Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 88 Part 2.djvu/389

 88 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 93-527-DEC. 21, 1974

1705

(3) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows: " (d) If there are two parents who are living together, or if a parent has remarried and is living with his spouse, dependency and indemnity compensation shall be paid to each such parent according to the following formula: If the total combined annual income is $1,000 or less, the monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to each parent shall be $83. For each $1 of annual income in excess of $1,000 up to and including $1,100, the monthly rate shall be reduced 1 cent; for each $1 of annual income in excess of $1,100 up to and including $2,500, the monthly rate shall be reduced 2 cents; for each $1 of annual income in excess of $2,500 up to and including $3,500, the monthly rate shall be reduced 3 cents; and for each $1 of annual income in excess of $3,500 up to and including $4,200, the monthly rate shall be reduced 4 cents; but in no event shall the monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation be less than $4. No dependency and indemnity compensation shall be paid to either parent if the total combined annual income exceeds $4,200."; and (4) by amending subsection (h) by striking out "$55" and inserting in lieu thereof "$64". SEC. 8. (a) The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall carry out ^^^l'^^^^^^''^^' an original study of the needs and problems of veterans and their widows? study. widows seventy-two years of age or older. The study shall include ^^ use soi (1) a profile of the current income characteristics of such veterans "° ^' and their widows, describing the proportion and amount of income from all sources and the average necessary for all necessities such as rent, food, medical care, and other items; (2) an evaluation of the adequacy of the present veterans pension system to meet the needs of such veterans and widows; and (3) actuarial infoiniation concerning the present expected mortality rates of such veterans and their widows. (b) The Administrator shall report to the Congress and the Presi- Report to dent not later than one hundred and eighty days after the convening p°e"sTdent.^"'^ of the first session of the Ninety-fourth Congress the results of the study carried out under this section together with any recommendations for legislative or administrative action to improve the present program of pension benefits for such veterans and widows. SEC. 9. (a) Subsection (e) of section 103 of title 38, United States Carried chiiCode, is amended— ^^'"' ^'"^''*^(1) by adding " (1) " immediately before "The"; and (2) by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: "(2) The marriage of a child of a veteran shall not bar the recognition of such child as the child of the veteran for benefit purposes if the marriage has been terminated by death or has been dissolved by a court with basic authority to render divorce decrees unless the Veterans' Administration determines that the divorce was secured through fraud by either party or collusion.". (b) Subsection (1) of section 3010 of title 38, United States Code, ^.^J'^'J^' ^"^'^is amended to read as follows: ^^^ ^ ^' "(1) The effective date of an award of benefits to a widow based upon a termination of a remarriage by death or divorce, or of an award or increase of benefits based on recognition of a child upon termination of the child's marriage by death or divorce, shall be the date of death or the date the judicial decree or divorce becomes final, if an application therefor is received within one year from such termination.". SEC. 10. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 1975. 38 USC''52f*^' Approved December 21, 1974. "ote.

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