Us Code § 503 - Administrative error; equitable relief
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 503 — Administrative error; equitable relief, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 503. Administrative error; equitable relief
(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, 2024.
(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.)
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
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."
About This Section
38 U.S.C. § 503 is part of Title 38 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 38 U.S.C. § 503. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.