PRIA Logo™
Take the PRIA Score
Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§5567 Settlement of accounts

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart D— - Pay and Allowances › Chapter CHAPTER 55— - PAY ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VII— - PAYMENTS TO MISSING EMPLOYEES › § 5567

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

An agency head or someone they pick can settle accounts for employees paid under sections 5562, 5563, and 5565, and for survivors when a casualty destroys payment records. If an account was settled because of a report of death, it can’t be reopened by a later report unless that later report gives a later date of death; then it must be reopened and settled using that later date. A payment officer or a person who approved a payment cannot be forced to repay mistaken payments if there was no fraud or criminality, except under section 5568.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §5567

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The head of the agency concerned or his designee may settle the accounts of—
(1)an employee for whose account payment has been made under section 5562, 5563, and 5565 of this title; and
(2)a survivor of a casualty to a ship, station, or military installation which results in the loss or destruction of disbursing records.
(b)Payment or settlement of an account made pursuant to a report, determination, or finding of death may not be recovered or reopened because of a later report or determination which fixes a date of death. However, an account shall be reopened and settled on the basis of a date of death so fixed which is later than that used as a basis for earlier settlement.
(c)In settling the accounts of a disbursing official, he is entitled to credit for an erroneous payment or overpayment made by him in carrying out this subchapter, except section 5568, if there is no fraud or criminality by him. Recovery may not be made from an individual who authorizes a payment under this subchapter, except section 5568, if there is no fraud or criminality by him.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large (a)50A U.S.C. 1011.Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, § 11, 56 Stat. 146. (b)50A U.S.C. 1009(a) (5th sentence).Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, § 9(a) (5th and last sentences); added July 1, 1944, ch. 371, § 5, 58 Stat. 680.Aug. 29, 1957, Pub. L. 85–217, § 1(c), 71 Stat. 492. (c)50A U.S.C. 1009(a) (last sentence). Only that portion of the source law which is applicable to civilian officers and employees and their dependents is codified in this section. In subsection (a), the words “or his designee” are substituted for “or such person as he may designate”. The word “employee” is substituted for “persons”. The words “United States” are substituted for “Government” to conform to the style of this title. In subsection (c), the words “in carrying out this subchapter, except section 5568” are substituted for “in carrying out the provisions of this Act, except section 13, 16, 17, and 18”, since section 16 and 17 are scheduled for repeal (see Table II) and section 18 was previously repealed. The words “under this subchapter, except section 5568” are substituted for “under such provisions” for the reasons stated in the preceding sentence. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 5567

Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73