How NDAA 05 affects retirees, families

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How NDAA 05 affects retirees, families
President Bush signed the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 on Dec. 10, 2004. Among the law's highlights are:
? Providing an additional $250 monthly in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses with one or more children under the age of 18 for the first two years the surviving spouse is eligible for the benefit. DIC is paid to survivors of servicemembers who are killed on active duty or who die as the result of a service-connected disability.
? Extending eligibility for specially adapted housing grants to veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities due to the loss or loss of use of both arms at or above the elbows.
? Increasing by 10%, the percentage of the full-time VA monthly educational assistance allowance payable to those pursuing a full-time apprenticeship or on-the-job training program, effective Oct. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2007.
? Extending eligibility for Survivors? and Dependents? Educational Assistance from 10 to 20 years for a surviving spouse of any person who died on active duty.
? Reinstating the program of VA-guarantees for adjustable rate mortgages through FY 2008.
http://www.armyg1.army.mil/RSO/echoes/05_Jan.doc