---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1815"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1815"
heading: "Monetary allowance"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1815"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 18 — Benefits for Children of Vietnam Veterans and Certain Other Veterans"
  - "Subchapter II — Children of Women Vietnam Veterans Born with Certain Birth Defects"
---

# §1815. Monetary allowance

- (a) **Monetary Allowance.—** The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall [pay](/usc/38/7297.md?p=a-3) a monthly allowance to any [eligible child](/usc/38/1811.md?p=1) for any disability resulting from the [covered birth defects](/usc/38/1811.md?p=2) of that [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1).
- (b) **Schedule for Rating Disabilities.—**
  - (1) The amount of the monthly allowance paid under this section shall be based on the degree of disability suffered by the [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) concerned, as determined in accordance with a schedule for rating disabilities resulting from [covered birth defects](/usc/38/1811.md?p=2) that is prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1).
  - (2) In prescribing a schedule for rating disabilities for the purposes of this section, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) shall establish four levels of disability upon which the amount of the allowance provided by this section shall be based. The levels of disability established may take into account functional limitations, including limitations on cognition, communication, motor abilities, activities of daily living, and employability.
- (c) **Amount of Monthly Allowance.—** The amount of the monthly allowance paid under this section shall be as follows:
  - (1) In the case of a [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) suffering from the lowest level of disability prescribed in the schedule for rating disabilities under [subsection (b)](#b), $100.
  - (2) In the case of a [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) suffering from the lower intermediate level of disability prescribed in the schedule for rating disabilities under [subsection (b)](#b), the greater of—
    - (A) $214; or
    - (B) the monthly amount payable under [section 1805(b)(3) of this title](/usc/38/1805.md?p=b-3) for the lowest level of disability prescribed for purposes of that section.
  - (3) In the case of a [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) suffering from the higher intermediate level of disability prescribed in the schedule for rating disabilities under [subsection (b)](#b), the greater of—
    - (A) $743; or
    - (B) the monthly amount payable under [section 1805(b)(3) of this title](/usc/38/1805.md?p=b-3) for the intermediate level of disability prescribed for purposes of that section.
  - (4) In the case of a [child](/usc/38/1831.md?p=1) suffering from the highest level of disability prescribed in the schedule for rating disabilities under [subsection (b)](#b), the greater of—
    - (A) $1,272; or
    - (B) the monthly amount payable under [section 1805(b)(3) of this title](/usc/38/1805.md?p=b-3) for the highest level of disability prescribed for purposes of that section.
- (d) **Indexing to Social Security Benefit Increases.—** Amounts under paragraphs [(1)](#c-1), [(2)(A)](#c-2-A), [(3)(A)](#c-3-A), and [(4)(A)](#c-4-A) of subsection (c) shall be subject to adjustment from time to time under [section 5312 of this title](/usc/38/5312.md).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 401(a), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1858.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1815 was renumbered section 3703(a)(2) of this title.