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However, under current law surviving spouses cannot receive both SBP and DIC. Consequently, the SBP annuity is reduced dollar for dollar by the DIC benefit resulting in a reduced monthly payment of SBP. This is known as the SBP/DIC offset and tens of thousands of military survivors are financially harmed by it.

The Military Widow’s Tax Elimination Act would remove the SBP/DIC offset to allow surviving spouses and beneficiaries to receive the full benefit from DOD and VA. That means surviving beneficiaries would no longer be penalized and prevented from receiving the SBP annuity and DIC payment owed to them for their spouse or parent’s service and sacrifice. Fortunately, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (NDAA), which I voted for, would eliminate the SBP/DIC offset.

As your Senator, I am committed to eliminating the SBP/DIC offset. We can never fully repay the debt owed to the brave men and women who laid down their lives in defense of our nation, and we must not forget the grieving families they leave behind who deserve our support. We must honor their sacrifices by never letting up in our work to support our Veterans, servicemembers and their families, and that includes repealing the SBP/DIC offset.