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LegalText 38 U.S.C. § 503 Administrative error; equitable relief us united_states_code code_section 38 VETERANS BENEFITS 5 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY 503 38 U.S.C. § 503 current 119-100 2026-06-26 official https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc38@119-100.zip /us/usc/t38/s503 data/legal/raw/us/code/title-38/usc38.xml 251d120341345e173dde2ef6f2c83478dea6c9033e37756bc3d38d5108260a59 372998691b72ade88787dfa7633dbda4954bd1b037ec7926c5e06e9b1d17fc66 dc316d237812b0a91e5cf48e543df2ebd7bb8c852bcdfcb2c8d2c6bf26e908f4 2026-07-04 official
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38 U.S.C. § 503 - Administrative error; equitable relief

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.

(Added Pub. L. 10283, § 2(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 386; amended Pub. L. 106419, title IV, § 403(c)(1), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1864; Pub. L. 109233, title IV, § 403, June 15, 2006, 120 Stat. 411; Pub. L. 111275, title VIII, § 808, Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2893; Pub. L. 113175, title IV, § 403, Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1905; Pub. L. 11458, title IV, § 404, Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 535; Pub. L. 114228, title IV, § 404, Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 940; Pub. L. 11562, title IV, § 404, Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1164; Pub. L. 115251, title I, § 164, Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3171; Pub. L. 116159, div. E, title IV, § 5402, Oct. 1, 2020, 134 Stat. 751; Pub. L. 117180, div. E, title II, § 203, Sept. 30, 2022, 136 Stat. 2137; Pub. L. 11883, div. B, title III, § 335, Sept. 26, 2024, 138 Stat. 1542; Pub. L. 11937, div. G, title IV, § 7402, Nov. 12, 2025, 139 Stat. 654.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior ProvisionsPrior 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. 10283, § 2(a).

Amendments2025—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 11937 substituted “December 31, 2026” for “December 31, 2025”. 2024—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 11883 substituted “December 31, 2025” for “December 31, 2024”. 2022—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117180 substituted “December 31, 2024” for “December 31, 2022”. 2020—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116159 substituted “December 31, 2022” for “December 31, 2020”. 2018—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115251 substituted “December 31, 2020” for “December 31, 2018”. 2017—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 11562 substituted “December 31, 2018” for “December 31, 2017”. 2016—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 114228 substituted “December 31, 2017” for “December 31, 2016”. 2015—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 11458 substituted “December 31, 2016” for “December 31, 2015”. 2014—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 113175 substituted “December 31, 2015” for “December 31, 2014”. 2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111275 substituted “December 31, 2014” for “December 31, 2009”. 2006—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109233 substituted “December 31, 2009” for “December 31, 2004”. 2000—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106419 inserted at end “No report shall be required under this subsection after December 31, 2004.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2025 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 11937 effective as if enacted on Sept. 30, 2025, see section 7406 of Pub. L. 11937, set out as a note under section 111A of this title.