With the sunset of the widow’s tax earlier in 2023, Gold Star families are turning to a new fight: changing a law that takes away survivors’ benefits for spouses who remarry before age 55. With the so-called “remarriage penalty” being reevaluated in Congress, an advocate shares the latest updates — and military widows share their personal experiences.

Advocates of the Love Lives on Act claim that the current statute is stunting both the personal and professional goals of Gold Star spouses, many of whom rely on benefits to support their children after the loss of their service member.

A House of Representatives cosponsor, Congressman Dean Phillips, D-Minn., is a Gold Star son whose mother remarried after his father, U.S. Army Capt. Artie Pfefer, died in the Vietnam War.

The bipartisan bill will allow spouses of deceased military servicemembers to retain survivor benefits upon remarriage.

WASHINGTON, D.C., (WPDE) — Representative Richard Hudson introduced a new bill, titled, Love Lives On Act with Rep. Dean Phillips.

The bipartisan bill will allow spouses of deceased military servicemembers to retain survivor benefits upon remarriage.

​

For Rebecca Morrison Mullaney, falling in love again after the death of her Army husband Ian is costing about $42,000 a year.

That’s because existing federal rules cut off military benefits to military widows and widowers who get remarried before age 55. Living unmarried with a new partner doesn’t carry the same penalty. Morrison Mullaney said forcing individuals like her to stay in relationship limbo to keep getting their family’s deserved support is a cruel twist on an already difficult situation.

With the sunset of the "Widow’s Tax" earlier this year, Gold Star families are seeking to end another vestige of military family life: a remarriage penalty. 

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, surviving spouses only remarry in 5% of cases, citing financial concerns about losing benefits.

A surviving spouse must wait until the age of 55 to remarry and still retain survivor benefits like TRICARE or the Fry Scholarship. 

WASHINGTON — Rep. Richard Hudson is once again trying to make sure military spouses can keep their survivor benefits even if they get remarried.

Hudson, who represents part of Richmond County as well as Fort Bragg, announced Friday — just ahead of Memorial Day — that he and Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat, have reintroduced the Love Lives On Act.

Spouses of deceased service members and veterans would be able to keep getting survivor benefits if they remarry at any age under a bill inching forward in the Senate.

Right now, surviving spouses who remarry before age 55 become ineligible for benefits such as the Department of Veterans Affairs' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and the Defense Department's Survivor Benefit Plan.

Spouses of deceased United States military service members would retain their survivor benefits if they remarry under a bipartisan bill sponsored on Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS).

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) Tuesday introduced the Love Lives On Act, according to a statement from the Senator's office.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) Tuesday introduced the Love Lives On Act, according to a statement from the Senator's office.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) Tuesday introduced the Love Lives On Act, according to a statement from the Senator's office.