The resolution urges Congress to enact the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, which addresses the current federal law that requires surviving spouses of deceased military members to forfeit part or all of their Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity when they receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This offset results in significant financial losses for many survivors, particularly those whose spouses died from service-related causes, as they may lose up to $1,258 a month in benefits. While Congress has made some attempts to alleviate this issue, such as increasing the death gratuity and providing a modest rebate through the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA), these measures have not adequately addressed the inequity faced by the majority of survivors.

The Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act aims to repeal the provisions that enforce this offset, ensuring that DIC compensation is paid in addition to the SBP annuity rather than subtracted from it. The resolution emphasizes the importance of providing fair benefits to military families, who have sacrificed for the nation, and calls for Congress to pass this act to restore trust in the benefits designated for their families. The resolution will be transmitted to key congressional leaders and the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs to advocate for this necessary change.