Posted on 03/22/2008 1:08:23 PM PDT by jude24
Three years ago, advocates for military families succeeded in winning a significant expansion in survivor benefits, which include life insurance, a death gratuity, medical care and housing and education assistance. But the increases have left some widows and next of kin clearly rattled by the collision of mourning and money.
“It’s like winning the lottery, and your relatives all look at you like you’re a cash cow,” said Kathleen B. Moakler, director of government relations for the National Military Family Association, a nonprofit advocacy organization. “Money makes people do strange things.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The mother who resented the care given to her daughter-in-law ("I had him for 20 years!") torqued me off.
ping to an interesting article.
It’s not like the military member did not pay for the $500K. Just like a civilian, it’s an insurance policy that he or she pays for monthly.
Oh, I know. I pay $29/mo. for my SGLI coverage.
I am facing the same thing, only on a much smaller scale, and I was counting on guidance, which now I don’t have and I don’t know what to do.
It’s scary.
I think this article is yet another attempt by the NY Slimes to make the military look bad—in this case military families. IMHO,anyone who characterizes benefits from a loved ones death as “winning the lottery” comes off as the worst kind of trailer park trash. I never heard them doing a similar story about the 9/11 families, who probably did much better when their loved ones did not actually volunteer to be in harms way.
I know there will be many here who will argue with me on this, but I really don’t think they should get a lump sum payment all at once, simply because most are young and they don’t know how to handle it. I think it should be spread out over 10 years and not one dime is received before the spouse attends at least one mandatory meeting with a financial planner. Really sad to hear of the ones who blow through it and then want to know how the government is going to help with the mess they’ve created. I don’t know how one blows through $500K!
".......survivors are often surrounded by people with their hands out."
When it comes to money, some people certainly behave like slugs.
“Just like a civilian, it’s an insurance policy that he or she pays for monthly.”
Not exactly correct. SGLI is an insurance policy paid for by the service member, but with a BIG difference...it has NO war rider clause. Civilian policies do not pay off if the death is caused by war.
I believe the Government pays the difference between standard policy premium and the war policy premium.
.....Bob
That depends on the insurance policy. I had both SGLI and an insurance policy without a war rider.
Boy do I agree with you.
But Bob, it’s still like a civilian policy, it just has one less clause than others.
Although it would require great personal sacrifice on my part, in the interest of helping a fellow FreeRep'er I'd be happy to demonstrate for you, using of course YOUR $500k. I know, I know, it's might big of me, but I would do it because it's the thing to do.
You're welcome!
PS I would be willing to stipulate that I would spend at least 25 percent of it on things for you.
"I know there will be many here who will argue with me on this, but I really don’t think they should get a lump sum payment all at once, simply because most are young and they don’t know how to handle it. I think it should be spread out over 10 years and not one dime is received before the spouse attends at least one mandatory meeting with a financial planner."
I think that is a very good idea.
Your generosity just astounds me. No, really.
LOL
She was hounded by relatives - including one uncle's family who wanted her to pay for a looming 6-figure heart surgery.
IIRC, she actually went to a shrink to try and find some way to get peace of mind.
The new york slimes. They print anything to make the troops look bad, hurt morale or damage the war effort. If it’s classified it goes on the front page.
Spell check is your friend!
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