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What do the families of fallen soldiers get?

Published in Military Survivor Benefits 5 mins read

The families of fallen soldiers receive a comprehensive range of benefits designed to provide financial, healthcare, and educational support, as well as assistance with burial and memorial affairs. These benefits aim to ease the burden on surviving family members during an incredibly difficult time.

Immediate Financial Support

One of the initial forms of support provided to the families of service members who die while on active duty is a direct financial payment.

  • Death Gratuity: The Department of Defense provides a one-time lump sum Death Gratuity of $100,000 to the primary next of kin. This payment is intended to provide immediate financial relief to families during the period following the service member's death.

Ongoing Financial Assistance

Beyond immediate payments, several programs offer continuous financial support to eligible survivors.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

This tax-free monetary benefit is paid to eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents of service members who died from a service-related injury or disease, or who died while on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training. The amount can vary based on the relationship to the veteran and other factors.

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)

The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) provides a continuous, inflation-adjusted income to eligible beneficiaries (spouses, children, or former spouses) of military members who die on active duty, in the line of duty, or after retirement. It pays a percentage of the service member's retired pay (or projected retired pay for those who die on active duty).

Healthcare and Education Benefits

Families of fallen soldiers are also eligible for critical healthcare coverage and educational opportunities.

Healthcare Coverage

  • TRICARE: Eligible surviving family members are often entitled to continued healthcare coverage through TRICARE, the military healthcare program. This includes medical, dental, and pharmacy benefits, providing essential health security.

Education Opportunities

  • Fry Scholarship: The Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Fry Scholarship) provides Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to the children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. This benefit covers tuition and fees, housing allowance, and a stipend for books and supplies.
  • Transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill: In some cases, service members may have transferred their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to their dependents, which can still be utilized by eligible survivors.
  • Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Program: Also known as Chapter 35, this program offers education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related disability or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service-related disability.

Burial and Memorial Benefits

Families receive support for honoring their fallen loved ones.

Funeral and Burial Costs

  • The Department of Defense provides a comprehensive range of benefits to cover funeral and burial expenses, including transportation of remains, preparation of remains, and interment costs.
  • Eligible veterans may be buried in a VA national cemetery at no cost, which includes the grave site, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care.

Headstones and Markers

  • The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a headstone, marker, or medallion for the graves of eligible veterans in national, state, and private cemeteries worldwide.

Additional Support and Resources

Families may also access various other forms of assistance:

  • Life Insurance: Service members are often covered by Service members' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), providing a significant payout to designated beneficiaries.
  • Bereavement Counseling: Resources are available to help families cope with grief and loss.
  • Survivor Outreach Services (SOS): This program provides long-term support to surviving families of fallen soldiers.
  • Access to MWR Facilities: Surviving family members may retain access to Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) facilities.

Summary of Key Benefits for Fallen Soldiers' Families

Benefit Category Specific Benefits Description
Immediate Financial Death Gratuity One-time lump sum of $100,000 paid by the Department of Defense to the primary next of kin for active-duty deaths.
Ongoing Financial Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Tax-free monthly benefit to eligible surviving spouses, children, and parents for service-related deaths.
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Continuous, inflation-adjusted income to eligible beneficiaries of military members who die on active duty or after retirement.
Healthcare TRICARE Continued comprehensive healthcare coverage (medical, dental, pharmacy) for eligible surviving family members.
Education Fry Scholarship Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits for children and surviving spouses of service members who died in the line of duty after 9/10/2001, covering tuition, housing, and stipends.
Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) Education and training opportunities for eligible dependents of veterans who died on active duty or due to a service-related disability.
Burial & Memorial Funeral and Burial Expenses DoD covers comprehensive costs including transportation and preparation of remains. Burial in a VA national cemetery at no cost.
Headstones/Markers VA provides a headstone, marker, or medallion for graves of eligible veterans.
Other Support Service members' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Bereavement Counseling, Survivor Outreach Significant life insurance payout, grief support services, long-term support programs, access to military facilities.