US Code

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

38 U.S.C. § 5310

Payment of benefits for month of death

(a)

In General .—

(1)
A surviving spouse of a veteran is entitled to a benefit for the month of the veteran’s death if—
(A)
at the time of the veteran’s death, the veteran was receiving compensation or pension under chapter 11 or 15 of this title; or
(B)
the veteran is determined for purposes of section 5121 or 5121A of this title as having been entitled to receive compensation or pension under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for the month of the veteran’s death.
(2)
The amount of the benefit under paragraph (1) is the amount that the veteran would have received under chapter 11 or 15 of this title, as the case may be, for the month of the veteran’s death had the veteran not died.
(b)

Claims Pending Adjudication .—

section 5121 of this titleIf a claim for entitlement to compensation or additional compensation under chapter 11 of this title or pension or additional pension under chapter 15 of this title is pending at the time of a veteran’s death and the check or other payment issued to the veteran’s surviving spouse under subsection (a) is less than the amount of the benefit the veteran would have been entitled to for the month of death pursuant to the adjudication of the pending claim, an amount equal to the difference between the amount to which the veteran would have been entitled to receive under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for the month of the veteran’s death had the veteran not died and the amount of the check or other payment issued to the surviving spouse shall be treated in the same manner as an accrued benefit under .

Pub. L. 87–825, § 4(a)76 Stat. 950Pub. L. 98–160, title VII, § 703(3)97 Stat. 1010Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1)105 Stat. 238Pub. L. 104–275, title V, § 506(a)110 Stat. 3343Pub. L. 105–114, title IV, § 401(f)111 Stat. 2294Pub. L. 112–154, title V, § 507(a)126 Stat. 1194(Added , , , § 3110; amended , , ; renumbered § 5310 and amended , (d)(1), , , 239; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 112–154, § 507(a)2012—, amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

section 5110(d) of this title“(a) If, in accordance with the provisions of , a surviving spouse is entitled to death benefits under chapter 11, 13, or 15 of this title for the month in which a veteran’s death occurs, the amount of such death benefits for that month shall be not less than the amount of benefits the veteran would have received under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for that month but for the death of the veteran.

“(b)(1) If the surviving spouse of a veteran who was in receipt of compensation or pension at the time of death is not entitled to death benefits under chapter 11, 13, or 15 of this title for the month in which the veteran’s death occurs, that surviving spouse shall be entitled to a benefit for that month in the amount of benefits the veteran would have received under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for that month but for the death of the veteran.

section 5112(b)(1) of this titlesection 5121 of this title“(2) If (notwithstanding ) a check or other payment is issued to, and in the name of, the deceased veteran as a benefit payment under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for the month in which death occurs, that check or other payment (A) shall be treated for all purposes as being payable to the surviving spouse, and (B) if that check or other payment is negotiated or deposited, shall be considered to be the benefit to which the surviving spouse is entitled under paragraph (1). However, if such check or other payment is in an amount less than the amount of the benefit under paragraph (1), the unpaid amount shall be treated in the same manner as an accrued benefit under .”

Pub. L. 105–1141997—Subsec. (b)(2). substituted “under paragraph (1)” for “under this paragraph” before period at end of first sentence.

Pub. L. 104–2751996— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Pub. L. 102–40section 3110 of this title1991— renumbered as this section and substituted “5110(d)” for “3010(d)”.

Pub. L. 98–1601983— substituted “surviving spouse” for “widow”, and “the death of the veteran” for “his death”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–154section 507(c) of Pub. L. 112–154section 5111 of this titleAmendment by effective , and applicable with respect to deaths that occur on or after that date, see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–275, title V, § 506(b)110 Stat. 3343

“The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to the death of compensation and pension recipients occurring after .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date

section 7 of Pub. L. 87–825section 110 of this titleSection effective first day of second calendar month which begins after , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1962 Amendment note under .