AP News, March 3rd, 2007
A look at the major types of compensation and benefits for the families of fallen U.S. military personnel:
_Death Gratuity: A $100,000 tax-exempt death gratuity, providing immediate cash to meet the needs of survivors following a service member's death and before other benefits become available.
_Housing Assistance: For up to a year after a death, survivors may remain in rent-free on-base housing or get an allowance for private housing.
_Burial Costs: The government reimburses up to $7,700 of expenses for the member's burial.
_Servicemembers Group Life Insurance: Service members are automatically insured for $400,000 through this program, though they may decline coverage.
_Dependency and Indemnity Compensation: The Department of Veterans Affairs pays a tax-free monthly amount to a surviving spouse of a service member who dies on active duty. The basic payment is $1,033 per month; an additional $257 is paid for each dependent child until age 18.
_Uniformed Services Survivor Benefit Plan: Eligible spouses and children of service members may also be entitled to monthly payments under this plan. For example, a surviving spouse _ until age 62 _ is entitled to 55 percent of what the service member would have earned in retirement pay.
_VA Education Benefits: The surviving spouse and children may also qualify for up to 45 months of full-time education benefits.
_Health Care: An unremarried, surviving spouse and minor dependents of the member are eligible for medical care at military medical facilities or are covered by the military's TRICARE health plan.
_Commissary and Exchange Privileges: A surviving spouse and minor children are eligible to shop at military stores, benefiting from savings available there.
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Source: Defense Department.
