Administrative error; equitable relief

38 U.S.C. § 503

• Title: 38 — Veterans' Benefits
• Chapter: SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL AUTHORITIES

Text

(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.

History

(Added Pub. L. 102–83, §2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 386; amended Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, §403(c)(1), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1864; Pub. L. 109–233, title IV, §403, June 15, 2006, 120 Stat. 411; Pub. L. 111–275, title VIII, §808, Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2893; Pub. L. 113–175, title IV, §403, Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1905; Pub. L. 114–58, title IV, §404, Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 535; Pub. L. 114–228, title IV, §404, Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 940; Pub. L. 115–62, title IV, §404, Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1164; Pub. L. 115–251, title I, §164, Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3171; Pub. L. 116–159, div. E, title IV, §5402, Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 751; Pub. L. 117–180, div. E, title II, §203, Sept. 30, 2022, 136 Stat. 2137; Pub. L. 118–83, div. B, title III, §335, Sept. 26, 2024, 138 Stat. 1542; Pub. L. 119–37, div. G, title IV, §7402, Nov. 12, 2025, 139 Stat. 654.)

Editorial Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions
Prior sections 503 and 504 were renumbered sections 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 Amendment
Amendment 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.