News

Public Statement on Restoring Proper Oversight to the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA)

May 5, 2025

Gold Star Spouses of America applauds the Department of Veterans Affairs for its decision to return the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) to the Office of the VA Secretary. This long-overdue correction restores OSA to its intended role as a direct advisor to VA leadership on the needs of surviving spouses and dependents—exactly as Congress envisioned in the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008.

This was a top priority of ours this Congress, and we are thrilled to see it enacted. For years, surviving spouses have raised concerns about the marginalization of OSA within VA’s bureaucracy, where its ability to advocate and act on behalf of survivors was limited. Returning OSA to the Secretary’s office reestablishes the visibility, authority, and accountability this office requires to effectively serve the more than 500,000 surviving military spouses across the country.

We are hopeful that this change will result in a more unified and responsive survivor experience across the VA system. Gold Star Spouses of America remains committed to working alongside the department to ensure that this transition delivers the meaningful improvements our community deserves.

Tamra Sipes, National President

Gold Star Spouses of America, Inc.

www.goldstarspouses.org

Office: 302-200-9715

Surviving spouse of NAVY SAR Corpsman Robert Sipes

For immediate release

May 5 2025

10:12 am

WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced a three-pronged approach to eliminate barriers and streamline the process for how eligible survivors and dependents of deceased Veterans and servicemembers apply for and receive VA benefits and services.

Specific improvements include:

• Starting this month, VA’s Office of Survivors Assistance will be moved from the Veterans Benefits Administration to the Office of the VA Secretary, reversing a Biden-era decision that buried OSA under layers of bureaucracy.
• Starting this month, VA will create a “white-glove” survivor outreach team to guide and assist eligible survivors throughout their Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) claims process.
• Starting immediately, VA will begin work to identify areas where automation can be used to make the DIC claims process easier to navigate for survivors.

“The last thing survivors need in their time of grief is frustrating red tape and bureaucracy. That’s why we are creating a better system to more quickly and effectively provide survivors the services, support and compassion they’ve earned,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins.

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