ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS FOR SO-CALLED MINIMUM INCOME WIDOWS.

SEC. 645. ADMINISTRATION OF BENEFITS FOR SO-CALLED MINIMUM INCOME WIDOWS. (a) Payments To Be Made by Secretary of Veterans Affairs.—Section 653(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989 (10 U.S.C. 1448 note) is amended— (1) by inserting “(1)” before “An annuity” the first place it appears; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(2) Payment of annuities under this section shall be made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. In making such payments, the Secretary shall combine the payment under this section with the payment of any amount due the same person under section 4 of Public Law 92–425 (10 U.S.C. 1448 note), as provided in subsection (e)(1) of that section. The Secretary concerned shall transfer amounts for payments under this section to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the same manner as is provided under subsection (e)(2) of section 4 of Public Law 92–425 for payments under that section.”. (b) Combination With Other Benefits.—Section 4(e)(1) of Public Law 92–425 (10 U.S.C. 1448 note) is amended— (1) by inserting after the first sentence the following new sentence: “In making such payments, the Secretary shall combine with the payment under this section payment of any amount due the same person under section 653(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989 (10 U.S.C. 1448 note).”; and (2) by inserting “(and, if applicable, under section 653(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989)” after “under this section”. (c) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section take effect on the first day of the first month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect 111 STAT. 1802to payments of benefits for months beginning on or after that date, except that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide, if necessary for administrative implementation, that such amendments shall apply beginning with a later month, not later than the first month beginning more than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.