§1949 — Title 38 Veterans' Benefits | U.S. Code

Summary

If you enroll in U.S. Government life insurance, you can name a beneficiary and you can change that choice at any time without the beneficiary’s permission, as long as you follow the rules. If you don’t name a beneficiary or your chosen person dies first, the Secretary will pay the benefit in this order: surviving spouse; children and their descendants; parents; appointed executor or estate administrator; then other next of kin under the law where you lived when you died.

Title 38, §1949

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)A person who enrolls in United States Government life insurance may designate a beneficiary of the insurance policy. Subject to regulations, the insured person shall at all times have the right to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries of a United States Government life insurance policy without the consent of such beneficiary or beneficiaries.

(b)If a person enrolled in United States Government life insurance does not designate a beneficiary under subsection (a) before the insured person dies, or if a designated beneficiary predeceases the insured person, the Secretary shall determine the beneficiary in the following order:

(1)The surviving spouse of the insured person.

(2)The children of the insured person and descendants of deceased children by representation.

(3)The parents of the insured person or the survivors of the parents.

(4)The duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the insured person.

(5)Other next of kin of the insured person entitled under the laws of domicile of the insured person at the time of the death of the insured person.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Pub. L. 117–313 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Subject to

Regulations

, the insured shall at all times have the right to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries of a United States Government life insurance policy without the consent of such beneficiary or beneficiaries.” 1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 749 of this title as this section.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2022 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 117–313 applicable with respect to the death of an insured person occurring on or after the date that is two years before Dec. 27, 2022, see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 117–313, set out as a note under section 1917 of this title.

§1949 Beneficiaries