US Code

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

38 U.S.C. § 1532

Surviving spouses of Civil War veterans

(a)
The Secretary shall pay to the surviving spouse of each Civil War veteran who met the service requirements of this section a pension at the following monthly rate:
(1)
$40.64 if such surviving spouse is below seventy years of age; or
(2)
$70 if such surviving spouse is seventy years of age or older.
(b)
If there is a child of the veteran, the rate of pension paid to the surviving spouse under subsection (a) shall be increased by $8.13 per month for each such child.
(c)
A veteran met the service requirements of this section if such veteran served for ninety days or more in the active military or naval service during the Civil War, as heretofore defined under public laws administered by the Veterans’ Administration, or if such veteran was discharged or released from such service upon a surgeon’s certificate of disability.
(d)
No pension shall be paid to a surviving spouse of a veteran under this section unless such surviving spouse was married to such veteran—
(1)
before ; or
(2)
for one year or more; or
(3)
for any period of time if a child was born of the marriage, or was born to them before the marriage.

Pub. L. 85–85772 Stat. 1137Pub. L. 90–77, title I81 Stat. 178Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106(20)89 Stat. 1018Pub. L. 102–54, § 14(b)(7)105 Stat. 283Pub. L. 102–83105 Stat. 403–406Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1201(a)(2)108 Stat. 4682(, , , § 532; , §§ 101(a), 105, , , 179; –(23), , ; , , ; renumbered § 1532 and amended , §§ 4(a)(1), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 103–4461994—Subsec. (c). substituted “Veterans’ Administration” for “Secretary”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)section 532 of this title1991—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1)Subsec. (a). , (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 102–54 substituted a period for semicolon at end of par. (2) and struck out at end “unless such surviving spouse was the spouse of the veteran during such veteran’s service in the Civil War, in which case the monthly rate shall be $75.”

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(1)Subsec. (c). , substituted “administered by the Secretary” for “administered by the Veterans’ Administration”.

Pub. L. 94–169, § 106(23)1975—, substituted “Surviving spouses” for “Widows” in section catchline.

Pub. L. 94–169, § 106(20)Subsec. (a). , substituted “pay to the surviving spouse” for “pay to the widow”, “such surviving spouse” for “she” wherever appearing, “was the spouse” for “was the wife” and “such veteran’s” for “his”.

Pub. L. 94–169, § 106(21)Subsec. (b). , substituted “surviving spouse” for “widow”.

Pub. L. 94–169, § 106(21)Subsec. (c). , substituted “such veteran” for “he” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 94–169, § 106(22)Subsec. (d). , substituted “surviving spouse”, “such surviving spouse” and “such veteran” for “widow”, “she” and “him”, respectively.

Pub. L. 90–77, § 1051967—Subsec. (a)(2). , substituted ”$70” for “$65”.

Pub. L. 90–77, § 101(a)Subsec. (d). , qualified widow of a veteran for a pension by reducing in par. (2) the requisite marriage period from five years to one year and by making her eligible for benefits in par. (3) in event of antenuptial birth.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 10689 Stat. 1017, , , provided that the amendment made by that section is effective .

Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–77section 405 of Pub. L. 90–77section 101 of this titleAmendment by effective first day of first calendar month which begins more than ten days after , see , set out as a note under .