71
STAT.]
PUBLIC LAW 85-66-JUNE 17, 1957
137
in connection with any other court proceeding hereby authorized, when such payment is authorized by the Administrator. (d) All or any part of any benefits the payment of which is suspended or withheld under this section may, in the discretion of the Administrator, be paid temporarily to the person having custody and control of the incompetent or minor beneficiary, to be used solely for the benefit of such beneficiary, or, in the case of an incompetent veteran, may be apportioned to the dependent or dependents, if any, of such veteran. Any part not so paid and any funds of a mentally incompetent or insane veteran not paid to the chief officer of the institution in which such veteran is an inmate nor apportioned to his dependent or dependents may be ordered held in the Treasury to the credit of such beneficiary. All funds so held shall be disbursed under the order and in the discretion of the Administrator for the benefit of such beneficiary or his dependents. Any balance remaining in such fund to the credit of any beneficiary may be paid to him if he recovers and is found competent, or, if a minor, attains majority, or otherwise to his guardian, curator, or conservator, or, in the event of his death, to his personal representative, except as otherwise provided by law; however, payment will not be made to his personal representative if, under the law of his last legal residence, his estate would escheat to the State. Any funds in the hands of a guardian, curator, conservator, or person legally vested with the care of the beneficiary or his estate, derived from benefits payable under laws administered by the Veterans' Administration, which under the law of the State wherein the beneficiary had his last legal residence would escheat to the State, shall escheat to the United States and shall be returned by such guardian, curator, conservator, or person legally vested with the care of the beneficiary or his estate, or by the personal representative of the deceased beneficiary, less legal expenses of any administration necessary to determine that an escheat is in order, to the Veterans' Administration, and shall be deposited to the credit of the applicable current appropriation. (e) In the case of any incompetent veteran having no guardian, payment of compensation, pension, or retirement pay may be made in the discretion of the Administrator to the wife of such veteran for the use of the veteran and his dependents. (f) Payment of death benefits to a widow for herself and child or children, if any, may be made directly to such widow, notwithstanding she may be a minor. H O S P I T A L I Z E D VETERANS A N D ESTATES OF I N C O M P E T E N T IZED VETERANS
INSTITUTIONAL-
SEC. 1503. (a)(1) Where any veteran having neither wife, child, nor dependent parent is being furnished hospital treatment, institutional or domiciliary care by the Veterans' Administration any pension, compensation, or retirement pay otherwise payable shall continue without reduction until the first day of the seventh calendar month following the month of admission of such veteran for treatment or care. If treatment or care extends beyond that period, the pension, compensation, or retirement pay, if $30 per month or less, shall continue without reduction, but if greater than $30 per month, the pension, compensation, or retirement pay shall not exceed 50 per centum of the amount otherwise payable or $30 per month, whichever is the greater. If such veteran is discharged from such treatment or care upon certification by the officer in charge of the hospital, institution, or home, that maximum benefits have been received or that release is approved, he shall be paid in a lump sum such additional
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