Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026
May 19, 2026
Introduced: Nov 17, 2025
Last updated: May 19, 2026
May 19, 2026
Introduced: Nov 17, 2025
Last updated: May 19, 2026
Summary
Increases disability and survivor payments for veterans and makes it easier for National Guard and Reserve members to get home loans.
What problem does this solve?
Some veterans with severe disabilities and their survivors need more financial support to keep up with living costs. Additionally, members of the National Guard and Reserves have found it harder to qualify for VA home loans than their active-duty counterparts. This act provides more money for certain benefits and changes the rules to give more service members access to home loans.
What does this bill do?
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 2(a)(1)
Header:
Increase to rates of wartime disability compensation
New monthly allowance for highly disabled veterans
Creates a new supplemental monthly payment of $833.33 for veterans who are eligible for the aid and attendance allowance.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 5(b)(1)
Header:
Expanded definition of 'active duty' for purposes of housing loans
Expanded home loan eligibility for Guard and Reserve
Changes the definition of 'active duty' to include more types of service for National Guard and Reserve members, making it easier for them to qualify for VA home loans.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 2(b)
Header:
Increase to rates of dependency and indemnity compensation
Increased survivor benefits
Increases dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for survivors by tying it to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments plus an extra percentage for two years.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 3
Header:
Modification of waivers of fees collected for housing loans guaranteed, insu
Increased VA home loan fees
Increases certain VA home loan fees. For example, the fee for subsequent use loans with no down payment rises from 0.50% to 1.40%.
Extended pension payment limits
Extends the expiration date for certain limits on pension payments from January 31, 2033, to September 30, 2036.
Retroactive home loan eligibility
Makes the new home loan eligibility rules for Guard and Reserve members apply to any service performed on or after September 11, 2001.
Who does this affect?
- Veterans with severe disabilities
- Surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans
- Members of the National Guard and Reserve
What is the real world impact?
•
Provides greater financial security for veterans and their families
Increases monthly payments for the most severely disabled veterans and for the surviving families of service members. It also expands access to a key benefit—the VA home loan—to more members of the military community, particularly those in the Guard and Reserves.
When does this start?
The different parts of this bill would start at different times.
New aid and attendance allowance
The new supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans begins on December 1, 2026.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 2(b)
Header:
Increase to rates of dependency and indemnity compensation
Increased survivor compensation
The requirement to increase survivor benefits takes effect on December 1, 2026, and ends after the second annual increase occurs.
Retroactive home loan eligibility
The expanded home loan eligibility for Guard and Reserve members applies to service performed on or after September 11, 2001.
VA loan fee and pension limit extensions
The new VA loan fee rates and pension payment limits are extended to September 30, 2036.