Death Gratuity (DG) and Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Supplemental Increase (Corrected Copy)

1. ON 11 MAY 2005, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SIGNED
PUBLIC LAW 109-13. SECTION 1013 OF THIS LAW PROVIDED FOR AN
INCREASE OF DEATH GRATUITY (DG) TO $100,000 AND AN INCREASE OF
SERVICEMEMBERS GROUP LIFE INSURANCE (SGLI) TO $400,000 FOR CERTAIN
SPECIFIED SERVICE-MEMBERS. THESE PAYMENTS ARE RETROACTIVE TO 7
OCTOBER 2001. THE INCREASED DG PAYMENT WILL END ON 30 SEPTEMBER
2005 UNLESS CONGRESS ENACTS THE INCREASE INTO PERMANENT LAW. 
PARAGRAPH 2 OF THIS MESSAGE DELINEATES THE CRITERIA THAT WOULD
QUALIFY A DEATH FOR THE INCREASED PAYMENTS. PARAGRAPH 3, 4, AND 5
DEFINE THE THREE PAYMENT GROUPS AND THE PROCESS FOR PAYMENT. 

2. THERE ARE TWO PRIMARY QUALIFIERS FOR DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR
THE INCREASED AMOUNTS OF DG AND SGLI. THE FIRST IS A DEATH
RESULTING FROM WOUNDS, INJURIES, OR ILLNESSES THAT ARE INCURRED IN
AN OPERATION OR AREA DESIGNATED AS A COMBAT OPERATION OR COMBAT ZONE
BY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE UNDER SECTION 1967(E)(1)(A) OF TITLE 38.
 IF NOT IN SUCH A LOCATION, THE MEMBER MUST BE DEPLOYED OUTSIDE THE
UNITED STATES ON ORDERS IN SUPPORT OF EITHER OPERATION ENDURING
FREEDOM OR OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM TO QUALIFY. THE SECOND QUALIFIER
IS A DEATH RESULTING FROM WOUNDS, INJURIES, OR ILLNESSES THAT MEET
COMBAT-RELATED SPECIAL COMPENSATION CRITERIA (CRSC): 1) DIRECT
RESULT OF ARMED CONFLICT, 2) WHILE ENGAGED IN HAZARDOUS SERVICE, 3)
IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTY UNDER CONDITIONS SIMULATING WAR, AND 4)
DEATH BY INSTRUMENTALITY OF WAR. HQMC (M&RA) WILL MAKE THE FINAL
DECISION ON WHETHER A DEATH MEETS CRSC CRITERIA AND WILL DETERMINE
THE APPROPRIATE BENEFICIARY IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 10 U.S. CODE
FOR DG AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE 38 U.S. CODE FOR SGLI. DEATHS
THAT DO NOT MEET THE ABOVE CRITERIA WILL RECEIVE $12,420 DG AND
ELECTED AMOUNT OF SGLI UP TO $250,000.

3. THE FIRST PAYMENT GROUP IS CLASSIFIED AS RETROACTIVE DG AND
SGLI, ENCOMPASSING THE DATES FROM 7 OCTOBER 2001 TO 10 MAY 2005.
BENEFICIARIES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT OF $88,000
FOR DG AND $150,000 FOR SGLI. HQMC (M&RA) HAS ALREADY COMPLETED THE
DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBLE DEATHS AND APPROPRIATE BENEFICIARIES. A
LETTER WILL BE MAILED TO THE BENEFICIARIES EXPLAINING THE
SUPPLEMENTAL INCREASES. A DD FORM 397 (CLAIM FORM), AND AN
ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER FORM (EFT) WILL BE SENT WITH THE LETTER. 
PAYMENT WILL BE MADE AS SOON AS THE DOCUMENTS ARE RECEIVED AT HQMC
AND ARE TRANSMITTED TO DFAS-KANSAS CITY FOR REMITTANCE. THE OFFICE
OF SERVICEMEMBERS GROUP LIFE INSURANCE (OSGLI) IS NOT THE
RESPONSIBLE AGENCY FOR THE PAYMENT OF SUPPLEMENTAL SGLI. DO NOT
CONTACT THAT OFFICE IN REGARDS TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL SGLI PAYMENT. 
CASUALTY ASSISTANCE CALLS OFFICERS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE
PAYMENT PROCESS FOR THIS PAYMENT GROUP. 

4. THE SECOND PAYMENT GROUP IS CLASSIFIED AS TRANSITORY DG AND SGLI
ENCOMPASSING THE DATES FROM 11 MAY 2005 TO 31 AUG 2005. 
BENEFICIARIES WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A TOTAL PAYMENT OF $100,000
(SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT OF $87,580) FOR DG AND A SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT
OF $150,000 FOR SGLI. THESE ARE CURRENT CASES AND AS SUCH, CASUALTY
ASSISTANCE CALLS OFFICERS WILL ASSIST THE APPROPRIATE BENEFICIARIES
IN FILLING OUT AN EFT AND SUBMITTING THIS FORM TO HQMC FOR
PROCESSING THROUGH DFAS-KANSAS CITY. CACO(S) WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE
SPECIFIC BENEFIT AMOUNT FOR EACH BENEFICIARY. 

5. THE THIRD PAYMENT GROUP WILL ENCOMPASS THOSE DEATHS OCCURING
BETWEEN 1 SEPTEMBER 2005 AND 30 SEPTEMBER 2005. BENEFICIARIES FOR
THIS GROUP WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A TOTAL DG PAYMENT OF $100,000. 
HOWEVER, THIS GROUP WILL NOT RECEIVE A SUPPLEMENTAL SGLI PAYMENT AS
EFFECTIVE 1 SEP 2005, SGLI COVERAGE FOR ALL SERVICE-MEMBERS WILL
INCREASE UP TO $400,000, AS ELECTED BY THE MEMBER. PAYMENT OF DG
WILL BE THE SAME AS THE TRANSITORY DG PROCESS.