republic-os/legal/us/code/title-37/chapter-10/section-551.md

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LegalText	37 U.S.C. § 551	Definitions	us	united_states_code	code_section	37	PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES	10	PAYMENTS TO MISSING PERSONS	551	37 U.S.C. § 551	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc37@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t37/s551	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-37/usc37.xml	62474ca9d64a126d4af8ec8381598b695ab02008590ce22d4614dc3db93d0cef	e0a35eb7ef12b7ff3b62c2d230c815f864ad090f207afa5aca869467bb414b1c	252ab88e3b45159cd3be16a89c9cab49f8372f338c254316793ec92dc218652d	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

37 U.S.C. § 551 - Definitions

Text

In this chapter:

(1) The term “dependent”, with respect to a member of a uniformed service, means—

(A) his spouse;

(B) his unmarried child (including an unmarried dependent stepchild or adopted child) under 21 years of age;

(C) his dependent mother or father;

(D) a dependent designated in official records; and

(E) a person determined to be dependent by the Secretary concerned, or his designee.

(2) The term “missing status” means the status of a member of a uniformed service who is officially carried or determined to be absent in a status of—

(A) missing;

(B) missing in action;

(C) interned in a foreign country;

(D) captured, beleaguered, or besieged by a hostile force; or

(E) detained in a foreign country against his will.

(3) The term “pay and allowances” means—

(A) basic pay;

(B) special pay;

(C) incentive pay;

(D) basic allowance for housing;

(E) basic allowance for subsistence; and

(F) station per diem allowances for not more than 90 days.

(Added Pub. L. 89–554, § 5(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 625; amended Pub. L. 99–145, title XIII, § 1301(g), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat. 737; Pub. L. 100–26, § 8(e)(10), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 287; Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title VI, § 603(d)(1)(D), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1782.)

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes Revised sectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 551(1)50 App. 1001.Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, § 1, 56 Stat. 143; July 1, 1944, ch. 371, § 1, 58 Stat. 679; Aug. 14, 1964, Pub. L. 88–428, § 1(1), (2), 78 Stat. 437. 551(2)   551(3)50 App. 1002(a) (22d through 66th words of 1st sentence, for definition purposes).50 App. 1002(a) (96th through 120th words of 1st sentence, for definition purposes).Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, § 2(a) (22d through 66th and 96th through 120th words of 1st sentence, for definition purposes); added July 1, 1944, ch. 371, § 2, 58 Stat. 679; Apr. 4, 1953, ch. 17, § 1(a), 67 Stat. 21; Aug. 29, 1957, Pub. L. 85–217, § 1(b) (1st par.), 71 Stat. 491; Aug. 14, 1964, Pub. L. 88–428, § 1(3)(A), 78 Stat. 437. Only that portion of the source law which is applicable to members of the uniformed services and their dependents is codified in this section. The words “In this chapter” are substituted for “For the purpose of this Act”. In clause (1), the words “with respect to a member of a uniformed service” are inserted for clarity. In clause (1)(A), the word “lawful” is omitted as unnecessary in view of the accepted recognition of the fact that the word “wife” means a lawful wife. In clause (1)(E), the words “Secretary concerned, or his designee” are substituted for “head of the department concerned, or subordinate designated by him” to conform to the definition in 37 U.S.C. 101(5). The definitions of “person”, “active service”, and “department”, respectively, in 50 App. U.S.C. 1001(a)(1), (b), and (d) are omitted as unnecessary in view of the definitions of “member”, “uniformed services”, “active service”, and “Secretary concerned”, in 37 U.S.C. 101(3), (5), (20), and (23). The definitions in clauses (2) and (3), which do not appear in, but are based on, the source law are created for legislative convenience.

Editorial Notes

Amendments1997—Par. (3)(D). Pub. L. 105–85 substituted “housing” for “quarters”. 1987—Pub. L. 100–26 substituted “In this chapter:” for “In this chapter—”, inserted “The term” at beginning of pars. (1) to (3), and substituted period for semicolon at end of par. (1) and period for “; and” at end of par. (2). 1985—Par. (1)(A). Pub. L. 99–145 substituted “spouse” for “wife”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1997 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–85 effective Jan. 1, 1998, see section 603(e) of Pub. L. 105–85, set out as a note under section 5561 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.