A. Polzin. “We commend Sen. Tester for leading the charge on the COLA bill and helping to push it across the finish line.”