{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221230531/http://brady.house.gov/press-release/congressman-brady-says-veterans-will-receive-15-percent-cost-living-increase", "Congressman Brady says Veterans will receive 1.5 percent cost-of-living increase", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Robert Brady", "B001227", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Philadelphia --- Congressman Bob Brady (D., PA) announced today that\u00a0 Veterans, their families and survivors receiving disability compensation and pension benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs will receive a 1.5 percent cost-of-living increase in their monthly payments beginning Jan. 1, 2014.\n\u201cThis cost of living increase is good news for veterans, their families\u00a0 and their survivors in these tough economic times,\u201d said Congressman Brady. \u201cThe increase is important because it represents a for real expression of our thanks to those who have sacrificed so much, such as our service-disabled and wartime Veterans.\u201d\nSecretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said for the first time, payments will not be rounded down to the nearest dollar.\u00a0 Until this year, that was required by law.\u00a0 Veterans and survivors will see additional cents included in their monthly compensation benefit payment.\n\tFor Veterans without dependents, the new compensation rates will range from $130.94 monthly for a disability rated at 10 percent to $2,858.24 monthly for 100 percent.\u00a0 The full rates are available on the Internet at www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/rates-index.asp.\n\tThe COLA increase also applies to disability and death pension recipients, survivors receiving dependency and indemnity compensation, disabled Veterans receiving automobile and clothing allowances, and other benefits. \u00a0\n\tUnder federal law, cost-of-living adjustments for VA\u2019s compensation and pension must match those for Social Security benefits.\u00a0 The last adjustment was in January 2013 when the Social Security benefits rate increased 1.7 percent.\n\tIn fiscal year 2013, VA provided over $59 billion in compensation benefits to nearly 4 million Veterans and survivors, and over $5 billion in pension benefits to more than 515,000 Veterans and survivors. \u00a0\n\tFor Veterans and separating Servicemembers who plan to file an electronic disability claim, VA urges them to use the joint DoD/VA online portal, eBenefits.\u00a0 Registered eBenefits users with a premium account can file a claim online, track the status, and access a variety of other benefits, including pension, education, health care, home loan eligibility, and vocational rehabilitation and employment programs.\n\tFor more information about VA benefits, visit www.benefits.va.gov, or call 1-800-827-1000.\n\t#\u00a0\u00a0 #\u00a0\u00a0 #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221230531/http://brady.house.gov/press-release/congressman-brady-says-veterans-will-receive-15-percent-cost-living-increase"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.96163060516119, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}