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

SSG (Join to see) It's because the max amount for SBP is 55% of retired pay. She also thought retirees are entitled to the military $100,00 death gratuity.

SGM Steve Wettstein - Actually, I know retirees are not eligible for the gratuity. The point is I feel it should be awarded to retirees who passed from Mil Con reasons the same as for active duty personnel. No matter how long it takes for them to die or how much they have to suffer before they do, whether it happened in an instant or long term, the death facts should not discriminate. for or against either. Apparently there is a 120 day cut off now after leaving military to receive the death gratuity, how awful would it be for the spouse if it took 121 days? Please kindly correct me if I am mistaken. Thank you.

Interesting info that the benefit is from DOD and not VA, I was unaware of that. As for the civilian insurance, he could not get life insurance due to his condition. The only option we had was to pay the maximum SBP. He had had cancer for years but the VA Dr's, at various, facilities both while in the military and after retired, refused to admit that diagnosis, some of the assessments ran from being "Allergic to tropical flowers, lack of exercise to aid breathing, adult asthma, COPD, etc etc, even when the black spot was found on an X-Ray he was told it was very small and nothing to worry about that it would shrink. 6 weeks after the required insurance exam he was dead from 4th stage lung cancer. There is much more to this story and I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to read it.
If anyone can offer info as to whether retired military used to receive /or never received death gratuity I would appreciate it. Thank you.