What this means
m21-1:XI.i.1.C explains errors during notice of death (nod) processing. In plain terms, the official guidance says if a month of death (MOD) payment was paid in error because either the Veteran is not deceased or the MOD payment was not awarded to the appropriate spouse, then generate a non-entitlement award for the erroneous payment. It also addresses the finance activity will follow the standard debt collection procedures to recoup the erroneous payment.
How this may help with a claim
Use m21-1:XI.i.1.C when organizing evidence or checking VA's handling of errors during notice of death (nod) processing. Compare your application, supporting records, and notice with this source-specific point: If a month of death (MOD) payment was paid in error because either the Veteran is not deceased or the MOD payment was not awarded to the appropriate spouse, then generate a non-entitlement award for the erroneous payment. The finance activity will follow the standard debt collection procedures to recoup the erroneous payment. Save proof of submission and identify the exact condition, exception, or missing development step before requesting correction or choosing a review option.
What to review in your file
- Check the file against this official condition: updating the Veteran’s record when death was erroneous, and
- Confirm that the record or notice addresses this source point: actions to take if a spouse was erroneously paid the month of death (MOD) payment.
- Document how this stated step or exception applies: XI.i.1.C.1.a. Updating the Veteran’s Record When Death Was Erroneous
Important limits
m21-1:XI.i.1.C explains VA guidance for errors during notice of death (nod) processing; it does not guarantee an award or replace the statutes, regulations, binding decisions, and review instructions that control an individual claim. Conditions and exceptions still matter, including this source point: If a month of death (MOD) payment was paid in error because either the Veteran is not deceased or the MOD payment was not awarded to the appropriate spouse, then generate a non-entitlement award for the erroneous payment. The system may establish an erroneous accounts receivable or erroneous accounts payable in the record if the
Search terms when useful
Phrases that may help when searching your claim file or this library.
- Errors During Notice of Death (NOD) Processing
- m21-1:XI.i.1.C
- Errors During Notice
- Death NOD Processing
- Erroneously Reported Deaths
- updating Veteran record when
- actions take spouse erroneously
- XI.i.1.C.1.a. Updating Veteran Record
Original VA guidance
The official VA text of this section
Overview
In This Section
This section contains the following topics:
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| Topic | Topic Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Erroneously Reported Deaths |
| 2 | Incorrect Dates of Death |
1. Erroneously Reported Deaths
Introduction
This topic contains information on erroneously reported deaths, including
- updating the Veteran’s record when death was erroneous, and
- actions to take if a spouse was erroneously paid the month of death (MOD) payment.
Change Date
December 17, 2025
XI.i.1.C.1.a. Updating the Veteran’s Record When Death Was Erroneous
Follow the steps in the table below after confirming
- a notice of death (NOD) was erroneous, and
- the Veteran is not deceased.
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| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Process a BENEFICIARY IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDS LOCATOR SUBSYSTEM (BIRLS) UPDATE to delete the following from the BIRLS record the date of death the cause of death, and any other erroneous information. |
| 2 | Establish an end product (EP) and take award action to resume any payments that were erroneously interrupted. |
Reference: For more information on the EP and associated claim label to use when resuming a benefit erroneously terminated due to death, see
- M21-4, Appendix B, and
- M21-4, Appendix C.
XI.i.1.C.1.b. Actions to Take if a Spouse Was Erroneously Paid the MOD Payment
If a month of death (MOD) payment was paid in error because either the Veteran is not deceased or the MOD payment was not awarded to the appropriate spouse, then generate a non-entitlement award for the erroneous payment.
The finance activity will follow the standard debt collection procedures to recoup the erroneous payment.
Note: Generate an award for the proper surviving spouse payee, when necessary.
2. Incorrect Dates of Death
Introduction
This topic contains information on incorrect dates of death, including erroneous date of death
- in the same month as the correct date of death
- not in the same month as the correct date of death, and
- later than the correct MOD and benefit checks are
- returned, and
- not returned.
Change Date
December 17, 2025
XI.i.1.C.2.a. Erroneous Date of Death in Same Month as the Correct Date of Death
Complete a BIRLS UPDATE to correct the date of death if the
- NOD was processed with an erroneous date of death, and
- erroneous date of death is in the same month as the correct date of death.
XI.i.1.C.2.b. Erroneous Date of Death Not in the Same Month as the Correct Date of Death
The system may establish an erroneous accounts receivable or erroneous accounts payable in the record if the
- NOD is processed with an incorrect date of death, and
- Veteran had a running award.
If an erroneous date of death is entered, follow the steps in the table below to take corrective action.
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| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Complete a BIRLS UPDATE to remove the incorrect date of death from BIRLS. |
| 2 | Establish an EP to correct the award termination date. If the correct date of death is after the erroneous date of death, go to Step 3, or before the erroneous date of death, process the termination from the correct date within the awards processing system, and go to Step 4 after the award is authorized. |
| 3 | Generate an award that reinstates benefits from the first of the month of the erroneously reported death, and terminates benefits based on the correct date of death. |
| 4 | Complete a BIRLS UPDATE to correct the date of death in BIRLS. |
XI.i.1.C.2.c. Erroneous Date of Death Later Than the Correct MOD and Benefit Checks Are Returned
The system may establish a proceed due segment in the record if the
- FNOD is completed with a date of death that is later than the correct MOD, and
- Veteran’s uncashed benefit checks are returned.
If all the returned checks represent payment for the MOD or later:
- notify the finance activity to return the amount in proceeds to appropriations, and
- complete a BIRLS UPDATE to correct the date of death in BIRLS, if not already corrected.
XI.i.1.C.2.d. Erroneous Date of Death Later Than the Correct MOD and Benefit Checks Are Not Returned
Follow the steps in the table below if the
- FNOD is completed with a date of death that is later than the correct MOD, and
- Veteran’s benefit checks are not returned.
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| Step | Action |
| 1 | Determine how much of an overpayment would have been created by entering the correct date of death. |
| 2 | Send a memorandum to the finance activity that explains that the overpayment resulted from an erroneous date of death in the system, and requests a fiscal transaction to establish the accounts receivable. |
| 3 | Complete a BIRLS UPDATE to correct the date of death in BIRLS, if not already corrected. |