CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
A new law governing the death gratuity election for the Department of Defense was put into effect July 1.
One of the current benefits is a one-time payment of $100,000 to survivors or whomever active-duty Airmen designate for the benefit upon the passing of that individual. Prior to July 1, death gratuity payments were limited to the spouse, then children. If there was no spouse or children, the member could leave the benefit to a blood family member, but no one else.
Now the member has more flexibility in designating the payment; the death gratuity can be left to anyone. The beneficiary does not have to be family or related to the person in any way; it can be left to parents, siblings, friends, teachers, next-door neighbors or anyone.
The death gratuity can be distributed into 10 portions, with minimums of $10,000 each, equaling the $100,000 payment. However, if a member is married and does not leave their spouse 100 percent, a letter will be sent to the spouse stating that he or she will not be receiving 100 percent of the gratuity as soon as the member updates their virtual record of emergency data. This letter will be generated by the Air Force Personnel Center Contact Center. If an unmarried member wants the gratuity to go into a trust for children, they can designate a parent or other person to receive it, eliminating the need for a court-appointed trustee.
"The intent of this change is good as long as members keep their information updated and current," said Kathleen Perry, 437th Force Support Squadron casualty assistance representative. "On the flipside, it could be bad if someone decides to name 10 people but the information is incorrect."
Airmen have to remember that all the information they provide on their virtual record of emergency data and Servicemen's Group Life Insurance election forms will be used in case something happens to them, so it is imperative that information is current and correct.
"To show you how important this is, consider what happened right here at Charleston AFB just a few years ago," said Ms. Perry.
She said the Charleston casualty assistance representative was alerted by AFPC of a next-of-kin notification resulting from the death of an Air Force member. The Air Force member was a master sergeant who had a heart attack and he did not have a spouse or children. For his beneficiaries, he left his death gratuity, unpaid benefits and insurance to be divided seven ways with beneficiaries spanning across the United States and including help from casualty assistance representatives from five bases -- one of which was Charleston.
None of the beneficiary information was correct, said Ms. Perry. It took four days to find all seven people with the search starting with one cell phone number that a friend of the member gave AFPC. During those four days, some family members heard rumors and had been trying to get in touch with the deceased member and some were surprised when they were finally notified.
The Air Force cannot pay out a benefit if the beneficiary can't be found.
All Airmen are encouraged to go online, check their beneficiary information and keep it updated.
If there are any questions, call Ms. Perry at 963-6334.