Medal of Honor Act

It raises and standardizes financial support for the nation’s highest military award recipients while preventing duplicate increases in one year.

What the law does ​

• Ties the monthly special pension to a specified veterans’ disability compensation rate for a veteran without dependents.
• Bars the Department of Veterans Affairs from applying an annual increase when the pension has already increased that year.
• Extends certain veterans’ pension payment limits through January 31, 2033.

Who it affects ​

• Living people listed on a military Medal of Honor Roll.
• Department of Veterans Affairs officials who administer the pension.

Breakdown ​

Medal of Honor Act ​

The Medal of Honor Act increases the monthly special pension paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs to living Medal of Honor recipients. It ties the pension to a specified level of veterans’ disability compensation, prevents two increases in the same year, and extends certain pension payment limits through January 31, 2033.

Key takeaways

• Living people listed on a military Medal of Honor Roll receive the increased special pension.
• The monthly pension is tied to the disability compensation rate for a veteran without dependents at the level specified by the Act.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs may not apply an annual pension increase if the payment has already increased during that year.
• Certain limits on veterans’ pension payments are extended from November 30, 2031, through January 31, 2033.