---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1913"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1913"
heading: "Death before six months’ total disability"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1913"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 19 — Insurance"
  - "Subchapter I — National Service Life Insurance"
---

# §1913. Death before six months’ total disability


Whenever premiums are not waived under [section 1912 of this title](/usc/38/1912.md) solely because the insured died prior to the continuance of total [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1) for six months, and proof of such facts, satisfactory to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), is filed by the beneficiary with the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) within one year after the insured’s death, the [insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1) shall be deemed to be in force at the date of the death, and the unpaid premiums shall become a lien against the proceeds of the [insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1). If the beneficiary is insane or a minor, proof of such facts may be filed within one year after removal of such legal [disability](/usc/38/1701.md?p=1).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1150, § 713; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(26), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3292; renumbered § 1913 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 713 of this title as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “1912” for “712”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration”.

1986—Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “the” for “his” in three places.