Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026

The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act would expand benefits for two groups of veterans and their families. First, it would increase Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) payments for catastrophically disabled veterans by $10,000 annually, and increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments for surviving spouses and families of service members who died in the line of duty by 1% per year for five years. These would be the first significant increases to these programs in decades. To fund these expansions, the bill would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to collect fees on subsequent home loans for veterans with disability ratings of 70% or less, starting August 1, 2026. This provision would apply through September 30, 2035. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the House. If enacted, it could affect more than 500,000 veteran families and would cost an estimated $7 billion over the implementation period.