Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§1511 Indian War veterans

Title 38 › Part PART II— - GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 15— - PENSION FOR NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITY OR DEATH OR FOR SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - VETERANS’ PENSIONS › § 1511

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must pay a monthly pension to each veteran of the Indian Wars who meets the service rules. The basic pension is $101.59 per month. If the veteran needs regular aid and attendance, the pension is $135.45 per month. A veteran meets the service rules by serving thirty days or more in an Indian War or by serving for the whole war. A veteran may choose to take the pension rates and rules in section 1521 instead; that choice is final except as allowed there. Veterans who need regular aid and attendance must be paid each month the larger of $135.45 or what they would get under section 1521. Changes in the payment start the first day of the month when facts change and are made without a new application.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §1511

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall pay to each veteran of the Indian Wars who meets the service requirements of this section a pension at the following monthly rate:
(1)$101.59; or
(2)$135.45 if the veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance.
(b)A veteran meets the service requirements of this section if such veteran served in one of the Indian Wars—
(1)for thirty days or more; or
(2)for the duration of such Indian War;
(c)(1)Any veteran eligible for pension under this section shall, if such veteran so elects, be paid pension at the rates prescribed by section 1521 of this title, and under the conditions (other than the service requirements) applicable to pension paid under that section to veterans of World War I. If pension is paid pursuant to such an election, the election shall be irrevocable, except as provided in paragraph (2).
(2)The Secretary shall pay each month to each veteran of the Indian Wars who is receiving, or entitled to receive, pension based on a need of regular aid and attendance, whichever amount is greater (A) that provided by paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this section, or (B) that which is payable to the veteran under section 1521 of this title if such veteran has elected, or would be payable if such veteran were to elect, to receive pension under such section pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection. Each change in the amount of pension payment required by this paragraph shall be effective as of the first day of the month during which the facts of the particular case warrant such change, and shall be made without specific application therefor.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Prior section 1511 was renumbered section 3111 of this title. Another prior section 1511, Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2,1958, 72 Stat. 1171, § 1503, renumbered Pub. L. 89–138, § 2(4), Aug. 26, 1965, 79 Stat. 578, and amended Pub. L. 94–502, title , §§ 103, 104(11), Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2384, related to training and training facilities under chapter 31 of this title, prior to the general revision of chapter 31 of this title by Pub. L. 96–466. section 802(a)(3) of Pub. L. 96–466, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 3100 of this title, provided that this prior section 1511 continue in effect until Mar. 31, 1981. See section 3115 of this title.

Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 511 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1521” for “521” in pars. (1) and (2). Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”. 1975—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 94–169 substituted “such veteran” for “he” wherever appearing. 1967—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 90–77 designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted “except as provided in paragraph (2)”, and added par. (2). 1960—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 86–670 added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1975 Amendment Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1017, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Jan. 1, 1976.

Effective Date

of 1967 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 90–77 effective first day of first calendar month which begins more than ten days after Aug. 31, 1967, see section 405 of Pub. L. 90–77, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1960 Amendment Pub. L. 86–670, § 3,
July 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 545, provided that: “This Act [amending this section and section 512 [now 1512] of this title] shall take effect on the first day of the second calendar month which begins after the date of enactment of this Act [
July 14, 1960].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 1511

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73