Veterans’ pay rise expected as early as December

COLUMBIA, SC — United States veterans are expected to get their biggest pay rise in 40 years. This increase is an adjustment to the current cost of living during record inflation rates.

That increase will likely start showing up on paychecks by the end of this year. The increase could therefore be an estimated 8.7 percent Veterans Affairs Department. The final percentage will not be decided until October. Such a large increase could mean $130 or more each month.

Lavelle Frost, a Gulf War veteran, said the surge could be life-changing.

“Most of us have a steady income, and our income isn’t going up, but the economy is going up, gas prices, food prices, clothes, everything,” Frost said.

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According to Ed Lundeen of Lexington County VA, this increase will affect two streams of income for retirees and their spouses.

“This will impact in two ways, increasing Social Security and increasing Veterans Affairs. That’s big,” Lundeen said.

Lundeen says it’s a well-deserved change. “To be honest, we think these Americans deserve this boost in this post. I wish there could be more,” Lundeen said.

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Frost said he’s just grateful that a change is on the way.

“I think so, yeah, absolutely anything we can get is a plus,” Frost said.

A final decision on exactly how much the increase will be is expected next month and is set to take effect as early as December.