The Nation : Veteran Aid Boost Backed

The House passed legislation authorizing a 2% increase in disability benefits for 2.3 million veterans and sent the bill to the Senate. The measure allowing the cost-of-living adjustment of payments veterans receive for service-connected disabilities is estimated to cost $156 million in the 1987 fiscal year. Scheduled to take effect Dec. 1, the measure also applies to dependency and indemnity payments to widows and children of veterans who died as a result of service-related injuries. The Reagan Administration, citing the lower COLA for Social Security beneficiaries, has indicated it will seek a smaller increase for disabled veterans in the Senate bill.