---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1946"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1946"
heading: "Dividends to pay premiums"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1946"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 19 — Insurance"
  - "Subchapter II — United States Government Life Insurance"
---

# §1946. Dividends to pay premiums


Until and unless the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) has received from the insured a request in writing for payment of dividends in cash or that the dividends be placed on deposit in accordance with the provisions of the insured’s policy, any regular annual dividends shall be applied in payment of premiums becoming due on [insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1) after the date the dividend is payable on or after December 31, 1958.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1159, § 746; Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(30), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3293; renumbered § 1946 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(2)(A)(iii)(V), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403, 406.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 746 of this title as this section and substituted “Secretary” for “Veterans’ Administration”.

1986—Pub. L. 99–576 substituted “the insured’s” for “his”.