Love Lives On Act of 2025
Key claim: The Love Lives On Act of 2025 would eliminate remarriage as a bar to dependency and indemnity compensation, special pension benefits, Survivor Benefit Plan annuities, and TRICARE dependent eligibility for surviving spouses of deceased service members and veterans.
Abstract
(S410 · 119th Congress) Love Lives On Act of 2025 This bill extends entitlement for various benefit programs and services for surviving spouses of deceased members of the Armed Forces or veterans. The bill provides that the remarriage of a surviving spouse must not bar the furnishing of dependency and indemnity compensation or special pension benefits to such spouse. Additionally, the Department of Defense may not terminate the payment of an annuity for a surviving spouse under the Survivor Benefit Plan solely because the surviving spouse remarries. The bill also expands the definition of a dependent under TRICARE to include a remarried widow or widower whose subsequent marriage has ended due to death, divorce, or annulment. Latest action (2026-03-18): Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Why this matters
Remarriage bars have historically ended a range of federal survivor benefits for spouses of deceased service members and veterans, creating a well-known disincentive to remarry. Removing these bars across DIC, special pension, SBP annuities, and TRICARE would expand the eligible beneficiary population and carry meaningful fiscal implications for VA and DoD survivor programs. The proposal builds incrementally on existing statutory frameworks rather than creating new benefits.