Veterans with combat-related disabilities would receive their full military retired pay and VA disability compensation at the same time, starting January 1, 2027. Surviving spouses could keep Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and survivor annuities even if they remarry at any age, and spouses of veterans who die from ALS would qualify for that compensation no matter how long the disease lasted. Veterans who need daily aid and attendance would get an extra $833.33 a month, and DIC payments would rise each year by the Social Security cost-of-living amount plus one more percent. The bill also rewrites community care access standards, lets VA providers prescribe and practice across state lines, and bars the VA from denying a claim just because a veteran missed a scheduled medical exam. It adds new oversight, including independent cost reviews for programs over $1 billion and an annual report on what causes veteran deaths.
Average Household Impact
- Combat-disabled retirees — collect full retired pay and VA disability at once
- Surviving spouses — keep survivor benefits after remarrying at any age
- Spouses of ALS veterans — gain DIC eligibility for any ALS-caused death
- Aid-and-attendance recipients — add $833.33 monthly supplement
- DIC payments — rise by Social Security COLA plus one extra percent
- Benefit claimants — cannot be denied solely for missing a VA medical exam
Transparency & Accountability
- VA — must obtain independent cost assessments for programs over $1 billion
- VA — must report annually on the causes of veteran deaths
Congressional Summary
Take Care of America's Veterans ActThis bill addresses veterans’ benefits, health care, counseling, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel, VA infrastructure, and the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP).The bill modifies various compensation programs for veterans, including by (1) allowing concurrent receipt of disability compensation and military retired pay for certain retirees with a combat-related disability, (2) extending entitlement for various benefits and services to remarried surviving spouses, (3) increasing the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation, and (4) establishing a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans.The bill also addresses VA education and training benefits, including by (1) modifying which independent study programs are covered under veterans’ educational assistance benefits, (2) requiring Transition Assistance Program counseling to include a presentation about VA benefits, and (3) increasing the housing allowance rate for individuals pursuing apprenticeships.The bill revises health care provisions, including by (1) expanding support and assistance provided to family caregivers, (2) extending the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, and (3) expanding the scope of VA mental health research.Among other elements, the billrevises VA disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus;expands eligibility for a memorial headstone or marker for the spouse, surviving spouse, child, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces;addresses the administration of the VCCP and codifies the eligibility standards;establishes a standardized screening process for priority or routine admission to certain mental health care programs; andaddresses VA personnel, hiring, and infrastructure matters.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-06-10
- Date Added
- 2026-06-24
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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