For the three new benefits, there are protections in place. Any veterans who currently, for example, are receiving a career impact allowance will automatically be eligible for the additional pain and suffering compensation, and will be protected at the same grade level. If they're receiving the career impact allowance at grade 2, which is currently about $1,200, it would automatically move over to the second grade level of the additional pain and suffering compensation.
For the pain and suffering compensation, any veteran who would have received a disability award previously will automatically be considered for an additional monthly amount. We'll go back and look at whether the individual would have been entitled to more, had this new pain and suffering compensation existed back when they received the disability award. We'll take this as far back as 2006, and we'll then automatically start a monthly payment recognizing the difference they would have been entitled to.
For the income replacement benefit, no veteran will receive less than they were receiving in the career impact allowance supplement, the retirement income security benefit, or the earnings lost benefit, whether extended or short-term. The protections are built into the transitional provisions of the bill.