PRIA Logo™
Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102

§503 Administrative Error; Equitable Relief

Title 38 › PART I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 5 — AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL AUTHORITIES › § 503

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may give fair relief, including paying money, when the Department failed to provide benefits because of an administrative mistake or when a veteran, surviving spouse, child, or other person lost out after relying on an incorrect eligibility decision. By April 1 each year the Secretary must report to Congress how cases recommended for fair relief in the prior year were handled; no report is required after December 31, 2026.

Full Legal Text

Title 38, §503

Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)If the Secretary determines that benefits administered by the Department have not been provided by reason of administrative error on the part of the Federal Government or any of its employees, the Secretary may provide such relief on account of such error as the Secretary determines equitable, including the payment of moneys to any person whom the Secretary determines is equitably entitled to such moneys.
(b)If the Secretary determines that a veteran, surviving spouse, child of a veteran, or other person has suffered loss as a consequence of reliance upon a determination by the Department of eligibility or entitlement to benefits, without knowledge that it was erroneously made, the Secretary may provide such relief on account of such error as the Secretary determines is equitable, including the payment of moneys to any person whom the Secretary determines is equitably entitled to such moneys.
(c)Not later than April 1 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing a statement as to the disposition of each case recommended to the Secretary for equitable relief under this section during the preceding calendar year. No report shall be required under this subsection after December 31, 2026.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Prior section 503 and 504 were renumbered section 1503 and 1504 of this title, respectively. Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 210(c)(2), (3) of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102–83, § 2(a).

Amendments

2025—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 119–37 substituted “
December 31, 2026” for “
December 31, 2025”. 2024—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 118–83 substituted “
December 31, 2025” for “
December 31, 2024”. 2022—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–180 substituted “
December 31, 2024” for “
December 31, 2022”. 2020—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–159 substituted “
December 31, 2022” for “
December 31, 2020”. 2018—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–251 substituted “
December 31, 2020” for “
December 31, 2018”. 2017—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–62 substituted “
December 31, 2018” for “
December 31, 2017”. 2016—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–228 substituted “
December 31, 2017” for “
December 31, 2016”. 2015—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114–58 substituted “
December 31, 2016” for “
December 31, 2015”. 2014—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 113–175 substituted “
December 31, 2015” for “
December 31, 2014”. 2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–275 substituted “
December 31, 2014” for “
December 31, 2009”. 2006—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–233 substituted “
December 31, 2009” for “
December 31, 2004”. 2000—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–419 inserted at end “No report shall be required under this subsection after
December 31, 2004.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2025 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 119–37 effective as if enacted on Sept. 30, 2025, see section 7406 of Pub. L. 119–37, set out as a note under section 111A of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

38 U.S.C. § 503

Title 38, Veterans' Benefits

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102