---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5563"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5563"
heading: "Allotments; continuance, suspension, initiation, resumption, or increase while in a missing status; limitations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5563"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 55 — Pay Administration"
  - "Subchapter VII — Payments to Missing Employees"
---

# §5563. Allotments; continuance, suspension, initiation, resumption, or increase while in a missing status; limitations

- (a) An allotment (including one for the purchase of [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) savings bonds) made by an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) before he was in a [missing status](/usc/5/5561.md?p=5) may be continued for the period he is in that status, notwithstanding the end of the period for which the allotment was made.
- (b) In the absence of an allotment or when an allotment is insufficient for a purpose authorized by the head of the [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) concerned, he or his designee may authorize such a new or increased allotment as circumstances warrant, which is payable for the period the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) concerned is in a [missing status](/usc/5/5561.md?p=5).
- (c) All allotments from the [pay and allowances](/usc/5/5561.md?p=6) of an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) in a [missing status](/usc/5/5561.md?p=5) may not total more than the amount of [pay and allowances](/usc/5/5561.md?p=6) he is permitted to allot under regulations prescribed by the head of the [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) concerned.
- (d) A premium paid by the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) on insurance issued on the life of an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2), which is unearned because it covers a period after his death, reverts to the appropriation of the [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) concerned.
- (e) Subject to subsections [(f)](#f) and [(g)](#g) of this section, the head of the [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) concerned or his designee may direct the initiation, continuance, discontinuance, increase, decrease, [suspension](/usc/5/9201.md?p=5), or resumption of an allotment from the [pay and allowances](/usc/5/5561.md?p=6) of an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) in a [missing status](/usc/5/5561.md?p=5) when that action is in the interests of the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2), his [dependents](/usc/5/5561.md?p=3), or the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18).
- (f) When the head of the [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) concerned officially reports that an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) in a [missing status](/usc/5/5561.md?p=5) is alive, an allotment under [subsections (a)](#a)–(d) of this section may be paid, subject to [section 5562 of this title](/usc/5/5562.md), until the date the head of the [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) concerned receives evidence that the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) is dead or has returned to the controllable jurisdiction of the [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) concerned.
- (g) When an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) in a [missing status](/usc/5/5561.md?p=5) is continued in that status under [section 5565 of this title](/usc/5/5565.md), an allotment under [subsections (a)](#a)–(d) of this section may be continued, increased, or initiated.
- (h) When the head of the [agency](/usc/5/5541.md?p=1) concerned considers it essential for the well-being and protection of the [dependents](/usc/5/5561.md?p=3) of an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) in [active service](/usc/5/5561.md?p=4) (other than an [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) in a [missing status](/usc/5/5561.md?p=5)), he may, with or without the consent of the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) and subject to termination on specific request of the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2)—
  - (1) direct the payment of a new allotment from the [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) of the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2);
  - (2) increase or decrease the amount of an allotment made by the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2); and
  - (3) continue payment of an allotment of the [employee](/usc/5/5541.md?p=2) which has expired.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 490.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
| (a) | 50A U.S.C. 1003 (1st sentence). | Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, § 3, 56 Stat. 144.<br>Dec. 24, 1942, ch. 828, § 1 (1st par.), 56 Stat. 1092. |
|  |  | July 1, 1944, ch. 371, § 3, 58 Stat. 680. |
| (b) | 50A U.S.C. 1003 (2d sentence, less proviso). |  |
| (c) | 50A U.S.C. 1003 (1st proviso of 2d sentence). |  |
| (d) | 50A U.S.C. 1003 (2d proviso of 2d sentence). |  |
| (e) | 50A U.S.C. 1004 | Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, § 4, 56 Stat. 144. |
|  |  | Dec. 24, 1942, ch. 828, § 1 (2d par.), 56 Stat. 1093. |
|  |  | July 1, 1944, ch. 371, § 4, 58 Stat. 680. |
| (f) | 50A U.S.C. 1006 (1st sentence). | Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, § 6 (1st sentence and 2d sentence, as applicable to allotments); added |
|  |  | Dec. 24, 1942, ch. 828, § 1 (4th par.), 56 Stat. 1093. |
|  |  | Apr. 4, 1953, ch. 17, § 1(b), 67 Stat. 21. |
|  |  | Aug. 14, 1964, Pub. L. 88–428, § 1(5), 78 Stat. 437. |
|  | 50A U.S.C. 1014 (as applicable to § 1006 (1st sentence)). | Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, § 14 (as applicable to § 6 (1st sentence)), 56 Stat. 147.<br>Apr. 4, 1953, ch. 17, § 1(e), 67 Stat. 21. |
| (g) | 50A U.S.C. 1006 (2d sentence, as applicable to allotments). |  |
| (h) | 50A U.S.C. 1007. | Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166 § 7, 56 Stat. 145.<br>Aug. 14, 1964, Pub. L. 88–428, § 1(6), 78 Stat. 437. |

Only that portion of the source law which is applicable to civilian officers and employees and their dependents is codified in this section.

In subsection (a), the words “employee . . . in a missing status” are substituted for the reference to “person . . . entitled under section 2 of this Act to receive or be credited with pay and allowances” to conform to the definitions in section 5561(2) and (5). The words “except as otherwise provided herein” are omitted as unnecessary.

In subsection (b), the words “head of the agency concerned, he or his designee” are substituted for “head of the department concerned . . . head of the department concerned, or such subordinate as he may designate”. The word “employee” is substituted for “person” to conform to the definition in section 5561(2).

In subsection (c), the words “in effect” are omitted as surplusage. The words “employee in a missing status” are substituted for “absent person” to conform to the definitions in section 5561(2) and (5).

In subsection (d), the words “United States” are substituted for “Government” to conform to the style of this title. The word “employee” is substituted for “person” to conform to the definition in section 5561(2).

In subsection (e), the words “head of the agency concerned or his designee” are substituted for “head of the department concerned, or such subordinates as he may designate”. The words “employee in a missing status” are substituted for “person entitled to receive or be credited with pay and allowances under section 2 of this Act” to conform to the definitions in section 5561(2) and (5). The words “United States” are substituted for “Government” to conform to the style of this title.

In subsections (f) and (g), the words “employee in a missing status” are substituted for “person missing under the conditions specified in section 2 of this Act” to conform to the definitions in section 5561(2) and (5).

In subsection (h), the words “employee in a missing status” are substituted for “persons entitled under section 2 or 14 of this Act to receive pay and allowances” to conform to the definitions in section 5561(2) and (5). In paragraph (2), the words “heretofore or hereafter” are omitted as unnecessary.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.