thedrifter
08-16-07, 12:42 PM
Marines can choose death gratuity recipient
By Patricia Kime - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Aug 16, 2007 12:55:58 EDT
Marines have until Sept. 30 to designate an additional beneficiary for the death gratuity paid when a service member dies on active duty.
A provision to the wartime supplemental spending law signed by President Bush in May allows service members to designate an additional person to receive up to 50 percent of the death gratuity of $100,000, in increments of 10 percentage points.
A Marine Corps-wide message distributed Aug. 15 advises service members to file a red Record of Emergency Data form, a DD-93, if they want to add someone other than the primary beneficiary on record to receive money.
In the past, Marines could designate one particular individual or, if they filed no paperwork, the entire gratuity went to next of kin in the following order: surviving spouse, children (in equal shares), then parents or siblings.
However, minor children aren’t able to access the money until they turn 18, often placing a hardship on those who end up caring for dependent children, but aren’t a surviving spouse, especially grandparents.
The law will greatly improve the quality of life for those individuals and service members’ children, Kathy Moakler, director of government relations for the National Military Family Association, said earlier this year.
“Allowing up to $50,000 to go to someone who would care for the child does give a caregiver more flexibility,” she said.
The law also allows service members more leeway in determining how to care for their families, including parents or siblings.
“Making such a designation is strictly voluntary and will result in the person so identified receiving the percentage indicated,” the message states.
While the supplemental spending bill expires on Sept. 30, the legislation, also written into the fiscal 2008 defense bills, is expected to become permanent.
Ellie
By Patricia Kime - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Aug 16, 2007 12:55:58 EDT
Marines have until Sept. 30 to designate an additional beneficiary for the death gratuity paid when a service member dies on active duty.
A provision to the wartime supplemental spending law signed by President Bush in May allows service members to designate an additional person to receive up to 50 percent of the death gratuity of $100,000, in increments of 10 percentage points.
A Marine Corps-wide message distributed Aug. 15 advises service members to file a red Record of Emergency Data form, a DD-93, if they want to add someone other than the primary beneficiary on record to receive money.
In the past, Marines could designate one particular individual or, if they filed no paperwork, the entire gratuity went to next of kin in the following order: surviving spouse, children (in equal shares), then parents or siblings.
However, minor children aren’t able to access the money until they turn 18, often placing a hardship on those who end up caring for dependent children, but aren’t a surviving spouse, especially grandparents.
The law will greatly improve the quality of life for those individuals and service members’ children, Kathy Moakler, director of government relations for the National Military Family Association, said earlier this year.
“Allowing up to $50,000 to go to someone who would care for the child does give a caregiver more flexibility,” she said.
The law also allows service members more leeway in determining how to care for their families, including parents or siblings.
“Making such a designation is strictly voluntary and will result in the person so identified receiving the percentage indicated,” the message states.
While the supplemental spending bill expires on Sept. 30, the legislation, also written into the fiscal 2008 defense bills, is expected to become permanent.
Ellie