---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 2302"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "2302"
heading: "Payment of claims"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/2302"
units:
  - "Chapter 25 — Old Age Assistance Claims Settlement"
---

# §2302. Payment of claims

- (a) **Authority of Secretary—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/2301.md?p=1) is authorized and directed to determine the portion of any [unauthorized disbursement](/usc/25/2301.md?p=2) to which any individual under this chapter is entitled, and to pay to such individual the amount which the [Secretary](/usc/25/2301.md?p=1) determines such individual to be entitled. Any payment under this provision shall include interest at a rate of 5 per centum per annum, simple interest, from the date on which such disbursement was made from the [trust estate](/usc/25/2301.md?p=3) of the deceased Indian.
- (b) **Minimum amount for payment—** No payment shall be made to a person under [subsection (a)](#a) with respect to any [unauthorized disbursement](/usc/25/2301.md?p=2) from the [trust estate](/usc/25/2301.md?p=3) of a deceased Indian if—
  - (1) the total amount of [unauthorized disbursements](/usc/25/2301.md?p=2) from such [trust estate](/usc/25/2301.md?p=3) was less than $50; or
  - (2) the payment (not including interest) would be less than $10.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–500, § 3, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2317; Pub. L. 100–581, title II, § 201, Nov. 1, 1988, 102 Stat. 2939.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1988—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–581 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “No payment shall be made under subsection (a) with respect to any unauthorized disbursement from the trust estate of a deceased Indian if the total amount of unauthorized disbursement from such trust estate was less than $50.”