§ 557. — Settlement of accounts.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 37USC557]
TITLE 37--PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES
CHAPTER 10--PAYMENTS TO MISSING PERSONS
Sec. 557. Settlement of accounts
(a) The Secretary concerned, or his designee, may settle the account
of--
(1) a member of a uniformed service for whose account payments
have been made under sections 552, 553, and 555 of this title; and
(2) a survivor of a casualty to a ship, station, or military
installation which results in the loss or destruction of disbursing
records.
That settlement is conclusive on the accounting officers of the United
States in settling the accounts of disbursing officers.
(b) Payment or settlement of an account made pursuant to a report,
determination, or finding of death may not be recovered or reopened
because of a later report or determination which fixes a date of death.
However, an account shall be reopened and settled on the basis of a date
of death so fixed which is later than that used as a basis for earlier
settlements.
(c) In the settlement of his accounts, a disbursing officer is
entitled, if there is no fraud or criminality by him, to credit for an
erroneous payment or overpayment he made in carrying out this chapter,
except section 558 of this title. Unless there is fraud or criminality
by him, recovery may not be made from a civilian officer or employee or
a member of a uniformed service who authorizes a payment under this
chapter, except section 558 of this title.
(Added Pub. L. 89-554, Sec. 5(b), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 630; amended
Pub. L. 99-145, title XIII, Sec. 1303(b)(11), Nov. 8, 1985, 99 Stat.
741.)
Historical and Revision Notes
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Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large)
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557(a)................................ 50 App. 1011. Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, Sec. 11, 56
Stat. 146.
557(b)................................ 50 App. 1009(a) (5th sentence). Mar. 7, 1942, ch. 166, Sec. 9(a)
50 App. 1009(a) (last sentence). (5th and last sentences); added
557(c)................................ July 1, 1944, ch. 371, Sec. 5, 58
Stat. 680; Aug. 29, 1957, Pub. L.
85-217, Sec. 1(c), 71 Stat. 492.
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Only that portion of the source law which is applicable to members
of the uniformed services and their dependents is codified in this
section.
In subsection (a), the words ``Secretary concerned, or his
designee,'' are substituted for ``head of the department concerned, or
such person as he may designate,''. The words ``a member of a uniformed
service'' are substituted for ``persons''. The words ``United States''
are substituted for ``Government''.
In subsection (c), the words ``in carrying out this chapter, except
section 558'' are substituted for ``in carrying out the provisions of
this Act, except sections 13, 16, 17, and 18'', since sections 16 and 17
are scheduled for repeal (see Table II) and section 18 was previously
repealed. The words ``under this chapter, except section 558'' are
substituted for ``under such provisions'' for the reasons stated in the
preceding sentence.
Amendments
1985--Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99-145 inserted ``of this title'' after
``558'' in two places.
