Title 38, Veterans' BenefitsRelease 119-102
§6102 Fraudulent Acceptance of Payments
Title 38 › PART IV — GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS › CHAPTER 61 — PENAL AND FORFEITURE PROVISIONS › § 6102
Summary
Taking payments you are no longer entitled to under laws run by the Secretary is a crime. If you knowingly take such payments after your right to them ended, you can be fined under Title 18, imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Getting money or a check under those laws when you are not entitled to it, and doing so to cheat the United States or a beneficiary, carries the same penalties.
Full Legal Text
Title 38, §6102
Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Any person entitled to monetary benefits under any of the laws administered by the Secretary whose right to payment thereof ceases upon the happening of any contingency, who thereafter fraudulently accepts any such payment, shall be fined in accordance with title 18, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(b)Whoever obtains or receives any money or check under any of the laws administered by the Secretary without being entitled to it, and with intent to defraud the United States or any beneficiary of the United States, shall be fined in accordance with title 18, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 3502 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “administered by the Secretary” for “administered by the Veterans’ Administration” in subsecs. (a) and (b). Pub. L. 102–54 amended section as in effect immediately before the enactment of Pub. L. 102–40 by substituting “in accordance with title 18” for “not more than $2,000” in subsecs. (a) and (b).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
38 U.S.C. § 6102
Title 38, Veterans' Benefits
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102