H.R. 680 — Caring for Survivors Act of 2025

This section revises the base monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses to 55% of the monthly compensation rate under section 1114(j) (from $1,154). (DIC provides payments to survivors of veterans who died from service-connected causes or who had a totally disabling service-connected condition at death.) The change applies to months beginning six months after enactment, except that for cases predicated on a veteran's death before January 1, 1993, the monthly amount is the greater of (i) the amount under prior subsection (a)(3) or (ii) the new subsection (a)(1) rate.

This section modifies eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses and children of veterans who die (not due to willful misconduct) while receiving or entitled to compensation for a service-connected total disability. (1) It reduces the required continuous period of total disability rating immediately preceding death from 10 or more years to five or more years; and (2) it requires prorated DIC payments in such cases if the period is less than 10 years, with the amount equal to (duration of period / 10 years) times the full amount otherwise payable. (DIC provides monthly payments to survivors equivalent to those for service-connected deaths.)