Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025 provides the annual statutory COLA for veterans benefits. Effective December 1, 2025, VA must increase specified title 38 dollar amounts that govern disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, clothing allowance, and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors. The increase must equal the percentage increase in Social Security title II benefits effective December 1, 2025 under section 215(i). VA must publish the adjusted rates in the Federal Register by the same publication deadline tied to the Social Security COLA determination during fiscal year 2026.
Who Benefits and How
Disabled veterans benefit because VA disability compensation rates rise with the Social Security COLA. Surviving spouses and dependents receiving DIC benefit from matching cost-of-living increases. Veterans with dependents benefit because additional compensation amounts under section 1115 are included. Veterans service organizations benefit from predictable annual rate publication for counseling claimants.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Department of Veterans Affairs must calculate, implement, and publish adjusted rates. VA payment systems must update disability, dependent, clothing allowance, and survivor benefit amounts by December 1, 2025. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of higher benefit payments. Federal Register staff must publish the adjusted rates on the statutory schedule.
Key Provisions
- Requires VA disability compensation and DIC increases effective December 1, 2025.
- Provides the same percentage increase as the Social Security title II COLA.
- Includes section 1114, 1115, 1162, 1311, 1313, and 1314 dollar amounts.
- Requires Federal Register publication of adjusted rates during fiscal year 2026.
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
Requires VA to increase veterans disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation rates effective December 1, 2025, by the same percentage as the Social Security title II COLA, and to publish adjusted rates in the Federal Register.
Key Policy Areas
Veterans, Disability Compensation, Survivor Benefits
Primary Purpose
Requires VA to increase veterans disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation rates effective December 1, 2025, by the same percentage as the Social Security title II COLA, and to publish adjusted rates in the Federal Register.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Disabled veterans
- Surviving spouses receiving DIC
- Veterans with dependents
- Veterans service organizations
Identified Costs
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- VA payment systems
- Federal taxpayers
- Federal Register staff
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeSubcommittee Hearings Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Mr. Luttrell (for himself, Mr. McGarvey, Mr. Weber of Texas, …
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Disabled veterans, Surviving spouses receiving DIC, Veterans with dependents
Department of Veterans Affairs, VA payment systems
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