Servicemember Dies While on Active Duty

Each branch of the service has a Casualty Assistance Office. This office (or the local base) assigns a casualty assistance representative (sometimes called casualty assistance officer). The casualty assistance representative works with the deceased's family in the transition to post-military life and can assist them in applying for the variety of appropriate benefits available to survivors. The casualty assistance representative will help fill out the forms or provide guidance/points of contact for the following benefits

Monetary benefits:

• Death gratuity of $12,420 (paid to survivors of the deceased in the following order:
  • spouse
  • if no spouse, then child/children of the servicemember, regardless of age or marital status
  • if none of the above, then parents or brothers/sisters

(A will may not specify to whom the death gratuity goes because it is not a part of the servicemember's estate.)

• Unpaid pay and allowances (paid to designated beneficiary): may include unpaid basic pay, payment for accrued leave, and amounts due for travel, per diem expenses, transportation of eligible family members, shipment of household goods, dependent travel, unpaid reenlistment bonuses, as well as funeral and/or interment reimbursement
• Basic allowance for housing (if servicemember's death was in-line-of-duty, eligible family members living in government housing when servicemember dies may continue to live in housing without charge for up to180 days)
• Servicemember Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
• Dependency and indemnity compensation
• Nonservice-connected death pension
• Montgomery GI Bill
• Social Security payments
• Social Security lump-sum death payments

Service benefits and privileges

• The casualty assistance representative will explain the benefits and privileges that may continue for survivors, including medical care at DoD facilities; commissary; base exchange; transient quarters; and morale, welfare, and recreation facilities.
• The casualty assistance representative will also assist in completing forms to apply for a new ID card.

Miscellaneous rights and benefits

• Private-sector insurance: the casualty assistance representative can tell survivors of any allotments withheld from servicemember's pay for insurance premiums
• Emergency financial assistance: interest-free or low-interest loans may be made available
• Legal assistance: the casualty assistance representative may put survivors in contact with JAG office
• Gold Star lapel pin

Service member Dies After Retirement from Military Service

Many of the above benefits are available to survivors of servicemembers retired from active duty. Some benefits (death gratuity and SGLI) cover retirees for 120 days following retirement. The casualty assistance representative will be able to verify which of these benefits apply to the retiree. In addition, the casualty assistance representative can identify points of contact, help fill out required claim forms, and explain benefits potentially available through other survivor policies, including:

• Veteran's Group Life Insurance
• National Service Life Insurance
• Servicemember's Disabled Veterans Insurance
• Retired Servicemember's Family Protection Plan
• Survivor Benefit Plan
• Supplemental Survivor Benefit Plan
• Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan
• Minimum Income Widow's Benefit
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
• Nonservice-Connected Death Pension
• Montgomery GI Bill Refund
• Social Security payments
• Social Security lump-sum death payment

Department of Defense points of contact

• Air Force Casualty Assistance: 800-433-0048
• Army Casualty Assistance: 800-626-3317
• Marine Corps Casualty Assistance: 800-847-1597
• Navy Casualty Assistance/Family Liaison: 800-368-3202

Services Available to the Service Member
When a Spouse or Dependent Dies
Benefits detailed in the prior section apply when the deceased is the service member. However, the death of a civilian spouse or dependent does not automatically trigger the assistance network. The service member must apply to the unit commander for approval of emergency leave. The unit commander, or his or her designee, may request assistance from the American Red Cross to verify emergency situations. Commanders or their designees can approve initial periods of emergency leave for no more than 30 days with no more than one 30-day extension.

Death in the Immediate Family
If the verified death is in the service member's or service member's spouse's immediate family, the unit commander, or designee, may approve the request. The commander, or designee, may authorize travel on DoD-owned aircraft on a priority or space-available basis, depending on the circumstances. In addition, the American Red Cross may assist in travel arrangements and may potentially cover the cost of commercial travel.

Emergency Leave

Emergency leave and travel expenses are approved at the discretion of the unit/base commander. The casualty assistance representative's assistance is offered, if requested, to the service member in filling out forms. Most bases have some form of Family/Community Services office. Personnel in these offices can assist the service member in the transition due to the loss, i.e., potential reassignment, daycare issues, and so forth.