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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill changes how the Department of Veterans Affairs handles some monthly benefits when a veteran or beneficiary dies. In simple terms, it would make sure certain payments are treated more fairly in the month of death, especially for some pension cases, and it could help prevent confusion or sudden payment changes for families left behind. The changes would apply only to deaths that happen on or after the bill becomes law.
- For some VA pension payments based on an existing decision or rating, the bill says the benefit should stop at the end of the month in which the person dies, rather than on an earlier date.
- It also changes a VA payment rule so that, in certain cases, a payment can still be made for the month of death.
- The bill updates related VA law to match these new rules.
- These changes would only apply to deaths that happen after the law takes effect.
Official Summaries
Next of Kin Collections Protection Act of 2025
This bill modifies the effective date of a reduction or discontinuance of a Department of Veterans Affairs pension under an existing rating or decision in cases where the payee has died. Specifically, the bill provides that the effective date of a reduction or discontinuance of a pension that is under an existing rating or decision must be the last day of the month in which the death of the payee occurs.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 274 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 274
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to
laws relating to the payment of certain benefits administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs that are affected by death, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 28, 2025
Mr. Daines (for himself and Mr. Kim) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to
laws relating to the payment of certain benefits administered by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs that are affected by death, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Next of Kin Collections Protection
Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. PAYMENT BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OF CERTAIN BENEFITS
AFFECTED BY DEATH.
(a) Effective Date of Certain Reductions and Discontinuances of
Compensation, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and Pension Under
Laws Administered by Secretary of Veterans Affairs.--
(1) In general.--Section 5112(b) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``(except in the
case of a pension under an existing rating or
decision),'' after ``death of a payee'';
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (10) as
paragraphs (4) through (11), respectively; and
(C) by inserting, after paragraph (2), the
following new paragraph (3):
``(3) by reason of death of a payee in the case of a
pension under an existing rating or decision, shall be the last
day of the month in which such death occurs;''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 1832(b)(4) of such title
is amended by striking ``paragraphs (1), (6), (9), and (10)''
and inserting ``paragraphs (1), (7), (10), and (11)''.
(b) Payment of Benefits for Month of Death.--Section 5310(b) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting ``, or in the
case of a payment for the month of the death of a payee under section
5112(b)(2) of this title,'' before ``an amount equal''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments to title 38, United States
Code, made by this section shall apply with respect to a payment of a
benefit affected by a death that occurs on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
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