Pecuniary liability means the official is personally responsible for which kind of payments?

• A. No liability
• B. Erroneous payments resulting from their signature
• C. Criminal penalties automatically
• D. Administrative penalties only

Answer: (B)

Pecuniary liability involves personal accountability for monetary losses that come from an improper payment caused by the official’s act of certifying or signing a disbursement. If you sign a voucher and that payment is erroneous or not properly supported, you may be required to reimburse the government for that amount. This obligation is tied directly to the act of certification or signature and the resulting improper payment, not to payments that are correct or properly authorized. It isn’t automatic criminal penalties, and it isn’t limited to only administrative penalties—the financial responsibility itself is the central idea.