--- kind: "section" citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1512" title: "38" title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits" number: "1512" heading: "Spanish-American War veterans" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1512" units: - "Part II — General Benefits" - "Chapter 15 — Pension for Non-Service-Connected Disability or Death or for Service" - "Subchapter II — Veterans’ Pensions" --- # §1512. Spanish-American War veterans - (a) - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall pay to each [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of the [Spanish-American War](/usc/38/101.md?p=6) who meets the service requirements of this subsection a [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) at the following monthly rate: - (A) $101.59; or - (B) $135.45 if the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is in need of regular aid and attendance. - (2) A [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) meets the service requirements of this subsection if such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) served in the [active military or naval service](/usc/38/1501.md?p=3)— - (A) for ninety days or more during the [Spanish-American War](/usc/38/101.md?p=6); - (B) during the [Spanish-American War](/usc/38/101.md?p=6) and was discharged or released from such service for a [service-connected](/usc/38/101.md?p=16) [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1); or - (C) for a period of ninety consecutive days or more and such period began or ended during the [Spanish-American War](/usc/38/101.md?p=6). - (3) - (A) Any [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) eligible for [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) under this subsection shall, if such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) so elects, be paid [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) at the rates prescribed by [section 1521 of this title](/usc/38/1521.md) (except the rate provided under [subsection (g)](/usc/38/1521.md?p=g) of such section), and under the conditions (other than the service requirements) applicable to [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) paid under that section to [veterans](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of a [period of war](/usc/38/1101.md?p=2). If [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) is paid pursuant to such an election, the election shall be irrevocable. - (B) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall pay each month to each [Spanish-American War](/usc/38/101.md?p=6) [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) who is receiving, or entitled to receive, [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) based on a need of regular aid and attendance, whichever amount is greater (i) that provided by [subparagraph (B)](#a-1-B) of subsection (a)(1) of this section, or (ii) that which is payable to the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) under [section 1521 of this title](/usc/38/1521.md) as in effect on December 31, 1978, under regulations which the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall prescribe. Each change in the amount of [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) payment required by this subparagraph shall be effective as of the first day of the month during which the facts of the particular case warrant such change, and shall be made without specific application therefor. - (b) - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall pay to each [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) of the [Spanish-American War](/usc/38/101.md?p=6) who does not meet the service requirements of [subsection (a)](#a), but who meets the service requirements of this subsection, a [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15) at the following monthly rate: - (A) $67.73; or - (B) $88.04 if the [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) is in need of regular aid and attendance. - (2) A [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) meets the service requirements of this subsection if such [veteran](/usc/38/1101.md?p=1) served in the [active military or naval service](/usc/38/1501.md?p=3)— - (A) for seventy days or more during the [Spanish-American War](/usc/38/101.md?p=6); or - (B) for a period of seventy consecutive days or more and such period began or ended during the [Spanish-American War](/usc/38/101.md?p=6). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1135, § 512; Pub. L. 86–670, § 2, July 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 545; Pub. L. 90–77, title I, § 111(b), Aug. 31, 1967, 81 Stat. 181; Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106(17), Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1017; Pub. L. 95–588, title I, § 105, Nov. 4, 1978, 92 Stat. 2500; renumbered § 1512 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Prior Provisions A prior section 1512 was renumbered section 3112 of this title. ### Amendments 1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 512 of this title as this section. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1521” for “521”. Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1521” for “521”. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in two places. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in introductory provisions. 1978—Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 95–588, § 105(1), inserted “(except the rate provided under subsection (g) of such section)” after “of this title”, substituted “a period of war” for “World War I”, and struck out exception to pension elections formerly provided pursuant to subpar. (B). Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 95–588, § 105(2), substituted “as in effect on December 31, 1978, under regulations which the Administrator shall prescribe” for “if such veteran has elected, or would be payable if such veteran were to elect, to receive pension under such section pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph”. 1975—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–169 substituted “such veteran” for “he” wherever appearing. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–169 substituted “such veteran” for “he”. 1967—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 90–77 designated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted “except as provided in subparagraph (B)”, and added subpar. (B). 1960—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 86–670 added cl. (3). ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date of 1978 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 95–588 effective Jan. 1, 1979, see section 401 of Pub. L. 95–588, set out as a note under section 101 of this title. ### Effective Date of 1975 Amendment Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106, Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1017, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Jan. 1, 1976. ### Effective Date of 1967 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 90–77 effective first day of first calendar month which begins more than ten days after Aug. 31, 1967, see section 405 of Pub. L. 90–77, set out as a note under section 101 of this title. ### Effective Date of 1960 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 86–670 effective first day of second calendar month which begins after July 14, 1960, see section 3 of Pub. L. 86–670, set out as a note under section 1511 of this title.