MNG-071 · DEATH, FAMILY & SURVIVORS

Military Death Gratuity

Navigate the immediate military death-gratuity payment, beneficiary record, claim certification, casualty-assistance process, and evidence needed to keep this benefit separate from final pay, life insurance, SBP, and VA survivor benefits.

What the benefit is

Military OneSource currently describes the death gratuity as a $100,000 tax-exempt lump-sum payment intended to provide immediate financial support after a qualifying service member’s death. It is a separate federal benefit and should not be confused with SGLI, final military pay, the Survivor Benefit Plan, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or estate assets.

Who may qualify

  • A service member who dies while on active duty.
  • A service member who dies while on active duty for training or inactive duty for training when the governing rules apply.
  • Military OneSource also identifies certain deaths occurring within 120 days after release from active duty when the death is service-connected.
  • Reserve and National Guard status must be checked against the member’s actual orders and duty status at the time of death.

Eligibility turns on the member’s status and the governing casualty determination. Preserve orders, duty-status records, casualty reports, medical records when relevant, and every written eligibility determination.

Beneficiary and payment record

  • DD Form 93 — Record of Emergency Data: preserve the most recent beneficiary and emergency-data record.
  • DD Form 397 — Claim Certification and Voucher for Death Gratuity Payment: Military OneSource identifies this as the payment-certification form.
  • Preserve the casualty officer’s benefit worksheet, submitted forms, proof of identity/relationship, payment confirmation, and any correction or dispute correspondence.

Military OneSource states that eligible payments are normally made within 72 hours after receipt of DD Form 397. A case can take longer when eligibility or the cause/status of death remains under investigation.

Keep the benefit lanes separate

Official sources

Source status: Military OneSource operational guidance verified October 20, 2026. Use the assigned casualty office and current service instructions for the individual case.