S. 1451 — Introduced in Senate

II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1451 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 21, 2015 Ms. Hirono introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to adjudicate and pay survivor's benefits without requiring the filing of a formal claim, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans' Survivors Claims Processing Automation Act of 2015. 2. Expedited payment of survivor's benefits (a) In general Section 5101(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking A specific and inserting (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a specific; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (B) (i) The Secretary may pay benefits under chapters 13 and 15 and sections 2302, 2307, and 5121 of this title to a survivor of a veteran who has not filed a formal claim if the Secretary determines that the record contains sufficient evidence to establish the entitlement of the survivor to such benefits. (ii) For purposes of this subparagraph and section 5110 of this title, the date on which a survivor of a veteran notifies the Secretary of the death of the veteran shall be treated as the date of the receipt of the survivor's application for benefits described in clause (i). . (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to claims for benefits based on a death occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.