Current military death benefits...It's never enough!

[Oxford]

Benefits for service members, vets and family...A list of federal benefits offered to GIs, former and current, and their dependents if injured or killed while serving their country

NBC, MSNBC and news services
Updated: 11:36 a.m. ET Jan. 24, 2005

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has a wide range of benefits
for veterans, service members and their families who were injured or killed
during military service. Here’s a bulleted list of what is offered:

Deceased military and their families
Service members that have lost their life during combat.
Service member is entitled to a military funeral paid for by the military or the military will pay $4,325 for a civilian funeral. Service member’s family receives $12,000 death gratuity check within 72 hours of death. Payment from service member’s military life insurance — only if the service member signed up and paid for it — up to $250,000.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation payments may be available for
surviving spouses who have not remarried, unmarried children under 18,
helpless children, those between 18 and 23 if attending a VA-approved
school, and low-income parents of deceased service members or veterans.
Spouse and dependents can stay up to 1 year on a military base until they
find permanent housing. Spouses and dependent children (age 18 to 26 years) of deceased service member or 100 percent disabled service member are eligible for VA educational assistance, provided the veteran's death or disability was service-connected — up to 45 months.
Source: Veterans Affairs

Injured service members — active duty
These are service members that are still in the military but have received
injuries during combat.

Free medical care for injuries suffered in combat at any military hospital.
A broad range of counseling services.Retraining to another military specialty may be possible.
Source: Army Public Affairs
Injured service members —medically retired Service members that have received injuries so severe that they have to be released from active duty.

Free lifetime health care for the medical problem at a VA facility. (If the
disability is 50 percent or higher, total health care is covered for the
service member. If 40 percent or lower, service-connected injury is taken care of. Veteran makes a co-payment for other health care needs.)
Disability pay for the injury for life. (Payment is based on severity of the injury.) percent or lower, service-connected injury is taken care of. Veteran
makes a co-payment for other health care needs.) Disability pay for the
injury for life. (Payment is based on severity of the injury.) injury for life. (Payment is based on severity of the injury.)

Source: Veterans Affairs

Injured service members —medically discharged Service members who have
achieved less than 20 years in the military that have received service-related
injuries.

Veterans can receive $108 to $2,299 depending on percentage of disability
— any veteran who receives a disability of 30 percent or higher is entitled
to additional money for dependents. Some severely disabled vets are eligible for a special monthly compensation of $6,576 a month. Dependents of veterans that are permanently disabled are eligible for educational benefits.
Health care for service-connected disability — VA can contract to outside
hospitals if they cannot take care of veteran’s needs. Disabled veterans may be entitled to a grant from VA for a home specially adapted to their needs or for adaptations to a house.

Source: House Veterans Affairs Committee

[Rave]

Thanks for posting ,I wonder how many vets are aware of this?

[Shaun]

Thanks for posting this -- I still think we don;t take care of our troops enough. I would one day like to see it where if you have served in our military you are free from paying income tax for life and then I would like to see the payrolls put to a competitive status.

[NorCalAshnjikov]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Thanks for posting this -- I still think we don;t take care of our troops enough. I would one day like to see it where if you have served in our military you are free from paying income tax for life and then I would like to see the payrolls put to a competitive status.

Sounds like a fine idea, but only if you saw actual combat
(if your life is in danger).

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by NorCalAshnjikov

Sounds like a fine idea, but only if you saw actual combat
(if your life is in danger).

what do you guys who served think about my idea - the tax benefit would include a surviving family

[jerry]

Originally Posted by NorCalAshnjikov

Sounds like a fine idea, but only if you saw actual combat
(if your life is in danger).

How about DEFINING actual combat! Life in danger is pretty broad there.

[Rave]

Never happen,but if it did I would like to seeit be for ALL military personnel including immediate family.
It's hard enough to get qualified personnel to maintain equipment and other back up positions with out the draft.

[Stopper]

Being deployed to a combat area should be enough. The people who received all the benefits from the WTC attacks shoud have to pony up a little to help our service personnel - I know that gonna go over like a fart in church, but I had to say it. Now I guess the OK City folks are trying to get that kind of money - absolutely pityful.