Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Autonomy for Disabled Veterans Act.
(a) Increase
Section 1717 of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in paragraph (2) of subsection (a)—
(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking $6,800 and inserting $10,000; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking $2,000 and inserting $5,000.
(b) Applicability
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to a veteran who first applies for benefits under such paragraph on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Clarification
A veteran who exhausted the eligibility of such veteran for benefits under such paragraph before the date of the enactment of this Act is not entitled to additional benefits under such section by reason of the amendments made by subsection (a).
Section 3. Adjustment for inflation
Such subsection is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(4) On an annual basis, the Secretary shall increase the dollar amount in effect under subsection (a)(2) by a percentage equal to the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (United States city average) increased during the 12-month period ending with the last month for which Consumer Price Index data is available. In the event that such Consumer Price Index does not increase during such period, the Secretary shall maintain the dollar amount in effect under subsection (a)(2) during the previous fiscal year.