Effective Feb. 23, 2026, the VA will pay a surviving spouse or child claimant whichever benefit is higher—either the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) or the Survivors Pension (the agency says the higher benefit is usually DIC)—without delaying payment to fully process the lesser benefit. Previously, under existing regulations, the VA had to individually process survivors’ claims for “Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)” and “Survivors Pension.” This often slowed decisions because each benefit required a separate formal review.
This can be a complex situation during a time of grief, so for questions, the VA advises survivors to call the VA benefits hotline at 800-827-1000 or email the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov.
Celebrate Vietnam Veterans Day at the Lake Nona VA The Orlando VA Health Care System (OVAHCS) will host a Vietnam War Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, March 27, at 10 a.m. at the Orlando VA Medical Center Amphitheatre. The event is open to the public and will honor the service and sacrifice of Vietnam War Veterans. Often parking at the Lake Nona VA can be an issue for those with mobility issues, so golf cart shuttles will be patrolling the parking areas to take people closer to the entrances. For more event information, see https://bit.ly/4rvNb0c.
Wrangling with the Major Richard Starr Act for Combat Wounded Veterans When combat-wounded veterans are unable to return to military service, they are medically retired at the rank they held when injured, usually much earlier than the standard 20-year-plus military retirement. Since the retirement pay is based on rank, it can be a fairly small sum for younger military veterans. Later most, if not all, also qualify for Veterans Affairs benefits, however a century-old civil service law requires their retirement pay to be offset by any money they receive from the VA, now being described as “the wounded veteran tax.”
The Major Richard Starr Act would correct this oversight, which affects 54,000 combatwounded veterans, but it has been rattling around Congress for many years now, despite having 316 co-sponsors in the House and 77 in the Senate. Our area federal representatives and both Florida senators are cosponsors so these numbers should ensure bipartisan passage if only a vote can be taken.
The Starr Act is a high priority with most veterans’ organizations, trying to support younger wounded veterans. Earlier this year, a combined letter from over 20 organizations went out asking for, in no uncertain terms, a simple vote on the issue. Unfortunately, one senator-Ron Johnson from Wisconsin, who is actually a bill co-sponsor, blocked a vote earlier this month citing budget considerations. I am all for an elected official taking a principled stand, but please don’t try to take credit for “supporting our troops” and then act to appease an opposing group as well. More to come, I am sure, and for more information on this legislation, see https://bit.ly/3N7i0KC.
As always, please send along veteran-related events, issues, or questions to osceolavets@gmail.com.
