Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2025
Description
This bill would increase survivor compensation and establish a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans.
Summary
What it does
This bill would establish a supplemental monthly allowance of $833.33 for veterans who currently receive aid and attendance benefits due to service-connected disabilities or traumatic brain injuries. It proposes to increase the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors and expands VA home loan eligibility for National Guard and reserve members by counting annual training as active duty. Additionally, the legislation would extend existing loan fee rates and pension limitations for certain institutionalized veterans through September 30, 2036.
Who is affected
This bill affects veterans with service-connected disabilities or traumatic brain injuries who qualify for aid and attendance allowances, as well as survivors of service members and disabled veterans eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation. It also impacts members of the National Guard and reserve components by expanding eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans to include those with 14 days of active-duty service or annual training duty. Additionally, the legislation affects veterans who are hospitalized or institutionalized and those seeking to refinance or assume VA home loans.
Key provisions
- Establishment of supplemental monthly allowance. The bill creates a supplemental monthly allowance of $833.33 for veterans who qualify for aid and attendance benefits due to traumatic brain injury or service-connected disabilities.
- Increase to survivor compensation rates. The rate of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for eligible survivors will increase by an additional 1% during the next cost-of-living adjustment and by another 0.5% during the subsequent adjustment.
- Expansion of VA home loan eligibility. Eligibility for VA home loans is extended to certain National Guard and reserve component members by including annual training as qualifying active duty and granting eligibility after 14 days of service.
- Adjustment of home loan fees and program extensions. The bill extends specific loan fee rates through September 30, 2036, while increasing fees for certain loan assumptions and refinancing loans.
- Extension of pension limitations. The current limitation on pension amounts for certain veterans who are institutionalized or hospitalized is extended through September 30, 2036.
Fiscal impact
- H.R. 6047, Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026· As ordered reported by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on February 12, 2026
Effective dates
The bill establishes a phased increase for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) rates, beginning with the next cost-of-living adjustment and continuing through the following adjustment. Additionally, the bill extends certain home loan fee rates and pension limitations through September 30, 2036.
Relationship to existing law
The bill modifies existing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs by adjusting the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) and expanding home loan eligibility for National Guard and reserve members. It also extends existing statutory limitations on pension amounts for certain institutionalized veterans and extends current loan fee rates through September 30, 2036.
Stated purpose
The bill aims to expand benefits for veterans and their survivors by establishing a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans, increasing the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation, and broadening eligibility for the Department of Veterans Affairs home loan program to include more members of the National Guard and reserve components.