H.R. 464 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve dependency and indemnity comp…

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:23 AM UTC

The bill changes the law so that surviving spouses and children of veterans who were totally disabled at the time of death are automatically enrolled in the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program. It treats the death notice as a claim, so the survivors do not have to file paperwork to receive benefits. The change applies to any qualifying veteran who dies after the law takes effect.

Key Provisions

Amends 38 U.S.C. §1318(a) to add a new paragraph stating that a death notification for a qualifying veteran is considered a claim by the surviving spouse and children.
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to automatically provide DIC benefits to those survivors without requiring them to file a claim.
Applies to deaths of eligible veterans occurring on or after the enactment date.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Balderson asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 464, a bill originally introduced by Representative Jones, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

September 24, 2019 • 7:04 PM

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 10, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

January 10, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee

February 1, 2019

HouseFloor

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Balderson asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 464, a bill originally introduced by Representative Jones, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

September 24, 2019 • 7:04 PM

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 10, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 464

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 10, 2019

Mr. Jones introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain totally disabled veterans.

1.

Automatic enrollment for dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain totally disabled veterans

(a)

In general

Section 1318(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

by striking The Secretary and inserting (1) The Secretary; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(2)

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall treat a notification of the death of a veteran described in subsection (b) as a claim by the surviving spouse and children of the deceased veteran for benefits under this chapter. The Secretary may not require that such spouse and children file a claim for such benefits.

.

(b)

Application

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to deaths of veterans occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.