Navy OKs E-payment of Death Benefit

[unhappycamper]

Navy OKs E-payment of Death Benefit
August 05, 2008
Virginian-Pilot

A little more than two months after a grieving father was mistakenly jailed for trying to deposit his Navy death benefit check, the service has begun offering electronic funds transfer to make it easier for families to receive money after losing a Sailor.

Capt. Jerry Logan of the Navy Personnel Command implemented the new policy Monday by signing a memo between the command, which handles Navy casualties, and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, which processes military checks and payments.

Effective immediately, families who lose a Navy service member can receive their $100,000 death gratuity benefits electronically, said Lt. Karen Eifert, a Pentagon spokeswoman.

"This is an improved process we've been working to put in place to help families during a time of great grief, and we're glad to be able to implement this positive change," Logan said through Eifert.

Before this policy, the benefits only were issued with a paper check.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-oks-epayment-of-death-benefit.html?col=1186032310810