US Code

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

5 U.S.C. § 8135

Lump-sum payment

(a)
The liability of the United States for compensation to a beneficiary in the case of death or of permanent total or permanent partial disability may be discharged by a lump-sum payment equal to the present value of all future payments of compensation computed at 4 percent true discount compounded annually if—
(1)
the monthly payment to the beneficiary is less than $50 a month;
(2)
the beneficiary is or is about to become a nonresident of the United States; or
(3)
the Secretary of Labor determines that it is for the best interest of the beneficiary.
The probability of the death of the beneficiary before the expiration of the period during which he is entitled to compensation shall be determined according to the most current United States Life Tables, as developed by the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, which shall be updated from time to time, but the lump-sum payment to a widow or widower of the deceased employee may not exceed 60 months’ compensation. The probability of the happening of any other contingency affecting the amount or duration of compensation shall be disregarded.
(b)
section 8133 of this title On remarriage before reaching age 55 a widow or widower entitled to compensation under , shall be paid a lump sum equal to twenty-four times the monthly compensation payment (excluding compensation on account of another individual) to which he was entitled immediately before the remarriage.

Pub. L. 89–55480 Stat. 548Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(63)81 Stat. 211Pub. L. 93–41688 Stat. 1149Pub. L. 101–303, § 3(2)104 Stat. 251(, , ; , , ; , §§ 16(b), 19, 20, , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

1966 Act

Derivation

U.S. Code

Revised Statutes and

Statutes at Large

 

5 U.S.C. 764.

Sept. 7, 1916, ch. 458, § 14, 39 Stat. 746.

64 Stat. 1271Administration of this subchapter was transferred to the Secretary of Labor by section 1 of 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 19, (see section 8145).

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

1967 Act

Section of title 5

Source (U.S. Code)

Source (Statutes at Large)

8135(b)

5 App.: 764(b).

July 4, 1966, Pub. L. 89–488, § 8, 80 Stat. 254.

5 U.S.C. 8101(11)section 8133 of title 5The word “widower” is substituted for “dependent widower” to conform to the definition in . The words “” are substituted for “section 10” to reflect the codification of that section in title 5, United States Code.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 101–3031990—Subsec. (b). substituted “age 55” for “age 60”.

Pub. L. 93–416, § 201974—Subsec. (a). , substituted provisions relating to use of the most current United States Life Tables, for provisions relating to deter­mination by the American Experience Tables of Mortality.

Pub. L. 93–416, § 19Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “$50” for “$5”.

Pub. L. 93–416, § 16(b)Subsec. (b). , inserted “before reaching age 60” after “On remarriage”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

section 3508 of Title 20United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare redesignated the United States Department of Health and Human Services by , Education.

Effective Date of 1974 Amendment

Pub. L. 93–416section 28(a) of Pub. L. 93–416section 8101 of this titleAmendment by applicable to cases where injury or death occurred prior to , but only to a period beginning on or after , see , set out as a note under .

Personnel Not Affected by 1967 Increase

section 1(63) of Pub. L. 90–83section 7 of Pub. L. 90–83section 8103 of this titleIncreases authorized under amendment by not applicable to specified personnel, see , set out as a note under .