Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73

§1961 Authority for higher interest rates for amounts payable to beneficiaries

Title 38 › Part PART II— - GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter CHAPTER 19— - INSURANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE › § 1961

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If a person who receives insurance policy money gets it as equal monthly payments for a set period, the interest added to those payments can be higher than the usual rate. The Secretary can allow a higher rate only after finding it practical to administer and financially sound, and that higher interest is paid on the unpaid balance.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §1961

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Notwithstanding section 1944(b) of this title, if the beneficiary of an insurance policy issued under the provisions of this subchapter receives the proceeds of such policy under a settlement option under which such proceeds are paid in equal monthly installments over a limited period of months, the interest that may be added to each such installment may be at a rate that is higher than the interest rate prescribed in such section. The Secretary may from time to time establish a higher interest rate under the preceding sentence only in accordance with a determination that such higher rate is administratively and actuarially sound. Any such higher interest rate shall be paid on the unpaid balance of such monthly installments.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 761 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1944(b)” for “744(b)”. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Nov. 28, 1979, see section 601(b) of Pub. L. 96–128, set out as an

Effective Date

of 1979 Amendment note under section 1114 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 1961

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73