Under a new law, Medal of Honor recipients — the service members who earned the nation’s highest military award — will now receive a $67,500 annual stipend. That’s more than four times what they used to get.
The MEDAL Act, signed into law this week, raises their monthly special pension from $1,406 to $5,625. Surviving spouses will also receive a new monthly benefit of $1,406. And starting next year, both payments will rise automatically with inflation.
This honorarium isn’t new — it started back in 1916 with just $10 a month. But for the 61 living recipients today, most of whom are older veterans from the Vietnam War, the increase is a meaningful change.
Retired Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee, awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan in 2013, said many recipients still travel constantly to speak with troops, schools and community groups. That commitment often comes out of their own pockets.
“Recipients never want to say no to an opportunity to share their stories or the values of the Medal, even when it puts strain on our families,” Plumlee said. “This legislation helps balance that. It lets us keep serving without carrying the burden alone.”
Lawmakers agreed the increase was overdue. Rep. Troy Nehls, who introduced the bill, said it was unfair for recipients to pay their own travel costs or rely on donations while continuing to support military recruitment and public outreach.
“The least we can do is lift the financial burden off these selfless warriors,” Nehls said.
Since the Medal of Honor was created in 1863, only 3,528 service members have ever received it. Today, just 61 remain alive — living reminders of courage at its highest level.
