§5103. Incomplete applications

(a) If a claimant's application for benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary is incomplete, the Secretary shall notify the claimant of the evidence necessary to complete the application. If such evidence is not received within one year from the date of such notification, no benefits may be paid or furnished by reason of such application.

(b) This section shall not apply to any application or claim for Government life insurance benefits.

(c) Benefits under laws administered by the Secretary may not be denied an applicant on the basis that the applicant does not have a mailing address.

( Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1225 , §3003; Pub. L. 99–570, title XI, §11007(a)(1), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–170 ; renumbered §5103, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, §402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238 ; Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(1), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403–405 .)

Prior Provisions

Prior section 5103 was renumbered section 8303 of this title.

Amendments

1991-Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 3003 of this title as this section.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–83, §4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted "Secretary" for "Administrator" before "shall".

Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(1), substituted "administered by the Secretary" for "administered by the Veterans' Administration".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–83, §4(a)(1), substituted "administered by the Secretary" for "administered by the Veterans' Administration".

1986-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–570 added subsec. (c).

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Section 11007(b)(1) of Pub. L. 99–570 provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a)(1) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 27, 1986]."