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Death Benefits

Most military installations have casualty assistance officers to help families of service members who die on active duty. The officers are responsible for notifying the family of the death and circumstances surrounding it. In accordance with the family, they also can assist with burial arrangements.

In most circumstances, surviving family members are entitled to the death gratuity regardless of whether the death occurred in the line of duty. The death gratuity for all deaths is now $100,000, retroactive to Oct. 7, 2001, the start of military operations in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department also reimburses burial expenses up to a maximum of $7,700. A family may be paid up to $4,850 for interment in a private cemetery after the remains have been consigned to a funeral home ($7,700 if the family arranges preparation and casket); up to $3,450 for burial in a government cemetery after the remains have been sent to a funeral home ($6,200 when the family arranges preparation and casket); and up to $850 when the remains are directly sent to a government cemetery.

The Pentagon also reimburses families for the money they spend to transport remains to the final destination.

Military regulations authorize honor guards for funerals of all active-duty members, as well as reservists and National Guard members who die on active duty. At least two uniformed service members will serve on honor details for each military funeral, as long as they are not needed for missions. At least one honor-detail member must be from the deceased member's branch of service.

Veterans' organizations will provide honor guards when uniformed service members are not available. An adjutant general's office, duty officer or commander's office at a local installation or reserve training center also can provide this service.

Immediate family members may continue receiving government housing or the BAH for up to a year after a service member dies. However, neither a death gratuity nor housing allowance will be paid to a dependent who kills a service member, "unless there is evidence which clearly absolves the dependent of any felonious intent," according to military regulations.

Taxes. Death benefits generally are tax-free.