
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 38USC1948]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
                        PART II--GENERAL BENEFITS
 
                          CHAPTER 19--INSURANCE
 
         SUBCHAPTER II--UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE
 
Sec. 1948. Total disability provision

    The Secretary shall include in United States Government life 
insurance policies provision whereby an insured, who is totally disabled 
as a result of disease or injury for a period of four consecutive months 
or more before attaining the age of sixty-five years and before default 
in payment of any premium, shall be paid disability benefits at the rate 
of $5.75 monthly for each $1,000 of insurance in force when total 
disability benefits become payable. The amount of such monthly payment 
under the provisions of this section shall not be reduced because of 
payment of permanent and total disability benefits under the insurance 
policy. Such payments shall be effective as of the first day of the 
fifth consecutive month, and shall be made monthly during the 
continuance of such total disability. Such payments shall be concurrent 
with or independent of permanent and total disability benefits under the 
insurance policy. In addition to the monthly disability benefits the 
payment of premiums on the life insurance and for the total disability 
benefits authorized by this section shall be waived during the 
continuance of such total disability. Regulations shall provide for 
reexaminations of beneficiaries under this section; and, in the event 
that it is found that an insured is no longer totally disabled, the 
waiver of premiums and payment of benefits shall cease and the insurance 
policy, including the total disability provision, may be continued by 
payment of premiums as provided in said policy and the total disability 
provision. Neither the dividends nor the amount payable in any 
settlement under any United States Government life insurance policy 
shall be decreased because of disability benefits granted under the 
provisions of this section. The payment of total disability benefits 
shall not prejudice the right of any insured, who is totally and 
permanently disabled, to permanent and total disability benefits under 
the insured's insurance policy. The provision authorized by this section 
shall not be included in any United States Government life insurance 
policy heretofore or hereafter issued, except upon application, payment 
of premium by the insured, and proof of good health satisfactory to the 
Secretary. The benefit granted under this section shall be on the basis 
of multiples of $500, and not less than $1,000 or more than the amount 
of insurance in force at time of application. The Secretary shall 
determine the amount of the monthly premium to cover the benefits of 
this section, and in order to continue such benefits in force the 
monthly premiums shall be payable until the insured attains the age of 
sixty-five years or until the prior maturity of the policy. In all other 
respects such monthly premium shall be payable under the same terms and 
conditions as the regular monthly premium on the United States 
Government life insurance policy.

(Pub. L. 85-857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1159, Sec. 748; Pub. L. 97-295, 
Sec. 4(27), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1307; Pub. L. 99-576, title VII, 
Sec. 701(30), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3293; renumbered Sec. 1948 and 
amended Pub. L. 102-83, Secs. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 
Stat. 404-406.)


                               Amendments

    1991--Pub. L. 102-83 renumbered section 748 of this title as this 
section and substituted ``Secretary'' for ``Administrator'' wherever 
appearing.
    1986--Pub. L. 99-576 substituted ``the insured's'' for ``his''.
    1982--Pub. L. 97-295 substituted ``premium'' for ``permium'' after 
``payment of''.
