H.R. 8260 – Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act of 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 4:26 PM UTC

The Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act of 2022 shortens the time veterans’ life‑insurance beneficiaries have to be designated and to receive benefits, and it directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve how it finds and pays survivors who have not yet received their insurance proceeds. The changes affect veterans enrolled in National Service Life Insurance and United States Government Life Insurance and their surviving spouses, children, parents, or other next of kin.

Key Provisions

Reduce the deadline for designating an alternate beneficiary from two years to one year and the deadline for paying benefits from four years to two years for both National Service Life Insurance and United States Government Life Insurance.
Allow insured veterans to change beneficiaries at any time without the beneficiary’s consent.
Set a default order for determining beneficiaries when none is named or a named beneficiary predeceases the veteran: surviving spouse, children (or their descendants), parents (or their survivors), estate executor/administrator, then other next of kin.
Require the VA Secretary to improve tools, outreach, and staffing to locate hard‑to‑find beneficiaries and to pay all undistributed life‑insurance benefits within two years of the law’s enactment.
Mandate a progress report to the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs committees within 180 days of enactment and define “undisbursed life insurance benefits” for reporting purposes.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

20 earlier actions

Became Law Latest Action

Became Public Law No: 117-313.

December 27, 2022

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

July 1, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 1, 2022

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee

July 14, 2022

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Discharged.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 18, 2022

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 19, 2022

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

July 19, 2022

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 117-463.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

September 13, 2022

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 360.

September 13, 2022

HouseFloor

Mr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

September 13, 2022 • 4:22 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7770-7772; text: CR H7770-7771)

September 13, 2022 • 4:23 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8260.

September 13, 2022 • 4:23 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

September 13, 2022 • 4:30 PM

HouseFloor

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1339, proceedings on H.R. 8260 are considered vacated.

September 14, 2022 • 3:18 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 11 of H. Res. 1339, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 1468, as amended; H.R. 5865; H.R. 5916, as amended; H.R. 7735, as amended; H.R. 7846; H.R. 7939, as amended; H.R. 8260, as amended; and S. 4205.

September 14, 2022 • 3:18 PM

HouseFloor

Pursuant to section 11 of H. Res. 1339, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 1468, as amended; H.R. 5865; H.R. 5916, as amended; H.R. 7735, as amended; H.R. 7846; H.R. 7939, as amended; H.R. 8260, as amended; and S. 4205. (consideration: CR H7814-7822; text: CR H7820-7821)

September 14, 2022 • 3:18 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate, read twice.

September 15, 2022

SenateFloor

Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7302)

December 19, 2022

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

December 20, 2022

President

Presented to President.

December 23, 2022

Became Law

Signed by President.

December 27, 2022

Became Law

Became Public Law No: 117-313.

December 27, 2022

Floor Debate

7 members

What members said about H.R. 8260 on the floor

+2

2 Republicans5 Democrats

Rep. Chris PappasD-NH-1 · Sep 13, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for getting these bills to the floor, including this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan…

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Bost for getting these bills to the floor, including this important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan legislation, H.R. 8260, the Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act. It is a bipartisan bill that ensures that VA quickly identifies, locates, and pays surviving family members the life insurance benefits they are owed.

VA's insurance service already has some tools in place to identify, locate, and pay hard-to-find beneficiaries, but more can be done to prevent these survivors from needlessly waiting during what is likely a difficult time, both emotionally and financially.

My bipartisan bill, the Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act, will make much needed reforms to allow VA to better identify and locate surviving family members of recently deceased veterans.

By making these reforms, we will make sure they receive the payments and benefits they were owed in a timely manner.

According to the VA, the Department owed more than $155 million to 15,000 individuals at the end of September 2020.

For a widow or widower who is struggling to make ends meet, a life insurance payment of $10,000 makes a world of difference.

Alfred, a constituent of mine in Rochester, New Hampshire, and a Korean war veteran, shared how much this bill will mean to his family. His father-in-law, a veteran of World War II, passed away last year. Alfred's spouse waited for months to receive the survivors benefits owed to her by VA. He contacted our office for help remedying the issue. We were able to help them, but no family should have to jump through hoops for months following the loss of a loved one.

This bill directs the Department to improve and better publicize an online tool that families of veterans can use to search for past due benefits. It expands access to internal and external data sources that will help VA track down veterans' survivors. It makes sure the Department is adequately staffed to perform these searches.

The bill also shortens the unnecessarily long timeframe in which VA is authorized to designate and pay alternate beneficiaries and ensures that procedures for paying alternate beneficiaries are consistent across several different life insurance programs. All of these steps will lead to faster payments to veterans' survivors.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina for co-leading this bipartisan bill. I appreciate the strong bipartisan support from my colleagues and from veterans service organizations, including the VFW, American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, Modern

Military Association of America, and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Once enacted, the Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act will have a real and positive impact on the financial well-being of thousands of veterans' families.

Our veterans serve our country and sacrifice so much, and their family members contribute and sacrifice right alongside them. It is of utmost importance that we honor those commitments and support their family members.

The bill passed the Veterans' Affairs Committee unanimously in July, and I urge the full House to support its passage today.

Rep. Mark TakanoD-CA-41 · Sep 13, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8260) to amend title 38, United States Code, to shorten the timeframe for designation of benefits under Department of Veterans Affairs…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8260) to amend title 38, United States Code, to shorten the timeframe for designation of benefits under Department of Veterans Affairs life insurance programs, to improve the treatment of undisbursed life insurance benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8260, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8260, as amended, the bipartisan Faster Payments to Veterans' Survivors Act, will result in important help for the surviving family members of recently deceased veterans. Families often face financial hardship when a veteran life insurance policyholder dies, making timely payment of these VA benefits is therefore essential.

The VA does an admirable job of quickly paying the vast majority of beneficiaries upon the death of a loved one. Yet, in other cases, for a variety of reasons, VA is unable to determine the identity or location of a surviving spouse, child, or family member. At the end of the fiscal year 2020, the Department owed more than $150 million in undisbursed life insurance proceeds to nearly 15,000 survivors. Approximately 10 percent of this money had been owed for more than 5 years.

This legislation, introduced by Representative Chris Pappas ensures that VA will make the necessary improvements to expedite these life insurance payments with a goal of disbursing all unpaid benefits within 2 years.

The bill is cosponsored by more than 40 Members on both sides of the aisle, and it has the support of a half-dozen veteran service organizations, including the VFW, America Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, Modern Military Association of America, and Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Pappas for his work and urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas), my good friend who serves as chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 8260, as amended, the Faster Payments to Veterans Survivors Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Colin Z. AllredD-TX-32 · Sep 14, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I was participating in a Presidential Delegation to the Republic of Kenya and absent during the time of votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 424, H. Res.…

Rep. Mike BostR-IL-12 · Sep 13, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8260, the Faster Payment of Veterans' Survivors Act. This bill would improve VA's delivery of insurance…

Sen. Mark KellyD-AZ · Dec 19, 2022

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills, which were received from the House, en bloc: H.R. 6427, H.R. 7735, H.R. 8260. I…

Show 3 more

Rep. Steny H. HoyerD-MD-5 · Sep 14, 2022

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 11 of House Resolution 1339, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bills: H.R. 1468, S. 4205, H.R. 7939, H.R. 7846, H.R. 7735, H.R. 5916, H.R. 8260, and H.R. 5865.

Rep. Matthew M. Rosendale, Sr.R-MT · Sep 13, 2022

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Rep. Matthew M. Rosendale, Sr.R-MT · Sep 14, 2022

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Bill Text

6 versions available

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Enrolled BillPublication date not provided

One Hundred Seventeenth Congress of the United States of America

At the Second Session

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-two

H. R. 8260

AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to shorten the timeframe for designation of benefits under Department of Veterans Affairs life insurance programs, to improve the treatment of undisbursed life insurance benefits by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Faster Payments to Veterans’ Survivors Act of 2022.

2.

Timeframe for designation of alternate beneficiaries and payment of benefits under Department of Veterans Affairs life insurance programs

(a)

National Service Life Insurance

Section 1917(f)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A), by striking two years and inserting one year; and

(2)

in subparagraph (B), by striking four and inserting two.

(b)

United States Government Life Insurance

Section 1952(c)(1) of such title is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A), by striking two years and inserting one year; and

(2)

in subparagraph (B), by striking four and inserting two.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to the death of an insured person occurring on or after the date that is two years before the date of the enactment of this Act.

3.

Beneficiary designation process under Department of Veterans Affairs life insurance programs

(a)

NSLI

Section 1917 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:

(a)

(1)

A person who enrolls in insurance maturing on or after August 1, 1946, may designate a beneficiary of the insurance policy. The insured shall, subject to regulations, at all times have the right to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such insurance without the consent of such beneficiary or beneficiaries.

(2)

If a person enrolled in insurance maturing on or after August 1, 1946, does not designate a beneficiary under paragraph (1) before the veteran dies, or if a designated beneficiary predeceases the veteran, the Secretary shall determine the beneficiary in the following order:

(A)

The surviving spouse of the insured person.

(B)

The children of the insured person and descendants of deceased children by representation.

(C)

The parents of the insured person or the survivors of the parents.

(D)

The duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the insured person.

(E)

Other next of kin of the insured person entitled under the laws of domicile of the insured person at the time of the death of the insured person.

.

(b)

USGLI

(1)

In general

Section 1949 of such title is amended to read as follows:

1949.

Beneficiaries

(a)

Designation

A person who enrolls in United States Government life insurance may designate a beneficiary of the insurance policy. Subject to regulations, the insured person shall at all times have the right to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries of a United States Government life insurance policy without the consent of such beneficiary or beneficiaries.

(b)

Determination in cases of non-Designation

If a person enrolled in United States Government life insurance does not designate a beneficiary under subsection (a) before the insured person dies, or if a designated beneficiary predeceases the insured person, the Secretary shall determine the beneficiary in the following order:

(1)

The surviving spouse of the insured person.

(2)

The children of the insured person and descendants of deceased children by representation.

(3)

The parents of the insured person or the survivors of the parents.

(4)

The duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the insured person.

(5)

Other next of kin of the insured person entitled under the laws of domicile of the insured person at the time of the death of the insured person.

.

(2)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 19 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1949 and inserting the following new item:

1949. Beneficiaries.

.

(c)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to the death of an insured person occurring on or after the date that is two years before the date of the enactment of this Act.

4.

Department of Veterans Affairs improvement of treatment of undisbursed life insurance benefits

(a)

Improvement of processes

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall improve the processes and procedures of the Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to identifying, locating, and paying hard-to-find beneficiaries of life insurance policies issued under chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, including by—

(1)

improving the search tools available on the website of the Department;

(2)

conducting outreach to veterans, veterans service organizations, and the general public with respect to such search tools;

(3)

improving the processes for searching for information relating to potential recipients through internal Department sources and sources available through other Federal agencies, State government agencies, and non-government entities; and

(4)

ensuring the Department has sufficient dedicated staff whose primary responsibilities are identifying, locating, and paying hard-to-find beneficiaries, with the goal of disbursing by not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, all funds that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, are owed to a beneficiary of a life insurance policy issued under chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code.

(b)

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs should work with interagency partners to determine the types of records, reports, and other materials that may be required to identify, locate, and disburse undisbursed life insurance benefits to hard-to-find beneficiaries.

(c)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the progress of the Secretary in carrying out this section.

(d)

Undisbursed life insurance benefits defined

The term undisbursed life insurance benefits—

(1)

means any amount of money that is owed to a beneficiary of a life insurance policy issued under chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, and that has not been disbursed for a period of two years or longer; and

(2)

does not include any amount of money that—

(A)

has not been disbursed due to a contested claim; or

(B)

is in dispute by two or more parties over who is the entitled beneficiary.

5.

Determination of budgetary effects

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.