Why, as a survivor spouse, am I not eligible for Death Gratuity as younger survivors?

2020-05-21T15:57:18-04:00

He passed from Mil Con reasons. Day he dies DOD cut my pension by 45%, No death gratuity or any other help at all. Too old to work,retraining wont help, spouse day (that's a laugh)!?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2020 4:28 PM

2020-05-21T16:28:29-04:00

This is a question only a member of the VA could answer. I am not sure why your pension would be cut by 45%.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 21 at 2020 4:29 PM

2020-05-21T16:29:09-04:00

Because he didn't sign you up for the Survivors Benefit Plan...

https://militarypay.defense.gov/Benefits/Survivor-Benefit-Program/Overview/

Survivor Benefit Program Overview

Military Pay and Benefits Website sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2020 6:05 PM

2020-05-21T18:05:23-04:00

Your question is very vague. Are you a 20-yr veteran who retired and was drawing your own pension and for some reason unrelated when your non-military spouse died they cut your own earned pension? Or are you a spouse of a military retiree (you didn’t do 20 years, they did) and their pension stopped or was cut post after passing- which is absolutely normal. If the spouse paid for SBP then the surviving wife would get around half of what the living retiree was getting. If they did not pay for SBP then the money generally stops. It was for the retiree, not the spouse. Or are you taking some sort of VA entitlements that did not come with a 20-year pension?

Response by Nancy Menagh made May 21 at 2020 8:58 PM

2020-05-21T20:58:27-04:00

I understand your frustration. Benefits available to survivors of certain circumstances and date of death differ widely. I believe you are talking about the death gratuity for active duty deaths post 9/11. Pre 9/11 the death gratuity for active duty deaths was much lower. For Vietnam widows it was $10,000. In 1984 it was $35,000 (the year my husband was killed on active duty). There are 65,000 widow/widowers receiving SBP that will benefit by the removal of SBP/DIC offset. However, there are around 375,000 widow/widowers that receive DIC that would benefit by an increase it the DIC. Every generation has an improved benefit and specific rules/dates of who receives those benefits.

I thank you for the many years of service and sacrifice you and your husband made for this country. I talk to many widows that could really benefit by increases in benefits and others that have received a very generous amount. I talk to post 9/11 widows that were not the named beneficiary and did not get the $100,000 - sometimes the parents receive it as the paperwork was not updated. Some sad stories out there.

How to help everyone - I wish there was a way to give all of the surviving spouses what they need financially and to give them the recognition they deserve.

Hope you have a blessed Memorial Day and know that we at Gold Star Wives share your loss and are with you in spirit. Nancy Menagh

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2020 11:41 AM

2020-05-22T11:41:41-04:00

Only currently serving members are eligible for the death gratuity. That is a military benefit not a VA benefit. Retirees are expected to purchaseife insurance to cover their spouse's expenses in case of death.

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made May 22 at 2020 12:25 PM

2020-05-22T12:25:00-04:00

Margaret, Please just stop a moment and B R E A T H E....when you have time and are ready, reach out to me in a message and I will try to assist you. I am an Accredited Claims Agent through the VA. You would know the term Service Officer. I perform the same duties but am independent from any organization.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 22 at 2020 2:12 PM

2020-05-22T14:12:02-04:00

There is a small VA death gratuity. https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-special-burial.asp

The DoD retirement sounds like he elected to have the Survivor Benefit Plan , otherwise, the retirement ends when he passes.

The other death gratuity for AD is tied to SGLI and VGLI, which as a retiree are way too expensive to carry. It’s term coverage that ends when you ETS/Retire unless you elect to convert it to VGLI, which is really just a gap bridger until you get a policy. It’s insanely expensive right as one would really “need it”.

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