Love Lives On Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Love Lives On Act changes title 38 and title 10 survivor-benefit rules so remarriage no longer automatically cuts off key benefits for surviving spouses. It protects dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses of veterans, prevents Survivor Benefit Plan annuities from being terminated solely because a surviving spouse remarries, resumes certain annuities for spouses who remarried before age 55 before enactment, and adds a remarried widow or widower whose later marriage ended by death, divorce, or annulment to TRICARE's dependent definition. The bill is targeted at military and veteran families who lose benefits because they form a new relationship after a servicemember's death.
Who Benefits and How
Surviving spouses of veterans benefit because remarriage would not bar dependency and indemnity compensation. Military Survivor Benefit Plan annuitants benefit because the Defense Department could not terminate an annuity solely due to remarriage. Remarried widows and widowers benefit when a later marriage ends and TRICARE dependent eligibility is restored. Veterans service organizations benefit from a clear statutory fix to a long-running survivor-benefit penalty.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of Veterans Affairs must update DIC eligibility systems and payment rules for remarried surviving spouses. Defense Finance and Accounting Service annuity administrators must resume or continue Survivor Benefit Plan payments. TRICARE contractors must update dependent eligibility screening for remarried widows and widowers. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of benefit payments that would otherwise have terminated.
Key Provisions
- Amends veterans law so remarriage does not bar DIC or related survivor benefits.
- Prohibits termination of Survivor Benefit Plan annuities solely because a surviving spouse remarries.
- Requires resumption of certain annuities for surviving spouses who remarried before age 55 before enactment.
- Expands TRICARE dependent status for remarried widows or widowers whose later marriage ended.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Preserves veterans and military survivor benefits for surviving spouses who remarry by ending remarriage penalties in DIC, Survivor Benefit Plan, and certain TRICARE eligibility rules.
Key Policy Areas
Veterans, Military Benefits, Survivor Benefits
Primary Purpose
Preserves veterans and military survivor benefits for surviving spouses who remarry by ending remarriage penalties in DIC, Survivor Benefit Plan, and certain TRICARE eligibility rules.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Surviving spouses of veterans
- Military SBP annuitants
- Remarried widows
- Veterans service organizations
Identified Costs
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- DFAS annuity administrators
- TRICARE contractors
- Federal taxpayers
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeSubcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition …
Mr. Hudson (for himself, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Van Orden, Ms. …
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology