Amendment #22 to H4978

Veterans Survivor Benefits

Ms. Garlick of Needham moves to amend the bill, as amended, by adding the following section:

SECTION XXXX. Section 6B of said chapter 115 is hereby amended by striking out the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

The parents and surviving spouse, provided that surviving spouse does not remarry, of a deceased member of the armed forces of the United States, whose death occurred as a result of injury sustained or disease contracted during active service in time of war or insurrection or combat, or who is entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, shall be paid the sum of $3,000 annually in two equal payments on August 1 and February 1. Such payments shall be due and payable from the date of said parents' and surviving spouse’s application; provided, however, that the first payment shall be retroactive to the applicant's initial date of eligibility if the deceased member or the parent or spouse making application was a resident of the commonwealth at the time of death and the parent or spouse making application is a resident of the commonwealth at the time of application. For the purposes of calculating any retroactive payment of benefits under this section, the initial date of eligibility shall be the later of: (i) the date of death of the member of the armed forces of the United States; or (ii) July 1, 1998, in the case of parents and November 11, 2005, in the case of a spouse.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #22 to H4978

Veterans Survivor Benefits