Death benefit to be raised from $12,000 to $100,000? - ACTION ALERT

http://laptopamerica.net/ ^ | 18 January 2004 | http://laptopamerica.net/

[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

[davidosborne]

Regulations require that SGLI be opted OUT in writing.

[HairOfTheDog]

...luckily, he was unmarried and had no kids.

Not having any dependents is a good reason to opt out of optional life insurance. Makes sense to me that he'd opt out of paying for additional coverage.

[KurtAZ]

First off, the SGLI is not free. Current rates are found here: http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/SGLI/sgliPremiums.htm

Granted that it is extremely irresponsible NOT to have coverage, whenever we were getting ready for a deployment, one of the things you had an option for was to sign up or increase your coverage on SGLI. This Death Gratuity benefit is just smoke and mirrors. Yes, it makes our elected representatives feel good about themselves..."Look we increased the money your family gets paid if you are killed" but it is NOT going to replace their family's Father/Wife/Husband/Mother/Son/Daughter. Veterans are entitled to a military burial at any Veteran Cemetery, plus the body is transported home at no charge.

What I would rather see happen is Congress to suspend mortgage payments and other financial assistance to the families back home while their servicemember is in a combat zone. I have heard too many stories of families losing their homes, not being able to clothe their children, etc. while their Reserve "primary breadwinner" is taking the pay cut from their regular job and only receiving Military compensation. THIS is a more pressing concern than whether or not the "Death Gratuity" gets increased or not.

So good job guys, you made surviving family members feel marginally better about losing their loved ones in combat. There are many other service members still alive that are worrying about whether or not their children are going to be able to eat next week or be out on the street after the bank forecloses on their homes. Try taking THAT stress into combat with you, but look on the bright side. When you get killed for having too much on your mind, your family MAY get their home back. Granted you will not see your children and wife in this lifetime...but I am sure their next Daddy will.

[Salvation]

Agree totally!

[Eagle Eye]

FWIW, contractors of a certain company get $25,000 group life insurance and are not covered under normal life insurance plans. No SGLI for their families.

But hey, they're just greedy mercenaries, right?

[HairOfTheDog]

What I would rather see happen is Congress to suspend mortgage payments

Suspend them or pay them? You can't legislate that mortgages are suspended in times of combat, all that will do is make lenders reluctant to give loans to servicemen. It's inherently unfair to lenders. Guaranteeing payment of bills ~for~ the servicemember is another matter, although it would be better to just ensure that combat pay is a fair amount.

So good job guys, you made surviving family members feel marginally better about losing their loved ones in combat. There are many other service members still alive that are worrying about whether or not their children are going to be able to eat next week or be out on the street after the bank forecloses on their homes. Try taking THAT stress into combat with you, but look on the bright side. When you get killed for having too much on your mind, your family MAY get their home back. Granted you will not see your children and wife in this lifetime...but I am sure their next Daddy will.

Wow. A lot of bitterness in that post. I am sorry, and while I appreciate your service, I am not sure what fair option you've left us with your sentiments on the situation you are in.

Life insurance is never intended to replace the insured, only help to ensure the family can keep the commitments made when the family was whole, usually highest on the list is that mortgages can be paid off, hopefully with enough left over for the family to survive the loss of income, no money makes it easier to survive the loss of the loved one. That was never the goal.

The last sentence of your post above is particularly bitter and I would recommend you give consideration to exactly why you are throwing venom at a widow with children who finds another marriage.

[mystery-ak]

The Army and Sailors Act somewhat covers what you are talking about.

[rabidralph]

Like I said, you shouldn't join the military and expect to get rich. I served from '88-'96 and I took the SGLI, just in case. Thank God, I came back. Right now, I pay $30.45 out of each paycheck for my life insurance coverage. Would I rather have the extra money? Sure, but I'd rather leave something for my surviving family, even though I'm single. Death benefits and other compensation should not be viewed as a lottery so surviving spouses can quit work and live it up.

[davidosborne]

Are you suggesting PRIVATE CITIZENS should be able to sign up for SGLI? I got a better idea,how about EVERYONE works for the GOVERNMENT and EVERYONE gets paid the same! /sarcasm

[KurtAZ]

Nah, not really bitter...just think it is completely unfair to the mental state of married men in Combat to have to worry about the financial well-being of their families at home. I am sure that SOMEHOW they could figure out a way to help these families, if not through suspension, a lower rate or a temporary "interest only" type of payment.

And no, I am not against the widow finding another husband, just trying to illustrate that worrying about your family at home on top of combat stress will get you killed. You already are worried abut your family even if things are going well at home. Don't mean to come off as bitter, just frustrated and angry that no one seems to be worried about this. And there are some relief organizations that are set up for assistance, Navy Relief Fund comes to mind, but they are grossly underfunded.

[Not A Snowbird]

Death benefits and other compensation should not be viewed as a lottery so surviving spouses can quit work and live it up.

Now that I can agree with.

[KurtAZ]

Actually, Veterans are eligible for VGLI, same coverage at slightly elevated rates: http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/VGLI/VGLI%20ratesAfter.htm

[davidosborne]

You are CORRECT

[Alberta's Child]

You raise good points here, but in the same post you provide two messages that make opposite points.

On the one hand, you suggest that it is "irresponsible" for someone not to have the full coverage that they are permitted if they have families to support. I tend to agree with you on that.

On the other hand, you say that a more pressing concern for the families of Reservists is meeting the day-to-day living expenses when the "primary breadwinner" is called for active duty. I might also agree with this, but then I would also suggest (in conjunction with the first point) that it is "irresponsible" for someone who is serving as his/her family's "primary breadwinner" to be a member of the Reserves in the first place.

[davidosborne]

FWIW, contractors of a certain company get $25,000 group life insurance and are not covered under normal life insurance plans. No SGLI for their families.

But hey, they're just greedy mercenaries, right?

I was responding to the sarcasm of Eagle Eye with a little sarcasm of my own.

FReegards,

David C. Osborne
Drill Sergeant
USAR

[davidosborne]

that it is "irresponsible" for someone who is serving as his/her family's "primary breadwinner" to be a member of the Reserves in the first place.

HEY NOW !!

[HairOfTheDog]

Perhaps some kind of insurance for loss or difference of income could be offered that was affordable... I am sure up until recently, such insurance would have been a good deal for insurers, when long deployments for reserves was uncommon. Perhaps it is still. I know people like myself do care that servicemembers make enough to support their families back home, and would say so to anyone in a position to improve the situation.

[KurtAZ]

Okay...I forgot about that...and Congress just changed that to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Looks like it upped the amount or "un-evictable" rent to $2400.00 per month from $1200.00 per month, kept the provision to drop installment interest to 6%, but now allows servicemembers to null an auto lease if they are deployed over 180 days. Okay, standing down.

[KurtAZ]

No, I wouldn't agree with that. I know many people that have maintained their Reserve status that are primary breadwinners in their household. Many have a 3-6 month savings reserve built up, but when you are deployed for a year, that only goes so far.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!