---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 2304"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "2304"
heading: "Identification of right to payment and expedited claim payment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/2304"
units:
  - "Chapter 25 — Old Age Assistance Claims Settlement"
---

# §2304. Identification of right to payment and expedited claim payment

- (a) **Search of records—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/2301.md?p=1) shall conduct a search of the records of the Department of the Interior to identify individuals who are entitled to any portion of the [unauthorized disbursements](/usc/25/2301.md?p=2) which were made and to ascertain the amount of such [unauthorized disbursements](/usc/25/2301.md?p=2) to which each of such individuals is entitled.
- (b) **Payment without filing of claim—** In any case in which the [Secretary](/usc/25/2301.md?p=1) ascertains the name and location of any individual who is entitled to any portion of an [unauthorized disbursement](/usc/25/2301.md?p=2) and determines the amount of such [unauthorized disbursement](/usc/25/2301.md?p=2) to which such individual is entitled, the [Secretary](/usc/25/2301.md?p=1) shall pay such amount, including interest thereon as provided in [section 2302 of this title](/usc/25/2302.md), to such individual immediately without requiring such individual to file a formal claim for payment.
- (c) **Notification—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/2301.md?p=1) shall use the best available means of notifying each individual who is identified in the search conducted under [subsection (a)](#a) of the right of such individual to receive payment under this chapter. The means of notification available to the [Secretary](/usc/25/2301.md?p=1) shall include—
  - (1) notice provided directly to such individual;
  - (2) notification of the next of kin of such individual;
  - (3) notification of the chairman or chief executive officer of the tribe of which such individual is a member or of which the deceased Indian was a member; and
  - (4) publication of notice in newspapers of general circulation in the appropriate area.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–500, § 5, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2318.)