The military is committed to taking care of families, including survivors. As a surviving family member, you have a range of benefits and services available to help you cope with your loss – both the emotional impact and the financial implications. Your actual benefits will vary depending on a number of factors, but the information shown below is a sampling of what may be available to you.
- Casualty Assistance is local guidance and assistance that helps you receive appropriate benefits and entitlements.
- Burial Benefits provided by the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs ensure eligible Service members receive recognition and a dignified burial.
- Death Gratuity is a lump sum tax-exempt payment of $100,000 to a selected beneficiary.
- Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) offers a life insurance death benefit up to $500,000 as a lump sum or in 36 monthly installments, if elected.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) is a tax-exempt benefit generally payable to a surviving spouse, child or parent of a Service member who dies on active duty or training. It may also apply to survivors of veterans who die from a service-connected disability.
- Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) may benefit the surviving spouse and/or child of a Service member who dies on active duty. There is a Reserve Component SBP (RC-SBP) for reservists on active duty or in a drilling/duty status, or if RC-SBP coverage was selected when they became retirement-eligible.
- Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act (HEART) provides tax and pension benefits to survivors when the Service member dies on active duty.
- Social Security Survivors Benefits may be available to surviving spouses and children under the age of 18.
- Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of Service members who die or become disabled while on active duty.
- Fry Scholarship offers scholarships to eligible spouses and children of Service members who die in the line of duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001.
Key Takeaway: There are two comprehensive resources that can help survivors navigate benefits: Military OneSource is a Department of Defense program that will connect you to survivor support, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is a national nonprofit that provides compassionate care and resources for those grieving the death of a Service member or veteran. For Reserve Component Service members, benefits eligibility rules are complex and may be available only when you are on active duty or Inactive Duty for Training.