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Increase in and cost-of-living adjustment of death gratuity

Division A · Title VI: MILITARY COMPENSATION AND OTHER BENEFITS · Subtitle D: Family and Survivor Benefits

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The amount of money paid as a death gratuity to survivors of military members who die is increased from $100,000 to $165,000 for deaths occurring after the law is enacted. Starting in 2027, this death gratuity amount will be adjusted each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation, with the updated amount published annually by the Department of Defense.

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Section Text · Sec. 632.
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(a) Increase in death gratuity

(1) Increase

Section 1478(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking $100,000 and inserting $165,000 .

(2) Applicability

The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to deaths occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b) Cost-of-living adjustment of death gratuity

(1) Adjustment

Section 1478 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, is further amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection:

(c) Annual adjustment to death gratuity

(1)

On January 1 of each year, the amount of the death gratuity payable under subsection (a) shall be increased by the percentage (if any) by which the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the preceding calendar year exceeds such Consumer Price Index for the calendar year before such preceding calendar year, rounded to the nearest $100.

(2)

The Secretary of Defense shall annually publish the amount of the death gratuity payable under subsection (a), as adjusted by paragraph (1), in the Federal Register.

(2) Applicability

The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall apply beginning on January 1, 2027.