WASHINGTON, D.C. – Legislation to increase veterans' compensation through a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) passed the Senate.  U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) cosponsored the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011 that would affect several important benefits, including veterans’ disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.  It is projected that over 3.5 million veterans and survivors will receive compensation benefits in Fiscal Year 2012. 

“We do everything we can to protect our soldiers in times of war,” Brown said. “And we need to continue to do whatever we can for our veterans when they return home.  That is why this cost-of-living increase is so important. With rising food, fuel, and housing costs, we must ensure that Ohio’s veterans and their families receive the benefits they’ve earned and deserve.”

The Veterans’ COLA Act of 2012:

  • Would give veterans and their families and extra $500 in benefits for the 2013 year;
  • Would adjust cost-of-living rates for almost 4 million veterans and their families to guarantee that their benefits grow along with inflation hikes;  
  • Would increase disability compensation for veterans and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children;
  • Would supplement the previous Act with a 1.7 percent increase; and
  • Would adjust to allow disabled veterans accepting clothing allotments to use the benefits of Veterans’ COLA.

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