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HD 5213

An Act establishing a cost-of-living adjustment for the disabled veteran annuity

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Christopher Markey

Ties the Massachusetts disabled veteran annuity’s annual increase to the SSA/SSI cost-of-living adjustment.

Referred to the committee on House Rules
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Bill Summary · HD 5213

Bill at a Glance

  • Bill Number: HD 5213
  • Title: An Act establishing a cost-of-living adjustment for the disabled veteran annuity
  • Status: Referred to the committee on House Rules
  • Introduced: October 15, 2025
  • Primary sponsor: Rep. Christopher M. Markey (9th Bristol)

Purpose and Intent

This bill seeks to ensure that the Massachusetts disabled veteran annuity received under Chapter 115, Section 6B is adjusted annually for inflation. Specifically, it ties the annuity’s annual increase to the same percentage as the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs, as determined by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

Key Provisions

  • Amends Section 6B of Chapter 115 of the General Laws (as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition) by inserting new language into three paragraphs:
    • In the first paragraph: the payment shall be subject to an annual COLA equal to the SSA/SSI COLA percentage, as determined by the SSA.
    • In the second paragraph: the same COLA requirement applies.
    • In the third paragraph: the same COLA requirement applies.
  • The inserted language explicitly ties the disabled veteran annuity’s COLA to the SSA’s annual COLA determination.

Affected Parties and Impact

  • Affected Beneficiaries: Recipients of the Massachusetts disabled veteran annuity under §6B of Chapter 115.
  • Impact: The annuity payments would automatically increase each year in line with SSA/SSI COLA, helping to preserve the benefit’s purchasing power in the face of inflation. The bill does not specify a funding source or appropriation mechanism for these increases.

Procedural and Timeline Notes

  • Legislative Action: 2025-10-15 — Referred to the House Rules committee.
  • Filing/Introductions: Filed October 6, 2025; Presented under HD 5213 by Rep. Markey.
  • No retroactivity language is included in the text provided; the COLA framework appears to apply to future and ongoing payments following enactment, per the design of annual COLA adjustments.

Additional Considerations

  • Fiscal Impact: Not specified in the bill text. Given automatic annual increases, ongoing costs would rise with each SSA/SSI COLA change and would likely require corresponding adjustments in the Commonwealth’s budget or funding plans.
  • Implementation: The SSA determines the annual COLA percentage; state implementation would need administrative processes to apply the COLA to monthly annuity payments.

This bill would make the disabled veteran annuity more resilient to inflation by aligning its increases with federal SSA/SSI COLA benchmarks.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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