False claims for pensions
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever knowingly and makes, or presents any false, fictitious or fraudulent affidavit, declaration, certificate, voucher, endorsement, or paper or writing purporting to be such, concerning any claim for pension or payment thereof, or pertaining to any other matter within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or knowingly or makes or presents any paper required as a voucher in drawing a pension, which paper bears a date subsequent to that upon which it was actually signed or acknowledged by the pensioner; or
Whoever knowingly and falsely certifies that the declarant, affiant, or witness named in such declaration, affidavit, voucher, endorsement, or other paper or writing personally appeared before him and was sworn thereto, or acknowledged the execution thereof—
Shall be or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 699 (PDF, 39 MB); Pub. L. 102–54, §13(f)(1), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 275 (PDF, 3.5 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(L), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147 (PDF, 52 MB).)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to knowingly and willfully submit false or fraudulent documents about a pension claim or any other matter handled by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. It is also a crime to submit a pension voucher with a false later date, or to falsely certify that someone appeared and swore to a document.