scope:

PURPOSE.

This Instruction provides survivors/representatives information regarding the Coast Guard's death gratuity policy and procedure. It addresses the policy by which the Coast Guard notifies the survivors/representatives and information about what to expect prior to the payment of benefits. This Instruction applies only to the additional discretionary death gratuity authorized by Reference (a) and is totally separate from the non-discretionary death gratuity amounts provided under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). All Coast Guard death gratuity payments shall be offset by amounts paid by the Department of Labor pursuant to Reference (a), and at no point will the total amount of death gratuity payment exceed $10,000.