Dealing with the death of a family member in the military is never easy, but surviving family members are entitled to certain benefits that can help ease financial difficulties. Looking into these benefits at the time a loved one dies can be difficult emotionally, but you should go through this process as soon as possible, otherwise you risk facing unexpected circumstances that may prevent you from receiving your benefits.
When a servicemember dies, family members are offered several forms of compensation. These include Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), proceeds from SGLI, various basic benefits, and the Survivor Benefits Plan. Each military service branch has a Casualty Assistance branch that is dedicated to assisting you with your paperwork and applications for all of your benefits and compensation.
The resources and information in this section will assist you in dealing with the death of servicemember or retiree.
