PHS Corps

Military & Veterans

U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHS Corps)

Casualty assistance and survivor benefits for U.S. Public Health Service officers

When someone dies Survivor benefits Forms

The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States, with approximately 6,000 officers serving across HHS agencies (FDA, CDC, NIH, IHS, HRSA), the Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other federal partners. When a PHS officer dies on active duty, in retired status, or as an inactive reserve officer, the Commissioned Corps Headquarters (CCHQ) — through Corps Care and the Survivor Assistance Officer (SAO) — coordinates casualty assistance, burial entitlements, the $100,000 death gratuity, Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities, SGLI, and TRICARE survivor coverage. As a uniformed service, PHS officers and their survivors are eligible for the same VA, SSA, and DOD survivor programs as members of the Armed Forces.

Notifying the PHS Corps when someone dies

A family member reports the death. PHS Corps's page on what to do after a death →

Next of kin and executors

Report an active-duty officer's death as soon as possible to Corps Care at 240-276-9616 or PHSCorpsCare@hhs.gov, even with some details missing. A Survivor Assistance Officer then contacts the family.

•Give the officer's name, PHS Service Number, agency assignment, next-of-kin contact, time, date, place and circumstances of death, and funeral arrangements if known.

Report a retired officer's death to the USCG Pay & Personnel Center, Retiree and Annuitant Services, at 1-866-772-8724 or psc-dg-ras@uscg.mil. It stops retired pay, settles final arrears and sets up any SBP annuity.

•Mail: Commanding Officer (RAS), U.S. Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center, 444 S.E. Quincy St., Topeka, KS 66683-3591

Send a certified copy of the death certificate to CCHQ Financial Services Branch, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852, and return the officer's ID card to the Survivor Assistance Officer.

Review the officer's Record of Emergency Data (DD-93) with the Survivor Assistance Officer, and ask the officer's OPDIV, STAFFDIV or non-HHS agency for a point of contact.

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death and ask about the lump-sum death payment and monthly survivor benefits.

Surviving spouses and children

Submit benefit claims to CCHQ Financial Services Branch, which pays the $100,000 death gratuity within 72 hours of a completed DD-397 and the death certificate:

•DD-397: death gratuity
•SF-1174: unpaid pay and unused leave
•CG Form 1884: SBP annuity application
•PHS-4013-1: household goods shipment, turned over to a shipping officer within one year of the death

File SGLV-8283 for the SGLI death benefit through the Survivor Assistance Officer, who submits it to OSGLI. Call OSGLI at 800-419-1473 with questions.

Call VA at 1-800-827-1000 and file:

•VA Form 21P-534EZ: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for spouses and children
•VA Form 40-1330: government headstone or marker

Update DEERS to keep TRICARE, and apply for new survivor ID cards on DD Form 1172-2:

•Call the DMDC/DEERS Support Office at 1-800-538-9552.
•Visit an ID card office with a copy of the death certificate, or fax it to 1-800-336-4416.
•Active duty: also call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303.

Required Documents

Certified copies of the death certificate: A certified copy goes to each of CCHQ Financial Services Branch, OSGLI, VA, SSA and DEERS.
The officer's PHS Service Number and Social Security Number
USPHS Commissioned Corps Statement of Service: Issued by the Survivor Assistance Officer and used to claim benefits from sources outside the Corps, such as VA, SSA and civilian pension plans.
Marriage certificates: for spousal benefits
Birth certificates for dependent children
Divorce decrees: if applicable
The officer's Uniformed Services ID card: Form PHS-1866-1 for an active-duty officer or DD-2 (Ret) for a retired officer; it is returned to the Survivor Assistance Officer.
The officer's most recent DD-93 and SGLV-8286 on file: The Record of Emergency Data and the SGLI election.

Timeline

CCHQ Financial Services Branch pays the death gratuity within 72 hours of receiving a completed DD-397 and the death certificate.

Deadlines3

Report of an active-duty officer's death to Commissioned Corps Headquarters: as soon as possible after the death¹
Household goods turned over to a shipping officer for Government-funded shipment: one year, with extensions if the estate is in litigation after the date of death¹
Choice of a Home of Selection for Government-funded travel: within 3 years, extendable to 6 through the Secretarial Process¹

What PHS Corps pays or provides to survivors11

Death Gratuity

Death gratuity

A one-time, tax-free lump sum for the survivors of an officer who dies on active duty or within 120 days of separation from active duty, paid in the period right after the death, before other benefits become available.^{1, 2, 3}

Who qualifies: In order of precedence: the surviving spouse; if there is no spouse, the children in equal shares; if there is no spouse or child, the designated beneficiaries under 10 U.S.C. Chapter 75.

Amount: $100,000

How to apply: Submit DD-397 with the death certificate to CCHQ Financial Services Branch, which processes and pays it within 72 hours of receipt. Form DD-397.

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Annuity

Monthly survivor benefit or annuity

A monthly annuity for the surviving spouse and eligible children of an officer who dies on active duty, or of a retired officer who elected SBP. The U.S. Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center, Retiree and Annuitant Services, administers it for the Corps, not DFAS and not CCHQ.^{4, 1, 2, 5}

Who qualifies: USCG pays it if the officer died in the line of duty, or was eligible for a regular or non-regular retirement based on length of service, regardless of a line-of-duty determination. A retired officer must have elected SBP coverage.

Amount: 55 percent of the base amount, and taxable. The former reduction to 35 percent at age 62 no longer applies; the annuity is reduced dollar for dollar by any VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.

How to apply: File CG-1884 with CCHQ Financial Services Branch. Questions about an established annuity account go to USCG Pay and Personnel Center, Retiree and Annuitant Services. Form CG-1884.

Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI)

Life insurance proceeds

Active-duty officers are automatically insured under SGLI unless they elected a lesser amount or declined coverage. The VA administers it through the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI), Prudential. After retirement it continues automatically for 120 days and may then be converted to VGLI.^{6, 7, 8}

Who qualifies: The beneficiaries the officer designated on SGLV-8286.

Amount: Up to $500,000, the current maximum effective 1 March 2023; officers may elect lesser amounts in $50,000 increments.

How to apply: The beneficiary completes SGLV-8283. For an active-duty death, the VA directs the beneficiary to the CCHQ Survivor Assistance Officer for help submitting it to OSGLI. Form SGLV-8283.

Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)

Monthly survivor benefit or annuity

A tax-free monthly payment from VA when an officer dies on active duty or of a service-connected condition, on the same basis as for survivors of Armed Forces members. For a retired officer, the death must be attributable to a service-connected injury or disease, or meet the VA disability test below.⁹

Who qualifies: Spouse, children or dependent parents. The test is a service-connected total-disability rating for 10 years before death, or since release from active duty and 5 years before death, or 1 year for a former prisoner of war who died after 30 September 1999.

Amount: Rates are based on the officer's rank at time of death, and DIC is payable regardless of other income. SBP annuities are reduced dollar for dollar by DIC.

How to apply: File VA Form 21P-534EZ for a spouse or child, or VA Form 21P-535 for a parent, with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Form VA Form 21P-534EZ.

TRICARE Survivor Coverage

Health coverage for survivors

Surviving dependents of a deceased active-duty or retired officer remain eligible for care at Military Treatment Facilities and civilian care under TRICARE. Coverage ends when a survivor becomes eligible for Medicare Part A.^{1, 10}

Who qualifies: A surviving spouse, while unmarried, for up to 3 years at the active-duty family member rate at no cost; children until age 21, or 23 if a full-time student. Every dependent must be enrolled in DEERS.

How to apply: Update DEERS at a uniformed services ID card office or by sending the death certificate to DMDC, then enroll in the TRICARE survivor plan. For an active-duty officer, also report the death to TRICARE's pharmacy contractor, Express Scripts.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Continuation

Assistance that continues for the household

For an active-duty officer's survivors, CCHQ Financial Services Branch processes up to 365 days of Basic Allowance for Housing after the death. If dependents living in Government quarters vacate them before 365 days elapse, FSB pays BAH for the rest of the 365-day period.^{1, 11}

Who qualifies: Surviving dependents of an active-duty PHS officer.

Amount: Up to 365 days of BAH at the officer's rate.

How to apply: Processed automatically by CCHQ Financial Services Branch after the death is reported.

Burial allowance

Burial, funeral and memorial benefits

When an officer dies on active duty, the Corps pays for usual and customary burial services up to the maximum allowance in DoD Instruction 1344.08: preparation of remains or cremation, casket or urn, funeral director services, a family limousine, hearse, cemetery equipment fees and related interment expenses.^{1, 12}

Who qualifies: Active-duty PHS officers (full burial allowance). An active-duty death also brings Government-paid transportation of remains with an official escort.

How to apply: The funeral home submits SF 1034 or DD-1375 to the officer's OPDIV or STAFFDIV financial office. Form SF 1034.

Military funeral honors

Burial, funeral and memorial benefits

Because the Corps has no enlisted contingent, other uniformed services may be asked to provide military funeral honors, and CCPM Pamphlet 63 names the U.S. Coast Guard as their primary source. The Survivor Assistance Officer coordinates the services the other uniformed services provide.^{13, 1}

National cemetery burial and VA headstone

Burial, funeral and memorial benefits

Burial in a VA national cemetery is not automatic for the Corps. A Public Health Service commissioned officer qualifies with full-time duty on or after 29 July 1945, or before then in time of war, on detail with the Armed Forces, or while the Service was part of the military forces by executive order.^{14, 1, 15}

Who qualifies: Where the full-time duty was active duty for training, the officer must have become disabled or died from a service-caused disease or injury. Inactive-duty training qualifies where the officer died from a service-caused injury.

How to apply: The Survivor Assistance Officer explains eligibility, cemetery locations and procedures. VA furnishes headstones and markers at no cost; for burial outside a national cemetery, file VA Form 40-1330. Form VA Form 40-1330.

Unpaid Pay, Allowances, and Unused Leave

Amounts due the person at death

Active-duty or retired pay stops at the officer's death. The estate is entitled to all unpaid pay through the date of death plus a lump-sum payment for any unused annual leave.^{16, 17}

Who qualifies: The officer's estate, or the beneficiary designated on SF-1174.

How to apply: Submit SF-1174 with a copy of the death certificate to CCHQ Financial Services Branch. Form SF-1174.

Travel and Transportation of Household Goods

Assistance that continues for the household

Surviving dependents of an active-duty officer are entitled to Government-funded travel to the officer's Home of Record or a Home of Selection. The Corps pays to ship household goods and one privately owned vehicle to the new Home of Selection, and non-temporary storage is available for up to one year.^{1, 18}

Who qualifies: Surviving spouse and dependent children of a deceased active-duty officer.

How to apply: Submit PHS-4013-1, with a copy of the travel order, to the shipping officer for the officer's last active duty station, through the officer's OPDIV, STAFFDIV or non-HHS organization travel office. Form PHS-4013-1.

What PHS Corps's rules say5

Who qualifies, across benefits

As one of the eight uniformed services, the PHS Commissioned Corps shares the Armed Forces' core survivor programs: the $100,000 death gratuity, the SBP annuity, SGLI up to $500,000, VA DIC, TRICARE survivor coverage, national cemetery burial, military funeral honors and survivor education benefits.¹

Who reports the death

Wherever an active-duty officer was detailed (an HHS agency, the Bureau of Prisons, the Coast Guard, ICE), the death is reported to CCHQ through Corps Care. The deployment agency's Commissioned Corps Liaison notifies CCHQ as soon as possible and designates a contact to work with the Survivor Assistance Officer.^{1, 16}

A retired officer's death is reported to the administrator of PHS retirement benefits, the U.S. Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center, Retiree and Annuitant Services, the servicing payroll office for PHS retired pay and surviving annuitants.^{19, 20}

Payments received after the death

If survivors receive a paycheck or automated payment that includes any period after the date of death, they must return it to CCHQ so a corrected payment can be issued.¹⁶

What the agency does and does not handle

CCI 383.01 and the Corps Care channel cover officers who die on active duty or within 120 days after separation from active duty.¹

Coverage limits

A retired officer's death brings SBP if elected, VA DIC if eligible, final retirement pay and national cemetery burial, but no death gratuity unless the death is within 120 days of separation, and no escort or household goods shipment.¹⁶

Forms PHS Corps issues13

DD-397: Claim Certification and Voucher for Death Gratuity Payment

Claims the $100,000 tax-free death gratuity. CCHQ Financial Services Branch processes it within 72 hours of receipt with the death certificate.¹

SF-1174: Claim for Unpaid Compensation of Deceased Member of the Uniformed Services

Claims unpaid pay, allowances and unused leave owed to the deceased officer's estate or designated beneficiary.¹⁷

CG-1884: Application for Annuity Under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), RCSBP, RSFPP and/or Final Retired Pay Due

Applies for the SBP monthly annuity and for final retired pay arrears due a deceased Coast Guard, PHS or NOAA member. CCI 383.01 Appendix A routes it to CCHQ Financial Services Branch.^{21, 1}

SGLV-8283: Claim for Death Benefits (Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance)

The beneficiary's claim for SGLI life insurance proceeds, submitted to OSGLI (Prudential).⁸

Completed by the SGLI beneficiary.

SGLV-8286: Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Election and Certificate

The officer's designation of SGLI beneficiaries, kept on file.⁶

Completed by the officer.

VA Form 21P-534EZ: Application for DIC, Survivors Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits

Applies for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation as a surviving spouse or child.⁹

Completed by the surviving spouse or child.

VA Form 21P-535: Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation by Parents

Applies for VA DIC as a surviving dependent parent of a deceased PHS officer.⁹

Completed by the surviving parent.

VA Form 40-1330: Application for Standard Government Headstone or Marker

Requests a government-furnished headstone or marker for burial outside a national cemetery.¹⁵

DD Form 1172-2: Application for Identification Card / DEERS Enrollment

Issues new uniformed services ID and privilege cards to surviving dependents, reflecting survivor status.¹⁶

Completed by the surviving dependents.

DD-93: Record of Emergency Data

The officer's designation of beneficiaries for certain entitlements payable at death, and of who is to be notified; CCHQ maintains it during the officer's service.¹⁶

Completed by the officer.

PHS-4013-1: Application for Shipment of Household Goods (Commissioned Officers)

Arranges Government-funded shipment of household goods for the surviving dependents of an active-duty officer. The signed original goes to the PHS Shipping Officer serving the station.¹⁸

Completed by the survivor.

SF 1034: Public Voucher for Purchases and Services Other Than Personal

One of the two forms the funeral home submits to the officer's OPDIV or STAFFDIV financial office for payment of burial services.¹

Completed by the funeral home.

DD-1375: Request for Payment of Funeral and/or Interment Expenses

One of the two forms the funeral home submits to the officer's OPDIV or STAFFDIV financial office for payment of burial services.¹

Completed by the funeral home.

Other agencies and offices involved7

U.S. Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center, Retiree and Annuitant Services: PHS retired pay, final retired pay arrears and SBP annuities, and the report of a retired officer's death^{4, 19}
Phone: 1-866-772-8724
Email: psc-dg-ras@uscg.mil
Mailing address: Commanding Officer (RAS), U.S. Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center, 444 S.E. Quincy St., Topeka, KS 66683-3591
Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI): SGLI death claims, for the Department of Veterans Affairs⁸
Phone: 1-800-419-1473
Mailing address: PO Box 70173, Philadelphia, PA 19176-9912
Department of Veterans Affairs: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, SGLI and burial benefits⁹
Phone: 1-800-827-1000
Social Security Administration: The report of the death, the lump-sum death payment and monthly survivor benefits²²
Phone: 1-800-772-1213
Defense Manpower Data Center / DEERS Support Office: DEERS enrollment for surviving dependents, which keeps TRICARE coverage¹⁰
Phone: 1-800-538-9552
Fax: 1-800-336-4416
Mailing address: Defense Manpower Data Center Support Office, 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA 93955-6771
Express Scripts: TRICARE's pharmacy contractor as of 2021; survivors of an active-duty officer report the death to it¹⁰
Phone: 1-877-363-1303
The officer's HHS Operating Division, Staff Division or non-HHS agency: A point of contact, travel and transportation entitlements, and burial expenses paid from its own funds¹⁶

Programs for survivors1

Survivor Assistance Officer (SAO)

A CCHQ officer who contacts the family right after the death is reported, determines immediate needs, and advises the family and funeral home on burial entitlements. The SAO counsels survivors on benefits, coordinates funeral honors with the other uniformed services and arranges dependents' travel entitlements.^{1, 16}

Who qualifies: The family of a deceased PHS officer