§ 2304. — Identification of right to payment and expedited claim payment.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 25USC2304]
TITLE 25--INDIANS
CHAPTER 25--OLD AGE ASSISTANCE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT
Sec. 2304. Identification of right to payment and expedited
claim payment
(a) Search of records
The Secretary shall conduct a search of the records of the
Department of the Interior to identify individuals who are entitled to
any portion of the unauthorized disbursements which were made and to
ascertain the amount of such unauthorized disbursements to which each of
such individuals is entitled.
(b) Payment without filing of claim
In any case in which the Secretary ascertains the name and location
of any individual who is entitled to any portion of an unauthorized
disbursement and determines the amount of such unauthorized disbursement
to which such individual is entitled, the Secretary shall pay such
amount, including interest thereon as provided in section 2302 of this
title, to such individual immediately without requiring such individual
to file a formal claim for payment.
(c) Notification
The Secretary shall use the best available means of notifying each
individual who is identified in the search conducted under subsection
(a) of this section of the right of such individual to receive payment
under this chapter. The means of notification available to the Secretary
shall include--
(1) notice provided directly to such individual;
(2) notification of the next of kin of such individual;
(3) notification of the chairman or chief executive officer of
the tribe of which such individual is a member or of which the
deceased Indian was a member; and
(4) publication of notice in newspapers of general circulation
in the appropriate area.
(Pub. L. 98-500, Sec. 5, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2318.)
