a. Determining With few exceptions, the due process procedures in be followed prior to must Whether Due the reduction or discontinuation of benefits. Process Is Necessary Award adjustments based on information a beneficiary provides, however, do require a notice of proposed adverse action. In these cases, provide the not beneficiary contemporaneous notice of the reduction or discontinuation of benefits, and the reason for the effective date of the reduction. Awards may be adjusted based on information the beneficiary provides Note: by telephone. Follow the steps in the table below if a Veteran reports the loss of a dependent b. Questionnaires on his/her questionnaire. Showing Loss of a Dependent Step Action 1 Adjust the Veteran’s award according to the instructions in Part III, Subpart iii, 5.L.4. 2 Follow the instructions in the table below. Follow the steps in the table below if a surviving spouse in receipt of DIC c. Questionnaires reports on his/her questionnaire that he/she has remarried. Showing a Surviving If a surviving spouse remarries after age 57, it might be Exception: Spouse Has to discontinue DIC. unnecessary Remarried For more information on the effect of a surviving spouse’s Reference: remarriage, see . Step Action
a. Determining Whether Due Process Is Necessary With few exceptions, the due process procedures in must be followed prior to the reduction or discontinuation of benefits. Award adjustments based on information a beneficiary provides, however, do not require a notice of proposed adverse action. In these cases, provide the beneficiary contemporaneous notice of the reduction or discontinuation of benefits, and the reason for the effective date of the reduction. Note: Awards may be adjusted based on information the beneficiary provides by telephone. b. Questionnaires Showing Loss of a Dependent Follow the steps in the table below if a Veteran reports the loss of a dependent on his/her questionnaire. Step Action 1 Adjust the Veteran’s award according to the instructions in Part III, Subpart iii, 5.L.4. 2 Follow the instructions in the table below. c. Questionnaires Showing a Surviving Spouse Has Remarried Follow the steps in the table below if a surviving spouse in receipt of DIC reports on his/her questionnaire that he/she has remarried. Exception: If a surviving spouse remarries after age 57, it might be unnecessary to discontinue DIC. Reference: For more information on the effect of a surviving spouse’s remarriage, see . Step Action