The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a cost estimate for S. 410, the Love Lives On Act of 2025, as reported by the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on March 18, 2026, outlining how the bill could change federal spending tied to survivor-related Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits.
- Bill: S. 410, Love Lives On Act of 2025
- Committee action: Reported by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (March 18, 2026)
- Scorekeeper: Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
- Budget focus: Federal costs and budget effects associated with survivor-related VA programs and eligible families
- Who could be affected: Certain survivors and dependents who qualify for VA-administered benefits under the bill’s provisions
- What CBO provided: A formal cost estimate describing projected changes in federal outlays and any related budgetary effects under congressional scoring rules
- What’s not in this summary: CBO’s specific dollar totals, time horizon, and any pay-as-you-go effects are contained in the CBO estimate itself
Context
S. 410 is veterans-related legislation centered on survivor circumstances and eligibility. As with most VA benefit proposals, the bill’s budget impact depends on how many people become newly eligible, how benefits are structured, and how quickly eligible survivors enroll or claim benefits.
CBO’s estimate is intended to inform lawmakers ahead of floor consideration by translating policy changes into projected federal costs over the standard budget window used for congressional scoring. The estimate accompanies the bill as reported by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and is separate from implementation guidance VA would issue if the bill becomes law.
For federal employees and service members tracking survivor benefits policy, CBO scoring is often a key signal of how quickly a proposal may move and whether lawmakers may seek offsets or revisions. If you’re comparing survivor-related income streams or planning for retirement scenarios, the FERS retirement calculator can help you model how changes in household benefits interact with a federal annuity.
Source: CBO Reports