U.S. House passes bill to raise VA disability and survivor pay 3.6% on Dec. 1

The U.S. House passed a bill Monday that would raise VA disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, survivor benefits and the clothing allowance on Dec. 1. Under the bill text as passed by the House, the rates would rise by the same percentage as Social Security benefits, which the Social Security Administration has set at a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment effective in December.

The Senate and the president still have to act before the increase can take effect.

The VA counted 25,184 Alaska veterans on its compensation rolls at the end of fiscal year 2025, drawing about $663 million a year, out of a total Alaska veteran population of 69,063, according to its 2025 annual benefits report.

"Our veterans don't get an automatic cost-of-living adjustment for their pay like somebody on Social Security," said Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky, the Democratic lead on the bill. He said Congress must pass the adjustment each year and has never failed to do so.

Rep. Morgan Luttrell of Texas, a Republican, introduced the bill April 28 with McGarvey as an original cosponsor. Rep. Abraham Hamadeh of Arizona moved to pass it, and the House Clerk records it as passed by voice vote.

Luttrell said Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas leads a Senate companion bill. Congress.gov shows that bill was sent to the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee on May 11, its latest action.

Once the increase is law, the VA secretary must publish the new rates in the Federal Register.

"This year, we are cutting it awfully close to the deadline," McGarvey said.