S. 611 — Caring for Survivors Act of 2025

This section revises the base monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) payable to a surviving spouse to an amount equal to 55% of the monthly compensation rate payable to a veteran for a service-connected total disability under 38 U.S.C. 1114(j) (from $1,154). (DIC provides tax-free monthly payments to eligible survivors of veterans who died from a service-connected disability or who at death had a service-connected total disability rating.) The amendments apply to DIC payments for months beginning after the date that is six months after enactment. For individuals eligible for DIC based on the death of a veteran before January 1, 1993, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pay the greater of (1) the amount determined under 38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(3) as in effect on the day before enactment or (2) the amount under the amended 38 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1).

This section modifies eligibility for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. §1318—which provides DIC to survivors of veterans who die from non-service-connected causes (not willful misconduct) while receiving (or entitled to) compensation for a service-connected total disability—as follows: (1) reduces, in subsection (b)(1), the required continuous total disability rating period immediately preceding death to five or more years (from 10 or more years); and (2) requires, in new subsection (a)(2), proration of the full DIC amount if qualifying under (b)(1) with less than 10 years, proportional to the actual period relative to 10 years (e.g., 7 years yields 70% of full amount).