June 7, 2011
From Department of Veterans Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) — The Department of Veterans Affairs announced June 3, Sailors who suffered a qualifying injury on or after Oct. 7, 2001, may be eligible beginning Oct. 1, for a payment of $25,000 to $100,000 regardless of where the injury occurred.
The Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection program (TSGLI) became effective Dec. 1, 2005. This program provides benefits to service members who have suffered physical losses as the result of traumatic injuries. TSGLI originally provided for payment to two groups of service members:
– All service members covered under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) who suffered qualifying losses on or after Dec. 1, 2005, regardless of where those injuries occurred.
– Those who suffered qualifying losses between Oct. 7, 2001, and Nov. 30, 2005, in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF) or Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
With the passage of the Veterans’ Benefits Act of 2010, service members who incurred qualifying injuries outside of OEF or OIF during the retroactive period may be eligible to receive benefits, regardless of whether they had SGLI coverage at the time of their injury.
Beginning Oct. 1, 2011, active and Reserve Sailors who suffered qualifying injuries from events such as training accidents or motor vehicle accidents between Oct. 7, 2001 and Nov. 30, 2005, while serving stateside or in other areas outside of OEF or OIF, can now receive the same traumatic injury benefits as those who served in OEF and OIF. Such injuries did not have to occur while on active duty or active duty for training.
TSGLI covers a range of losses including amputations; limb salvage; paralysis; burns; loss of sight, hearing or speech; facial reconstruction; 15-day continuous hospitalization; coma; and loss of activities of daily living due to traumatic brain injury or other traumatic injuries.
For more information on TSGLI and a complete list of qualifying losses, go to www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/TSGLI.htm.