Posted on 01/18/2005 7:00:06 AM PST by davidosborne
CONGRATULATIONS ON A SWIFT AND STUNNING VICTORY!
Together we have changed the course of history - and in only five days.
This past Thursday, we contacted you about the shamefully low death benefit our government gives to the survivors of troops killed in action.
We asked you to send faxes to Congress demanding that the death benefit be raised from $12,000 and change to $100,000.
You responded in huge numbers. The result: Today - only five days later - the Washington Times is reporting that three senators - Sessions of Alabama, Lieberman of Connecticut, and Allen of Virginia - are proposing that the benefit be raised to $100,000 - precisely the amount you demanded!
That's how democracy works when private citizens pay attention to what's going on in their government. LaptopAmerica.net exists to help its members pay attention.
Now I would like to ask you to do one more thing: Thank these three fine senators for their responsiveness to grassroots America and to the desperate need of our military families.
Action to Take: Call Senators George Allen, Joe Lieberman, and Jeff Sessions and thank them for their responsiveness to grassroots America and to the desperate need of our military families.
Senator George Allen -- 202-224-4024
Senator Joe Lieberman -- 202-224-4041
Senator Jeff Sessions -- 202-224-4124
It's $16 and some odd cents for $250,000.....
BTTT!!!!!!!
The military pays for the funeral, if in a military cemetary.
Done and DONE! FAX nos. are as follows:
Sen. Lieberman--202.224.9750
Allen-202.224.5432
Sessions-202.224.3149
Drop 'em a line of thanks!
Military news ping....
When did it drop to $12,000?
Should be retroactive.
SGLI is INSURANCE, and a claim is filed, eventually processed, subject to review, and some exclusions, IF the soldier signed up for, Family may or may not get it. (In payments, or lump sum, subject to taxes, depending on the contract that the servicemember entered in to)
We're talking two different things here.
1. The current (free) death benefit is $12,000 and they want to raise it to $100,000.
2. Separately, servicemembers can buy - at about $200 per year - $250,000 of "private" insurance.
No it's not. Service members are already covered by SGLI, if they want it. Quarter-mil upon death. The death benefit is just a few thousand dollars meant to cover burial/travel expenses for the surviving family. It was not meant as all-in-one compensation for the family--the SGLI does that. Anyway...
The SGLI and $12,000 is tax free.
A million dollars? Some soldiers would get themselves killed on purpose.
"DEATH benefit" - Now that is an oxymoron.
It's not entirely optional.
There is an amount that's automatic. My memory says it's 100 grand...and anything above that is per the premium.
I think there's no way to have ZERO SGLI. Every soldier is covered by the minimum amount.
Again...the death benefit is for travel and burial. The SGLI if for survivor issues.
Some wives, too.
Extended tours of duty are Hell on marriages.
There are active military on thread who say it's not as you say. I'd think there should be an official source for this besides "well I think it's this...".
If we're talking about the death gratuity, that's just to hold the family over and pay short term expenses until SGLI can be settled. Last I heard SGLI was $250,000.
The death gratuity does not need to be $100,000. A few months pay, yes, but not $100,000.
Not exactly. Travel is reimbursed, and there's a separate burial benefit.
It's for short term "make ends meet" while everything else gets settled.
A pilot in Mike's unit opted out of SGLI...he was counseled several times to take it, Mike even counseled him, he didn't want to pay $16 a month...his Chinook was shot down and he was killed..his parents got $12,000...luckily, he was unmarried and had no kids.
You are correct in both posts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.