Title 5Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§8315 Falsifying employment applications

Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart G— - Insurance and Annuities › Chapter CHAPTER 83— - RETIREMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - FORFEITURE OF ANNUITIES AND RETIRED PAY › § 8315

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A person, and their survivor or beneficiary, cannot get an annuity or retired pay for service that counts if the person knowingly and willfully lied or hid an important fact, except as allowed by section 8311(2) and (3). This covers lies made before, on, or after September 1, 1954 about membership or support of the Communist Party or similar groups that back overthrowing the U.S., creating a Communist totalitarian dictatorship, or the right to strike against the U.S.; convictions listed in section 8312(b); or refusing to appear, testify, or produce records under section 8314. Lies about convictions listed in section 8312(c) made before, on, or after September 26, 1961 can also stop payments. The ban on pay begins on the later of the date the lie or concealment happened or the applicable date (September 1, 1954 for the first group, September 26, 1961 for the second).

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §8315

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)An individual, or his survivor or beneficiary, may not be paid annuity or retired pay on the basis of the service of the individual which is creditable toward the annuity or retired pay, subject to the exceptions in section 8311(2) and (3) of this title, if the individual knowingly and willfully made or makes a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation, or knowingly and willfully concealed or conceals a material fact—
(1)before, on, or after September 1, 1954, concerning his—
(A)past or present membership in, affiliation or association with, or support of the Communist Party, or a chapter, branch, or subdivision thereof, in or outside the United States, or other organization, party, or group advocating—
(i)the overthrow, by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means, of the Government of the United States;
(ii)the establishment, by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means, of a Communist totalitarian dictatorship in the United States; or
(iii)the right to strike against the United States;
(B)conviction of an offense named by subsection (b) of section 8312 of this title, to the extent provided by that subsection; or
(C)failure or refusal to appear, testify, or produce a book, paper, record, or other document, as specified by section 8314 of this title; or
(2)before, on, or after September 26, 1961, concerning his conviction of an offense named by subsection (c) of section 8312 of this title, to the extent provided by that subsection;
(b)The prohibition on the payment of annuity or retired pay applies—
(1)with respect to matters specified by subsection (a)(1) of this section, to the period after the statement, representation, or concealment of fact is made or occurs, or after September 1, 1954, whichever is later; and
(2)with respect to matters specified by subsection (a)(2) of this section, to the period after the statement, representation, or concealment of fact is made or occurs, or after September 26, 1961, whichever is later.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 2283(b), (c).Sept. 26, 1961, Pub. L. 87–299, § 1 “Sec. 2(b), (c)”, 75 Stat. 642. 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. § 8315

Title 5Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73