---
type: "LegalText"
title: "38 U.S.C. § 5321"
description: "Benefits helpline"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 38
title_name: "VETERANS’ BENEFITS"
chapter_number: "53"
chapter_name: "SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO BENEFITS"
section: "5321"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 5321"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc38@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t38/s5321"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-38/usc38.xml"
source_hash: "69256694d541393505401d30124e4bb944e88ee218721e01a0e434c313bcaa6c"
raw_snapshot_hash: "372998691b72ade88787dfa7633dbda4954bd1b037ec7926c5e06e9b1d17fc66"
text_hash: "deec7664ab5ee99c041acfc8e4dc29a87fa2ddaa83f42bf21ba75071e2738142"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 38 U.S.C. § 5321 - Benefits helpline

## Text

(a) Establishment.— The Secretary shall maintain a toll-free telephone helpline that a covered individual may call in order to—

(1) obtain information about any service or benefit provided under the laws administered by the Secretary; or

(2) be directed to an appropriate office of the Department regarding such a service or benefit.

(b) Contract for Direction of Calls Authorized.— The Secretary may enter into a contract with a third party to direct calls made to the helpline to an appropriate office under subsection (a)(2).

(c) Live Individual Required.— The Secretary shall ensure that a covered individual who calls the helpline has the option to speak with a live individual.

(d) Definitions.— In this section:

(1) The term “covered individual” means—

(A) a veteran;

(B) an individual acting on behalf of a veteran; or

(C) an individual other than a veteran who is eligible to receive a benefit or service under a law administered by the Secretary.

(2) The term “veteran” has the meaning given such term in section 2002(b) of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 118–159, div. E, title L, § 5002(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2408.)