Title 38Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-73not60

§2101A Eligibility for Benefits and Assistance: Members of the Armed Forces with Service-connected Disabilities; Individuals Residing Outside the United States

Title 38 › Part II— GENERAL BENEFITS › Chapter 21— SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING FOR DISABLED VETERANS › § 2101A

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can give benefits under this chapter to an active-duty service member who has a disability that started or got worse because of duty. The member gets the same help and must follow the same rules as a veteran. When the chapter talks about a veteran or eligible person, it can also mean a similarly situated active-duty member. The Secretary may also, at his or her choice, give chapter benefits to eligible people living outside the United States, except benefits under section 2106. The Secretary can do this only if the foreign country allows the person to have a recognized property right in the housing involved and the person does or will get that right. This does not apply to assistance under section 2102B. Benefits are given under rules the Secretary makes.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §2101A

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)The Secretary may provide assistance under this chapter to a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who is suffering from a disability that meets applicable criteria for benefits under this chapter if the disability is incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, air, or space service. Such assistance shall be provided to the same extent as assistance is provided under this chapter to veterans eligible for assistance under this chapter and subject to the same requirements as veterans under this chapter.
(2)For purposes of this chapter, any reference to a veteran or eligible individual shall be treated as a reference to a member of the Armed Forces described in subsection (a) who is similarly situated to the veteran or other eligible individual so referred to.
(b)(1)Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may, at the Secretary’s discretion, provide benefits and assistance under this chapter (other than benefits under section 2106 of this title) to any individual otherwise eligible for such benefits and assistance who resides outside the United States.
(2)The Secretary may provide benefits and assistance to an individual under paragraph (1) only if—
(A)the country or political subdivision in which the housing or residence involved is or will be located permits the individual to have or acquire a beneficial property interest (as determined by the Secretary) in such housing or residence; and
(B)the individual has or will acquire a beneficial property interest (as so determined) in such housing or residence.
(c)Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), this section shall not apply to the provision of assistance under section 2102B of this title.
(d)Benefits and assistance under this chapter by reason of this section shall be provided in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 116–283 substituted “air, or space service” for “or air service”. 2018—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 115–177 added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 2101A

Title 38Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60