Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102
§1954 Forfeiture
Title 38 › PART II — GENERAL BENEFITS › CHAPTER 19 — INSURANCE › SUBCHAPTER II — UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE › § 1954
Summary
Insurance that renews every year and government life insurance will not pay a death benefit if the person was put to death as a lawful punishment for a crime or military offense. If the death was caused by the enemy, any cash surrender value of the government policy at the time of death will be paid to the named beneficiary if alive, or otherwise to the insured’s 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
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102