M21-1 Manual / Part XI, Subpart i, Chapter 1, Section C
Errors During Notice of Death (NOD) Processing
M21-1, Part XI, Subpart i, Chapter 1, Section C
Overview
In This Section | | This section contains the following topics: | 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.
| 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.
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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. | 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. |
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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.
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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.
| 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. |
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Source: VA M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, M21-1, Part XI, Subpart i, Chapter 1, Section C (U.S. government work, reproduced for reference). Browse all sections →