38 U.S.C. § 503 | Administrative error; equitable relief

(a)

If the Secretary determines that benefits administered by the Department have not been provided by reason of administrative error on the part of the Federal Government or any of its employees, the Secretary may provide such relief on account of such error as the Secretary determines equitable, including the payment of moneys to any person whom the Secretary determines is equitably entitled to such moneys.

(b)

If the Secretary determines that a veteran, surviving spouse, child of a veteran, or other person has suffered loss as a consequence of reliance upon a determination by the Department of eligibility or entitlement to benefits, without knowledge that it was erroneously made, the Secretary may provide such relief on account of such error as the Secretary determines is equitable, including the payment of moneys to any person whom the Secretary determines is equitably entitled to such moneys.

(c)

December 31, 2026 Not later than April 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing a statement as to the disposition of each case recommended to the Secretary for equitable relief under this section during the preceding calendar year. No report shall be required under this subsection after .

Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a)Aug. 6, 1991105 Stat. 386 Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 403(c)(1)Nov. 1, 2000114 Stat. 1864 Pub. L. 109–233, title IV, § 403June 15, 2006120 Stat. 411 Pub. L. 111–275, title VIII, § 808Oct. 13, 2010124 Stat. 2893 Pub. L. 113–175, title IV, § 403Sept. 26, 2014128 Stat. 1905 Pub. L. 114–58, title IV, § 404Sept. 30, 2015129 Stat. 535 Pub. L. 114–228, title IV, § 404Sept. 29, 2016130 Stat. 940 Pub. L. 115–62, title IV, § 404Sept. 29, 2017131 Stat. 1164 Pub. L. 115–251, title I, § 164Sept. 29, 2018132 Stat. 3171 Pub. L. 116–159, div. E, title IV, § 5402Oct. 1, 2020134 Stat. 751 Pub. L. 117–180, div. E, title II, § 203Sept. 30, 2022136 Stat. 2137 Pub. L. 118–83, div. B, title III, § 335Sept. 26, 2024138 Stat. 1542 Pub. L. 119–37, div. G, title IV, § 7402Nov. 12, 2025139 Stat. 654 (Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Prior sections 503 and 504 were renumbered sections 1503 and 1504 of this title, respectively.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a)Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 210(c)(2), (3) of this title prior to repeal by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 119–37December 31, 2026December 31, 20252025—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 118–83December 31, 2025December 31, 20242024—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 117–180December 31, 2024December 31, 20222022—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 116–159December 31, 2022December 31, 20202020—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 115–251December 31, 2020December 31, 20182018—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 115–62December 31, 2018December 31, 20172017—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 114–228December 31, 2017December 31, 20162016—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 114–58December 31, 2016December 31, 20152015—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 113–175December 31, 2015December 31, 20142014—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 111–275December 31, 2014December 31, 20092010—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 109–233December 31, 2009December 31, 20042006—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “”.

Pub. L. 106–419December 31, 20042000—Subsec. (c). inserted at end “No report shall be required under this subsection after .”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2025 Amendment

Pub. L. 119–37Sept. 30, 2025section 7406 of Pub. L. 119–37 section 111A of this titleAmendment by effective as if enacted on , see , set out as a note under .