View all text of Level 1 [§ 1531 - § 1537]
§ 1532. Surviving spouses of Civil War veterans
(a) The Secretary shall pay to the surviving spouse of each Civil War veteran who met the service requirements of this section a pension at the following monthly rate:
(1) $40.64 if such surviving spouse is below seventy years of age; or
(2) $70 if such surviving spouse is seventy years of age or older.
(b) If there is a child of the veteran, the rate of pension paid to the surviving spouse under subsection (a) shall be increased by $8.13 per month for each such child.
(c) A veteran met the service requirements of this section if such veteran served for ninety days or more in the active military or naval service during the Civil War, as heretofore defined under public laws administered by the Veterans’ Administration, or if such veteran was discharged or released from such service upon a surgeon’s certificate of disability.
(d) No pension shall be paid to a surviving spouse of a veteran under this section unless such surviving spouse was married to such veteran—
(1) before June 27, 1905; or
(2) for one year or more; or
(3) for any period of time if a child was born of the marriage, or was born to them before the marriage.
(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1137, § 532; Pub. L. 90–77, title I, §§ 101(a), 105, Aug. 31, 1967, 81 Stat. 178, 179; Pub. L. 94–169, title I, § 106(20)–(23), Dec. 23, 1975, 89 Stat. 1018; Pub. L. 102–54, § 14(b)(7), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 283; renumbered § 1532 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, §§ 4(a)(1), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403–406; Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1201(a)(2), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4682.)