I've had more than one reader ask where they can find the 2015 Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rates posted. Well, they're not up yet. I can't figure why...but they're not. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website has a page, but it still lists the 2014 rates.
Thankfully, the math is not challenging. The Cost of Living Adjustment was set at 1.7%, so we can take the 2014 rates and multiply them by 1.017 to get the 2015 rates. However, I am NOT a VA expert, so please remember that.
Also keep in mind that the rates actually change on the 1st of December, but are reflected in the "January" payment, which is for December, and is paid on 31 December because 1 January is a holiday.
Veteran's Death Was On or After 1 January 1993
Projected 2015 Basic Monthly Rate = $1,254.19
Projected 2015 additional allowance for each dependent child under the age of 18 = $310.71
Projected 2015 transitional benefit paid for two years to surviving spouses with one or more children under 18 = $270.52
Projected 2015 additional allowance if, at the time of the veteran's death, the veteran was in receipt of or entitled to receive compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling (including a rating based on individual unemployability) for a continuous period of at least 8 years immediately preceding death AND the surviving spouse was married to the veteran for those same 8 years = $266.32
Projected 2015 additional allowance if the surviving spouse is entitled to Aid and Attendance = $310.71
Projected 2015 additional allowance if the surviving spouse is entitled to the Housebound supplement = $145.55
Please remember that these are not the official rates. The official rates, when published, could be different from what I have calculated and written here.
Veteran's Death Was Before 1 January 1993
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for veterans who died prior to 1993 are based upon the veteran's highest rank. There may be different figures based upon various specific, individual circumstances. If this chart doesn't look right to you, please consider whether you have specific, individual circumstances and wait for the official rates to be released.
Projected 2015 rates:
| E-1 | E-2 | E-3 | E-4 | E-5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,254.19 | $1,254.19 | $1,254.19 | $1,254.19 | $1,254.19 |
| E-6 | E-7 | E-8 | E-9 | E-9 |
| $1,254.19 | $1,297.55 | $1,369.81 | $1,428.64 | $1,516.41 |
| W-1 | W-2 | W-3 | W-4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,324.39 | $1,377.03 | $1,417.29 | $1,499.87 |
| O-1 | O-2 | O-3 | O-4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,324.39 | $1,369.81 | $1,463.74 | $1,551.48 |
| O-5 | O-6 | O-7 | O-8 |
| $1,707.35 | $1,925.16 | $2,043.20 | $2,282.32 |
| O-9 | O-10 | O-10 | |
| $2,441.29 | $2,677.67 | $2,873.80 |
As always, I encourage you to check my work. Take your existing DIC rate, either from the tables at the VA website or from your statements, and multiply it by 1.017 to get the 2015 rates.
I hope this is helpful.
