[Lokibob]

"Besides, since when do victims of a war get a multi-million dollar payout? Heck, we don't even compensate the soldiers who die with more than a nominal death benefit."

 

I agree with you, what a G.I. gets as a death benefit is shocking small.

 

Our military do not get a death benefit.  They pay for the government life insurance.

A GI gets $18/mo. deducted from their pay for life insurance.  Here is a description of SGLI:

 

Servicemen's Group Life Insurance (SGLI)

v     Automatically insured for $200,000, but may reduce or decline coverage as desired.

v     Monthly premiums are the same for all personnel, $.90 per $10,000 coverage.

 

I did a check of on-line insurance companies, and a healthy 20 year old can get the same insurance for the same price.  So when you hear that it is "GOVERNMENT LIFE INSURANCE", it is nothing of the kind.  The only way the government is involved is by requiring the G.I. to have it.

 

The only death benefit a G.I.'s survivor gets that is unique it the ability to stay in Government housing for 6 months free.  A guess on that is approximately $3,000.

Here is a list of Military death benefits Vs Federal employees death benefits.  http://www.cpms.osd.mil/icuc/attacks/Death%20Benefits%20Chart.htm

Sorry, I didn't intend to hijack the thread, but military death benefits are a sore spot with me, and every time it comes up, I intend to set the story straight. 

[caltrop]

Military Death benefits should be the standard on which any other compensation is measured. I don't, by the way, see the need for government compensation for WTC victims unless they're military personnel in any event.

[07055]

I am surprised that military personnel were not eligible for the Federal Thrift Savings Plan 401k until recently. Are they eligible now?

[WellsFargo94]

Our military do not get a death benefit. They pay for the government life insurance. A GI gets $18/mo. deducted from their pay for life insurance.

I also believe that when one gets out of the military, through seperation or retirement, they no longer qualify for SGLI.

Recently, they have offered SGLI coverage for spouses $100,000 (?). My feeling is that they had to start offering coverage for spouses because when a spouse dies there is usually a need for a hat to be passed around the unit to help defray costs, same thing for a child.