PUBLIC LAW 104-275—OCT. 9, 1996 110 STAT. 3343 or provided by reason of such amendments for any period before such date. SEC. 506. PAYMENT OF BENEFIT TO SURVIVING SPOUSE FOR MONTH IN WHICH VETERAN DIES. (a) BENEFIT FOR MONTH OF DEATH.— Section 5310 is amended— (1) by inserting "(a)" before "If, in accordance with"; and (2) by adding at the end the following: "(b)(1) If the surviving spouse of a veteran who was in receipt of compensation or pension at the time of death is not entitled to death benefits under chapter 11, 13, or 15 of this title for the month in which the veteran's death occurs, that surviving spouse shall be entitled to a benefit for that month in the amount of benefits the veteran would have received under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for that month but for the death of the veteran. "(2) If (notwithstanding section 5112(b)(1) of this title) a check or other payment is issued to, and in the name of, the deceased veteran as a benefit payment under chapter 11 or 15 of this title for the month in which death occurs, that check or other payment (A) shall be treated for all purposes as being payable to the surviving spouse, and (B) if that check or other payment is negotiated or deposited, shall be considered to be the benefit to which the surviving spouse is entitled under this paragraph. However, if such check or other payment is in an amount less than the amount of the benefit under paragraph (1), the unpaid amount shall be treated in the same manner as an accrued benefit under section 5121 of this title.". (b) EFFECTIVE DATE. —The amendments made by this section 38 USC 53io shall apply with respect to the death of compensation and pension note. recipients occurring after December 31, 1996. SEC. 507. INCREASE IN PERIOD FOR WHICH ACCRUED BENEFITS PAY- ABLE. Subsection (a) of section 5121 is amended by striking out "one year" in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting in lieu thereof "two years". SEC. 508. APPOINTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AS CLAIMANTS' REPRESENTATIVES. (a) POWER OF ATTORNEY NAMING A VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATION.—Section 5902 is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c): "(c)(1) Unless a claimant specifically indicates in a power of attorney filed with the Department a desire to appoint only a recognized representative of an organization listed in or approved under subsection (a), the Secretary may, for any purpose, treat the power of attorney naming such an organization, a specific office of such an organization, or a recognized representative of such an organization as the claimant's representative as an appointment of the entire organization as the claimant's representative. "(2) Whenever the Secretary is required or permitted to notify a claimant's representative, and the claimant has named in a power of attorney an organization listed in or approved under subsection (a), a specific office of such an organization, or a recognized representative of such an organization without specifically indicating a desire to appoint only a recognized representative of the organiza-
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