At LEAWS, we know firsthand what it means to walk the journey of widowhood. Losing a spouse who served this nation is not just the loss of a partner—it’s the loss of shared dreams, financial stability, and often, the support systems that should be there for us. That is why legislation like the Caring for Survivors Act of 2025 and the Love Lives On Act are so critical. These bills are about fairness, dignity, and making sure surviving spouses are not left behind.

This bipartisan bill seeks to fix long-standing gaps in the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) program—the monthly benefit surviving spouses receive when their loved one dies of a service-related condition.

• Raising outdated benefits: Currently, DIC pays just 43% of what a fully disabled veteran with a spouse would receive. The Caring for Survivors Act would raise this to 55%, putting us in line with other federal survivor programs.

• Shortening eligibility wait times: Right now, a veteran must be rated 100% disabled for 10 years before their spouse is automatically eligible for DIC. This bill would reduce that to 5 years, recognizing the reality that many veterans pass sooner despite their disabilities.

This is not about “extra benefits.” It is about correcting an unfair system that has undervalued military widows for decades.

Too many surviving spouses face an impossible choice: remain single, or lose vital survivor benefits if you remarry before the age of 55. The Love Lives On Act seeks to end that injustice.

• Removing the age penalty: Under current law, if you remarry before 55, you lose DIC and other benefits. The bill would allow surviving spouses to keep their earned benefits regardless of age.

• Restoring benefits if a remarriage ends: If a second marriage ends by death, divorce, or annulment, surviving spouses would regain access to benefits like TRICARE.

This is about the freedom to heal, love again, and build a future without being punished for it.

We’ve seen with the Camp Lejeune Justice Act that change doesn’t come without persistence. Survivors and widows had to raise their voices together—loudly—for Congress to act. If lawmakers don’t feel pressure from constituents, bills like these quietly stall in committees, never making it to a vote.

That’s why we must do our part. Our stories, our calls, our emails, our advocacy matter.

At LEAWS, we believe no widow should have to fight alone. These bills are about survival, justice, and honoring the sacrifices our families have made. But Congress will only listen if we show them that widows are watching, and we care.

Let’s make sure the voices of widows across the nation are heard loud and clear: Pass the Caring for Survivors Act. Pass the Love Lives On Act. Support America’s widows.