Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

38 U.S.C. § 1122

Rates of wartime death compensation

(a)
The monthly rates of death compensation shall be as follows:
(1)
Surviving spouse but no child, $87;
(2)
Surviving spouse with one child, $121 (with $29 for each additional child);
(3)
No surviving spouse but one child, $67;
(4)
No surviving spouse but two children, $94 (equally divided);
(5)
No surviving spouse but three children, $122 (equally divided) (with $23 for each additional child, total amount to be equally divided);
(6)
Dependent parent, $75;
(7)
Both dependent parents, $40 each.
(b)
The monthly rate of death compensation payable to a surviving spouse or dependent parent under subsection (a) of this section shall be increased by $79 if the payee is (1) a patient in a nursing home or (2) blind, or so nearly blind or significantly disabled as to need or require the regular aid and attendance of another person.

Pub. L. 85–85772 Stat. 1122Pub. L. 91–96, § 783 Stat. 146Pub. L. 91–588, § 3(a)84 Stat. 1583Pub. L. 92–197, § 985 Stat. 662Pub. L. 93–295, title II, § 20488 Stat. 183Pub. L. 94–169, title II, § 20289 Stat. 1021Pub. L. 94–432, title IV, § 40190 Stat. 1372Pub. L. 94–433, title IV, § 404(13)90 Stat. 1378Pub. L. 95–204, title III, § 30191 Stat. 1459Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)105 Stat. 406Pub. L. 109–233, title V, § 502(3)120 Stat. 415(, , , § 322; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; –(17), , , 1379; , , ; renumbered § 1122, , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 109–2332006—Subsec. (b)(2). substituted “blind, or so nearly blind or significantly disabled as to” for “helpless or blind, or so nearly helpless or blind as to”.

Pub. L. 102–83section 322 of this title1991— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 95–2041977—Subsec. (b). substituted “$79” for “$74”.

Pub. L. 94–433, § 404(13)1976—Subsec. (a). –(16), substituted “Surviving spouse” for “Widow” in pars. (1) and (2); “surviving spouse” for “widow” in pars. (3), (4), and (5); “parent” for “mother or father” in par. (6); and “Both dependent parents” for “Dependent mother and father” in par. (7).

Pub. L. 94–433, § 404(17)Subsec. (b). , substituted “surviving spouse” for “widow”.

Pub. L. 94–432 substituted “$74” for “$69”.

Pub. L. 94–1691975—Subsec. (b). substituted, effective for period beginning , and ending , “$69” for “$64”.

Pub. L. 93–2951974—Subsec. (b). substituted “$64” for “$55”.

Pub. L. 92–1971971—Subsec. (b). extended benefits to dependent parents under subsec. (a) of this section and increased the increase in benefits from $50 to $55.

Pub. L. 91–5881970—Subsec. (b). substituted “$55” for “$50”.

Pub. L. 91–961969— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–204, title III, § 30291 Stat. 1459

“The provisions of this Act [see Tables for classification] shall take effect .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1976 Amendments

Pub. L. 94–433section 406 of Pub. L. 94–433section 1101 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 94–432section 405(b) of Pub. L. 94–432section 1521 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–169, title II, § 20289 Stat. 1021section 101 of Pub. L. 94–432, , , as amended by , eff. , provided that the amendment made by that section is effective .

Effective Date of 1974 Amendment

Pub. L. 93–295section 401 of Pub. L. 93–295section 1114 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1971 Amendment

Pub. L. 92–197section 10 of Pub. L. 92–197section 1311 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Pub. L. 91–588section 10(a) of Pub. L. 91–588section 1521 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1969 Amendment

Pub. L. 91–96section 8 of Pub. L. 91–96section 1302 of this titleAmendment by effective first day of second calendar month which begins after , see , set out as a note under .