Title 38 — Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73
§1954 Forfeiture
Title 38 › Part PART II— - GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 19— - INSURANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE › § 1954
Summary
No U.S. or annual-renewal life policy pays for death from lawful criminal or military punishment; if the enemy causes death, only the cash surrender value goes to the beneficiary or estate.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §1954
Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
No yearly renewable term insurance or United States Government life insurance shall be payable for death inflicted as a lawful punishment for crime or military offense, except when inflicted by the enemy. In such cases the cash surrender value of United States Government life insurance, if any, on the date of such death shall be paid to the designated beneficiary if living, or if there be no designated beneficiary alive at the death of the insured the said value shall be paid to the estate of the insured.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 1954
Title 38 — Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73