{"identifier":"/us/usc/t38/s5321","title":38,"num":"\u00a7\u202f5321.","heading":"Benefits helpline","text":"\u00a7\u202f5321.\nBenefits helpline\n(a)\nEstablishment.\u2014\nThe Secretary shall maintain a toll-free telephone helpline that a covered individual may call in order to\u2014\n(1) obtain information about any service or benefit provided under the laws administered by the Secretary; or\n(2) be directed to an appropriate office of the Department regarding such a service or benefit.\n(b)\nContract for Direction of Calls Authorized.\u2014\nThe Secretary may enter into a contract with a third party to direct calls made to the helpline to an appropriate office under subsection (a)(2).\n(c)\nLive Individual Required.\u2014\nThe Secretary shall ensure that a covered individual who calls the helpline has the option to speak with a live individual.\n(d)\nDefinitions.\u2014\nIn this section:\n(1) The term \u201ccovered individual\u201d means\u2014\n(A) a veteran;\n(B) an individual acting on behalf of a veteran; or\n(C) an individual other than a veteran who is eligible to receive a benefit or service under a law administered by the Secretary.\n(2) The term \u201cveteran\u201d has the meaning given such term in\nsection 2002(b) of this title","url":"https://projectusc.org/usc/t38/s5321.html","content":[{"t":"sec","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321","children":[{"t":"num","text":"\u00a7\u202f5321."},{"t":"heading","text":"Benefits helpline"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/a","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(a)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Establishment.\u2014"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"The Secretary shall maintain a toll-free telephone helpline that a covered individual may call in order to\u2014"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/a/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"content","text":" obtain information about any service or benefit provided under the laws administered by the Secretary; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/a/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"content","text":" be directed to an appropriate office of the Department regarding such a service or benefit.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/b","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(b)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Contract for Direction of Calls Authorized.\u2014"},{"t":"content","text":"The Secretary may enter into a contract with a third party to direct calls made to the helpline to an appropriate office under subsection (a)(2).","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/c","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(c)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Live Individual Required.\u2014"},{"t":"content","text":"The Secretary shall ensure that a covered individual who calls the helpline has the option to speak with a live individual.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subsec","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/d","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(d)"},{"t":"heading","text":"Definitions.\u2014"},{"t":"chapeau","text":"In this section:"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/d/1","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(1)"},{"t":"chapeau","text":" The term \u201ccovered individual\u201d means\u2014"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/d/1/A","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(A)"},{"t":"content","text":" a veteran;","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/d/1/B","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(B)"},{"t":"content","text":" an individual acting on behalf of a veteran; or","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"subpara","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/d/1/C","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(C)"},{"t":"content","text":" an individual other than a veteran who is eligible to receive a benefit or service under a law administered by the Secretary.","tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"para","id":"/us/usc/t38/s5321/d/2","children":[{"t":"num","text":"(2)"},{"t":"content","text":" The term \u201cveteran\u201d has the meaning given such term in ","children":[{"t":"ref","text":"section 2002(b) of this title","href":"/us/usc/t38/s2002/b","tail":"."}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"}],"tail":"\n"},{"t":"text","text":"\n"}]}]}