How to Get Death Benefits From Marines

The death of a Marine is always tragic and mourned by our nation, but by no one more than the Marine's surviving family. The period following the death of an active-duty or retired Marine can be very difficult and it is important that the surviving dependents make the necessary arrangement to receive the entitlements their beloved family member fought for. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Find your nearest Navy or Marine bases casualty assistance officer to help you find out all of the benefits you are entitled to.
2. Ask the casualty assistance officer about the $100,000 death gratuity that is available to the surviving family members in most cases, retroactive to the beginning of actions in Afghanistan in 2001.
3. Decide how much you want spend on a funeral and apply to the defense department for excess funeral costs. Oftentimes, Marines have already laid out plans for their funerals and this plan is kept with their service record.
4. Check with DFAS to make sure they keep your housing allowance coming for up to a year after the Marine dies.
5. Report your Marine's death to the Service Member Group Life Insurance Program (SGLI). The local casualty assistance office should have already taken care of this, but if they didn't you will need to check to see if your service-member paid for a policy.

Tips & Warnings

• SGLI policy can insure service members for up to $400,000 dollars.
• Death benefits for Marines are generally tax free.
• DFAS can be reached toll-free at 800-321-1080.
• Notify Department of Veterans Affairs 800-827-1000.