19 Dec Veteran Benefits: Increase in Benefit Amount Effective 12/1/2011

By Rita Files

This month Veterans and their survivors saw a cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their compensation and pension payment rates for the first time since 2009.

Like military retirement pay, the survivor benefit plan (annuity), and social security, the monthly payment rates for Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ disability compensation and veteran pensions are annually adjusted for inflation. This means that the present year’s rate of inflation is used to determine the following year’s COLA increases.

According to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the inflation rate continued to increase in August, which resulted in a 2011 COLA rate of 3.7%. This marks the first COLA increase in two years.

The new non-service connected pension (commonly called the Aid and Attendance Benefit) rates:

Single Veteran

Base: $12,256 annually; $1,021 monthly
Housebound: $14,978 annually; $1,248 monthly
Aid and Attendance: $20,447 annually; $1,703 monthly

Veteran & Spouse

Base: $16,051 annually; $1,337 monthly
Housebound: $18,773 annually; $1,564 monthly
Aid and Attendance : $24,239 annually; $2,019 monthly

Surviving Spouse

Base: $8,219 annually; $684 monthly
Housebound: $10,046 annually; $837 monthly
Aid and Attendance : $13,138 annually; $1,094 monthly