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38 U.S.C. § 1311 — Dependency and indemnity compensation to a surviving spouse

Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

38 U.S.C. § 1311 — Dependency and indemnity compensation to a surviving spouse

**(a)** (1) Dependency and indemnity compensation shall be paid to a surviving spouse at the monthly rate of $1,154. (2) The rate under paragraph (1) shall be increased by $246 in the case of the death of a veteran who at the time of death was in receipt of or was entitled to receive (or but for the receipt of retired pay or retirement pay was entitled to receive) compensation for a service-connected disability that was rated totally disabling for a continuous period of at least eight years immediately preceding death. In determining the period of a veteran’s disability for purposes of the preceding sentence, only periods in which the veteran was married to the surviving spouse shall be considered. (3) In the case of dependency and indemnity compensation paid to a surviving spouse that is predicated on the death of a veteran before January 1, 1993, the monthly rate of such compensation shall be the amount based on the pay grade of such veteran, as set forth in the following table, if the amount is greater than the total amount determined with respect to that veteran under paragraphs (1) and (2): Pay gradeMonthly ratePay gradeMonthly rate 1 If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior enlisted advisor of the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, or master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by [section 1302 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section1302&num=0&edition=prelim), the surviving spouse’s rate shall be $1,419. 2 If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or Co

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Stable record: federal_law:legal_authorities:record_usc_a2bb7e4a3774c32ee31fd876
Source file: Laws/federal/codes/united-states-code/title-38/section-1311-dependency-and-indemnity-compensation-to-a-surviving-spouse--2f10078c5f.md
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Passage SHA-256: 53e0c802fe3de16dff45d28336fb4e1e12c791ebc115c193b503422b447aef21

Source location: Title 38, Chapter 13, § 1311; chapter-013-dependency-and-indemnity-compensation-for-service-connected-deaths.md

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**(a)** (1) Dependency and indemnity compensation shall be paid to a surviving spouse at the monthly rate of $1,154. (2) The rate under paragraph (1) shall be increased by $246 in the case of the death of a veteran who at the time of death was in receipt of or was entitled to receive (or but for the receipt of retired pay or retirement pay was entitled to receive) compensation for a service-connected disability that was rated totally disabling for a continuous period of at least eight years immediately preceding death. In determining the period of a veteran’s disability for purposes of the preceding sentence, only periods in which the veteran was married to the surviving spouse shall be considered. (3) In the case of dependency and indemnity compensation paid to a surviving spouse that is predicated on the death of a veteran before January 1, 1993, the monthly rate of such compensation shall be the amount based on the pay grade of such veteran, as set forth in the following table, if the amount is greater than the total amount determined with respect to that veteran under paragraphs (1) and (2): Pay gradeMonthly ratePay gradeMonthly rate 1 If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior enlisted advisor of the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, sergeant major of the Marine Corps, or master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by [section 1302 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section1302&num=0&edition=prelim), the surviving spouse’s rate shall be $1,419. 2 If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or Commandant of the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by [section 1302 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section1302&num=0&edition=prelim), the surviving spouse’s rate shall be $2,643. E–1$1,154W–4$1,380 E–2$1,154O–1$1,219 E–3$1,154O–2$1,260 E–4$1,154O–3$1,347 E–5$1,154O–4$1,427 E–6$1,154O–5$1,571 E–7$1,194O–6$1,771 E–8$1,260O–7$1,912 E–9$1,3141O–8$2,100 W–1$1,219O–9$2,246 W–2$1,267O–10$2,463 2 W–3$1,305 ............ **(b)** If there is a surviving spouse with one or more children below the age of eighteen of a deceased veteran, the dependency and indemnity compensation paid monthly to the surviving spouse shall be increased by $286 for each such child. **(c)** The monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to a surviving spouse shall be increased by $286 if the spouse 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. **(d)** The monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to a surviving spouse shall be increased by $135 if the surviving spouse is, by reason of disability, permanently housebound but does not qualify for the aid and attendance allowance under subsection (c) of this section. For the purposes of this subsection, the requirement of “permanently housebound” will be considered to have been met when the surviving spouse is substantially confined to such surviving spouse’s home (ward or clinical areas, if institutionalized) or immediate premises by reason of a disability or disabilities which it is reasonably certain will remain throughout such surviving spouse’s lifetime. **(e)** In the case of an individual who is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation under this section by reason of [section 103(d)(2)(B) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section103/d/2/B&num=0&edition=prelim) who is also eligible for benefits under another provision of law by reason of such individual’s status as the surviving spouse of a veteran, then, notwithstanding any other provision of law (other than [section 5304(b)(3) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5304/b/3&num=0&edition=prelim)), no reduction in benefits under such other provision of law shall be made by reason of such individual’s eligibility for benefits under this section. **(f)** (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), if there is a surviving spouse with one or more children below the age of 18, the dependency and indemnity compensation paid monthly to the surviving spouse shall be increased by $250 (as increased from time to time under paragraph (4)), regardless of the number of such children. (2) Dependency and indemnity compensation shall be increased under this subsection only for months occurring during the two-year period beginning on the date on which entitlement to dependency and indemnity compensation commenced. (3) The increase in dependency and indemnity compensation of a surviving spouse under this subsection shall cease beginning with the first month commencing after the month in which all children of the surviving spouse have attained the age of 18. (4) Whenever there is an increase in benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act ([42 U.S.C. 401](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section401&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.) as a result of a determination made under section 215(i) of such Act ([42 U.S.C. 415(i)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section415/i&num=0&edition=prelim)), the Secretary shall, effective on the date of such increase in benefit amounts, increase the amount payable under paragraph (1), as such amount was in effect immediately prior to the date of such increase in benefit amounts, by the same percentage as the percentage by which such benefit amounts are increased. Any increase in a dollar amount under this paragraph shall be rounded down to the next lower whole dollar amount. (5) Dependency and indemnity compensation under this subsection is in addition to any other dependency and indemnity compensation payable under this chapter.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

38 U.S.C. § 1312 — Benefits in certain cases of in-service or service-connected deaths

**(a)** In the case of any veteran— (1) who dies after December 31, 1956, and is not a fully and currently insured individual (as defined in section 214 of the Social Security Act ([42 U.S.C. 414](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section414&num=0&edition=prelim))) at the time of such veteran’s death; and (2) whose death occurs— (A) while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training; or (B) as the result of a service-connected disability incurred after September 15, 1940; and (3) who leaves one or more survivors who are not entitled for any month to monthly benefits under section 202 of the Social Security Act ([42 U.S.C. 402](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section402&num=0&edition=prelim)) on the basis of such veteran’s wages and self-employment income but who would, upon application therefor, be entitled to such benefits if such veteran had been fully and currently insured at the time of such veteran’s death; the Secretary shall pay for such month benefits under this section to each such survivor in an amount equal to the amount of the benefits which would have been paid for such month to such survivor under title II of the Social Security Act ([42 U.S.C. 401](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section401&num=0&edition=prelim) et seq.), if such veteran had been both fully and currently insured at the time of such veteran’s death and if such survivor had filed application therefor on the same date on which application for benefits under this section is filed with the Secretary. **(b)** In any case where the amount of dependency and indemnity compensation payable under this chapter to a surviving spouse who has children is less than

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

38 U.S.C. § 1521 — Veterans of a period of war

**(a)** The Secretary shall pay to each veteran of a period of war who meets the service requirements of this section (as prescribed in subsection (j) of this section) and who is permanently and totally disabled from non-service-connected disability not the result of the veteran’s willful misconduct, pension at the rate prescribed by this section, as increased from time to time under [section 5312 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section5312&num=0&edition=prelim). **(b)** If the veteran is unmarried (or married but not living with or reasonably contributing to the support of such veteran’s spouse) and there is no child of the veteran in the custody of the veteran or to whose support the veteran is reasonably contributing, and unless the veteran is entitled to pension at the rate provided by subsection (d)(1) or (e) of this section, pension shall be paid to the veteran at the annual rate of $11,830, reduced by the amount of the veteran’s annual income. **(c)** If the veteran is married and living with or reasonably contributing to the support of such veteran’s spouse, or if there is a child of the veteran in the custody of the veteran or to whose support the veteran is reasonably contributing, pension shall be paid to the veteran at the annual rate of $15,493, unless the veteran is entitled to pension at the rate provided by subsection (d)(2), (e), or (f) of this section. If the veteran has two or more such family members, such annual rate shall be increased by $2,020 for each such family member in excess of one. The rate payable shall be reduced by the amount of the veteran’s annual income and, subject to subsection (h)(1) of this section, the amount of annual income of such family members. **(d)** (1) If the vetera

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

38 U.S.C. § 1317 — Restriction on payments under this chapter

**(a)** Except as provided in subsection (b), no person eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation by reason of any death occurring after December 31, 1956, shall be eligible by reason of such death for any payments under (1) provisions of law administered by the Secretary providing for the payment of death compensation or death pension, or (2) subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5. **(b)** A surviving spouse who is eligible for dependency and indemnity compensation may elect to receive death pension instead of such compensation.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

38 U.S.C. § 103 — Special provisions relating to marriages

**(a)** Whenever, in the consideration of any claim filed by a person as the widow or widower of a veteran for gratuitous death benefits under laws administered by the Secretary, it is established by evidence satisfactory to the Secretary that such person, without knowledge of any legal impediment, entered into a marriage with such veteran which, but for a legal impediment, would have been valid, and thereafter cohabited with the veteran for one year or more immediately before the veteran’s death, or for any period of time if a child was born of the purported marriage or was born to them before such marriage, the purported marriage shall be deemed to be a valid marriage, but only if no claim has been filed by a legal widow or widower of such veteran who is found to be entitled to such benefits. No duplicate payments shall be made by virtue of this subsection. **(b)** Where a surviving spouse has been legally married to a veteran more than once, the date of original marriage will be used in determining whether the statutory requirement as to date of marriage has been met. **(c)** In determining whether or not a person is or was the spouse of a veteran, their marriage shall be proven as valid for the purposes of all laws administered by the Secretary according to the law of the place where the parties resided at the time of the marriage or the law of the place where the parties resided when the right to benefits accrued. **(d)** (1) The remarriage of the surviving spouse of a veteran shall not bar the furnishing of benefits to such person as the surviving spouse of the veteran if the remarriage is void, or has been annulled by a court with basic authority to render annulment decrees unless the Secretary determines that the annulment was secured through fraud by either

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

38 U.S.C. § 1101 — Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter— (1) The term “veteran” includes a person who died in the active military, naval, air, or space service. (2) The term “period of war” includes, in the case of any veteran— (A) any period of service performed by such veteran after November 11, 1918, and before July 2, 1921, if such veteran served in the active military, naval, air, or space service after April 5, 1917, and before November 12, 1918; and (B) any period of continuous service performed by such veteran after December 31, 1946, and before July 26, 1947, if such period began before January 1, 1947. (3) The term “chronic disease” includes—Anemia, primary Arteriosclerosis Arthritis Atrophy, progressive muscular Brain hemorrhage Brain thrombosis Bronchiectasis Calculi of the kidney, bladder, or gallbladder Cardiovascular-renal disease, including hypertension Cirrhosis of the liver Coccidioidomycosis Diabetes mellitus Encephalitis lethargica residuals Endocarditis Endocrinopathies Epilepsies Hansen’s disease Hodgkin’s disease Leukemia Lupus erythematosus, systemic Myasthenia gravis Myelitis Myocarditis Nephritis Organic diseases of the nervous system Osteitis deformans (Paget’s disease) Osteomalacia Palsy, bulbar Paralysis agitans Psychoses Purpura idiopathic, hemorrhagic Raynaud’s disease Sarcoidosis Scleroderma Sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis, multiple Syringomyelia Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger’s disease) Tuberculosis, active Tumors, malignant, or of the brain or spinal cord or peripheral nerves Ulcers, peptic (gastric or duodenal) and such other chronic diseases as the Secretary may add to this list. (4) The term “tropical disease” includes—Amebiasis Blackwater fever Cholera Dracontiasis Dysentery Filiariasis Hansen’s disease Leishmaniasis, including kal

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

6 U.S.C. § 542 — Federal air marshal program

(1) **Sense of Congress** — It is the sense of Congress that the Federal air marshal program is critical to aviation security. (2) **Limitation on statutory construction** — Nothing in this chapter, including any amendment made by this chapter, shall be construed as preventing the Under Secretary of Transportation for Security from implementing and training Federal air marshals.

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

38 U.S.C. § 101 — Definitions

For the purposes of this title— (1) The terms “Secretary” and “Department” mean the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Veterans Affairs, respectively. (2) The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. (3) The term “surviving spouse” means (except for purposes of chapter 19 of this title) a person who was the spouse of a veteran at the time of the veteran’s death, and who lived with the veteran continuously from the date of marriage to the date of the veteran’s death (except where there was a separation which was due to the misconduct of, or procured by, the veteran without the fault of the spouse) and who has not remarried. (4) (A) The term “child” means (except for purposes of chapter 19 of this title (other than with respect to a child who is an insurable dependent under subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 1965(10) of such chapter) and [section 8502(b) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section8502/b&num=0&edition=prelim)) a person who is unmarried and— (i) who is under the age of eighteen years; (ii) who, before attaining the age of eighteen years, became permanently incapable of self-support; or (iii) who, after attaining the age of eighteen years and until completion of education or training (but not after attaining the age of twenty-three years), is pursuing a course of instruction at an approved educational institution; and who is a legitimate child, a legally adopted child, a stepchild who is a member of a veteran’s household or was a member at the time of the veteran’s death, or an illegitimate child but, as to the alleged father, onl

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

42 U.S.C. § 401 — Trust Funds

**(a) Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund** There is hereby created on the books of the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the “Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund”. The Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund shall consist of the securities held by the Secretary of the Treasury for the Old-Age Reserve Account and the amount standing to the credit of the Old-Age Reserve Account on the books of the Treasury on January 1, 1940, which securities and amount the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to transfer to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, and, in addition, such gifts and bequests as may be made as provided in subsection (i)(1), and such amounts as may be appropriated to, or deposited in, the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund as hereinafter provided. There is hereby appropriated to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1941, and for each fiscal year thereafter, out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, amounts equivalent to 100 per centum of— (1) the taxes (including interest, penalties, and additions to the taxes) received under subchapter A of chapter 9 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939 (and covered into the Treasury) which are deposited into the Treasury by collectors of internal revenue before January 1, 1951; and (2) the taxes certified each month by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue as taxes received under subchapter A of chapter 9 of such Code which are deposited into the Treasury by collectors of internal revenue after December 31, 1950, and before January 1, 1953, with respect to assessments of such taxes made before January 1, 1951; and (3) the taxes imposed by

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

37 U.S.C. § 201 — Pay grades: assignment to; general rules

**(a)** For the purpose of computing their basic pay, commissioned officers of the uniformed services (other than commissioned warrant officers) are assigned by the grade or rank in which serving to the following pay grades: Pay gradeArmy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space ForceNavy, Coast Guard, andNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationPublic Health Service O–10GeneralAdmiralAssistant Secretary for Health. O–9Lieutenant generalVice admiralSurgeon General. O–8Major generalRear admiralDeputy Surgeon General.Assistant Surgeon General having rank of major general. O–7Brigadier generalRear admiral (lower half)Assistant Surgeon General having rank of brigadier general. O–6ColonelCaptainDirector grade. O–5Lieutenant colonelCommanderSenior grade. O–4MajorLieutenant commanderFull grade. O–3CaptainLieutenantSenior assistant grade. O–21st lieu­tenantLieutenant (junior grade)Assistant grade. O–12d lieu­tenantEnsignJunior assistant grade. **(b)** For the purpose of computing their basic pay, warrant officers of the armed forces are assigned, by the warrant officer grade in which serving, to the following pay grades: Pay Grade:Warrant Officer Grade: W–5 Chief Warrant Officer, W–5. W–4 Chief Warrant Officer, W–4. W–3 Chief Warrant Officer, W–3. W–2 Chief Warrant Officer, W–2. W–1 Warrant Officer, W–1. **(c)** Unless entitled to the basic pay of a higher pay grade, an aviation cadet of the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard is entitled to monthly basic pay at the lowest rate prescribed for pay grade E–4. **(d)** Unless he is entitled to the basic pay of a higher pay grade, an aviation pilot of the Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve is entitled to monthly basic pay at the rate prescribed for pay grade E–5. **(e)** Except as provided by s

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Federal law — U.S. Code and appendices · legal_authorities

38 U.S.C. § 1114 — Rates of wartime disability compensation

For the purposes of [section 1110 of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title38-section1110&num=0&edition=prelim)— **(a)** if and while the disability is rated 10 percent the monthly compensation shall be $123; **(b)** if and while the disability is rated 20 percent the monthly compensation shall be $243; **(c)** if and while the disability is rated 30 percent the monthly compensation shall be $376; **(d)** if and while the disability is rated 40 percent the monthly compensation shall be $541; **(e)** if and while the disability is rated 50 percent the monthly compensation shall be $770; **(f)** if and while the disability is rated 60 percent the monthly compensation shall be $974; **(g)** if and while the disability is rated 70 percent the monthly compensation shall be $1,228; **(h)** if and while the disability is rated 80 percent the monthly compensation shall be $1,427; **(i)** if and while the disability is rated 90 percent the monthly compensation shall be $1,604; **(j)** if and while the disability is rated as total the monthly compensation shall be $2,673; **(k)** if the veteran, as the result of service-connected disability, has suffered the anatomical loss or loss of use of one or more creative organs, or one foot, or one hand, or both buttocks, or blindness of one eye, having only light perception, has suffered complete organic aphonia with constant inability to communicate by speech, or deafness of both ears, having absence of air and bone conduction, or, in the case of a woman veteran, has suffered the anatomical loss of 25 percent or more of tissue from a single breast or both breasts in combination (including loss by mastectomy or partial mastectomy) or has received radiation treatment of breast tissue, the

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