DoD is not paying death gratuities to families of fallen military members (edit: payments resumed)

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**gossipmeng**

Just a bit curious, why is it 100k? Funerals and the travel cost wouldn't normally be that high.

A fairly decent funeral costs around 15-20k, anything over that is lavish banquet halls and golden caskets.

**djones520**

gossipmeng wrote:
Just a bit curious, why is it 100k? Funerals and the travel cost wouldn't normally be that high.

A fairly decent funeral costs around 15-20k, anything over that is lavish banquet halls and golden caskets.

It's got something to do with death being a not unreasonable job expectation I think.

**gossipmeng**

Only reason I question the amount is because there is a finite amount of money budgeted for this kind of thing. Perhaps some of the money would be better served assisting veterans who survive and need care/jobs. I'm all for honouring those who have passed, but I'm more for supporting those who are still here.

**djones520**

gossipmeng wrote:
Only reason I question the amount is because there is a finite amount of money budgeted for this kind of thing. Perhaps some of the money would be better served assisting veterans who survive and need care/jobs. I'm all for honouring those who have passed, but I'm more for supporting those who are still here.

Well that's what the VA is for.

**Orlanth**

Monster Rain wrote:
As much as I agree that it sucks that these payments aren't being made, it still smacks of political grandstanding to shift some blame around.

That is how I see it. Veterans familes are probably amongst the first effected by the cut off, so that destittuton wrought can be spotlighted, whereas plenty of quietly overfunded projects remain quietly overfunded.
Frankly I doubt what gets funded and what doesnt is in any way random.
Obama said he would negotiate with the opposition over the budget so long as they removed their 'threats'. What about his own.

**Alfndrate**

gossipmeng wrote:
Just a bit curious, why is it 100k? Funerals and the travel cost wouldn't normally be that high.

A fairly decent funeral costs around 15-20k, anything over that is lavish banquet halls and golden caskets.

Some places have a wrongful or accidental death clause in that your relatives get money if you die while you work for a company because of the company's actions (I believe putting you in a combat zone ticks that checkbox

). So I have a cushy office job, the worst injury I could occur is lower back problems and carpal tunnel, yet my company has an accidental death where they pay double my salary should I die on the job, which is a lot higher than the 15-20k you're suggesting. It's not that unheard of.

Also it's not just to pay for funeral costs, it's also to pay for the sudden lack of income that the family isn't getting because the person making that money is now dead (sadly).

**whembly**

I think this ordeal is just appalling...

The H.R. 3210: Pay Our Military Act states:

(a) In General- There are hereby appropriated for fiscal year 2014, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2014 are not in effect--
(1) such sums as are necessary to provide pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code), including reserve components thereof, who perform active service during such period;

Isn't this covered under "allowances"?

What really irks me is that Obama claimed the unilateral right to delay the ObamaCare employer mandate for a year because... he can. (but it's "The LAW!" dontcha now?)

What's his excuse here?

Regardless... the House will pass another Bill tonight. Do you think Reid will allow it on the floor?

**Ensis Ferrae**

gossipmeng wrote:
Just a bit curious, why is it 100k? Funerals and the travel cost wouldn't normally be that high.

A fairly decent funeral costs around 15-20k, anything over that is lavish banquet halls and golden caskets.

We actually have a 400k death gratuity that goes out to the families/beneficiaries... that 1st 100k is released for the immediate payoff of casket costs, headstone costs, service costs,etc. It is also for the payoff of the person's debts (CC, car, etc. that were in the person's name that need to be cleared)

Because, contrary to common belief, just because you can be buried in a national or VA cemetary doesn't mean its completely free.... Generally speaking only the plot itself is, the actual headstone/marker cost money.

**-Shrike-**

This is just appalling. They didn't think to fund the death gratuities, but kept the rest of the military funded?

**Ouze**

whembly wrote:
I think this ordeal is just appalling...

The H.R. 3210: Pay Our Military Act states:

(a) In General- There are hereby appropriated for fiscal year 2014, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2014 are not in effect--
(1) such sums as are necessary to provide pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code), including reserve components thereof, who perform active service during such period;

Isn't this covered under "allowances"?

It would be if it actually went to the service member, but obviously it does not. Move your highlighting over one more word, yes?

whembly wrote:
What really irks me is that Obama

Please stop there

**whembly**

Ouze wrote:
whembly wrote:
I think this ordeal is just appalling...

The H.R. 3210: Pay Our Military Act states:

(a) In General- There are hereby appropriated for fiscal year 2014, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for any period during which interim or full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2014 are not in effect--
(1) such sums as are necessary to provide pay and allowances to members of the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code), including reserve components thereof, who perform active service during such period;

Isn't this covered under "allowances"?

It would be if it actually went to the service member, but obviously it does not. Move your highlighting over one more word, yes?

Nah... that's wordsmithing there...

death gratuity, et & el are benefits to the members. No difference to accidential life/death insurance that you and I have.

But, then again... it's written by politicians. *shrugs*

whembly wrote:
What really irks me is that Obama

Please stop there

Absolutely not. If the administration can make a decision to delay the mandate for employer, then that same *powah* could concievely be used to ensure that these insurance are paid to the family. If you're going to "pick and choose" as an executive... this, would be the right thing to do...

**Jihadin**

Clarify on the 100K to 400K. Its SGLI. Service Group Life Insurance.

**Jihadin**

Senior U.S. military sources describe the attack as “complex”.

A Ranger regiment that included 36 troops and a canine unit were attempting to capture a high value target in Panjwai in southern Afghanistan. When the troops arrived at the home, U.S. military officials said, the unit did a typical “call out” asking for those inside to come out.

One man appeared. Reports from the battlefield suggest he dropped to his knees and lifted his shirt to show the U.S. forces that he was not wearing a suicide bomb vest.

As several members of the Ranger unit moved toward the man to begin questioning him, a woman wearing a suicide vest emerged from the house and blew herself up, killing several members of the unit instantly, along with the dog, and injuring others.

Another Afghan male tried to escape from the compound.

As U.S. army medics, explosives specialists and others in the unit moved in to help the wounded, 13 improvised explosive devices went off, killing and injuring more U.S. forces.

They were the last casualties before the Afghan war entered its 13th year Monday.

Holy Crap. That's something new their doing. I've seen this when entering areas where they launch rockets at us. The IED's around the make shift launch platform. Some serious planning and timing went into this.

**Medium of Death**

I'm going to ask the question again, why do they get $100,000? Is it a case of that is the amount allocated but often rarely used? It seems like an obscene amount of money.

**Jihadin**

Its Life Insurance. SGLI. Service Group Life Insurance. 100K to 400K. Here in the States its 100K but deployment to a combat zone it automatically goes to 400K.

**djones520**

Jihadin wrote:
Its Life Insurance. SGLI. Service Group Life Insurance. 100K to 400K. Here in the States its 100K but deployment to a combat zone it automatically goes to 400K.

Ummm... Mine is 400k at all times. That's what I'm paying for.

**whembly**

Medium of Death wrote:
I'm going to ask the question again, why do they get $100,000? Is it a case of that is the amount allocated but often rarely used? It seems like an obscene amount of money.

It's life insurance...

Most businesses offer's life insurance as part of the employee's benefit package. Mine is 4x my year salary.

I'd say 100G is a bit on the low side.

**djones520**

The gratuity is not our SGLI, that is something differant.

http://www.military.com/benefits/survivor-benefits/death-gratuity.html

**whembly**

djones520 wrote:
The gratuity is not our SGLI, that is something differant.

http://www.military.com/benefits/survivor-benefits/death-gratuity.html

Good find.

*bookmarks this site*

**Ouze**

whembly wrote:
Regardless... the House will pass another Bill tonight. Do you think Reid will allow it on the floor?

He did, it passed, and the president signed it. you can read about it here; but TLDR this issue is now resolved.

**Ensis Ferrae**

Medium of Death wrote:
I'm going to ask the question again, why do they get $100,000? Is it a case of that is the amount allocated but often rarely used? It seems like an obscene amount of money.

Not sure how funerals/wakes/memorials are in the UK, but they are definitely not cheap in the States. 100k is pretty easy to reach for even a fairly basic service, burial, headstone, casket, etc.

**reds8n**

http://www.sunlifedirect.co.uk/Funeral-Planning/Average-Funeral-Costs/

Between 2004 and 2013, the average funeral cost in the UK rose from £1,920 to £3,456, an increase of 80%. At what will already be a difficult time for your loved ones, the last thing you want to do is leave them with the responsibility of finding the money to pay funeral costs.

For many, funeral costs could be much more than the UK average, a figure which is based on the average cost of a basic burial or cremation, and includes:
Collection of deceased from within a 20/25 mile radius
Care of the deceased, robe and dressing
Payment of cremation/burial, doctor's and Minister's/Officiant's fees (known as disbursements)
Use of chapel of rest for viewing deceased
Provision of hearse, one limousine with one director and four bearers
A mid-range oak veneer coffin

What these figures don't include are extra costs for things many people would want to provide for the funeral of a loved one. These include flowers, catering for after the funeral, a notice of death advertisement in a newspaper, printing of order of service cards and the installing of a grave marker or headstones.
These funeral costs are often referred to as ‘basic’ or ‘discretionary costs’ and can add hundreds of pounds to the basic cost of the funeral.

Regional UK Funeral Costs
Funeral costs can also vary massively between regions. For example a burial in London is on average £6,368, over twice the cost of an average burial in the cheapest region - Northern Ireland which stands at £2,976*.

**whembly**

Ouze wrote:
whembly wrote:
Regardless... the House will pass another Bill tonight. Do you think Reid will allow it on the floor?

He did, it passed, and the president signed it. you can read about it here; but TLDR this issue is now resolved.

Give all parties a thumbs up.

**Dreadclaw69**

Ouze wrote:
whembly wrote:
Regardless... the House will pass another Bill tonight. Do you think Reid will allow it on the floor?

He did, it passed, and the president signed it. you can read about it here; but TLDR this issue is now resolved.

Good, glad to hear that it was resolved.