---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 5102"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "5102"
heading: "Application forms furnished upon request; notice to claimants of incomplete applications"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/5102"
units:
  - "Part IV — General Administrative Provisions"
  - "Chapter 51 — Claims, Effective Dates, and Payments"
  - "Subchapter I — Claims"
---

# §5102. Application forms furnished upon request; notice to claimants of incomplete applications

- (a) **Furnishing Forms.—** Upon request made by any person claiming or applying for, or expressing an intent to claim or apply for, a benefit under the laws administered by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall furnish such person, free of all expense, all instructions and forms necessary to apply for that benefit.
- (b) **Incomplete Applications.—** If a [claimant](/usc/38/5100.md?p=1)’s application for a benefit under the laws administered by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) is incomplete, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall notify the [claimant](/usc/38/5100.md?p=1) and the [claimant](/usc/38/5100.md?p=1)’s representative, if any, of the information necessary to complete the application.
- (c) **Time Limitation.—**
  - (1) If information that a [claimant](/usc/38/5100.md?p=1) and the [claimant](/usc/38/5100.md?p=1)’s representative, if any, are notified under [subsection (b)](#b) is necessary to complete an application is not received by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) within one year from the date such [notice](/usc/38/5100.md?p=2) is sent, no benefit may be paid or furnished by reason of the [claimant](/usc/38/5100.md?p=1)’s application.
  - (2) This subsection shall not apply to any application or claim for Government life insurance benefits.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–475, § 3(a), Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2096; amended Pub. L. 108–183, title VII, § 701(a), Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2670.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 5102, Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1225, § 3002; renumbered § 5102, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(1), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403–405, related to application forms, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 106–475, § 3(a), Nov. 9, 2000, 114 Stat. 2096.

Another prior section 5102 was renumbered section 8302 of this title.

### Amendments

2003—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–183 added subsec. (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–183, title VII, § 701(c), Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2670, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 5103 of this title] shall take effect as if enacted on November 9, 2000, immediately after the enactment of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–475; 114 Stat. 2096).”