The Congressional Research Service has offered an example of cash benefits a spouse of an Air
Force lieutenant colonel (O-5) with eight years of service who died on active duty would receive
from the government. CRS emphasizes that this does not represent “average” or “typical”
benefits. As in the previous item, the lieutenant colonel’s spouse would be eligible for both
the death gratuity of $12,420 and the full Servicemembers Group Life Insurance benefit of
$250,000. The monthly basic Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefit for the spouse would
be $993. The spouse’s Survivor Benefit Plan annuity would be $1,828 per month. However, because
of the DIC forfeiture, the spouse, if under age 62, would receive only $835 per month. If the
spouse reaches 62 before 2008, the monthly SBP amount may be reduced. After 2008, it would
remain at $1,828, still subject to the DIC forfeiture.
