---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 5307"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "5307"
heading: "Apportionment of benefits"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/5307"
units:
  - "Part IV — General Administrative Provisions"
  - "Chapter 53 — Special Provisions Relating to Benefits"
---

# §5307. Apportionment of benefits

- (a) All or any part of the [compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=13), [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15), or emergency officers’ retirement pay payable on account of any [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) may—
  - (1) if the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) is being furnished hospital treatment, institutional, or domiciliary care by the United States, or any political subdivision thereof, be apportioned on behalf of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’s [spouse](/usc/38/101.md?p=31), children, or [dependent](/usc/38/3452.md?p=d) [parents](/usc/38/101.md?p=5); and
  - (2) if the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) is not living with the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’s [spouse](/usc/38/101.md?p=31), or if the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’s children are not in the custody of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2), be apportioned as may be prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
- (b) Where any of the children of a deceased [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) are not in the custody of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’s [surviving spouse](/usc/38/101.md?p=3), the [pension](/usc/38/101.md?p=15), [compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=13), or [dependency and indemnity compensation](/usc/38/101.md?p=14) otherwise payable to the [surviving spouse](/usc/38/101.md?p=3) may be apportioned as prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
- (c) If a [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) is not living with the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’s [spouse](/usc/38/101.md?p=31), or if any of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2)’s children are not in the custody of the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2), any subsistence allowance payable to the [veteran](/usc/38/101.md?p=2) under [chapter 31](/usc/38/chptIII/ch31.md) of this title or that portion of the educational assistance allowance payable on account of [dependents](/usc/38/3452.md?p=d) under [chapter 34](/usc/38/chptIII/ch34.md) of this title may be apportioned as may be prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1231, § 3107; Pub. L. 92–540, title V, § 505, Oct. 24, 1972, 86 Stat. 1099; Pub. L. 98–160, title VII, § 703(2), Nov. 21, 1983, 97 Stat. 1010; renumbered § 5307, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 405.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 3107 of this title as this section.

Subsecs. (a)(2), (b), (c). Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

1983—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–160, § 703(2)(A), substituted “the veteran’s spouse” for “his wife”.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 98–160, § 703(2)(A)–(C), substituted “the veteran’s spouse” for “his wife”, “the veteran’s children” for “his children”, and “the custody of the veteran” for “his custody”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–160, § 703(2)(D), substituted “surviving spouse” for “widow” in two places.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–160, § 703(2)(A)–(C), (E), substituted “the veteran’s spouse” for “his wife”, “the veteran’s children” for “his children”, “the custody of the veteran” for “his custody”, and “payable to the veteran” for “payable to him”.

1972—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 92–540 inserted provisions relating to that portion of the educational assistance allowance payable on account of dependents under chapter 34 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1972 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 92–540 effective 90 days after Oct. 24, 1972, see section 601(b) of Pub. L. 92–540, set out as a note under section 4101 of this title.