---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 3109"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "3109"
heading: "Entitlement to independent living services and assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/3109"
units:
  - "Part III — Readjustment and Related Benefits"
  - "Chapter 31 — Training and Rehabilitation for Veterans with Service-Connected Disabilities"
---

# §3109. Entitlement to independent living services and assistance


In any case in which the [Secretary](/usc/38/4101.md?p=8) has determined under [section 3106(e) of this title](/usc/38/3106.md?p=e) that the achievement of a [vocational goal](/usc/38/3101.md?p=9) by a [veteran](/usc/38/3701.md?p=b-2) currently is not reasonably feasible, such [veteran](/usc/38/3701.md?p=b-2) shall be entitled, in accordance with the provisions of [section 3120 of this title](/usc/38/3120.md), to a [program of independent living services and assistance](/usc/38/3101.md?p=5) designed to enable such [veteran](/usc/38/3701.md?p=b-2) to achieve maximum [independence in daily living](/usc/38/3101.md?p=3).


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 96–466, title I, § 101(a), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2181, § 1509; amended Pub. L. 99–576, title III, § 333(b)(5), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3279; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; renumbered § 3109 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 104–275, title I, § 101(f)(2)(B), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3325.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Prior section 3109 was renumbered section 5309 of this title.

### Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–275 substituted “3106(e)” for “3106(d)”.

1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 1509 of this title as this section and substituted “3106(d)” for “1506(d)” and “3120” for “1520”.

1989—Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

1986—Pub. L. 99–576 inserted “currently” after first reference to “veteran”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Apr. 1, 1981, see section 802(a)(1) of Pub. L. 96–466, set out as a note under section 3100 of this title.