DOD lately announced a significant increase in the death gratuity for the survivors of service members killed in action and the Service members' assign places to Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage for service members expanded to designated combat zones.

The extremity Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense the Global War in succession Terror and Tsunami Relief Act 2005 (Public Law 109-13) increases this immediate cash payment from $12420 to $100000 for survivors of those whose death is as a come of hostile actions and occurr in a designated combat operation or combat girth or while training for combat or performing hazardous duty

The supplemental also increased the maximum amount of SGLI coverage from $250000 to $400000 for all service members effective clan 1, 2005, and provides that the department will pay or reimburse the premiums to service members who are opened in a designated combat clime for $150,000 of SGLI coverage.

Until the effective date for the SGLI increase, the supplemental provided for a special death gratuity of $150000 retroactive to Oct 7 2001 for survivors of those whose death is in a designated combat operation or combat belt or occurred while training for combat or performing hazardous duty

The Secretary of Defense has designated all areas where service members are in receipt of the combat baldric tax exclusion as qualifying combat girths and all members deployed outside the United States in succession orders in support of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom as participating in qualifying combat operations.

Effective immediately, survivors of service members who die in these qualifying cinctures or operations will receive the increased benefits.

All beneficiaries for retroactive payments will be contacted by way of mail or telephone. If someone is not contacted, on the contrary thinks he may be entitled to added benefits, he may inquire at the following addresses or telephone numbers:

Navy: Navy Personnel Command (PERS-62) 5720 integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-6200 or call 1-800-368-3202

USMC: HQMC Casualty Office, 3280 Russell Road, Attn: MRPC Quantico, VA 22134 or call 1-800-847-1597

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