§8523 — Title 38 Veterans' Benefits | U.S. Code

Summary

The Treasury Department’s Division of Disbursements can pay money from the Fund when the Secretary orders it. Those payments can go to members and patients getting care or treatment from the Department in any facility or hospital, even if the facility is not run directly by the Department. Valid claims against a deceased veteran’s estate may be paid from the estate’s assets if they would be payable otherwise, so long as they are presented to the Department within one year from the date of death (or within any time allowed by the state handling the estate). Reasonable administration costs can also be paid. If the estate cannot pay all debts, creditors are paid according to the law of the state where the decedent lived, unless a federal law applies.

Title 38, §8523

Veterans' Benefits — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the Division of Disbursements, Treasury Department, upon the order and within the discretion of the Secretary for the benefit of members and patients while being supplied care or treatment by the Department in any facility or hospital. The authority contained in the preceding sentence is not limited to facilities or hospitals under direct administrative control of the Department. There shall be paid out of the assets of the decedent so far as may be the valid claims of creditors against the decedent’s estate that would be legally payable therefrom in the absence of this subchapter and without the benefit of any exemption statute, and which may be presented to the Department within one year from the date of death, or within the time, to the person, and in the manner required or permitted by the law of the State wherein administration, if any, is had upon the estate of the deceased veteran; and also the proper expenses and costs of administration, if any. If the decedent’s estate is insolvent the distribution to creditors shall be in accordance with the laws of the decedent’s domicile, and the preferences and priorities prescribed thereby shall govern, subject to any applicable law of the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 5223 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” and “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” wherever appearing. 1986—Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “the decedent’s” for “his” in two places.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Division of Disbursements of Treasury Department consolidated into Fiscal Service of Treasury Department by section 1(a)(1) of Reorg. Plan No. III of 1940, eff. June 30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2107, 54 Stat. 1231, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. See section 306 of Title 31, Money and Finance.

§8523 Disbursements From the Fund